Volvo 740 GLE upgrade

SniperC4007 · Post by **SniperC4007** » 06 Jun 2005, 22:59

I noticed that my 86' 740 GLE has 114HP, and that the turbo model has 160HP with the same engine, B230F, i believe. Can i simpley install a turbo or do i have to change alot of parts in the engine?

another thing, ive seen other volvos witha different taillight, instead of 6 square lookin talilight its like 3 horizontal rows which i like much much better. If i were to find those could i just swap taillights or the frame is different and wont allow me to do that?

adrianpike · Post by **adrianpike** » 07 Jun 2005, 08:17

You can put a turbo on your N/A engine.
There are a few problems.
-You have no oil return bung.
-You have higher compression than a turbo engine.
-Your fuel map isn't geared for boost.

Nonetheless, this is a fairly common procedure among those of us who desire more power. As far as the oil return, drill and tap the oil pan, and weld in a return, as far up as possible, or tap the block if you're willing. 1/2" NPT seems to be an acceptable number.

As far as the compression goes, the solution is simple. Don't run huge amounts of boost, and be very careful to watch for detonation.

The fueling gets more complicated. You can swap over the entire fuel system from a B230FT, or you can go with a piggyback controller, or you can go with a fully standalone system. I went with the third method, but they're all difficult in their own ways.

Visit Turbobricks, there are quite a few people who've done the swap. It's called an "F+T". Search as much as you can before you ask, as well.

SniperC4007 · Post by **SniperC4007** » 18 Jun 2005, 18:58

What can I do to add some power to my engine? any adjustments? im not planning to do anything major to the car.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 24 Jun 2005, 11:19

SniperC4007 wrote:What can I do to add some power to my engine? any adjustments? im not planning to do anything major to the car.

The usual ricer mods are good for +10HP on the ass dyno, and half of that is due to the extra noise. A cam is an excellent start. iPd's is good, but if you're more on a budget, cams can be found for much much cheaper (I got my B cam that's going in the new engine for $free.fifty-free). For N/A power, the K is hard to beat. It's what I'm running in my tired B21.
I've seen mixed results from higher-flow air filters. It's not really worth anything on the real dyno, but it's worth a bit on the butt-dyno. An exhaust will give you a bit more top end power.
Without doing a fair bit of work, though, N/A power is a lost cause. To make any real NA power, the formula is pretty proven:
-High compression, strong internals
-Big Valves.
-Good port work.
-Big bumpstick.
-Good tuning.

If you really want to go fast on a budget, though, look towards boost.

Losing weight is a much easier way to go faster, up to a point. Do you really need a spare tire and jack for short, fun, jaunts around town? Do you really need everything rattling around in the back? What about sound deadening?

SniperC4007 · Post by **SniperC4007** » 11 Jul 2005, 20:47

B230F: fuel injection low compression version

This is the engine that i have in my car, low compression thats good for forced induction right?

adrianpike · Post by **adrianpike** » 12 Jul 2005, 11:21

SniperC4007 wrote:B230F: fuel injection low compression version

This is the engine that i have in my car, low compression thats good for forced induction right?

What year B230? If it's in your 86, than it's got the skinny rods, which tend to bend/break under high boost. Stock levels of boost are fine.
The F's still have higher compression than the FT's, and not near low enough to make a heavily boost-dependent engine, although there is a bit of a revolution going on with regards to high-compression turbo's. Basically if you can increase squish and get the mix nice and turbulent, the flame front will propagate fast enough so you don't detonate with the higher SCR (static compression ratio).

SniperC4007 · Post by **SniperC4007** » 13 Jul 2005, 09:41

i dont like the word detonate!

makes me not want to touch my engine.... Im selling it soon so It wont matter anymore

Elvis · Post by **Elvis** » 15 Jan 2006, 11:57

I have a 740 GL 1990 model with a B230F engine

and I as many others, I would like to add a Turbo and start some tuning on the engine...

but I have a problem, couse if the B30F engines are fithed in the 760 models, I wounder if my best option is to actually just buy a new B30FT engine and install it into my 740 Volvo

???

couse the 740 and the 760 models are pretty mutch the same, arent they?

will any of these engines fith into my 740 model:
B234FT
B230FT
B30FT
???

without moving the engine mounts?

andreas · Post by **andreas** » 06 Apr 2006, 10:55

If you want your b230f or fb to move a bit faster then try this recipe
First by a 531 head and port the exhaust and put a 38mm exhaust valve in.
Get a header that will match the porting of the head.
Deck the head 1mm-2mm.
You should also get a vx3 (Volvo b230fb), h (Volvo 240glt), v15 (enem) or kg0001 (kgtrimning) Cam. The

bweber · Post by **bweber** » 16 May 2006, 07:50

Hi Andreas,
I like the recommendations that you made above. I'm thinking about buying a pristine 1990 740 GL but would love to have a little more power than 114hp. I know nothing about mods...how much would your list above cost?
Thanks!
Brook