Swedish Speed Demon: LM4-Powered Volvo 240
With a burly V8 under the hood, this isn’t your average old Volvo.
Let’s play a game of word association, shall we? I say a word, and you say the first thing that comes to mind:
- Volvo.
- “Safe.”
- “Slow.”
- “Boring.”
The Volvo you see here defies tradition. In case the early C4 Corvette wheels didn’t tip you off, this isn’t your average old Volvo. This one has a 5.3 liter LM4 from a 2004 GMC Envoy under the hood.
Even if you aren’t too hot on older Volvos, there’s a lot to love about them. They’re rugged, well-built cars. They’re comfortable and they have decent suspension and brakes. Most importantly, they’re rear wheel drive, with roomy engine bays. V8 swaps are somewhat common.
From Sweden…with Love
We found this one on Deadclutch, where it was apparently offered for sale back on April of 2018. One of our editors says he spotted this very car at LS Fest last year. We’d love to know where it is today.
According to the listing, the LM4 was upgraded with a set of aluminum 862 heads, a custom-made intake, and Hooker Block Hugger headers feeding into a 2.5 inch Magnaflow exhaust system.
Even though the engine is mostly stock, it’s still a substantial upgrade from the stock four-cylinder. Apparently, it’s good for 300 horsepower now. That’s more than enough to move the 2,800 pound Volvo with authority.
Behind the LM4, you’ll find the ubiquitous (and much-maligned) 4L60E automatic transmission. The unit found in this car was apparently rebuilt, though no specific upgrades were noted in the ad.
The traditionally European ride and handling of the Volvo has not only been retained, but improved. The suspension was subjected to numerous upgrades, including Bilstein dampers and polyurethane bushings.
The car spent its entire life in North Carolina prior to the sale, and was thankfully rust-free as a result. However, the single-stage repaint was not a quality job. Being a white car helps, as white seems to hide a lot of sins when it comes to paint. It photographs nicely enough, and in our opinion it looks great with the Corvette wheels and its subtly lowered stance.
If you’re looking for your next LS swap project, don’t overlook the classic Vovlo 240 or the later 850 lineup. Nothing complements Swedish luxury and engineering like good old-fashioned American horsepower.
Photos: Deadclutch
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