Engine Swap on a 1999 S80 T6 to newer model?

salhart · Post by **salhart** » 20 Jan 2010, 16:00

Hello All,
I own an old, tired (140K), "in need of a valve job" 1999 S80 T6 and was wondering if anyone out there could advise on dropping in a different S80 engine. I know that the first generation was from 1999-2005 and I assume that not much had changed during that time, engine wise. My hope is to find a wrecker that has a 2004/2005 S80, buy that engine and have it installed? IS there a problem with that and/or what model year engines will adapt to the 1999, tranny and all.

Best Regards,
-Scott

Post by **vegasjetskier** » 20 Jan 2010, 16:07

I believe in later years the engine displacement was larger. If it were me, I'd go with the same engine and transmission that came in the car to avoid mismatched component (ECU, transmission control) problems.

salhart · Post by **salhart** » 20 Jan 2010, 16:17

Thanks for the tip,..... now if only I could find one that only has 30 or 40 thousand miles on it

Post by **vegasjetskier** » 20 Jan 2010, 16:29

Or you could do the valve job and have the transmission rebuilt on what you have now.

dtropnevad05 · Post by **dtropnevad05** » 21 Jan 2010, 14:35

Am I missing something here, I didn't see that you are having any problems with the trans or are you. From the little time I have been poking around it does sound like the Volvo's don't like things being changed in them. I was going to up grade the radio in my daughters S-80 but was told that it would require a software update for the ECM

!

So if that is true I couldn't guess what you would need to do to upgrade an engine and trans. Keep what you have and get it rebuilt, if it only needs a valve job that shouldn't cost to much but then again they want $495 to change a timing belt

!

Don

salhart · Post by **salhart** » 21 Jan 2010, 15:43

Thanks Don,.... No, I am not having any transmission problems at all. I was just sort of wondering, with the non-interchangability you spoke of, could I even get an engine from 2004/2005 S80 to bolt up to it without any issues. Not to mention possible software upgrades, and so on. If I found a newer "wrecker" in the yard, maybe I could pull that?

I have done a lot of maintainance on this car and am also at the point where I am asking myself, "is this all really worth it?". I would love to get a low milege engine, drop it in and go for another 100K miles?!?..

Anyway, the valve job is about $3,500 (mostly labor) at my local shop here in Santa Cruz, CA. I guess if I do break down and spend the money then I will have a pretty reliable car for awhile.

Thanks again,
-Scott