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-   -   03 ion sedan lsj turbo swap (https://www.saturnforum.com/forum/nitrous-super-chargers-turbos-18/03-ion-sedan-lsj-turbo-swap-11873/)

02 LW300 Apr 5, 2020 11:42 PM

What is Saab running with the exhaust cam? Some kind of a cam sensor?

DropDead Apr 7, 2020 11:01 AM


Originally Posted by 02 LW300 (Post 64473)
What is Saab running with the exhaust cam? Some kind of a cam sensor?

Yessir. Like the lsj the saab runs an exhaust cam sensor and the power steering is on the intake cam lile the j body.

I can't find anything across any of the ecotec or j body forums running these cams or lsj cams n/a.
They all just use the stock l61 cams and fill the last oil galley since our cam is shorter. Its either going to work or its not.

I'll take the gamble for science. I have a feeling it will run, but have a severe loss of power since they're turbo cams. If it does run, it'll get the baby saab turbo anyway later on. Just need to make sure everything else is in line before i put a baby snail on it.

derf Apr 7, 2020 09:38 PM

Well, if an LSJ pulls boost for whatever reason (in an IRL), is that not n/a ? It should be designed to at least function minimally.in that situation.

Certainly not good long term but the LSJ valves should stay cool enough unless something like redlining is attempted, yes?

DropDead Apr 8, 2020 02:03 AM

Only difference is lsj valves are sodium filled.
not sure on the lk9.
I have to pull specs again. Theirs some negative underlay or something. I cant remember off hand.

02 LW300 Apr 8, 2020 10:28 AM

Saab has their own ignition system that must use the cam sensor. There should be aftermarket tunes for that ignition system. Maybe some kind of Frankenstein Saab ignition / Lsj fuel control would work. I think I read that the early Ion pcms’ were not that tunable. Maybe from Bones.

derf Apr 9, 2020 02:23 AM

Oh Bones' 03 lsj was turned with a zzp ECM. I just don't think the stock ecms were tunable w HP Tuners and such

02 LW300 Apr 9, 2020 10:40 AM

For some unexplained reason I keep looking at wrecked Saab 93s. They are less than $1000 near me with 140,000 miles, mostly little t turbo. You never know....

DropDead Apr 9, 2020 08:12 PM

03-06 2.2 pcms are not tuneable.
04-07 2.0 pcms are tuneable

The Saabs are tuneable as well. They cost a little more as their is only select programs to do such that arent as versatile as hptuners.

The little t Saabs dont take much to upgrade. Need the turbo, injectors, and turbo lines. It'll bolt up. And a tune of course.

But if im going through all that is just get a bigger turbo, downpipe, pipes, etc etc

02 LW300 Apr 9, 2020 10:36 PM

I bet they will out pull this L61 stone stock.

DropDead May 23, 2020 12:06 PM

So I started to throw the car back together as n/a with the saab head out of boredom. I'm having some sort of fueling issue now.
but I dont even care. As of yesterday I agreed to buy 2 OG ions from the Ion forums Facebook group.
In the next 3-4 weeks I'll be traveling to southern louisiana for one of them and northern Illinois for the other.
1 is a bolt on for spirited daily driving that will go back to stock and be sold.
the other one is a stripped full bolt on car with a 0-60 of 6.7 seconds. I'll be keeping this one.

Now that all thats happening, my engine is getting traded for a clutch and flywheel setup for my lsj swap. In the meantime I'll be ripping my motor back out. Also going to start gutting the interior to do condition all the plastics, shampoo the carpets, fix the door locks, and add some of the upper level options. Also want to redo my headliner and I am going to see about getting a sewing machine to reupholster the SS seats I have.
Once Jerama has time to come get this engine, I'll throw the lsj/f23 combo in. I'm sure I'll gut everything under the hood to clean up the bay as well.


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