Fitting a 20v 98 head to a 20v 99 engine

[egads]

Hi all, just wondering if a 2.5 20v head from a 98 will fit on a 20v 99 engine? I know coils may need some work to be able to secure them and not sure on if cams will need swapping or other timing belt shenanigans. So, doable?

[Ozark Lee]

The Aussie models tracked more with the European models than the North American cars. The model years are often one year ahead of North America. The one year distinction gets important between 1998 and 1999 since the engines went from a typical throttle body engine with a distributor in 1998 to a electronic throttle module equipped car with coil packs in the 1999. The 1999 also has CVVT which is a difference in the head. I'm not sure about a 2.5 liter, we didn't have a 2.5 in either 1998 or 1999.

The CVVT moves from either the intake cam on a normally aspirated engine to the exhaust cam on a turbo engine.

Long story short, if the 1998 head has a CVVT valve that is on the same cam as the 1999 then it should work fine.

...Lee

[precopster]

Have to disagree with Ozark on a couple of points. The NA 99s didn't have CVVT at all. This is also reflected in the North American market. CVVT began with NAs in the 2000 model year with the B5244S and five speed auto. If it's non turbo and '99 it will be a B5254S and will have castings for CVVT which aren't in use. Also we were only early here in the release of the P2 series by around 8 months and they ran alongside the earlier models in a model runout campaign. I receive ETMs for repair here and so far apart from the P2s the earlier cars are lineball with US models year for year when the ETMs donor cars are described by VIN.

When I was putting together my '99V70 project car I had a play with the 850 head and was comparing it to the 99.

You can adapt an 850 20 valve head to a 99; the coil pack threads are already tapped. The whole timing system is different and the 850 head is taller so you"ll require the old hydraulic tensioner style system and engine covers because the 99 cover is attached where one of the hydraulic tensioner bolts was tapped. Cam sprockets have the same number of teeth between both.

The other issue is how you get the later cam sensor (Denso) to pickup from a 850 cam as the the later cams have a unique notch machined in the end which the 850s don't have. It will still run but you need to duplicate the setup exactly. You can't put 850 cams in a 99 head as the journals are in a different position at the front side.

Also the engine's torque mount setup will need to be sourced from the earlier car. As far as accessories you can run the later accessories because they are mounted on the block and have no interplay with the head.

Another issue is the port matching for the manifolds. The ports are much larger on the 99 and use a different gasket. If the 850 head is a VVIS head with the variable intake system the ports will be closer in size but actually LARGER than the 99s ports. In OZ we ran 20 valve VVIS heads until '97 on 850s as opposed to the kidney shaped later and smaller ports.

If you're in Melbourne I can assist with the 99 rebuild so let me know if you need help.

[Ozark Lee]

Thanks Mike,

I live in a constant state of confusion on what happened on what year when it comes to the European models. In general terms, were the '99 and '00 models the same worldwide, year for year?

...Lee

[egads]

Have to disagree with Ozark on a couple of points. The NA 99s didn't have CVVT at all. This is also reflected in the North American market. CVVT began with NAs in the 2000 model year with the B5244S and five speed auto. If it's non turbo and '99 it will be a B5254S and will have castings for CVVT which aren't in use. Also we were only early here in the release of the P2 series by around 8 months and they ran alongside the earlier models in a model runout campaign. I receive ETMs for repair here and so far apart from the P2s the earlier cars are lineball with US models year for year when the ETMs donor cars are described by VIN.

When I was putting together my '99V70 project car I had a play with the 850 head and was comparing it to the 99.

Yup, cool. Glad I will dodge that bullet then.

You can adapt an 850 20 valve head to a 99; the coil pack threads are already tapped. The whole timing system is different and the 850 head is taller so you"ll require the old hydraulic tensioner style system and engine covers because the 99 cover is attached where one of the hydraulic tensioner bolts was tapped. Cam sprockets have the same number of teeth between both.

Luckily have a full timing kit for the old style so that should be able to sort that and I had a broken cover on my 99 so whacking on the old style is good.

The other issue is how you get the later cam sensor (Denso) to pickup from a 850 cam as the the later cams have a unique notch machined in the end which the 850s don't have. It will still run but you need to duplicate the setup exactly. You can't put 850 cams in a 99 head as the journals are in a different position at the front side.

Okay, noted and will do. Machining the notches shouldn't be too hard.

Also the engine's torque mount setup will need to be sourced from the earlier car. As far as accessories you can run the later accessories because they are mounted on the block and have no interplay with the head.

Earlier torque mount will be an easy swap and glad to hear the accessories will not need swapping.

Another issue is the port matching for the manifolds. The ports are much larger on the 99 and use a different gasket. If the 850 head is a VVIS head with the variable intake system the ports will be closer in size but actually LARGER than the 99s ports. In OZ we ran 20 valve VVIS heads until '97 on 850s as opposed to the kidney shaped later and smaller ports.

If you're in Melbourne I can assist with the 99 rebuild so let me know if you need help.

Sounds like it will be die grinder time and time to practice my port matching and might as well clean everything up while I am there. Is a 98 so should be the smaller which will make it easier.

I am getting an almost complete 98 V70 as my donor from one of the dudes on OzVolvos so should have all the fiddly little bits for the conversion too.

[precopster]

Ok then some pics to spur you on

The manifold is a 99 with ETM and that is a VVIS intake gasket. You will be die grinding your head, not the manifold as the ports in the later heads are smaller than the 99

In our case we placed a 99 head on a 850 block. We had to weld extra support points for the later accessory bracket onto the block

[precopster]

Thanks Mike,

I live in a constant state of confusion on what happened on what year when it comes to the European models. In general terms, were the '99 and '00 models the same worldwide, year for year?

...Lee

As I don't reside in Europe and don't visit the European forums I have as many clues about this as you do, Ozark. I drive a 2000NA V70 which has VVT on intake but the written off 99 NA V70 that I owned for 18 months had no VVT at all and from American forums this coincides.

[egads]

Awesome, thanks for the pics. Anything needed on the exhaust side?

[precopster]

I'm not sure as I used original head on 850 (modified) block. The angle of the head face and position relative to the exhaust system may be different, you'll have to see for yourself.

[mikealder]

For UK/ Europe:

99 and 00 N/A V70 in the UK used the DENSO engine management with variable valve timing on the inlet side, a five separate ignition coils with no distributer or HT leads, they also had the pathetic ETM.

99 and 00 Turbo in the UK used the ME7 engine management with variable valve timing on the exhaust side, five separate ignition coils with no distributer or HT leads, they also had the pathetic ETM.

It gets even more muddled up when you combine the engine and gearbox, some had the four speed, some had the five speed, the only way to tell what is fitted is by looking at the car in question - Mike