Ghettobird's 850R (or something similar) hunt...

Welcome!
Yeah , tell him he is dreamin....
$2000 to get head done.
Throttle cable ain't cheap new , I had to get one for my R years ago.
$$$ to have spoiler fixed properly.
I expect $2000 would be a lot to pay if it went to auction....
But , someone may come along who knows...

Now if you are after a manual turbo it may be best to build it yourself , there are not many around and demand a premium as such.
@Pom has cars that may be suitable for the swap and will have the parts to do it available too. Or he can find a manual car for you....
L.

Hoppers? Too far!

A_Volvo_Driver;31152 wroteHoppers? Too far!

Yeah!
Bit like Frankston....

We have to have a micro meet Scott....
Sorry to take so long!
L.

Ha!
There is a mint 240 in Yarraville its on Gumtree , was posted here before.
Les.

There was an orange 70's 244 with a corvette 350 + supra 6speed. For sale last year. Melbourne. Wanted 9k. Was vey rough. Although had a few recipts for some work. Said had electronic/magnetic suspension installed. However tried to trace signal wires or power wires. Nothing. Just looked like non adjustables

$6200 is far too much, IMO.

Ex850R;31153 wrote

A_Volvo_Driver;31152 wroteHoppers? Too far!

Yeah!
Bit like Frankston....

We have to have a micro meet Scott....
Sorry to take so long!
L.

My V70 came from Somerville. I caught a train to Footscray and had my dad meet my there and drive me out to Somerville.

T5 and R are both HPT engines. the T models are higher capacity, lower boost.

From an engine point of view, the differences are negligible. Slightly different ECU mapping and there are differences in turbos (on late manual cars) between T5 and R.
Someone can chime in here with the years.

If we are talking about the P80 platform (1993-2000),
Finding a good R is tough. Typically they have all suffered a lack of maintenance by now (they're getting on in age after all). Rs tends to have a few more rattles than a T5 of the same age. Lower profile tyres, 17" wheels and factory firmer suspension and lower ride height all take their toll on bushes and suspension components, interior trim rattles, etc.

My thought is that if you buy an average example as a project car, it probably doesnt matter too much as it's likely you'll address all these on your journey.

Others will disagree, but for a fun project, I wouldnt start with an LPT model.
That said an LPT car with a decent ECU tune will beat a T5 or R in the typical 0-60kmh traffic light drag race consistently.

To get similar to the stock T5 or R performance from a 240 or 740 will cost you a heap of money.
Don't get me wrong, I'll still argue that the 240 is the best Volvo ever made. :)

The anti FWD tribe will chime in at any moment too, but with a bit of work the P80 platform can be made to handle very well as well, but avoid the hype and dont fit a big front swaybar. :)

Internally, the T5 and R engines are identically (year for year).
The T is Low Pressure Turbo.

The wiki link on the engine family seems to be, at a glance, accurate -
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_Modular_engine


(Keep in mind that web based 'knowledge' is often quite US-centric.)

1994-1998 (1999-2000 were ME7 managed with coil-on-plug and ETM) models acheived performance variation through different turbos, injectors and ECU tunes.

A good 240 is still a really fun car to drive though.
One of our customers in the UK is nearly finished a 240 T5 build - its really coming along well. Would definitely be a fun car.

I have had 850R manual wagon with no mods an S70T5 auto with some tune in it and bigger exhaust and it was WAY more fun than the R ever was even accounting for the 16" wheels and not as low as R suspension i preferred the T5 for sure. Bothe with same motor , 2.3 , turbo may have been different.
I have driven a couple of 1990s V70Ts now , 2.4 LPT , smaller turbo and my crrent one is running an ARD 'Green' tune and it has epic low down torque , enoug for wheelspin from standstill with no provocation.
My choice for the V70R 1998 i am fixing up is to dump the 2.3 HPT motor , which is toast anyway and puttinf in a 2.4 LPT with tune , more capacity , higher comp ratio and the tune bumps the thing to 18PSI or so...
Ultimate choice is a later 2.4 from 2000 onwards for the better breathing head ( or just the head on older motor even) you neeed to blank off the VVT variable valve timing on the exhaust side , disabling/removcing the gears/motor but it is easily done and documented on TB or VS forums.
Manual box can be a 6 speed from a Ford Focus XR5 Turbo or Volvo C30/V50 T5 FWD with a bit of work , again , look to VS/TB for who has done it.
I like the auto.....Never liked my 850R manual around town and always let down by the silly 1st-2nd ratio jump that has you out of boost or wheelspinning going nowhere in slow corners like the Great Ocean Road , its race car but the auto just gets on and boogies! Put a good external aftermarket oil cooler on it and regular changes and it will last with more boost.

I want a T5 240

That was my plan for my 245 Wagon...alas , gone to new home , maybe later..

If my budget had been $6k I could have had the 850R and had it resprayed and then done a RIP kit, new suspension bushings and tuned ECU.