Modifying the 240 volvo

brando_240gl

Hey new to this forum hope i haven't posted in the wrong section.

I have recently purchased my first volvo and unsure of what direction to take and i am looking for advice from people on this forum who have done lots of different things too the 200 series volvos.

Having owned alot of older Australian cars like old holdens, fords and a valiant then going into Japanese imports i wanted to try out a volvo

So im looking at turbocharging the B230 in it but having to put a stronger gearbox in (T5 or getrag/w series) and do alot of modifications like putting a trigger wheel on the front of the motor, exhaust manifold needs to be made also a decent ecu like a haltech or Link and so many other little things.

Just looking at other options like a engine that's already turbocharged for example rb25det (needs a rear sump engine mounts etc) or anything really but i still would like to run a volvo engine but living in a rural area volvo stuff isn't that easy to find so not sure what to do?

thanks for reading if you made it this far haha

ToomanyVolvos

What part of northern NSW? I know there was a guy in Nimbin who called himself the head of the HIV association (hippies in Volvo's) who was always trading and dismantling good stuff.

brando_240gl

Oh really im near Byron Bay so that would be great haha

brando_240gl

Is he on here or could you pm me his contact details?

ToomanyVolvos

I met him via eBay a few years back. He sold me an M46 - which I stuck in the back of an aircraft I flew back from Lismore.... Now in my 242Gt.

He had all sorts of stuff for sale regularly on eBay and was quite passionate about the cars - if your in Byron you'll no Doubt locate him as a source of parts. I don't have contact details unfortunately - I'll dig through the eBay history.

brando_240gl

Thanks mate ill ask some people i know i should be able to find him

jamesinc

I'd start by just doing a +T on the setup you have, or a +T and manual conversion, and save the bigger mods like the T56, ECU, trigger wheel, etc, for later. Starting with a +T means you don't even have to pull the engine, and it'll sort out a bunch of small issues like how you're going to cool it, intake ducting, intercooler mounting, etc, that are less about parts availability and more about just working out how you want to set it up. It's also cost-effective, the parts for a +T (cam, turbo, manifold, ducting, Volvo intercooler) shouldn't set you back more than a couple hundred.

Once you've done that/are bored of cheap power, you can buy a second redblock and build it up on the stand while still enjoying your car. Or go crazy and put an RB25 in it which as the forum administrator I wholeheartedly support.

Vee_Que

You don't need a front timing sensor for a b230, I for one room drill any flywheel needed to suit the lh 2.4 trigger pattern.

You can use stock ecus for modified turbo applications if you have a 89 on 240, 86-88 use an earlier ecu that you need to replace the ignition ecu and wiring to use turbo 740 parts.

The factory manifolds from the 1990 on 940s flow pretty well once ported, with not much work you can fit even the stock downpipe from a 740/940.

A t5 is the easiest swap to do now. Getrags address great if you are using it for a race car, fifth gear is 1:1, and they aren't as strong as people think, more importantly, they are expensive. A w55/58 is expensive too due to age of the box.

Adaptor plates are available locally as are clutches to suit the t5 that will handle good power.

An rb25det with a 25 gearbox is going to cost at least 3k, for the money you would have a turbo Volvo with a t5 and good Clutch if you are willing to do the work yourself.

brando_240gl

Yeah im still trying to make a decision on what im doing but thanks for the info that helps a great deal will be posting an update soon

Slowbrick

How about a different view. Instead of just giving your car more power, why not do what most people never do. Brakes, suspension and in general doing all the other "boring" stuff that can make your car pleasant to drive.

Vee_Que

Actually. I do that first....

Slowbrick

Most people.

morgan

@brando_240gl I did / had done lots of modifications on my 240 turbo , and just move to kingscliff northern nsw from Melbourne , I sadly no longer have the car ( gone back to valiant ) but if your close by I’m happy to have a chat

brando_240gl

Slowbrick;125824 wroteHow about a different view. Instead of just giving your car more power, why not do what most people never do. Brakes, suspension and in general doing all the other "boring" stuff that can make your car pleasant to drive.

I didn't mention the suspension because i had that already sussed out. Going bc coilovers and some dvs stuff along with the rx7 calipers on the front.

Oh and i do agree that suspension and brakes should be addressed before making power and sadly alot of people don't do that haha

brando_240gl

morgan;125853 wrote@brando_240gl I did / had done lots of modifications on my 240 turbo , and just move to kingscliff northern nsw from Melbourne , I sadly no longer have the car ( gone back to valiant ) but if your close by I’m happy to have a chat

Yeah mate sure i have owned 2 valiants few years back in my last one (1981 cm) i put all new koni shocks around and got a huge front swaybar from whiteline for it handled really good

Tassie6er

My brother and I race an RT replica - here is the most important ingredient!

brando_240gl

Tassie6er;125880 wroteMy brother and I race an RT replica - here is the most important ingredient!

Nice! 265 hemi e49 spec?

Mine was just a stock 265 with baby cam and 4 speed manual went really well though

Vee_Que

morgan;125853 wrote@brando_240gl I did / had done lots of modifications on my 240 turbo , and just move to kingscliff northern nsw from Melbourne , I sadly no longer have the car ( gone back to valiant ) but if your close by I’m happy to have a chat

You paid for it though, without fully taking advice. What compression was on the motor you paid to have built for instance?

TerryA

Brandon I'm the process of converting to a B230FT in a 86 240. I'm keeping the factory LH2.2 ATM. I purchased a 88 740T and used all the parts in that. The following people have offered the world of advice as I've gone along. Duncan was great with info with the EZK integration as I have the standard Chrysler ignition. James conversion on his white 240 was great to watch. You will need to swap out the intermediate shaft and relocate the dizzy. Angus was able to provide an intermediate shaft. I have swapped out all of the soft parts while the engine is out. Within the next week or two I'm going to have the motor in then finish off. My advice start simple get it running then go to town with the mods. Watch and learn from the guys on the forum. I'm lucky in Perth to have a great group of members who are willing to help each other. Its doable by yourself but just take your time.