Quasi-Hypothetical Engine Refresh Question

Looking for some guidance from the hive. I have a line on a car that spun a rod bearing. PO pulled the engine and got a JY replacement. He claims a JY engine timing chain guide was broken when it arrived, causing it to have some metal on metal contact, got disgusted and left it apart. I'm sure there's more to the story. So, Cliff Notes version: Saab 9-5, rust free body, two engines somewhat disassembled. Same colors as my current car, comes with a new set of timing chains, tensioners, sprockets,and some gasketage, and new (small) turbo. I'm thinking I can drag it home, tear down the JY engine, inspect to make sure bearings/bores, etc are OK, get the block and head hot tanked to flush out any metal, and reassemble. I figure worst case I have a solid parts car, best case: daily driver and basis for an aristocrat for next year. How ridiculous does this idea sound?

With two engines and two separate issues, the chances are good that you can combine them with few replacement parts required.

I'd try it.

Go for it? But definitely inspect junkyard engine, and i'd be leary of it's head in event of timing problem causing valve and pistons to collide. Not sure I would send out block though, just simple green and hose would do in this case

I've done exactly this with an SR20. Only hitch in my plan was that both engines had bad heads so I would up buying a new one (was the same price as having the best of the bad ones rebuilt). Threw in new rings and bearings on the best of the two short blocks and put it all back together.

Thanks for the input everybody! Discussing logistics with the owner, he'd actually fit in well here based on the rest of his rolling stock.
Pat I may be bugging you for consultation at some point. Last time I was inside an engine block was not this century However, I've been staring at the underside of another 9-5 all week, so I'm pretty familiar with everything surrounding the engine.

Of course, asking this crew for advice can be risky . Had I come in with a story that I found an Merlin V-12 from a P-51 and was going to drop it in, everyone would have been like "DOOOOO EEEET NOWWWW", and by tomorrow morning somebody would chime in that they have a suitable trans with adapter plate I could have for cheap...

OK this project is now less hypothetical:

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My garage is rather close to achieving black hole density now.
Shockingly, the PO actually pulled the car home for me on his tow dolly! Saved us a few hours and allowed us to get everything indoors before winter arrives tonight.

XLR99 wrote: OK this project is now less hypothetical: <img src="" />

Thumbs up to posting a pic wearing a pats cap.

if you need or want extra eyes let me know, never been inside one of those before. i've built plenty of chevy v8's, but measuring stuff is measuring stuff.

i've been outside all day trying to load or burn or trash everything that i don't want buried by the snow until march, and cleaning the garage to get the saab in to put new engine in.

lrrs wrote: Thumbs up to posting a pic wearing a pats cap.

The fact that he's a Saab guy cancels out the pats hat so now he's just an average Joe.

Hmm - have lots of random thoughts on hopping up one of these unloved orphans...

Stampie wrote:

lrrs wrote: Thumbs up to posting a pic wearing a pats cap.

The fact that he's a Saab guy cancels out the pats hat so now he's just an average Joe.

Wow, tough crowd this weekend .
Actually that's my son with the Pats hat. He can dead lift those long blocks

Pat thank you for the offer! I'm still trying to finish getting the other 9-5 back together and do all the outside stuff as well, with frequent breaks to ice my back down. Hopefully we'll start looking into it by next weekend.

If neither bottom end works out, may I suggest finding a 9000 turbo bottom end. Bolt in swap ability, with much tougher parts.

In reply to XLR99:

It's okay, your kid just fell in with a bad crowd and became a Pats fan. It doesn't mean he can't turn his life around.

LOL I guess that would be my dad and I. We used to go to Pats games back in the 80s when they were like the present-day Browns.

In the old Schaeffer 'stadium' with aluminum benches.

Uphill both ways through 6 feet of snow.

While singing the WAAF Squish the Fish song.

It was glorious

Edit - my dad is more of a Browns fan, which made for long miserable rides home after the Pats got obliterated by them on a regular basis.

HappyAndy wrote: If neither bottom end works out, may I suggest finding a 9000 turbo bottom end. Bolt in swap ability, with much tougher parts.

Good point, the B234 is a beast. I used to have a spare one complete with TD04 sitting in my garage, which I stupidly sold for stupid cheap after my last 9000 went away.