RobW
Hi!
I know nothing about Volvos. I don't even have one. BUT, I'm doing up a Mk2 Cortina and looking at putting something more interesting under the hood. To be street legal there's some parameters (under 3.5L, compact/light motor and auto) and I'm keen to know more about the 2.8 V6 PRV motors. I'm hoping somone here can enlighten me. I'm looking for an alloy v6 with good reliability and reasonable power. Ideally I'd like to stick with carburettors but injection is ok. I need it to mate to an auto which is relatively compact in size. Is the PRV the motor I've bene looking for?
Cheers,
RobW
Rob
No, horrible idea.
I think even those of us who don't hate the PRV motors would agree that it is a bad choice.
There are many much better options.
egads
Have to be a v6? Rover V8 ticks all your boxes otherwise.
RobW
Thanks for your honesty Rob! Egads I've just finished looking at the Rover option. I had all the paperwork done but when I bought a clunker to trial fit I wasn't happy with it. I'd have to cut the firewall/trans tunnel to fit it properly and then a whole bunch of other jobs. Still too long and big basically. I'd like to do something other than the usual rice-burner transplant, and I like the larger cube N/A options for hassle free cruising. Any other Volvo motors that might be worth looking at? Alfa Romeo is also on the list of possibilities but they're expensive.
egads
The later inline 6 would probably be too long then as the other choice. Volvo hasn't done the V much.
Ex850R
Redblock Turbo?
volvodriverman
Sign up to turbobricks & look up a fella called John Lane. He's done amazing things with the prv engine.
RobW
So why are the PRV motors such a lemon?
jamesinc
OldnDecrepit
If the inline 6 from the 960 is too long what about getting an engine from an old 164 and doing it up? The you can supercharge it! Rob should be able to help on that.
PaddlerEd
What was the engine that went into the Savage Cortinas? That would be a good starting point for ideas; I've got a suspicion it was the Cologne V6 (or it's predecessor)
But otherwise, the PRV is not one of the finest options, although it did OK in the Renaults by the end as they put twin turbos and 24v heads on them by then.
jamesinc
If you do use a PRV you can also claim it's got the engine from a DeLorean! or an Alpine-Renault GTA!
A_Volvo_Driver
Which is why the DeLoreans were slow :)
volvodriverman
Early ones ate valve trains. The b280 variant is solid enough, impressive looking crankshaft in them & they've even got cross bolted mains. Silky smooth compared to the old redblocks too.
RobW
I'm considering the triton motor too - really want to keep the weight down though. It's still looking and learning at this stage. In the Savage they had the Cologne 3L - hard to find and cast iron. In the perana (south African) they had the Zephyr v6. Both these engines are a bit rare for my liking. Really liked the idea of the early Toyota 3.5L Hemi....but same problem - rare as hens teeth.
Vee_Que
There really is nothing wrong with a prv motor. Ask the Peugeot guys and they love them. There is multiple people who have carbied even fires that make great power. I have one myself but the stock injection lets it down really. asking volvo guys about them is imo not a good idea!
jamesinc
I agree there's nothing terribly wrong with the PRV, but it's weak competition against many of the other V6 motors of the era.