Grassroots Motorsports

Register Log in to GRM
- Community

Birthdays
Recently on the Classic Motorsports forums

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Thoughts on Volvo Wagon as Project

July 30, 2008 11:58 p.m. jwdmotorsports Reader

So, having the V70 has got me thinking about buying a Volvo wagon as a project. I'm thinking maybe a 200 series from the early to mid 80's as future a challenge car.

I've been looking around craiglist and it looks like you get a decent running wagon with 200K+ miles for about $600 - 800. So, I was thinking some suspension upgrades and maybe some easy / cheap engine upgrades.

Thoughts. Good idea / Bad idea? Suggestions for easy / cheap engine upgrades?

If I build one it would probably be for the 2009/2010 challenge.
July 31, 2008 12:08 a.m. oldopelguy HalfDork

I got the book that JTR put out on swapping a SBC into a 200-series Volvo. As long as you go with a manual trans it's an even easier swap than the popular Jag one. I've been toying with the idea myself as soon as the S10 swap is finished.
July 31, 2008 12:19 a.m. jwdmotorsports Reader

I've learned enough on the RX7 302 swap in my garage I could probably about do the swap without a manual.

I'm not sure I want to do another V8 swap on my next project though.

How does the Volvo engine respond to turbo work? How hard would it be to install a 2.3L turbo Ford?
July 31, 2008 5:21 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

jwdmotorsports wrote: How does the Volvo engine respond to turbo work?

You're kidding, right? Go Google "volvo turbo".

My 740 ran an unregulated turbocharger for years without incident. How much boost? I don't know, it always pegged the gauge out.
July 31, 2008 8:09 a.m. ManofFewWords New Reader

I put a 5 litre/T-5 out of a 91 mustang into an 88 240 wagon. As far as swaps go, pretty easy. I wish I had never sold it. Lots of info on turbobricks.com, and there is a V8 section on brickboard.com
July 31, 2008 10:14 a.m. jwdmotorsports Reader

foxtrapper wrote:

You're kidding, right?

Not really. I'm new to Volvos.

Let me reword my question a little. How well will a Volvo engine with 200K miles hold up to turbo work?
July 31, 2008 10:19 a.m. John Brown SuperDork

Three letters LS6
July 31, 2008 10:28 a.m. Ian F Reader

I'l lsecond the 5.0/T-5 swap. I've seen a couple of them. Looks like it was made to be there.

Volvo sold a turbo four, although I'm not sure if ever in the 240... in the 740 - yes. Don't discount a 740 either... they can be had for cheap as well.

Turbobricks should have all the F.I. info you'll ever want... I believe you can add F.I. to an existing NA motor, but I'm pretty srue you'll get more power and better durability for not much more coin by starting out with an existing turbo mill.
July 31, 2008 10:29 a.m. dansxr2 New Reader

I've heard rumors that a 2.3 DOHC Volvo Head will bolt up on a 2.3 ford block. Here's a link with more info: http://www.merkurtech.com/merkurtech/techarticles/item045.php I'm suprized no one here has already done this before.
July 31, 2008 11:57 a.m. Woodyhfd HalfDork

There's a car that I have been seeing at Lime Rock for 20 years. It's a red Volvo wagon. Not only did the guy drop in a small block Chevy, he converted it to a two door wagon!
July 31, 2008 12:03 p.m. John Brown SuperDork

dansxr2 wrote:

I've heard rumors that a 2.3 DOHC Volvo Head will bolt up on a 2.3 ford block. Here's a link with more info: http://www.merkurtech.com/merkurtech/techarticles/item045.php I'm suprized no one here has already done this before.

While it WILL bolt it is not a BOLT ON swap. I have had all of the parts ready to do the swap and found that the machining/welding bill would eat me alive.

BTW there is another person who has completed the Forlvo hybrid engine and with stock cams, stock 1999 2.5L bottom end, Holset (I can't find the turbo model) and some heavy fuel numbers and a FAST EFI made over 400hp/340ft/lb... Which leads me to ask why EVERYONE hasn't done this swap.
July 31, 2008 12:20 p.m. Ian F Reader

John Brown wrote:

While it WILL bolt it is not a BOLT ON swap. I have had all of the parts ready to do the swap and found that the machining/welding bill would eat me alive.

BTW there is another person who has completed the Forlvo hybrid engine and with stock cams, stock 1999 2.5L bottom end, Holset (I can't find the turbo model) and some heavy fuel numbers and a FAST EFI made over 400hp/340ft/lb... Which leads me to ask why EVERYONE hasn't done this swap..

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your post, but didn't you just answer your own question?
July 31, 2008 12:24 p.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

jwdmotorsports wrote: Let me reword my question a little. How well will a Volvo engine with 200K miles hold up to turbo work?

It'll handle it superbly. Mine had over 250k before I figured out the boost was unregulated. I only fixed it because of the price of gasoline.

700/900 series had turbo models, s they came with all the stuff and are easy to make run like stink. But one shouldn't lose sight of the fact that for being a tank they are surprisingly wiggly. Everything is suspended in rubber bushings, and I mean everything. You can buy a very nice 700/900 series turbo car for 2-4k.

