Alastair
I have recently bought a car with a straight 6 Volvo engine from the early 1970s.
Can anyone tell me if they have hardened valve seats or do I have to use an additive in the petrol?
Thanks
Alastair
carnut1100
Not hardened.
Hard seats can be fitted, last quote I had was $350 to do a straight six.
Alastair
Many thanks, Carnut1100. I shall have to buy the additive for now!
Alastair
carnut1100
You can get dosing kits that you plumb into the fuel line for flashlube.
I've actually got one in a 240 although the 240 motor has hardened seats. Previous owner didn't know that...
Vee_Que
Only the 75 American b30 and b20f had hardened exhaust seats.
Alastair
That's interesting, Vee Que, because all the Marcos 3 litre automatics were made for a disastrous foray into the American market where the importer went bust. Several autos made their way back to UK or different parts of the world. However, there were 5 made for the UK market and this is one of them.
The engine no is 54/8520. Does anyone have records of the specs for US production 164s and what their engine numbers may be?? Bit of a long shot I know but there are some very knowledgeable people out there!
Thank you
Alastair
Vee_Que
They are the b30f motor, where are you located?
Alastair
I am in Cromer NSW on the northern beaches of Sydney (God's Country) Is there someone up here who might be able to verify if it is a B30f motor or is there a specific marking on it somewhere? The car was originally built in 1971.
Alastair
deleted_user_160
Built in 71, I would imagine it's not.
(Unless fitter aftermarket)
Alastair
Looks like Valvemaster, here we come then!
Check my Avatar and you'll see hte motor
Thanks for our reply Jay.
Alaastair
Spac
My brain is not in gear, but IIRC:
Early 164s were all twin carb B30.
From 1971 (maybe 1972), the 164E was available as an up spec model, with the B30E motor and Bosch D-jetronic EFI. You could still buy a base spec 164 with twin carbs, but it seems that relatively few Aussie buyers bothered.
In the USA, they got the B30F from whenever ULP was introduced there. I THINK these never had carbs. The Americans also seemed to have some late 164s fitted with Bosch K-jetronic mechanical injection, but I've never seen/heard of one in Australia, and I don't recall seeing a photo of one (just repeated mentions on forums).
Valve saver is not a waste of time, but it is significantly over-rated, particularly in cars that aren't driven hard. Lots of people who have run Jap/Euro cast iron heads on straight ULP have reported no sign of valve seat recession even over 100,000km.
In contrast, those that insist the sky will fall in without it, seem to be relying exclusively on internet hearsay, and have zero practical experience to report.
Spac
Also worth noting thatB30Es all have injector holes in the horizontal part of the head, next to the intake manifold. Even if the motor has been converted to carbs, these holes will show that it is a B30E (or B30F?) head.
Alastair
Hi Spac
I am an old f*** so won't be driving it hard as I am into life preservation these days! Very amusing your comment about internet hearsay and the sky falling in!
The motor definitely has 2 carbs on it so is not the K-tronic of J-tronic one.
Alastair
Spac
I'm pretty certain that makes it not a ULP ("F") motor.
egads (she/her)
Going from the years Marcos were around unlikely to be hardened seats but maybe if they were pushing only in California they might have specced hardened ones from Volvo maybe?
