Why in the world would you think that a 30yo working engine with years of wear and tear on the cylinder walls and main/rod bearings as well as the valvetrain would be better than a properly machined and built engine, when you or a machine shop could measure the cylinders to see if they can still be bored with new pistons and all new rings and bearings, machine the crank if needed and resize the connecting rods, have the head reworked, and if you are unsure, have the machine shop assembly the short or long blockā¦ I have gotten 100K or more on my builds for daily drivers many timesā¦
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There comes a time when to say, āStick a fork in it!ā.
Tester
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My recollection of that engine is that it is relatively basic and simple to rebuild. The unique main bearing bolts are the only problem I recall.
Have you tried forums for those cars? But I think itāll be difficult finding a used engine that went out of use more than 30 years ago, at least thatās in good-enough shape, as others have said.
About 1980, my conservationist neighbor was a Saab fan. One winter his project was to overhaul the engine. Carried it downstairs and had parts laying all over. Carried it back up in the spring and dropped it in his Saab again. Never asked for help. Ran fine.
Have a Jasper engine now in my 2011 Mazda. Runs strong. No oil loss like the original motor. I think you recommend that to me last yearā¦thanks!
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I had to remind myself you were talking about a Saab engine. My first reaction was considering my old projects having BBC engines. Carrying one of those downstairs to the basement would be akin to the comedian who said- things youāre unlikely to hear- hand me that piano 
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