At this point this is an exercise in thought.
But I have been thinking about it a lot. So I wanted some fresh ideas.
The goal would be a challenge type build of my 1993 Volvo 960 wagon. Resulting in a streetable AWD LS type V8.
Would find a donor with a 4l60 so that I can use the bravada bw 4472 transfercase.
Thought number one:
Remove all bits of Volvo front end/ suspension, replace with front end from 4x4 S10. Keep the torsion bars somehow to start Bc of challenge budget.
This would be cutting the S10 frame right behind where the torsion bars mount and grafting it onto the bottom of the Volvo.
Downside: S10 steering box, s10 torsion bars.
Thought number two:
Same as number one but lose the torsion bars and set up with custom control arms for the s10 and use coilovers. Also could try to keep the Volvo steering rack and see how it would work with the s10 knuckles.
Thought number three:
Find a AWD front subframe from a car that I could us as one unit to swap in. Seems like there would be less steering issues to figure out if you used one complete set up for that.
I was thinking a AWD Cadillac CTS. I would still use the s10 front drifferential. Bc the Cadillac front diff is passenger side and I would need drivers side for the bw4472 case.
But would use the steering rack and front suspension from the cts. Then I would need to figure out how to mate the s10 axle shafts to the cts hubs.
All options will need oil pan modifications and custom mounts. Biggest consideration is steering and front diff and finding room for it all to coexist.
Any thoughts welcome.
Here is a pic of the 960. I would want to keep the exterior as sleeper as possible.
LS4, transmission and transfer case from an all wheel drive Northstar engined Caddy STS. Honestly I'd just use the Northstar engine for simplicity...
awd. Ls. Volvo. I'm wrong, but effective.
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
Honestly I'd just use the Northstar engine for simplicity...
Taking this out of context because it's a line I never thought I'd see.
I have nothing useful to add. Just wanted to comment on how jealous I am of your clean wagon.
Just here to say I love wagons
STM317
PowerDork
3/29/22 2:12 p.m.
Definitely gone now said:
awd. Ls. Volvo. I'm smug, but effective.
Wrong Swedes though. That's a Saab. But using uprights/spindles from a Trailblazer/Envoy/Etc might be worthy of consideration
You can make the chevy ls truck awd work, but you would need to chop and fabricate. Why do you want it to be AWD?
C5/C6 front frame/suspension. AFAIK, it's the same as the rear suspension so it'll accept cv axles.
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
I know you had said that in another thread. I have been looking at a lot of driffent transfer cases, it seems like I read somewhere that there is a small lag in the transfercases from the Cadillacs. That is why I would shy away from those.
It seems like the best ones with no lag are the bw4772 or the Escalade ones. But the Escalade ones are physically bigger and harder to fit.
In reply to ian sane :
That is interesting. I will have to keep that in mind. Now that you say that I think I saw a build thread somewhere of someone putting the front suspension of a C5 into a Volvo wagon.
In reply to Racebrick :
I don't have a good reason why I want the AWD. Nor do I have a good reason why I want to do a AWD LS swap.
I know I could just get the swap mounts from a STS maching, and it would be a lot easier to just have a RWD ls Volvo, but for some reason I still like the idea of AWD?
What a nice looking 960. You wouldn't consider the drive train from a later turbo 850/S/V70 awd to keep it all in the family?
In reply to Loweguy5 :
No I think I want a V8. Backup plan would be just keep it RWD with a vortec v8.
Again I don't really have a why on why not to use a different engine.
I looked the the C5 front end. Even saw a great donor on fb marketplace. But i think that is way to wide.
My reason for looking at the s10 is the widths are similar so no narrowing needed to keep the sleeper look.
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
LS4, transmission and transfer case from an all wheel drive Northstar engined Caddy STS. Honestly I'd just use the Northstar engine for simplicity...
If you do that, you have to figure out where/how to mount a starter. LS4 starter is on the transmission, Northstar starter is on the engine. So if you bolt the LS4 engine to the Northstar transmission...no starter.
As a volvo wagon kinda person I too have these thoughts sometimes.
Then I remember I have a v8 4runner.
obsolete said:
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
LS4, transmission and transfer case from an all wheel drive Northstar engined Caddy STS. Honestly I'd just use the Northstar engine for simplicity...
If you do that, you have to figure out where/how to mount a starter. LS4 starter is on the transmission, Northstar starter is on the engine. So if you bolt the LS4 engine to the Northstar transmission...no starter.
I did not say it was not without flaws. This and the front diff are why I said it'd be easier to use the Northstar engine.
That said, I am pretty sure that I have a way of putting a starter on an LS4. New problem: The front driveshaft wants that space.
Anything is possible. How are your welding and fabrication skills? My first thought is you'll run into space issues quickly - 10 lbs into a 5 lb bag sort of thing.
Any comments are pretty much WAGs until you can get the donor AWD vehicle and start taking measurements.
My general thought would be to go the "Project Binky" route: Modify the Volvo sub frames and sheet metal as required to mount the V8/AWD components. This "should" allow you to tuck everything as tightly into the body as possible and thus avoid the car looking like a Volvo body on top of a truck frame (really tall).
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
obsolete said:
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
LS4, transmission and transfer case from an all wheel drive Northstar engined Caddy STS. Honestly I'd just use the Northstar engine for simplicity...
If you do that, you have to figure out where/how to mount a starter. LS4 starter is on the transmission, Northstar starter is on the engine. So if you bolt the LS4 engine to the Northstar transmission...no starter.
I did not say it was not without flaws. This and the front diff are why I said it'd be easier to use the Northstar engine.
That said, I am pretty sure that I have a way of putting a starter on an LS4. New problem: The front driveshaft wants that space.
Half the reason I posted is that I figured you'd probably already thought of a solution.
Contributing another WAG: I know there are plenty of LS-to-BMW transmission adapters out there, and BMW makes AWD drivetrains. Would it be possible to bolt an LS to the drivetrain of a 3 or 5-something-xi?
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
obsolete said:
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
LS4, transmission and transfer case from an all wheel drive Northstar engined Caddy STS. Honestly I'd just use the Northstar engine for simplicity...
If you do that, you have to figure out where/how to mount a starter. LS4 starter is on the transmission, Northstar starter is on the engine. So if you bolt the LS4 engine to the Northstar transmission...no starter.
I did not say it was not without flaws. This and the front diff are why I said it'd be easier to use the Northstar engine.
That said, I am pretty sure that I have a way of putting a starter on an LS4. New problem: The front driveshaft wants that space.
I have seen a couple of fiero's running northstar's with starter mounting options as well.
But for further packaging ideas that is why I was thinking about s10's originally. There are already documented AWD ls swapped s10's, Sycolne's and typhoons. So I know that all the engine, front diff, drive shaft stuff can work. Just in an S10 body/frame.
In reply to obsolete :
I think transmission adapter's would probably put it over a challenge type budget but I like your thinking. Next question would the bmw drivetrain survive the V8?
