Turbo 5.3 LS Volvo 244

Andy

Hi guys, I bought this 76 244 last year to be my fun little project.

Picking up the car from Sydney. That 27 hour road trip will be something to remember...

We couldn't get the engine started and couldn't be bothered diagnosing the issue. So I installed an iron block LS that will return better fuel economy. In stock form the V8 wasn't going to meet my power needs so I decided to turbocharge it as well.

It's also getting engineered for the road authority's piece of mind.

Cheers, good chat.

Andy

SirNemesis

Good chat.

Klaptrap24

ya gotta do what ya gotta do :D

keen for a fun thread!

GingerNinja

Most excellent.

alphax

Best sleeper colour second only to Beige :D

Vee_Que

Planning for more details and build pictures, or is that it?

Andy

Nah that's it, haven't really taken pics during the build.

Bit of a mod break down:

Engine:
Brand new Gen3 5.3 iron block
Gen4 crank and rods
Speedpro pistons
New lifters, oil pump and gaskets
Modded hummer oil pan
Custom turbo manifolds and cross pipe
Borgwarner S369sxe turbo

Electronics
factory flex fuel GM PCM
Custom Arduino boost control with gear detection, fuel pump control.

Trans driveline:
TR6060 gearbox
McLeod twin plate clutch with flywheel
GT500 4 bolt trans output shaft flange.
Shortened Hilux tailshaft
Shortened 8.8 diff
Reinforced upper and lower trailing arms.

Steering
Late model power steering rack conversion.
Holden astra electro hydraulic power steering pump.

timbo

Badass!

jamesinc

Sweet build. Concise build thread. 10/10 would read again.

What sensor are you using with the Arduino for boost monitoring?

Andy

jamesinc;134969 wroteSweet build. Concise build thread. 10/10 would read again.

What sensor are you using with the Arduino for boost monitoring?

Haha I'll reorganise the build once I'm back from Fraser Island.

With the arduino I'm reading the rpm, map, tps, alcohol content and vehicle speed from the PCMs serial bus. The boost control is closed loop and have been simulating it with Simulink. I'm pretty confident it'll work perfectly. So far there's 1100 lines of c code.

Klaptrap24

How'd you get the 8.8 done?

jamesinc

Klaptrap24;135016 wroteHow'd you get the 8.8 done?

Fabrication my good fellow. There's a couple builds on here that address it, if memory serves @alphax may have done it?

Klaptrap24

jamesinc;135023 wrote
Klaptrap24;135016 wroteHow'd you get the 8.8 done?
Fabrication my good fellow. There's a couple builds on here that address it, if memory serves @alphax may have done it?

cheers boss, I'll check it out :)

Andy

Yeah a friend of mine shortened one side.
Wasn't really a major task.

timbo

While on the topic of 8.8s without going too far off track our local diff shops whinge about the C clip axles of the explorer diff. In the U.S.A your not allowed on the drag strip running less than 11s with C clip axles. Have you guys had any problems with the power your running, did either of you use a C clip eliminators or do you just not run sticky tyres?

Samman88

@timbo these are a disc rear end so no need unless sanctioned.
Looks the goods @Andy , nice work! Should be pretty rapid.

Andy

Plenty cars in the US that weigh significantly more than the 240 are running 9 second passes. 8.8s will be on a holiday under a light Volvo.
I just can't justify 3500 bucks for a 9" when a 8.8 swap costs 750.

Klaptrap24

Andy;135042 wrotePlenty cars in the US that weigh significantly more than the 240 are running 9 second passes. 8.8s will be on a holiday under a light Volvo.
I just can't justify 3500 bucks for a 9" when a 8.8 swap costs 750.

750?! where can I get that??

Andy

Just get an 8.8 from a pick and pull then make a jig, cutout 74mm from one side and weld on the old diff brackets. Also buy a new crush sleeve and Strange pinion yoke.

If you want to rebuild it then the cost will be another 800.

jamesinc

$750 if you can weld properly, otherwise you'd need to get a shop to do the welding for you.