Long shot, but a machinist who I got to machine my head a year ago mentioned he had an old pushrod Volvo engine sitting out the back. I don't know any specifics, didn't even go and look at the engine, but if you're desperate give him a call, and if it sounds promising I can take a look at it as he's just around the corner from me.
Headworks Pty ltd.
408 Neerim Rd, Carnegie VIC 3163
03 9568 5226 (Basil)
Thanks Sam, I've phoned him and it's a single overhead cam engine, not a B20.
Thanks for offering to take a look.
Still looking...
I am going to Melbourne at the end of the week, and may bring one back for further investigation, space permitting.
1971_144GLI am going to Melbourne at the end of the week, and may bring one back for further investigation, space permitting.
Mark Iceton has one, in East Gippsland, still in a car. Compression and current condition unknown. Might be good, might not.
Current engine reconditioning cost and parts is prohibitive. Everything needs replacing or rebuilding. And I mean everything. Good thing I have a spare cylinder head that only needs guides, seats, valves recut! The block and crank are really cactus, bores have water stain from previous seizing of rings and rusting. The PO jamming metric threads into nearly all the Imperial threaded holes has not helped. That's apart from having to find the correct threaded fasteners to replace. There's not a moving part that doesn't need replacing or machining. I suspect oil changes had the same priority as the POs ability to disclose the truth.
Looking for a lifeline! Thanks.
Volvo trash or treasure? On its way to Tassie I
'74 + 120?
1971_144GLhttps://cdn.ozvolvo.org/uploads/776/QHAGIPK4JRP7.jpg
Volvo trash or treasure? On its way to Tassie I
Probably treasure methinks.
The M41 especially. I'd just about offer a gonad for a coarse spline M41....
Couldn't be any worse than what I have right now engine wise. And I've only some bits for an M41 and a case.
But you've bought the parts, they're yours. Not mine.
Good score, well done.
The b20 is six bolt with a 74 big valve carb head. Been in storage for a long time, but looks sound. I have never driven it. If it is good it may work out to be your solution. I don't know the compression yet.
Haven't been able to get to see Angus about the 74 block unfortunately. Hopefully l will be back in a few weeks.
The m41's and other bits are p1800. I have half a dozen m40 on board to make up a couple. how much of an m41 do you have?
Jealous as I want an M41 for my 68 B18 145...it screams on the highway and needs OD.
1971_144GLThe b20 is six bolt with a 74 big valve carb head. Been in storage for a long time, but looks sound. I have never driven it. If it is good it may work out to be your solution. I don't know the compression yet.
Haven't been able to get to see Angus about the 74 block unfortunately. Hopefully l will be back in a few weeks.
The m41's and other bits are p1800. I have half a dozen m40 on board to make up a couple. how much of an m41 do you have?
Thus far, I have an M41 case, with a crook ( corroded ) layshaft or countershaft cluster in place. An output flange to overdrive housing and a fine spline mainshaft and cluster which might/maybe workable. A shifter top with the O/D switch in place.
And a brand new M41 speedo cable, just in case I fall over an M41 that's ready to go. ?
Have tried to source a few bits ( as in O/D unit, solenoid, etc.), been advised it's better to search for a complete, running unit.
I do prefer the "magic wand' shifter and that's an easy fix.
To the engine, yes, it looks sound.
I have my "E" cylinder head at the engine reconditioners, for new guides, exhaust seats, 3 angle valve job.
Only 2 engine machine shops now down south, it's a decaying market. That said, they're busy as!
Safe journeys on the North Island.
richo (@jackafrica) M41 are a great addition in my experience, well worth it, but there are no bargain solutions left. Based on what you say you have so far, and if you can get a J-type overdrive from another box, it would still be another $1200 to get it up and running - still not too bad compared to an import. I am preparing to do a number of m40/41 builds at the moment for other members here, and parts are not getting nay easier to come by I am afraid.
Sorry Greg - these box's make an entirely different car on the highway, however the one in the picture belongs to my parts p1800 (That I will reassemble and sell soonish) , and my spare is probably going to be fitted to my 145 unless I do the m46 conversion, which is very tempting.
Richo, the engine is in Tassie, and I may be going to Hobart later in the week.It has been rebuilt at some point by the look of it. It has been hot tanked (paint missing from rear) and has a newish set of gaskets. The head makes it a bit mix and match, so someone may have been aiming for performance. I don't know what has been done inside. Turns over freely, but noticeable compression, no evidence of internal water, and it appears from the corrosion in the water ways that coolant was used - those run on just water can end up very poor. The head is a desirable un-drilled e - big valve head with no need to cover the injection ports. $500. If you decide it is not for you then return it to me within a week with no damage other than careful dismantling, and I will refund you $400 - keeping $100 for my trouble. Most people have thrown these out and now they are becoming uncommon I fear.
Thanks, I've sent a PM.
If you have a flywheel, I have a starter motor and a bell housing to check the compression.
Of course I also have a compression tester, a battery and some jumper leads.
Happy to come to Launceston to perform a compression test.
Given its unknown condition, that would be the logical progression.
Very grateful for the opportunity, however it has come at a time where I'm now committed to
reconditioning what I have. That said, if it came up trumps, I'd have to consider it.
The oil appears tragically putrid, which would warrant removal of the sump, one main bearing cap and one big end cap, IF the compression test proved positive.
In the PM, contact details were included.
Please, contact me via phone or email.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks again.
Cheers, I will look at your pm when I get a moment today. I will probably pull it down then and decide if it is scrap or worth putting back on the shelf. The oil looks like that version of Castrol magnetic used in the 90s that seems to leave that type of sludge layer in engines it was not designed for - too thin and looks like it partially polymerized on engine internals of old iron engines. Glad your block is better than you first thought.
Thanks, no, my block isn't better, it's well and truly butchered. However, necessity provides impetus and engineering a solution. Add money to the mix and it usually comes together.
Block, crank, head, etc. returned from the machine shop, wallet $2500 lighter.
Now cleaned inside and out then painted.
Waiting on parts to arrive.
Gave up on trying for a good used engine and trying to get images loaded in correct orientation ?
