TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Mar 04, 2014 7:05 pm

Good evening fellow Samba folks. If you're tired of reading all the "serious" posts here's one for fun and giggles. I love VW's but made the crucial mistake, I bought a Volvo. Yup, she's a beauty, 2002 - AWD - wagon, 115K on the clock, nice interior - beautiful car. Just one tiny little problem ..... The transmission is shot and it's either a $3k or $5k repair. I've had this confirmed by two different Volvo specialty shops in town just to make sure one wasn't trying to pull the wool over my eyes. So now I basically have a donor car, with all the conversions has anyone ever used a Volvo motor?

Feel free to point and laugh :D

Tue Mar 04, 2014 7:12 pm

They've done Volvo engines in Sweden iirc.

there's definately some shoe horning to get an engine that tall and long in a van and retain the bed and or ground clearance.

but it can be done... I've put a eurovan 2.5l 5cyl into a van and kept a flat bed and sufficient ground clearance for most two track roads.

Tue Mar 04, 2014 7:15 pm

Look for a used transmission!!!
There is / was a conversion using the motor from the Volvo 240 series.
That motor was bullet proof, but not the most powerful.

Tue Mar 04, 2014 8:42 pm

$2900 for used - no warranty.
$4800 for reman from the factory with a one year warranty.

That's not including the axle it needs, a broken motor mount and a list of other items that I won't go into :). So anyone have links to articles about this swap?

Tue Mar 04, 2014 10:02 pm

ahh yes, a 240 4cyl motor.

as for examples online.. let me google that for you.
https://www.google.com/search?q=vanagon+volvo+engi...p;ie=UTF-8

Tue Mar 04, 2014 10:46 pm

I didn't do the conversion but I have a Volvo powered '89 Doka out in the driveway. Just got it recently and have not had time to look into getting the motor running properly yet. May keep the Volvo engine in there if I can get it running nicely or maybe swap something else in there.

Some photos at: http://edbee.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/3-syncros/

Interesting thing is I already have someone interested in buying the bellhousing and flywheel should I decide to remove the volvo engine...

Here are some details about the Volvo engine posted by the previous owner of the Doka on a Volvo site: http://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-240-740-940-12/1980-b23a-vanagon-63188/

One thing that crossed my mind (although likely I'd have no time to attempt it) was - would the bellhousing in there now work with newer fuel injected Volvo engines. could be interesting if it would...

Tue Mar 04, 2014 11:15 pm

We're talking two totally different engines here.
The old B12, B23, B230, B230A engines are bullet proof. People doing racing and rallying use to run these engines no matter what brand the car is. Why? Because they are really easy to tweak to several hundred hp's and still just runs, are everywhere here and tuning parts are equally easy to find. Any bad running B2x-engine is nothing but a bad serviced B2x-engine.
I helped a friend to replace a B21 to a B230 and his bus is actually awesome.

The engine Jashv has is a TOTALLY different beast. It's a compact ALU based engine with snug tolerances and high grade specs when it comes to oil etc. This engine is shorter than a B-engine but wider. Like a Subaru swap the cablage must be splitted etc. AFAIK I haven't seen a B52x engine in a swap. I haven't seen one used in other applications either except for replacing another B52 such as a normal aspirated to turbo.

Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:26 am

I've seen plenty of late model Volvos in the Pick-n-Pulls around here. A transmission from one of these places is less than $300.

I'd fix the car. If you think that's expensive, wait until you try to shovel that engine into your van.

Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:46 am

matbe check http://www.car-part.com/

Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:50 am

I worked on a Syncro with a Volvo in it.
Never again :evil:

Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:21 am

I may be on thin ice here, but wasnt there some sort of relationship between the Volvo inline 5 and the Audi inline 5 engines? Or did that only relate to the I5 TDI's? (and the old I6 turbodiesel being common to the Volvo 240/740 and VW LT)

Anyhow, if there is indeed something common, maybe the SA 5cylinder bellhousing can be used? It will be some electric Puzzle though.

Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:28 am

the old Volvo 2.4Diesel & Turbo Diesel share family with the Audi 5cyl engines bought from VAG by Volvo. but I think they're a different pedigree than a modern Volvo engine..

Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:30 am

The one I worked on rattled like a motha....er.

Wed Mar 05, 2014 9:48 am

danfromsyr wrote: the old Volvo 2.4Diesel & Turbo Diesel share family with the Audi 5cyl engines bought from VAG by Volvo. but I think they're a different pedigree than a modern Volvo engine..

That relation is only with diesels, they have noting in common with the gassers.

@insyncro, you have worked with one Volvo engine that apparently was crap, and you keep on working with Vanagon lumps? ;)
I've been part of a replace-those-shitty-Lycoming-engines-in-airplanes project where the replacement was a... Tadaa! Volvo engine! Three airplanes happily cracking around since the mid 90's, still going strong. my friend has two B23's in his racing boat, in total 660 hp.

Search for "Volvo B230 turbo" on youtube, you'll find some crazy stuff.

Wed Mar 05, 2014 9:57 am

svenakela wrote: danfromsyr wrote: the old Volvo 2.4Diesel & Turbo Diesel share family with the Audi 5cyl engines bought from VAG by Volvo. but I think they're a different pedigree than a modern Volvo engine..

That relation is only with diesels, they have noting in common with the gassers.

@insyncro, you have worked with one Volvo engine that apparently was crap, and you keep on working with Vanagon lumps? ;)
I've been part of a replace-those-shitty-Lycoming-engines-in-airplanes project where the replacement was a... Tadaa! Volvo engine! Three airplanes happily cracking around since the mid 90's, still going strong. my friend has two B23's in his racing boat, in total 660 hp.

Search for "Volvo B230 turbo" on youtube, you'll find some crazy stuff.

I am fine with a rebuilt WBX, some Subarus, 1.8ts and the Bostig conversion.
Call me crazy, but I'm fine with those choices and will let others play with unsupported conversions here in the States.
The Volvo conversion I was lucky enough to try and sort was an import from Italy, no comment :wink:

Wed Mar 05, 2014 10:33 am

insyncro wrote: from Italy, no comment :wink:

Ah, that explains it. :D

Wed Mar 05, 2014 10:41 am

<<I'd fix the car. If you think that's expensive, wait until you try to shovel that engine into your van.>>

Now here's some words of wisdom.

If you think that repairing the "Ya-Sure" ride is going to cause you to lose your shorts, wait till you try adapting & shoehorning that engine into your Van.
Ouch--- :roll:

Dream on.

Wed Mar 05, 2014 1:34 pm

That engine should fit a SA bell housing.

Edit: sorry, I was thinking of the 2.5 TDi that Volvo used up until 2001/2002. That is basically the same i5 as used in T4s and Audi 100/A6 (C4). The 2.4 is Volvos own engine (more or less9.

Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:05 pm

I researched the engine for an AC Bus swap a few moons ago.
Seem like nice 'lil power plants.

I keep wanting to think they had trouble with wiring harnesses for a coupla years due to the veggie type plastic that the critters like to munch upon.
Google it.

Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:28 pm

danfromsyr wrote:

https://www.google.com/search?q=vanagon+volvo+engi...p;ie=UTF-8

Having an upright mounted inline engine makes the rear bed in a Westy a minor pita. This much I know. ;)

I know this is about a Volvo I5, but would the above deck height be similar to a 240? (minus that pesky SU carb snout?)

Neil.