I just noticed a kit to swap a Chevy SB into a Volvo. Has anyone got any personal experience with that? Almost sounds too crazy.

 

Sounds like a waste of a perfectly good motor....

 

There is someone from another set of forums attempting this right now. I was skeptical at first because I didn't know how much room the engine bay had, and I thought the car was FWD.

Turns out it was rear wheel drive, and had the room in the engine bay. I say why the hell not. Its putting decent power behind the car and it would certainly be something to talk about.

 

It may not be TOO hard since Volvo used SBCs as boat motors. They just made them spin backwards and called them Volvos. Kinda says a lot about Volvo huh?

Volvo = Backwards

I remember some years back, the 'easy' and popular swap was to drop a Ford 302 and a T5 in those wagons. David Letterman had one, so you know it had to be 1) Easy to do. 2) Cheap. 3) Crazy....... since he fits each of those descriptions himself.

The story was in either 'Car & Driver' or 'Motor Trend'. I don't remember anymore. That was probably 10 yrs ago.

 

Haven't seen this Chevy kit yet. But have seen a Ford 5.0 EFI from a Mustang in a 91 or thereabouts 240D. Was for sale on Ebay a few years ago.

Brandon

 

http://www.customconversions.com
I found this link on the TPIS site. There's some good stuff on there, including info on smog legal swaps into bunches of different vehicles. Might be worth checking out.
Waste of an engine? ...Maybe, but it would be interesting to talk to someone who's tried it.

 

Jaguars That Run has a swap book on it. I once saw a Volvo wagon (ex-turbodiesel) that had a Ford 5.0 and AOD swapped in. The guy said it fit pretty easily, and the rearend (Dana 44 with 3.90 factory gears) would easily handle it. It was a stock motor, but he was planning to do a silent Vortech S-trim swap to retain the sleeper aspect.

 

in that same book there is a Mustang with a small block chevy in it. they must want that stang to run huh

 

I think RB83L69 summarized it best. It sounds like a lot of work for no good reason.

 

Here's a few good reasons why it's at least worth thinking about:


I have a volvo that needs a motor.

I have an extra smallblock + trans + rearend.

People hound you much less when you're driving a sleeper (ie. cops, other racers).

If I were slick, I could probably do the swap without the wife ever knowing. ...Just changing the oil, sweetie!

It might be fun to drive.

But it isn't an F car , Aw well

 

Jags that Run offers a setup for 200 series and 700 series Volvos.



http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Volvo_200_V-8.html


The concept is cool, but I imagine it will cost a few bucks to do correctly.

S-D

 

Go ahead, build it! Dare to be different.

 

I should have mentioned- a friend of mine put a Ford 302 into a 1970 volvo- I need to get a picture to post. There is nothing subtle about it- the air cleaner sticks out of the hood a good 6". It looks like something you'd see in an old version of "Car-toons" (anyone remember that comic book?).
Will try to get a photo to post this weekend.

The amount of work involved was enormous. Every part had to be custom made. That is how I eventually talked him into building chevy engines instead of fords!

Cheers!
S-D

 

I was hoping I'd be able to talk someone else into going first.

Swerve Driver, The pics sound interesting, might be good for a chuckle if nothing else.

 

Too bad you're in Cali...I'd put that together just for fun, if you supplied the car and parts! Been watching too much Monster Garage lately....

 

Thats the thing , I've got nearly all the pieces and the space to do it and I read last wk. that the swap can be done legally using a tuned port... Gotta do some more homework on this.

 

Get the JTR TPI swap book and the Volvo swap book; the TPI swap book is very good (as is their V8 Datsun Z-car book), and I would expect the same from it. It would probably save you some $ and lots of time in the long run.

 

Not only have I seen one, but raced one at the track. It was a mid 80 volvo station wagon with a 350 in it. Sounded nice but it saw nothing but the tailights on my Z, TWICE.

 

Too bad it was a wagon... It takes two 350s to make one of those go fast.

 

88TBI-
Here is the pic of my friends Volvo.
S-D

 

Man, I really want to do that too.. my parents own a 1983 Volvo 240 TurboWagon. It's been sitting (cause I keep telling them to get it fixed) because it just doesn't run right. I've replaced nearly everything I can think of.. and it still has a huge enigne miss.

The car has over 197 thousand miles, but it's in otherwise great shape. It's been the family car since the car was bought new. Later they got a 1998 850 Turbo Wagon, but I would LOVE to see a 5.0 Mustang engine dropped in there. Their station wagon also has the 4-speed manual with overdrive in it too.

It would be funny as hell. This particular Volvo has the factory wide 15" tires on it too, the 55 series tires. So it's about as ready as it will ever be to drop in a 5.0 in it!

 

If the kit is readily available, it will make it alot easier. Since my friends car is a '70 (or so), there was no kit and it required tons of custom fabrication.
Came out pretty neat though.
The ford motor is not mandatory. He just happened to have it around. I would have liked a 350 in there- would have made it down right dangerous.
On his particular application, he was forced to stick with the stock exhaust manifolds due to clearance and it detracts from power somewhat, but it still moves out pretty good.
I should note that he did this project by himself at the age of 17.

S-D

 

Thanks for all the replies guys.
I'm probably going to do this, but first I'll need a smog legal engine, and that's where I'm at right now.
When I get this motor finished, if another sweet car hasn't found it's way into my life there will be a 330 (327+.030) TPI Chevy/Volvo out there. And I'll probably be wishing that I had a 6 speed...

 

Here's some volvo pics... a 740 I believe. The car was built by JTR publishing. I hope they don't mind me posting them here

 

HAH ! ! Clean ! Thanks, I like the Chevy emblem on the grille too.
I ought to contact JTR, many questions...
I wonder how it is removing the plugs.

 

I go to college at Virginia Tech and i have seen a kid here with a volvo station wagon with a 350...

Didnt see the motor... just saw the guy driving around alot, this thing was very loud on throttle..

 

I have enver heard of people putting a chevy in a volvo but I do not 5.0 fords will bolt up to most volvo station wagons

 

theres a guy here in town that has a '72 240 with a 350 in it. you hear it going by and you think t/a but then you look up and see nissan. it's pretty wicked

 

my mom has a 89 chevy astro!! 350 tpi time

 

There was a volvo forum i was frequenting for a while because I was trying to work out a few kinks in my mom's car. She has a 1998 S90, which is the last rear-wheel drive volvo made. Now if there was a volvo that i'd waste my time with, that would be the one because its a real nice car and it has an IRS. Back to the point, they have a V8 swap section in there and i saw an early '90's volvo 940 wagon with an Lt1 and a 6 speed in it, and it ran like 14.1 with no traction, with a trap of 100 mph. It isn't the best in terms of cost/benefit, but it certainly is unique.