200 series never had a turbo (I think), so it's a conversion job to make one. Can most certainly be done, and is done quite frequently. Basically you pick up the stuff from a 700 series car and drop it onto the 200 series car. Equally cheap car to buy.
July 31, 2008 12:27 p.m. Per Schroeder Technical Editor/Advertising Director

There were 242, 244 and 245 Turbos available here and elsewhere.
July 31, 2008 12:49 p.m. Travis_K New Reader

The only problems id see with a turbo volvo project would be gas prices if you plan on driving it, and that its not really terribly simple to have a good 5 speed in one, and im not into automatics.
July 31, 2008 12:53 p.m. Ian F Reader

Volvo has a long reputation for stout engines. When Vintage Performance was developing their B20 supercharger kit, they kept upping the boost until something failed. Which was the head gasket. The bottom end was fine. Of course, it helped they were starting with the low-compression F engine.

(and as I post this, there is a 240 wagon in the "reader's rides" picture to the left... )
July 31, 2008 1:18 p.m. m4ff3w Dork

Before I gave it to my wife I was running 20psi on my 91 740 Turbo with just a (slightly) larger turbo, intercooler, injectors, and exhaust.

Add in a cam and the car scoots pretty damned quick.
July 31, 2008 1:18 p.m. m4ff3w Dork

http://www.turbobricks.com/forums/index.php
July 31, 2008 2:26 p.m. kilgoretrout New Reader

The Volvo engines are stout, however, if you're upping the boost, the manual trans is not (m46 or m47). There are other options like T-5 swaps, along with M90 (Euro-only $$$ Volvo trans), and getrag (from a Yota or Bimmer).

I have a 945T and it has its charm but I think the 240 is one of the coolest cars out there.
July 31, 2008 6:33 p.m. jwdmotorsports Reader

I did a little research on T-5 swaps. It looks like you can only buy the adapter parts from one place.

It seems that by the time you spend the money for the adapters it would be about the same price to just do a full 5.0L / T-5 swap.

Will the stock Volvo rear end hold up to the V8 torque?
Aug. 1, 2008 7:47 p.m. kilgoretrout New Reader

jwdmotorsports wrote:

I did a little research on T-5 swaps. It looks like you can only buy the adapter parts from one place.

It seems that by the time you spend the money for the adapters it would be about the same price to just do a full 5.0L / T-5 swap.

Will the stock Volvo rear end hold up to the V8 torque?

Yeah, I've looked into doing the T-5 swap too and it's not cheap.

I believe most of the rear-ends in the 200, 700, and 900 are based on a Dana 30, which is the same unit used in the front of most Jeeps. It's probably strong enough for a 5.0.
Aug. 1, 2008 8:16 p.m. ManofFewWords New Reader

The rearend will hold up fine until you put sticky tires on it. i blew two, one with slicks at the dragstrip, and one when I had huge azenzis on it.
Aug. 30, 2008 4:02 p.m. Duende New Reader

What about the later model 850 wagons? Those would be fun with a manual and a V8.

These things have a decent performance-oriented suspension aftermarket?
Aug. 30, 2008 4:35 p.m. Lugnut Reader

Duende wrote:

What about the later model 850 wagons? Those would be fun with a manual and a V8.

These things have a decent performance-oriented suspension aftermarket?

850s, V70s are fwd. Transverse engines.

I'm picking up my turbo brick wagon on Friday. I'm really excited. 4spd+OD '86 turbo intercooled wagon. And I'll be the second owner. (The GTO holds my record. 32 months so far. How do you keep a car for 23 years?)

I've learned a lot from brickboard and turbobricks so far. swedespeed is good, too, but caters more toward the later cars.

We'll see how my trans holds up when we crank up the boost
Aug. 31, 2008 7:34 a.m. 11110000 New Reader

You can find 245 and 745 turbos cheap these days. The 240's have a 2.1L motor, 7.5:1 SCR with K-Jet mechanical fuel injection. The 740's came with a 2.3L motor, 8.7:1 SCR and LH-Jet 2.1, 2.2 or 2.4 EFI.

The 240's definitely feel more 'competition ready' - more basic, rugged. The 7-series is a bit more luxury-oriented, quieter, wider. Both have competition resumes; the 240 (sedan) won the ETC in 1985, and the 745 Turbo was a force to be reckoned with in the SCCA Escort series.

It's easy to get 200-250HP out of these with junkyard mods. It's also popular to add a turbo to some non-turbo models. To go higher reliably, you'll need a new tranny, and forged pistons with thicker rods would be a good idea.

You can have insane fun with the V6 models if you're not afraid of replacing everything. Here's some pics of a 500+HP 262 with a turbo added: http://www.printroom.com/ViewAlbum.asp?userid=oppositelock&album_id=124351

Don't bother putting a 16V head on a Ford bottom end. You can put it right on the Volvo bottom end!

You'll need to log in to post.