Need some last minute encouragement before engine swap Topic is solved

veektor · Post by **veektor** » 30 Dec 2018, 17:44

So, I've decided that I would rather swap the engine than try matching up the main bearing color codes, and that I don't have enough faith in 'one size fits all' Glyco bearing set. If you missed my sad story of spun bearings, here is the thread:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=84666

I looked at a couple of potential donors today at my local Pick-N-Pull. One of them is a 2007 XC wagon, the other is 2006 S60 FWD, both with 2.5T engines. The target is a 2008 S60 FWD 2.5T. Just looking at the engines I don't see anything different, they all have the same B5254T engine, both seem to be well taken care of, and both are junked due to very hard collisions. I haven't been able to find a definitive engine cross reference, but just judging by the Bosch ECM part number, I think both of my donors should be fine. I'm leaning toward the S60 donor at the moment, only because I already have an idea on how to remove engine and transmission together on FWD vehicle, and the angle gear on XC would be an extra step to deal with.

Anything else I need to know before I jump into this?

Post by **June** » 30 Dec 2018, 18:19

Where is the body damage on both cars. I would be wary of a hard front collision as the donor as the engine may be physically damaged from impact or ran without coolant. Aside from that I would go with the S60 as that engine has had considerably less stress that the AWD XC. You don't mention miles so I am assuming you didn't power up either car. Also how much sludge can be seen under the oil cap? If one looks clean and the other looks cruddy I would take the clean engine. Also another way to see mileage and service history is to pull a carfax on the donor car to see what pops up. The hassle of pulling and installing a used engine may be worth seeing carfax Reports on potential cars. Just my thoughts. June

Post by **chrism** » 30 Dec 2018, 21:51

veektor wrote: ↑30 Dec 2018, 17:44
I haven't been able to find a definitive engine cross reference, but just judging by the Bosch ECM part number, I think both of my donors should be fine.

I believe it's the 6th and 7th digits of the VIN that have to match in order to assure a compatible engine swap.

Good luck!

veektor · Post by **veektor** » 31 Dec 2018, 05:57

chrism wrote: ↑30 Dec 2018, 21:51
I believe it's the 6th and 7th digits of the VIN that have to match in order to assure a compatible engine swap.

Good luck!

Thanks, looks like are suitable donors with "59" present in my VIN and the donors.

veektor · Post by **veektor** » 31 Dec 2018, 06:22

June wrote: ↑30 Dec 2018, 18:19 Where is the body damage on both cars. I would be wary of a hard front collision as the donor as the engine may be physically damaged from impact or ran without coolant. Aside from that I would go with the S60 as that engine has had considerably less stress that the AWD XC. You don't mention miles so I am assuming you didn't power up either car. Also how much sludge can be seen under the oil cap? If one looks clean and the other looks cruddy I would take the clean engine. Also another way to see mileage and service history is to pull a carfax on the donor car to see what pops up. The hassle of pulling and installing a used engine may be worth seeing carfax Reports on potential cars. Just my thoughts. June

I appreciate your suggestions. From this perspective the XC would be a better choice, I guess. XC was t-boned on the driver's side, damaging both doors, but the front is intact. S60 was a head-on collision. The mileage on S60 was stated on the windshield per insurance disposal sticker, and it's 185K miles. I'll have to see what I can dig up on XC. That said, I'm not sure how likely the engine is to continue running after head-on collision. Even my old Ford Escort in the '90s had a fuel cut-off switch that got triggered by strong impact (in my case it was potholes). I don't know the specific programming on Volvo, but I would expect the computer to shut off the fuel when airbag is deployed, in hope of preventing a fire. I'm more worried that mangled up front end would make engine removal more difficult.

I've only had the time to closely inspect the engine on XC. There is no crud on the oil cap, and I even took off the trap box to inspect the bottom PCV orifice. I was pleased to see that even though there was some crud in the orifice, it was not completely plugged up. I also noticed that XC engine had newer coils and VVT solenoids, which indicates a certain level of maintenance. There was some oil crud on the front part of the engine, around the PCV trap. I don't think valve cover leaks are common on these engines, which makes me wonder if the engine had oil topped off on regular basis. Oh, and those coils were all very oily, so definitely a lot of oil on the top side. I plan on taking a much closer look at the S60 engine today before making the decision.

Post by **June** » 31 Dec 2018, 06:32

I than would go for the XC or keep looking. All it would take is a nearly invisible hairline crack on the aluminum show up once the coolant pressurized to make you kick yourself. A hard impact in the front and a brittle alloy engine, I would worry. Never had a cam cover leak yet in one of these white engines. Likely you are right about the fuel pump and airbags. The engine quit in the 2002 S80 I rolled over. Are these two cars your only choices? Those 5cyl engines should be plentiful. I still would look under the oil cap to see how clean the head likely is. June

veektor · Post by **veektor** » 31 Dec 2018, 07:20

June wrote: ↑31 Dec 2018, 06:32 I than would go for the XC or keep looking. All it would take is a nearly invisible hairline crack on the aluminum show up once the coolant pressurized to make you kick yourself. A hard impact in the front and a brittle alloy engine, I would worry. Never had a cam cover leak yet in one of these white engines. Likely you are right about the fuel pump and airbags. The engine quit in the 2002 S80 I rolled over. Are these two cars your only choices? Those 5cyl engines should be plentiful. I still would look under the oil cap to see how clean the head likely is. June

Good points, June. There are 7 donors in the metro area at this moment, I'll see what the others look like. My biggest obstacles are time and weather.

Post by **erikv11** » 01 Jan 2019, 17:19

Great points by June. Including that it is so easy to get a sludged up motor. At least one of our most experienced posters ended up with a sludge box in their used vehicle purchase.

As far as encouragement I'll simply add that swapping the engine is a great solution, it is much easier than opening up and fixing one. Disconnect things, swap engine, put things back in. Much less to go wrong as long as you are safety conscious.

I'd probably swap the oil pan pickup tube o rings, it's a hundred times easier with the engine out.

veektor · Post by **veektor** » 02 Jan 2019, 09:15

erikv11 wrote: ↑01 Jan 2019, 17:19 I'd probably swap the oil pan pickup tube o rings, it's a hundred times easier with the engine out.

Definitely on the list. Even before I discovered the spun bearing, I had purchased the oil pan gasket set and PCV kit. I'm also thinking about replacing cam and crankshaft seals while the engine is out.

Post by **erikv11** » 02 Jan 2019, 09:42

And a very good time to do the timing belt and parts, if the budget allows.