How fast is a 850 Turbo?

Post by **phils94850** » 15 Oct 2006, 07:17

on my 94 850 the stock boost gauge only went into the white barely until i added a MBC and i added a aftermarket boost gauge and now im boosting around 12psi and my stock gauge goes about 3/4 into the white. BIG difference in performance for a small amount of money for the MBC.

i know on mine now after the MBC was added it will bark the tires when it shifts...

jquick1 · Post by **jquick1** » 12 Jun 2007, 19:43

show me how to turn up the power!

Post by **Auburn T5** » 14 Jun 2007, 11:05

How the hell are you guys breaking the tires loose with relatively stock 850's???

I've got a 3" turbo back exhaust on my 98 T5M and I still can't get it to spin the tires at all... even hard shifts at redline into 2nd.

Boost gauge reads 6psi max in 1st gear followed by 12~13 psi max in 2nd and 3rd.

Either something else is going on or the tires that came with the wheels I got are really good.

volvoaddict007 · Post by **volvoaddict007** » 06 Aug 2007, 05:27

What is really crazy is my car now gets great gas mileage. Before the tires I averaged 22 mpg around town and 25 on the highway. Now my highway averages 28.5, and around town never below 25. A friend told me my numbers improved because the wheels are turning faster and showing more miles driven. I agree, and that might be worth 1 maybe 1.5, but not 3 mpg more. Right now with 65 miles on this tank I'm averaging 31.8, and of course it's mostly freeway.

Brian

One tire size difference can throw your speedo off 10% which would account for the apparent difference in gas mileage.

I need to edit that last statement which is incorrect. I tire size difference on the first # ( example: 205 )will throw off your speedo about 1.6%. 1 size on the second # will throw it off 3%. Sorry about that...

Here's a site where you just put in the different tire sizes and it shows you the speedo difference. MIJ had found this :

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

In theory a larger tire should give better gas mileage ( fewer engine revs ) but only if the driver compensates for the extra torque required to turn the larger tires by accelerating easier.

I verify my speedo at those radar speed checkers on trailers.

va007

volvoaddict007 · Post by **volvoaddict007** » 06 Aug 2007, 05:43

And now back to the original question:

A stock '95 850 Turbo is designed for a top speed of 160mph although a governor will blow your rush at 142mph. The latter I know to be true if my speedo was accurate at that speed.

Of course I tested this on a track somewhere...umm...can't remember the name of it. Let me get back to you on that.

va007

csbrianp · Post by **csbrianp** » 23 Sep 2007, 01:20

Auburn T5 wrote:How the hell are you guys breaking the tires loose with relatively stock 850's???

I've got a 3" turbo back exhaust on my 98 T5M and I still can't get it to spin the tires at all... even hard shifts at redline into 2nd.

Boost gauge reads 6psi max in 1st gear followed by 12~13 psi max in 2nd and 3rd.

Either something else is going on or the tires that came with the wheels I got are really good.

I think your problem may be the 3" turbo back exhaust, I'm not sure if you have an manual boost controller but it a great idea. You need back pressure to build torque, adding a larger diameter exhaust reduces back pressure. you have no back pressure so it takes a while for the turbo to build pressure which is probably why you are getting 12lb in other gears. Somewhere on this site Matthew explains the pros and cons for larger exhaust.

I only have a different muffler on my car for my exhaust modifications, and on a good day (after I've changed the Oxygen sensors) I can spin the tires through first gear without power-braking. Making getting to 60 not as fast as it could be. My best time to 60 is 5.81, with my best 1/4 mile at 14.16. Still haven't broken into the 13's but winter is coming and this year could be the year.

Brian

csbrianp · Post by **csbrianp** » 23 Sep 2007, 01:59

csbrian wrote:I bought my 94 850 turbo about a year ago. It was running okay but not as good as it could, but it was still relatively fast. After learning how to read the diagnostic codes, I fixed four problems. All I can say now is that this thing hauls. Using a Gtech Probe to record 0-60 and 1/4 mile times, I've been able to judge each modification.
My first run with everything stock was 6.78 seconds to 60, and 15.15 in the quarter. My average was more like 15.35. I increased my boost (2 turns, explained on this site), and saw my first 14 second 1/4 mile with a 14.93. Since then I have added a cold air intake (also explained on this site), and have practiced launching properly with the automatic transmission. My best run to date is 6.06 to 60, and 14.40 in the quarter mile. I did every run on the same stretch of road with the tempture in the 70's. On cold mornings or late evenings in Southern California I get an over-boost situation, but it will disapear if I'm wide open.

