- Does this thing really work?
Yes. The author spent several months designing and testing the
system. The EWP was torture-tested in a variety of
conditions including climbing mountain passes under full boost, idling
in traffic for long periods, and cold-weather startup. The engine
warms up differently, otherwise the system functions
reliably
and is indistinguishable from stock operation. The temperature
needle stays near the center of the gauge in all conditions.
- Has anyone else successfully installed one of these?
Yes! The response to this website in the past three years
has been amazing. Emails have been received from all
over the world with questions and shared experiences. These have
included stories of EWP conversions on Saab 96, Saab 900,
SPG and Convertible! A Saab shop in Seattle now stocks
the EWP and has converted several 99s and even a couple of 16Vs,
all as a result of this website.
- I installed an EWP in my 99 and it works great! But I just discovered
that the heater does not work. What's wrong?
This is a known weakness in this design. Because of the flow
rates through the hoses used on this conversion, not enough coolant
flows
through the heater core to supply cabin heat. The solution is to restrict
coolant flow through the bypass hose. The bypass
hose is a short piece
of hose that runs between the two t-connectors used on this conversion.
It can be seen in the photo on this page,
it is the short piece of hose pictured. Once
restricted, coolant will flow through the heater core and heat will
work.
- The EWP instructions from Davies-Craig state that the EWP can be
installed in the lower radiator hose. Is'nt this easier than under
the intake manifold?
In the case of the 900 perhaps. But Saab 99s do not have a lower
radiator hose so one would be installing in an upper hose. Several
EWP conversions
have
been done
this way successfully so it is possible.
The location under the intake manifold was chosen as the best location for these
reasons:
1. Davies-Craig recommends that the EWP be as low as possible in the cooling
system. This is to prevent air pockets and to ensure that the EWP is submerged
completely at all times. It also makes the job of moving the coolant through
the system easier on the pump. One of the first priorities in choosing a location
therefore, is to get the pump as low as possible in relation to the expansion
tank and bleed nipple which are the 'high points' of the stock system.
2. Installing the EWP by the radiator would mean running several hoses from
the engine to the radiator. There is not much room for more hoses in the 99 engine
bay and the length required would introduce the potential for leaks or air pockets.
Placing the EWP near the stock pump under the intake manifold
puts the pump very low in the system and is at the center of where
most of the stock hoses converge. The heater hoses are also adjacent
making for a clean-looking installation.
- That EWP Controller is pretty pricey! It looks like quite
a bit of work to install it. What are the advantages and is it
worth it?
Here are some reasons to consider the controller:
1. When the pump is wired for continuous operation, it will always
run at full speed. So there will be a draw of up to 7.5 amps
on the
electrical system at all times. With headlights and wipers on, the
stock Saab
99 voltage
regulator cannot keep up at idle. Lights dim and turn signals run slowly.
2.
The amount of coolant flow through the system when running continuously
makes the cooling system TOO efficient! It may take much longer for
the engine to warm up from a cold start because the amount of coolant
flow prevents the engine from getting warm quickly.
3. The motor in the EWP is
rated for 2000 hours of continuous operation. Using the controller
will extend the lifespan of the EWP by only running it when needed.
That said, it should be noted that most EWP conversions are continuous
setups. Owners report that this works very well and
got
the car back
on the road.
- The EWP site only seems to apply to later Saab 99s. My engine
looks different than some of the photos and I don't think the EWP
will
fit.
Earlier 99s are indeed different and may require different
engineering. The intention
of the site is to serve as a guide for b-engine applications.
Most of the steps on the site should apply to your car.
- Can I put an EWP in my 900 turbo 16V?
It should be possible to install an EWP in any type of water-cooled
vehicle. Several readers of this site have reported successful 16V
EWP conversions
but there is no hard data available.
|
