Conversions & Hybrids - Volvo V90 (965) w/ Ls1 and T56

...just another brick - or is it?????

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i141/mikezohsix/04272011002.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i141/mikezohsix/04272011003.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i141/mikezohsix/04272011004.jpg

...and the fun part...

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i141/mikezohsix/04272011005.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i141/mikezohsix/04272011007.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i141/mikezohsix/04272011006.jpg

This is a cut and paste from a for sale thead on Turbobricks, so the wording may sound funny. I've posted here and there on this forum, which has been an incredible help as I went thru this swap...

This is my 1997 Volvo V90 wagon. The car has 138k miles, the body is probably a 8+ out of ten with no rust, no dents other than the normal door nicks and stuff. The interior is good with the exception of the driver’s side seat bolster needing replacement and the radio not accepting the code. Like all these cars the car is loaded with power everything, windows, seats, remote locking, glass sunroof, climate control, high end stereo with a bunch of speakers. The car has the later IRS and rides well and handles decently. I have not done the suspension yet, that’s for the next buyer – just tighten it up, or go coil overs.

The drive train I installed, with no pre-made kit, is from a 2004 GTO with apx 38k miles. It’s a 350 HP all aluminum engine with a T56 six speed trans. The engine and trans is about 100 pounds less than the stock motor and trans. This puts the car in the 3300 – 3400 pound range, which puts you under the magical 10 pound per HP number. The car absolutely rips.

The car has milled GM F body exhaust manifolds going to dual 2.5 inch mandrel bent tubing to two 100 cell cats. From there the exhaust goes into a customized Edelbrock chambered muffler with dual 2.5 inch in, and singe 3” out. 3” mandrel bent tubing goes over the IRS, and enters a three pass turbo style muffler and out thru the original opening in the bumper. The car is not loud, but it certainly has a rumble at idle, and the volume goes up as the right pedal goes down.

All the required wiring is complete, and the car is now regularly driven. Things like back-up lights and stuff are still to be done. All the wiring is brought into the under hood relay/fuse box, which has been modified to include necessary relays to talk to the GTO computer.

A combination of Corvette, GTO and Volvo 240 clutch components adapted the GM hydraulic clutch to the Volvo body.

The engine was positioned so the modified GM shifter comes thru the floor and allows the use of the stock console with the seat heater switches etc. A shortened two piece drive shaft connects the GTO trans to the stock rear end. Aluminum motor mounts meet the GTO motor mounts with a customized cross member. There are no drive train vibrations up to the 100 mph I’ve driven it. ABS and the SRS systems were not affected by the swap and work with no lights.

The original radiator has proven up to the task of cooling the engine with a two speed electric pusher fan. I'm still screwing around with fan controls, but will get that sooner or later.

The car runs excellent, never missed a beat since the first time it started. It has working O2 sensors, and the OBDII system is up and running with no codes.

It's been a lot of fun, expensive, but still a fun project.
I'll add more detail photos after I up load them to photobucket.

Asking $8300 with the stock wheels. Two other sets of wheels available. Car is now lowered in the front, the front suspension has been rebuilt, and has new rear shocks.

That swap is great - the wire harness spaghetti kills it though!

clean up those wires!

cool swap though.

Excellent sleeper.

cleaned up the wiring...

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i141/mikezohsix/05082011003.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i141/mikezohsix/05082011002.jpg


http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i141/mikezohsix/05082011004.jpg

lol!

awesome

i can only imagine the looks you get

Great swap :)

sooo...wait...you're selling it? I was going to do a V90 next if my old 240 swap went well. But why re-invent the wheel...heading over to turbobricks to find the ad now. :nod:

wow. I should do it too .with my v70 d.d.

wow. I should do it too .with my v70 d.d.

V70 = FWD
V90 = RWD

RWD = doable
FWD = quite the project

V90 = the ultimate RWD Volvo wagon - at least in my opinion
high end options and IRS. last of the breed...

Looking better.

Nice, I swear I saw one of these with TT

Awesome swap!

that is awesome i love when people make sleepers like this

Any chance when it rains hard or going through the rain, water might get on the computer?

Any chance when it rains hard or going through the rain, water might get on the computer?

The computer is designed to take the elements. It's actually pretty impressive compared to most that need to be mounted inside the car.

The computer is designed to take the elements. It's actually pretty impressive compared to most that need to be mounted inside the car.

agreed.

plus, it's in a pretty protcted area behind the headlight.
I did install the cold air duct from the volvo that fed the air box. It has a reverse facing inlet to keep the rain from coming in, and gives cold air to the new air inlet and cools the PCM.

I've seen a few people comment about doing a V70 after seeing these types of swaps and they're always shot down. V70 came in AWD (XC, R, AWD) so there are models of V70 that can be obtained cheaply that already have a RWD setup out back and a 2-piece front to rear propshaft (though you'd have to replace the viscous coupler at the back end). I wouldn't dismiss the swap so quickly...they're much more solid feeling and nicer cars than the RWD line of Volvos, IMHO. I've owned a bunch of both.

My .02...I'm still doing a RWD (245) for now to keep it light and cheap but if a clean V70 awd comes along for the right price, it might just happen.

I've thought about the later model volvo's too. I have no measurements, but assume the tunnel would need to be well massaged as it's not a tranny tunnel, just one to get the prop' shaft to the rear end.

Man, THAT looks great. Nice work, clean install.

Man, THAT looks great. Nice work, clean install.

thanks very much - it's for sale, just looking for offers

http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=235015

You have to be a member of the forum to see the for sale section. You might want to post it on this site as well.

You have to be a member of the forum to see the for sale section. You might want to post it on this site as well.

yea, I keep forgetting that.

Time is always the thing I'm shortest on except for money. I'll put a for sale thread together here one of these days.

The long and short is I'd looking for $8300 plus for the car. The plus is the different wheels that are available.

lol!

awesome

i can only imagine the looks you get


I don't get a lot of looks, except when I keep pace with a mustang GT or something. If the other car has a non-stock exhaust, they don't hear the car.

The funny looks come from the guys that pull away from a light, you pace then in first, second, and then you can see they start to push it, and you just stay along side them.

It is fun as the swap comes together and it becomes a more drivable, livable with it car.

What did you use for the crossmember. I want to put a 1998 5.7 ls1 into a 1984 Volvo 740, and this is one of the parts of the conversion that I am having trouble with, can you help.

Thanks,

Bill Price

I am planning the conversion of a 1998 Chevy 5.7 ls1 motor and trans into a 1983 Volvo 760 GLE Turbo Diesel. I already have the motor and trans, I also have the car. The car presently has a 1987 TPI 350 with a TH700R4 transmission. I love the car and driving it, but it recently developed an engine knock. The planning so far looks good, but the big question is the crossmember. I was wondering what you used in your conversion, and I was hoping that you could give me some direction. Any help will be greatly appreiated.

Thanks.

B.P.

Does the a/c work on your volvo?

Yes. I don't use it much, but it worked the last time I checked it.

B.P.

sweet car i would love to buy it and turbo it....

The car is on eBay now, here's the link

Item #250910787401

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250910787401

If anyone from here wants to see all the discussion and pictures on Turbobricks just sign up for membership, it's just like here, takes just a minute or two.