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cheapest & best way to convert '96 lpt to fpt Posted by sam96CS [Email] (#852) [Profile/Gallery] (more from sam96CS) on Tue, 15 Apr 2014 14:57:45 In Reply to: Much obliged, tz, Tue, 15 Apr 2014 12:47:26 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Thanks! I'm glad to help.
The conversion will cost about $300 if you do it the right way, and a lot more if not. The right way to do it is with a T7 BPC valve, which is far cheaper and more reliable that the original T5 BPC valve.
Mandatory parts are an ECU, a BPC (Boost Pressure Control) valve, and 6-8 feet of 6 mm silicone hose.
The ECU must be from a '96 9000 CSE. It doesn't matter whether the '96 CSE is manual or automatic. The part number is 4300836. Accept no substitutes for this part. You can shop with a sponsor like Goldwing, check the Saabnet classifies for someone parting out a '96 CSE, or do a search at car-part for a "Computer Box Engine" for a '96 Saab 9000 CSE. Plan to pay $100 to $150 for this part. While you're installing the new-to-you ECU you can do the orange wire snip. Don't forget to disconnect the battery before swapping the ECUs.
Buy 8 feet of 6 mm silicone hose from a site sponsor or someone like hosetechniques. Silicone is far more durable than rubber so you can even go with used if you can find it.
Buy a "T5 Boost Valve Conversion Kit" for $150 from Newton Systems (linked below). This is solid gear designed and made by BobS whose posts you've probably read here. It includes a T7 BPC, a little magic cylinder that converts a T5 signal to a T7 signal, and all the wiring you need.
Add maybe $5 for bracket hardware from a local big box home improvement store for attaching the T7 BPC to the cooling fan shroud.
Optional (but you really should have it) is a vacuum/boost gauge. Go to egauges and get a VDO model 150-121 for about $40. Some people have installed them at the light switch location and others in the analog clock position. I went with the clock position. You need a dremel tool because the hole for the clock is a little too small for the VDO gauge.
The fpt conversion will make your car feel like it suddenly work up. Your mileage will go down for a while because the ECU will run the engine rich while it is learning and because you will be playing with the power (trust me about that). After the novelty has worn off the mileage will return to about the same that you're getting now. But the car will drive more easily whether you're playing with the loud pedal or not.
One more thing. If you want your ECU tuned for more than stock power, then get in touch with a tuner like John Williams at jzwtuning before you buy anything. I think some tuners can do a T7 conversion inside the ECU but I'm not sure because I haven't gone down that road. You can buy the external T7 conversion kit now and use it with a tune later if you'd rather upgrade incrementally.
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