97 Saturn Sc2

[mazdamx640]

I'm starting this thread to keep track of everything I do to my newer ish car. I haven even seen it in person yet I'm going to get it tonight. Its a 97 Saturn sc2 with a 5 speed manual and twin cam 1.9 so it should be allot more efficient than my 96 lesabre to start with.


It's not perfect but for $600 its a great deal!
To start with I'm replacing the coils wires and spark plugs.

Current mods
51 psi in tires. Free
Antenna delete. Free
License plate mount delete. Free
80% grill block. $2 Tape
Ultra gauge. Already had

Future mods
Stant 195 thermostat
Aerocaps
Cat delete
Rear belly pan
Dark tint
L.e.d.s
5Th gear swap
Synthetic transmission fluid

[Fat Charlie]

Sweet! I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[Daox]

I almost went with an SC1 before I got the Metro. Its a very capable car from what others have gotten here. Looking forward to seeing your mods.

[spacemanspif]

Don't forget the scangauge! You are OBDII so it's simpe plug and play. 5th gear swap will kill cruise control of you have it. Do a full grill block and get a factory air dam if you don't have it already for bottom cooling. If/when you need to do the valve cover gasket, get an aluminum one with all the bolts off a 95 and older car. The plastic ones tend to warp and all the valve cover gaskets in the world can't keep them from leaking. Coils dont usually go bad on those cars and aftermarket can be questionable. Saturnfans.com has a lot of info on testing resistance of the coils to tell if they are bad. There is also the arc test when it's dark out. I tried the 5th gear swap and destroyed my trans from over tightening the nuts, swapped in an MP2 SOHC trans and loved it! All I had was trans swap, vacuum gauge and slow driving and was getting 45mpg.

Can't wait to see what you do to yours

[mazdamx640]

I went to look at a sc1 a couple years ago with my dad and he said that if I didn't buy it he would and I've been regretting it ever since. It's funny that you mention the valve cover because I need that too and I just put metal valve covers on my Buick. Thanks for the advice I can't wait to get started ecomodding it

[mazdamx640]

The first thing I need to do is get rid of the rice

[Daox]

How will you know when to shift if you don't have a huge light telling you when to? My Metro has one haha (stock OEM).

[mazdamx640]

It has a stock tachometer in it but u can't see that in the over the hood action shots lol

[spacemanspif]

Haha the stock tach is almost the same size...but lacks the "wow" factor of a white faced, no-name tach with shift light lol. Use the holes for a vacuum gauge.

[ninetynineSC2]

It will definitely be a lot more efficient if the lesabre gets anything like my roommates park avenue. Keep an eye on the oil, almost all S series use some.