240 turbo conversion

donnie_diamond · Post by **donnie_diamond** » 03 Apr 2010, 05:07

I'm sure this is a question asked and answered a million times, probably never the same.
I want to know if i take the exhaust manifold from a 740 B230ft and bolt it up to my '89 240, will the thing work? More specifically, will the engine management controls already in place allow the extra boost to actually give my 240 'extra boost'? I dont want to crank it up to 12 or 14 psi, in fact i thought of maybe down tuning through the waste gate to only 6-7 lbs. I only know of two things to make this not work- air mass meter and fuel delivery (are there more?) Will the air meter know im pumping more bars, and does it matter. Are the current stock pumps and injectors good enough to handle the increased need (is there actually any extra need?).
Ive got the oil lines figured out, fitment for intercooler etc. I have a near perfect B230f with super low miles and as strong as ive seen and dont want to ruin that by doing something stupid just to satisfy my need to make her run like a past 740 i had when i cranked boost to 17 psi. Man that was fun!
Any help preferably by some one who has done it will be greatly appreciated!

Post by **charlyW** » 07 Apr 2010, 14:00

It's not as simple as bolting a Turbo Charger onto the engine and off you go there is a fair amount of extra work involved like adjusting the compression ratio up or down as necessary, some engines will need stronger pistons and different con rods then you will need some way for the engine management system to adjust the fuel/air mix and then how will you operate the waste gate on the T/C? I have turbo charged a 760 V6 just for fun but it took 6 months of planning and several hundred pounds to get the necessary work done. If you really want to T/C your 240 it might be easier [not more fun or give you a good learning process but easier] to fit the entire 740 engine in then work out the wiring and exhaust.

Compression ratio needs lowering to cope with the extra pressures als

donnie_diamond · Post by **donnie_diamond** » 11 Apr 2010, 20:06

I know it would be 1,000 times easier to do that, but i have seen so many guys out there who have not only bolted one on, but ran them with 13+ psi of boost. I was just wondering if anyone out there on here has done it, and what problems theyve encountered.

Post by **JDS60R** » 11 Apr 2010, 21:10

It will olt up and the turbo will spin but it will not work well. The car will lean out and detonate as you have no turbo control other than the wastegate.

The timing will need to be modified as timing needs to decrease under boost to hold back detonation.
The fuel map will not keep up and the car will lean.

If you take a look at IPD's pages You will see the head of R&D "Mr. Arnold" has recently done this conversion and you can see the steps he has taken.

That being said. The turbo drivetrain bolts in pretty easily and they are very cheap. Charly's idea is a very good one. It also has been done so many times there are lots of notes available. Salvage yards have 940 and 740 turbo's that were smashed in the rear and have reasonable miles. You can buy a car like that for $300 or so. Then take your time doing the swap. Use the guages from the donor car and anything else you need. Then when you are done you pay the yard again to come pick up the shell. They will also take your old motor and trans if you want. ( Me personally - I would keep the drivetrain if I had the space. )

As a side note make sure your rear bushings are in great shape as you will be putting more power than ever before through the rear.

donnie_diamond · Post by **donnie_diamond** » 12 Apr 2010, 02:10

I live in Hawaii, there is ONE volvo of any kind at a yard here, and the only one i know of, and shes picked clean! There are plenty of good used 740 turbos for sale, not bad usually less than $1500, but im in rented house and not really the room to do the work, and you want work done on a Volvo, you have to do yourself. My wife took car to local Volvo dealership after a no start, they charged $289 to diagnose and replace the fuse for the fuel pump! Any local mechanic doesnt work on unless it is 4-wheel drive and 10 feet off the ground or it runs on rice!
I may have to plan on getting a good 740 next time my landlord (and neighbor) goes out of town and quickly yank out motor, rebuild in backyard and swap another time?