I'm new to this forum, but I hope this is in the right section.

I have a 87 240 dl wagon that I got from a friend for free, aesthetically it's in sub par condition, but that just gives it character. The engine runs perfectly, as it is a volvo, but it's really slow. I'm on a tight budget, but I'd love to work on the engine and learn about it more, so I was wondering what kinds of things I could do to make it faster.

Hi! I have a 1990 240, so it's a little different (fuel injected), but I'd imagine the basics are the same. Volvo already has a "cold air" style intake on the car, it's actually better than most manufacturers stock intake, so I wouldn't waste time trying to find an afermarket intake system. You're better off going with a K&N filter. Also, check out IPD, they have some good exhaust systems. I put the cat-back sport sytem on mine, and it sounds good, not too loud and tin-canny like some of the import cars, but loud enough to notice. It increases the pipe size, and eliminates one of the mufflers ( Volvo uses two mufflers, one under the pssenger rear seat, one at the back). It's cheaper than a stock exhaust from the dealer, and very easy to install. There are probably more places to buy sport upgrades, just check around online, and before you buy, check with this forum. Someone here should be able to help! Good luck!

http://www.ipdusa.com/ProductsCat.aspx?Cat...4705&RootID=629

Is that the one? I don't know much about cars. At all. Thanks for the information though.

Welcome

How much do you want to spend and how fast do you want to go?

T2P

Yeah, that's the one I bought. The parts department at my local dealer actually recomended that site when I went in to buy a replacement for my stock one. It fits in the same hangers as the stock one, and is clamped togeather. If you are even semi-mechanicaly inclined you can do it yourself (or better yet with help from a buddy) with just a couple of wrenches. Also, some kind of penetrating lubricant sprayed on the stock bolts 5 or 10 minutes before you wrench on them will save some frustation when trying to remove them. If you do get this exhaust, or one similar, make sure all the pieces are properly aligned and fit well before you tighten the clamps fully. Once those clamps are tight, it's almost impossible to re-position the pieces, as they actually indent the pipe.

A very simple solution for factory bolt on plug and play results is to find a 240 turbo donor car and swap the turbo parts over. You can find these cars rotted out all over the Northern US and Ontario for peanuts and the motors are usually decent being a Volvo and all. Then you can get creative with the wastegate and intercooler etc... and scare the crap out of the ricers with your 200+hp brick. Good luck sleeping tonight...

Didn't even think of that. That's an awesome idea. And it's probably going to lead me all over trying to find one of those cars.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1982-Volvo-...1QQcmdZViewItem
I just checked ebay and the first one I saw was $750 but it looks to be in good shape. I imagine you can use your local classifieds and a bit of patience to find one around your area. They're out there -go get'em!

I could just search junkyards right? Or there are some turbo parts on ebay, how hard would this job be anyways?

Welcome Alex,
The turbobricks web site has a lot of information on these types of conversion.
http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=52466
Junk yards will be the most cost-effective way of doing this. I'd avoid buying individual engine parts on ebay unless you can't get them locally.
As far as making the turbo conversion, you have 3 basic options:
1. Install a B21FT from a 240 Turbo. To do this you will either have to retro-convert your car to the earlier K-Jet injection system or convert the injection system to Megasquirt.
2. Install a B230FT from a 740 or 940 Turbo/SE. Get a 1990 on engine, as these are stronger. You will have to switch the 740/940 distributor to a 240 one and install the entire LH Jet system, including computers from the donor 740/940. This is really the best option, but can get costly.
3. Install a turbo on your existing B230F. The above link gives details on this. You can make a really cool or a really Frankenstein 240, depending on which parts you can get. The big problem is the oil return to the sump, which has to be fabricated. Also you start with a higher compression engine and I think the conrods on the 1987 B230F are thinner that the 1990-1994 B230FT, so I'd keep the turbo boost levels at the factory settings.
Hope this helps.

hi im a 1989 240 gl owner and i am going to do a turbo conversion to it. i wanted to kno what volvos matching parts to my engine like a exhaust manifold. will a 740 or 940 engine have the right parts for my conversion? and i also need the ecu's. what car can i get those off of to plug right into mine. thanks -chase

just confirming that the conrods are thinner up to abt '90. certainly on my '88. Oil return from where, the turbo?

Fast Volvo-sounds like an oxymoron to me.

Yes the 1985-1988 B230F engines had thinner 9 mm conrods. 1989 on had the 13 mm rods. FYI the B23F engines (1983-4) were very robust.
The oil return is from the turbo. The factory B230FT had a return drilled in the side of the block but most people who add turbos fabricate a return into the oil pan. I had a 1988 740 turbo with intercooler and that car was fast.
On the exhaust manifold, any of the 240/740/760/780/940 turbo manifolds will work but as a rule of thumb, the newer the better. The 1989 240 has LH2.4 fuel injection, so an ecu from a 740/760 with LH2.4 would be the simplest to use for a factory turbo set-up. You can use a later ecu if you are able to splice the wiring harnesses together. If you simply want to add a turbo your existing ecu will work.

Also pump your tires to max recommended pressure, get rid any excess weight - junk, heavy tools kits, half fill the fuel tank etc, change the engine oil and put in new spark plugs.

GM

I know it sounds silly, but they DO exist... Beware the Moose.