850, take the NA out and replace with a Turbo?

woodsytf · Post by **woodsytf** » 31 Jan 2016, 18:27

My N/A 1995 850 wagon has 275k miles + and the valve stem are leaking a bit and the old thing just doesn't GO like she did when i bought it at merely 103k miles..
There is a fella selling his mis-matched 850 sedan nearby and it has a 1997 turbo engine in it with only 70k miles.
(i would need to buy his complete car, he doesn't want to sell the engine only, but the price is a reasonable deal for a decent salvage motor)

Can I replace my hi-mileage N/A engine with this younger Turbo? What about the different transmissions?

Thanks for your time!

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 31 Jan 2016, 18:53

Not easily... That swap gets pretty deep.

The general consensus is:
If you want a Turbo? Buy a Turbo!

woodsytf · Post by **woodsytf** » 31 Jan 2016, 18:59

hmm... well, fudge. perhaps i'm a bit naive, i imagine its a large job even if its a 1-to-1 swap, does a turbo car have a different wire harness?
i sorta want to keep the car and if i rebuild the head or replace it with a remanufactured one... i guess i wonder about my chances with rebuilt heads and gaskets, etc... i have read so many posts about leaks and such after fixing heads.

Klausc · Post by **Klausc** » 31 Jan 2016, 19:23

The trannies are the same, but the wiring is different. The 97 has SAS, yours has EGR. The turbos have traction control, yours doesn't. By the time you swap everything, it will be 2017. This question has been asked many times, and it is just not worth the effort.

Replace the valve seals, all 20 of them, a back breaking job if the head is left in the car, but doable in a weekend.

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 31 Jan 2016, 20:06

It has been done, but it is a tremendous amount of work. The engines are so similar, yet so different at the same time.

Post by **tryingbe** » 31 Jan 2016, 20:24

woodsytf wrote:My N/A 1995 850 wagon has 275k miles + and the valve stem are leaking a bit and the old thing just doesn't GO like she did when i bought it at merely 103k miles..

Compression numbers? Stage 0 done?

woodsytf · Post by **woodsytf** » 31 Jan 2016, 20:46

i have been meaning to check the compression numbers for a few weeks now... I haven't i done a compression test on my 850 THIS weekend because i spent yesterday under the hood trying to find my no-cranking problem that showed up when i wanted to run to the grocery for some coffee (i cant believe i'm out of coffee again!). anyways... my PNP was kaput, the swing/sweep arm was broken, AND it was a Volvo OEM PNP replaced two years ago....ugh!
anyhow, i'm gonna see if i can i can turn one up in the area salvage lots. and THEN it's time to check compression on the ol' 850.

i'm not gonna put a turbo in, but if my compression number are good enough, i'll see if my uncle will help rebuild the head.

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 01 Feb 2016, 07:40

Save it and fix it if you can... the miles are up there, but there's a good feeling that comes with keeping a very high mileage car on the road.

Post by **rspi** » 01 Feb 2016, 08:08

woodsytf wrote:Can I replace my hi-mileage N/A engine with this younger Turbo? What about the different transmissions?

Some have but I would never do it.

The wire harness is different, ECU, etc. The transmissions are different, the clusters are different, and more. In '96 they went to a different ABS system which adds another level of complexity.

People are literally giving these cars away. I would not put myself through trying to swap/convert a NA to turbo.

woodsytf · Post by **woodsytf** » 26 Feb 2016, 11:25

i finally pressure tested. i'm not gonna swap in a turbo into my N/A car, but i'm probably gonna rebuild the head.
she smokes at traffic lights and while idling warm too, and the EGR valve is plugged shut. a few weeks ago i put on four new rotors & pads with two calipers, a new control arm and steering boots. transmission a few years ago, a radiator and hoses, a headliner about 5 years ago, door stays before that, shock mounts, fans inside and under the hood, belts, hoses, water-pump, vacuum hoses and related seals, half-shafts... the only thing i haven't seen is inside her block. i belong to this wagon and this wagon belongs to me now.... let's see how far we can go!

DRY RESULTS WET RESULTS
1) 170 1) 255
2) 165 2) 245
3) 175 3) 255
4) 165 4) 235
5) 125... 5) 185...