Rod through the block - Engine swap guidance 2000XC

bjornfree · Post by **bjornfree** » 21 Dec 2016, 15:50

My brother's kid is second generation Volvo driver but his humanities degree has not equipped him with any useful skills or money. Now that his 2000 70XC has put a rod through the block he needs my help getting back on the road. I've done engine swaps before but I'm coming from the VW and Chevy worlds were things seem simpler.

His budget dictates that we get a junk yard engine and do the swap ourselves. The local salvage yard has good prices and no shipping costs but reading forums all day has not cleared up much which donor cars make a straightforward swap. I see some models have different VVT cams, ECU, turbo, compression, etc. Maybe simplest to put the existing head on a new block?

Are newer blocks good candidates for a 2000 car?

The local Pull Apart has the following inventory to choose from. Any of these good choices? Thanks for any help getting my head wrapped around this.

2000 V40
2001 S80
1999 V70
2001 S80
2001 XC70
2000 C70
2002 S60
1998 S70

beigg · Post by **beigg** » 21 Dec 2016, 17:46

Assuming that yours is a turbo 70 series. Opt for the turbo 2000c70.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 21 Dec 2016, 18:50

The '99 and 2000 low pressure turbos are their own animal and the engine is a B5254T. It is a 2.4 liter low pressure turbo engine. Pre-99 is quite a bit different due to the way the accessories mount and it make the swap fairly difficult. The pre '99 also don't have CVVT which will cause the ECU to error out and the intake ports are different. If the C70 is a low pressure turbo then it should be a direct swap.

I pull the engine and the transmission together from the top since I don't have a lift but you will need to remove the transfer case first. A standard cherry picker engine hoist and leveling bar makes it fairly easy. I did it by myself with no assistance but with a helper to line things up as the engine comes out and goes back in will make life easier.

The '99 and 2000 engines are actually a bit different internally even with the same engine number but they will swap back and forth between the manifolds with no real differences.

...Lee

Post by **Matty Moo** » 21 Dec 2016, 20:46

Remove rear Driveshaft, angle gear, radiator then you can pull it like you would on a front wheel drive car.

I've done awd two or three times now. Fwd NA is the easiest, awd is the hardest. Not insanely difficult, just more work because of the rear Driveshaft and angle gear.

Most Importantly.... The torque converter. It goes on in two steps and it takes a few tries to find that sweet spot where it goes on all the way.

Label everything... Organization is the key.

bjornfree · Post by **bjornfree** » 23 Dec 2016, 16:41

Thanks for all the tips.

We pulled a complete B5254T from a 2000 C70 today. The car had been hit from behind so we assumed it was in running condition up until that point. No way to check compression while there. Engine seemed to be in pretty good shape with no sludge visible in the head or any leaks anywhere. We have a 40 day return privilege if it turns out to be junk. We would have taken the transmission too but it was front wheel drive. We took the turbo too just to have as a spare. I saw prices for reman turbos and figured this would be cheap insurance.

Anything recommended to do before the engine goes in? Not knowing Volvos very well I'm not sure what typical weak points are. Every make seems to have a few. I'm telling him at least new timing belt and if he can afford it a serp belt, idler, tensioner, water pump.

bjornfree · Post by **bjornfree** » 23 Dec 2016, 17:38

I think I see now that the AWD and FWD cars have the same transmission but the XC has the angle gear bolted on and then a shorter drive axle.

Post by **Clemens** » 23 Dec 2016, 17:39

definitely the timing belt, maybe the waterpump if you already have it accessable. Generally these are very good engines. How did he throw the rod through the block? The only other thing that comes to mind is the electronic throttle body which is nice to have as a spare part on these model years.
And if he beats the car you might want to get that tranny too.

Post by **abscate** » 23 Dec 2016, 18:08

Rear main seal on engine
Timing belt and water pump with engine out, definitely

bjornfree · Post by **bjornfree** » 23 Dec 2016, 19:21

Clemens wrote:.....How did he throw the rod through the block?...

I'm not sure why the rod came loose. I'll post pictures of the gore when I get a clearer pic. He's only had it less than 6 months so not much of it's history is known. He did have a coolant leak from the radiator but I don't know if he got it hot enough to do damage. I have a general impression of Volvo engines being long lived.

Clemens wrote: ....And if he beats the car you might want to get that tranny too.

So the front wheel drive C70 transmission is a swap for the AWD XC? Just bolt on the XC angle gear and it's done? The donor car was very clean, no leaks anywhere while the dead XC is covered in old gunk along with the newly spewed oil. He was losing transmission fluid from somewhere too. I think I may go back in the morning and get the tranny if it's a fit for the XC. Whatever is left gets crushed on Monday.

Ironically, the kid spent his savings on a trip to Sweden just 10 weeks ago. Should have put the money in savings.

bjornfree · Post by **bjornfree** » 23 Dec 2016, 19:22

abscate wrote:Rear main seal on engine...

Yes. Adding that to the order list.