LS Swapped Volvo Wagon is a Reliable Workhorse
With a truck motor as a base to start with, this 600+ horsepower sleeper is our kind of wagon.
The folks at Sloppy Mechanics are known for getting the most out of the least when it comes to cars, even if for the most brief of moments. However, sometimes you’re able to get a lot out of a car with just a few simple tweaks. Take this Volvo for example. With a 6.0 LS swap and a turbo strapped to a stock long block, it already has the Sloppy seal of approval. But this motor can get a bit more power out of it.
The old setup had a Borg Warner S369 with a pretty big 73mm turbine. But it had some limitations beyond that. Injectors were only of the 80lb type, the cam was stock, and so were the valve springs. Still, on pump gas and 18 psi, it put out a respectable 492 horsepower. Even though that’s no slouch, there’s room to improve.
The restrictive items were swapped out, and in went a JFR 218/218 cam, 210 lb injectors, upgraded valve springs and E85 fuel. In order to see how this would all manage, the first dyno run was performed at a minuscule 6psi. Even with boost that low, it made 475 horsepower. Considering that’s 12 psi less, and only off by 18 horsepower, “impressive” barely covers it. Time to crank it up to 14 psi.
With the higher boost selected, power jumps up to 620 horsepower and 608 lb/ft of torque. Not bad for a sleeper Volvo.
All that power in this Volvo is sent through a 4L80E automatic with a Circle D torque converter, and back to a modified Ford Explorer rear end. And surprisingly, it’s all managed by a stock General Motors truck ECU. Who says you need to spend huge money for big horsepower?
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