The Gtech Probe is pretty acturate, but from what I have read a 14 second reading shows about a .18 faster time. Still 14.60 is not slow. I don't show MPH because the Gtech is off by some 8MPH.

I'm in the process of changing the pipe, and getting it chipped, and will report the progress.

If your 850 turbo doesn't spin the tires when the turbo comes in, could mean that something isn't right. Eventhough I'm pulling 12lbs of boost, I can spin the tires through first gear once the boost comes on. Making launching a bit tricky.

Brian

As you read in here all 850 turbo cars are different. My 850 turbo is very surprising, just ask the M3 (1995) owner I ran down one night. And I have no idea why. I have a 96 850R I recently purchased and it is no where near as fast as my turbo. Oh it's still fast just about a half of second slower in everything it does. Part of it could be the bigger turbo, being a little lazy spooling up, or the wheel and tire package that's over an inch taller than the turbo's tires. My turbo is chipped, has an underdrive pulley, 2 1/2" turbo muffler (after market), a manual boost controller, and smaller 205/45 tires. On a good day it will click off 0-60 in 5.8 sec, and my fastest 1/4 mile (on the same run as the 0-60) is 14.16.
I believe inside every 850 is a lot of speed, you just have to find it.

Brian

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volvoaddict007 · Post by **volvoaddict007** » 27 Sep 2007, 04:22

I was concerned about back pressure when I put a magnaflow muffler on my 850 T ( which I'm loving more and more as it breaks in ! ) the car seams to run faster although I haven't time it.

Then I met this Volvo head through the purchase of his 760 wagon that has a 940 transplant motor and 5-speed tranny. It has 3" exhaust and a Dynomax muffler which he claims dynoed @ 215lbs of torque ( 20 lbs over stock ) and an additional 5hp.

What I CAN verify is that the Konis and diesel springs ( cut 1 coil to take down to stock height ) he put on this car allows it to OUTHANDLE my 850 T.

If I had the money, I would put 3" exhaust on the 850. It certainly will help it run cooler if nothing else which is always beneficial w/ a turbocharger.

va007

Post by **matthew1** » 27 Sep 2007, 12:53

csbrianp wrote:As you read in here all 850 turbo cars are different. My 850 turbo is very surprising, just ask the M3 (1995) owner I ran down one night. And I have no idea why. I have a 96 850R I recently purchased and it is no where near as fast as my turbo.

Interesting regarding the R vs. Turbo.

My 850 T5 is very very fast sometimes, and it's stock save for a K&N.

Yesterday I needed to merge 80 meters after a red light. 3 lanes into 2. I hit the throttle on green and BLEW all the traffic away. Even a motorcyclist was caught staring at my tail lights. Tires chirping, engine roaring.

I've never measured my 0-60, but I wouldn't be surprised it it was 7 seconds or less.

I'm at sea level, and this car flies with little fuel in the tank and no load.

Exhaust page written by a guy who was probably the #1 850 guy in knowledge when he was active on Volvo forums.

csbrianp · Post by **csbrianp** » 10 Oct 2007, 23:12

volvoaddict007 wrote:I was concerned about back pressure when I put a magnaflow muffler on my 850 T ( which I'm loving more and more as it breaks in ! ) the car seams to run faster although I haven't time it.

Then I met this Volvo head through the purchase of his 760 wagon that has a 940 transplant motor and 5-speed tranny. It has 3" exhaust and a Dynomax muffler which he claims dynoed @ 215lbs of torque ( 20 lbs over stock ) and an additional 5hp.

What I CAN verify is that the Konis and diesel springs ( cut 1 coil to take down to stock height ) he put on this car allows it to OUTHANDLE my 850 T.

If I had the money, I would put 3" exhaust on the 850. It certainly will help it run cooler if nothing else which is always beneficial w/ a turbocharger.

va007

What you wrote here about the 760 wagon out handling your 850 Turbo, is true. My wife drives an 98 S90. Nice car, and boy does it handle. Big sway bars produce little lean, and even though my 850s are lowered one does not feel the confidence taking a very high speed corner as you do in the 960/S90. Now, if it only had the twin turbo motor out of the S80.

Brian

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