Sister Question: 2.4 to 2.0 turbo swap (sky)

[Dirkdaddy]

This is not some pie in sky loonie question, so please hear me out.

I was cruising craig's list a few months ago and saw a Saturn Sky RL with damage for a very cheap price. Being ambitious and stupid enough to try anything, I bought the car. Two days ago I found a 2.4 Sky that has less damage so we can combine the cars and I bought that one. Both are automatic. '97's too.

So... I was figurin' on taking the turbo drivetrain and swapping it for the 2.4 (as that car's frame is not bent). I realize there are many things to swap but the cars are not that involved in my opinion - the rear diff, possibly the stabilitrack, gauges (in Sky at least are different in RL), exhaust, computers, radiators, etc.

does anyone have a clue if the wiring harnesses are completely different as one guy was trying to tell me? Typically GM tries to simplify things like that and have one main harness as its one part to have made instead of two, cuts cost and complexity. You don't have diff harnesses if you order power windows and seats, the connectors are there.

I have purchased what was supposed to be a service manual from a guy on ebay but it was just copies of something like AllData book, no index and pretty lacking from a in-depth technical aspect. It didn't even mention the different clutches in the 2.4 and 2.0 T engines for example, but I understand the flywheels even have different number of bolts, and clutches are different.

obviously I could (if it runs, I actually will pickup the car tomorrow) keep the 2.4 and sell the 2.0 but I love turbo cars and want extra power : ~)

Any gear-head advice appreciated. My engine swapping experience is from 60's era cars and watching cool tv shows on Speed and reading magazines, so I know if you do a swap to take the computers and stuff with you, but wondering about the wiring harness. wonder how hard it would be take that puppy out if it is different? Heck, I'm stripping out the car anyway...

TIA,

Scott

[MikesSon]

the one thing i can suggest is that you try to find dealer manuals on the 2.0 and 2.4, that will be able to tell you all the wires you need for the 2.0 and the wires you have for the 2.4.

[RevmanII]

Is the RL worth enough if you sell it to get an aftermarket turbo kit designed for the 2.4. Would eliminate some of that hassle, unless of course you enjoy the work .

I don't know, but I suspect your right about the harnesses. Hopefully someone more knowledgable can answer.

[hammy221]

i would just keep the 2.4 and turbo that. don't rule out ddm superchargers.

[uptownguy]

I have a 2.0 turbo car that started as a 2.4 N/A.
The work was done by Georgian Bay Motors.
From what I saw I woild swap the full electrical system of the Turbo car to the N/A as the ECM (Engine Control Module) will not talk to the Body Control Module and the anti theft and security would not work.
The turbo uses a Bosch ECM totaly different from the N/A 2.4 system.
If you have the space put the two cars side by side strip out the dash interior and wiring from the N/A and procede to swap over the dash, control modules and wiring cafefully tagging where the wires go. The engine wiring harness should be swaped when you transplant the engine and transmission.
If you swap everything you will have a car that is as maintainable as if GM built it.
The secret with any swap is to label and bag components in small quantities so that you can find the screws for the dash, and the bolts for the tranny mount etc.

Good luck.
Remember there are can be lots of differences (shocks spring rates etc.) between the base models of cars and the premium sports mode.

Peter Austin.
Montreal

Solstice road race car.

[King-Oka]

2.0 fuel management is quite different as well (Direct port injection etc), so you either need to commit to a full 2.0 car or not (IMO). I wouldn't try to "blend" them.

As was said earlier, you could sell the 2.0 and it's related gear and pay for a 2.4 upgrade.

[greaseyjockey]

wiring harnesses are very different, second map sensor, boost control solenoids, fuel pressure sensor and the injection rail all are missing in the n/a cars. the pinouts between the two pcms are also different, so even if you were going to use the n/a harness you would need to re-pin the connectors. it will be much easier to swap the harness. you'll need to add all the charge piping and intercooler(obviously). you may also need to change the bcm and dash harness (dont know for sure) im fairly confident the DIC is run from the bcm and that has the boost display in it. if you opt out of the turbo DIC, you may still have some communications problems between modules.

[Dirkdaddy]

Good stuff, thanks.

I will have the cars next to each other and am familiar with tag and bag.



Here is a picture:



BTW, if someone wants some major component from the car I'm not using (i.e. rear suspension, etc) make me an offer. I'm not sure about the wheels, I may keep them (one is broke), top has a hole, etc. These cars were used pretty hard.

[Dirkdaddy]

Would you guys keep the rear end gear from the 2.4 for better acceleration, or swap the turbo model for better fuel milage and better road cruising? Its automatic trans, fyi.

If I can't find a buyer for the 2.4 yet I may put it on a pallet in my garage and store it with all the stuff I'd need to change back if the 2.0t did not work out (just for kicks, I'm a masochist that way).

How reliable is the 2.0, I have heard of a few folks getting codes and limp home modes, etc. ?

[Dirkdaddy]

Its been a while but I've been working away... the frame guys said they needed room to fix the frame, so I went and removed the 2.4, and may as well install the 2.0 when they are done. If anyone has questions on how things come apart I might know at least until I ferget it....LOL

Here's a couple of pictures...

[hammy221]

pm me on what you may want for the 2.4 engine..

[Dirkdaddy]

I have a more complete thread on the Sky forum FYI.

Scott