Very nice, thank you for the update!

 

I am slowly removing any salvageable parts off of the 97 SC2 donor that are good. So far hood, all the running gear thats good, front suspension, the dash, wiring harness and K Frame. Everything seems to be rust free as it is a Washington car (no salted roads). These are summer projects as the car is out in the weather.

 

I am building a replacement Navigator for my wife. I understand projects.

 

Hi Derf,
Well I finally finished the SC2 engine rebuild. Now I can scratch that off the To Do List. It took a while waiting for parts and waiting for my parts to want to go out to the shop and get it done. I did notice an oddity in the cam covers. The engine itself came from my 98 SC2. I ordered a complete rebuilt head 2 years ago from an outfit I have used before when I had to repair my daughter in-law's 2004 Saturn Ion. So I was went to put the cam cover from the 98 on the head to protect it as I plan on using the aluminum one off the 97 donor engine that is in the running in the 98. I saw the rebuilt head has 2 bolt holes on the intake side and the 98 has 3 on that same side to bolt the cam cover on. So evidently the rebuilt head is 97 or older which fine everything else is the same. But for a second or 2 I sort of worried about what else might be different but there wasn't.
So next on my ToDo list is put a limited slip pumpkin in the MP3 I picked up some time ago. This ought to be interesting and I'm sure I will be scratching my head as I have never been inside a transaxle especially a Saturn one.
That's all I have
Radtek2

 

The engine looks great. Have you double checked the timing to make sure it's dead set on TDC and the marks all line up? I always did two full rotations before putting the cover on, just to make sure.

 

Yes I did and everything checked out spot on. I won't be able to put it in the 98 SC2 until next summer and like I said earlier the 2002 MP3 transaxle has to be tore down so I can put in the LS Diff. in it. I have learned that the ring gear is riveted to the carrier. I may need to take that to a machine shop and have the rivets tops machined off and their shanks pressed out. I might be over my head with that LSD install but i used to tear down and repair manual trannys and regular differentials just not combos. In fact I had to replace the carrier in my old Chevy farm truck couple years ago. I will cross that bridge later this coming year.


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That limited slip will be lots of fun in your car. I just purchased a used Eaton Truetrac for my 2wd Navigator rear end, that will really help it get around.

 

I have heard good things about the unit being put in these Saturns. Also I won't have to be so gentle with it and constantly thinking about a Diff Pin launch.