How to make my V70 XC powerful?

Post by **CIK7** » 15 Jan 2019, 13:30

Hello all! I'm a newbie here. I would like to know how to make my 98 V70 XC more powerful. I also have questions throughout this. This is a VERY long post.
I know there are exhaust systems, CAIs, tune maps, performance coils (along with water pumps and alternators), transmission upgrades, etc. These are cars I have looked at pertaining to power. 18 HC Type R 306hp/295tq, 08 Impala SS 303hp/323tq. I know the TR has much newer tech and the Impala is a V8. But if an I-4 can push 300hp, then why can't an older I-5 push 500hp? I'm looking for a higher result. 500-600hp, 530-600tq. I believe my stock 2.4T can do a 6.7 or 7.7 second 0-60. Looking for a 4-5 second 0-60 and a 12-14 second 1/4 mile. I have not tested it yet.
1. For the exhaust, the driver side pipe seems to have been cut off flush at the muffler and welded shut. Sounds stupid. My idea is that i could take it all off just after the manifold under the car and install a fresh dual pipe with no cat and a muffler (for legal sound reasons). This means the exhaust would dump somewhere right under the shifter or beside the driveshaft that goes to the rear axle. Thats a lot more breathing I think right?
2. What brand CAI do y'all trust? Is Spectre good? They are more expensive than oem but more affordable than K&N. What brand?
3. Do I have to alter the ECU in any way to get the boost I want? Any cheaper tune OBD2 modules that are not scams?
4. Volvo made a twin turbo 2.8L I-6 for the S80 in early 2000s and I think it eventually made its way in the XC90 when it came out for the first year. Couldnt I somehow fit a 2nd turbo on my I-5?
5. Would i absolutely need to upgrade the piston, piston rings, block, etc?
6. Where would i find the *auto* tranny upgrade parts and what brands to trust?
7. Would doing this power upgrade either A- reduce my towing capacity or B- increase the towing capacity? I ask this because I plan to pull a tiny home cross country and it will be about 3,000-3,200lb. Stock towing capacity is 3,300lb.

TYIA, Mark

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 15 Jan 2019, 14:00

Hello, welcome.

This forum tends to be more maintenance/reliability focused as opposed to performance oriented. You may have better luck on Volvospeed or Swedespeed.

As far as some of your questions... You're asking a lot out of a 20 year old car. I'm not an expert on doing performance stuff on these engines, but I'm pretty confident you will not get anywhere near 500-600 HP without a major complete rebuild. Your 98 engine is not as strong as the 99 and later builds and is designed for a low-pressure turbo. The 4 speed transmissions are robust, but I am very certain that you will totally shell it trying to do anywhere near that sort of power. Not sure that there are any upgrades for it that you could do. Manual swap is probably your only option. You're going to need a huge turbo, cooling solutions, and an ECU tune by someone who knows what they're doing.

What you're asking is essentially going to be a complete rebuild of the car. Trying to add a second turbo? Good luck... That's mostly uncharted territory. Probably won't find anyone here that's done that. Either way, you're gonna spend a ton of cash (which is none of our business if that's what you wish to do).

I've towed heavy weights with my stock (engine/trans/turbo) 2000 XC and it isn't super fun. More HP/torque I'm sure never hurt for towing.

Post by **CIK7** » 15 Jan 2019, 14:05

Thank you so much!

Post by **abscate** » 15 Jan 2019, 14:17

600 HP Volvo here.

Warning - language and text NSFW and do not meet MVS standards of Conduct.

[youtube][/youtube]

Post by **CIK7** » 15 Jan 2019, 14:21

abscate wrote: ↑15 Jan 2019, 14:17 600 HP Volvo here.

Warning - language and text NSFW and do not meet MVS standards of Conduct.

[youtube][/youtube]

Lol ummm is your t5m the 600hp Volvo? What did you do to make ypur Volvo that powerful. Or are you being sarcastic? Edit: Oh I think i get what u r saying. Something i said wasnt according to the website coduct rules. Was it the word i used for the welded exhaust? And what is NSFW? What did I do wrong?

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 15 Jan 2019, 14:39

He's saying the video is of a 600 HP Volvo, and the language and description in it are mildly explicit.

Sommerfeldt · Post by **Sommerfeldt** » 15 Jan 2019, 14:46

Volvo auto transmissions are usually rated for something around 300 whp, but after that you need manual. IIRC, the manuals can handle upwards of 450, but don’t quote me on that.

The stock engines can safely handle around the same as the auto transmissions, but upwards of around 310, you’ll need to start upgrading the internals. I’m the case of the 2.4, you need to look at compression ratios and all that mess, since it’s made for LPTs.

That said, there are quite a few 450+ Volvo’s around, and lots of products to help you get there. A google search for your car and “build” will probably net you a few good examples. I do remember seeing an S60 with twin turbskies a while back, but I think that one blew up and disappeared... in general, that seems like a severely complicated route with relatively low payoffs, especially for a 5 cylinder inline.

- S

Post by **CIK7** » 15 Jan 2019, 14:48

Sommerfeldt wrote: ↑15 Jan 2019, 14:46 Volvo auto transmissions are usually rated for something around 300 whp, but after that you need manual. IIRC, the manuals can handle upwards of 450, but don’t quote me on that.

The stock engines can safely handle around the same as the auto transmissions, but upwards of around 310, you’ll need to start upgrading the internals. I’m the case of the 2.4, you need to look at compression ratios and all that mess, since it’s made for LPTs.

That said, there are quite a few 450+ Volvo’s around, and lots of products to help you get there. A google search for your car and “build” will probably net you a few good examples. I do remember seeing an S60 with twin turbskies a while back, but I think that one blew up and disappeared... in general, that seems like a severely complicated route with relatively low payoffs, especially for a 5 cylinder inline.

- S

Thank you! Very nice.

Post by **matthew1** » 15 Jan 2019, 14:49

Abscate was talking about the video.

The problem with making so much power as you want is just as much everything else as it is the engine. Let's say a Wizard came along and made your engine put out 550hp. Your first WOT pull would vaporize all four axles within 10 feet. You'd fix those by putting in some very HD axles, and you'd go back out and do another WOT pull and blow the transmission. You'd rebuild the transmission with HD parts, then go back out and finally get in some nice WOT fun. Some time in the first hour of this fun, your brake lines would burst from all the heat of slowing that car down from such high speeds, because when you've got lots of power it's impossible to keep your foot out of the throttle.

In other words, you'd have so much stuff to upgrade you'd be working on it for months before you got to the engine.

All this is why you don't see any 500hp+ XC70 cars.. because by the time you do the math, writing a $10k check to make a $2k car go faster makes no sense. 100/100 people get a used Mustang GT (or whatever) to do this with, because it's more than halfway there already.

Sommerfeldt · Post by **Sommerfeldt** » 15 Jan 2019, 14:54

Except over here, Matthew... a Mustang GT would cost me upwards of 150k dollars for a 2017, and something like 50k+ for an older one in good shape with a V8. So we tinker with our aging turbobricks.

- S