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Possible 99 Volvo V70 conversion??
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 31
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From: West MI
Possible 99 Volvo V70 conversion?? I've loved these wagons forever. I'm going to look at a potential car tomorrow, it's a 99 AWD V70 w/ 170k miles.
I would like to do a 5.3 auto conversion.
Can anyone help steer me towards getting my feet wet w/ this, plus help me start counting some costs?? Anyone here done this conversion?
I would like to do a 5.3 auto conversion.
Can anyone help steer me towards getting my feet wet w/ this, plus help me start counting some costs?? Anyone here done this conversion?
Scroll down about 1/2 way through this thread. The steering rack is in the same position where the transmission of the LS engine would go. Not good.
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/for...s/55366/page1/
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/for...s/55366/page1/
Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 58
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Enough time (&money) and anything is possible.. This is a local guy here in Sweden, not much left of the original car but it's a cool build.
http://www.garaget.org/?car=209785
http://www.garaget.org/?car=209785
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 31
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From: West MI
I actually bought this 99 Volvo V70 R. It's AWD.
Not sure what I'm going to do. I found out the original 5 cyl turbo engines are fairly capable, so I'm going to play w/ that first and if I blow it up, then I'll do the conversion.
Right now I have the bumpers off and the interior torn apart. I'm refinishing the bumpers (the flat black looked awful). I'm also recovering the headliner and fixing some other things in the interior.
(The ghetto turn signals are going way too!!)
It doesn't matter that your car is AWD. The chassis platform is designed as a FWD. They just added a shaft to the rear for AWD. It is designed for a transverse mounted engine and transmission. I am not too sure you can swap a 5.3/4L60 into that car.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 31
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From: West MI
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Launching!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 287
Likes: 4
From: Richmond, VA
Would love to see it. I have an 04 V70R. I dreamed of this swap too but knew the time and money would not be worth it. That being said, this is my 2nd Volvo and I will never own another. I wish someone would just drop my VR off a cliff for me so I could collect insurance monies 
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 31
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From: West MI
Would love to see it. I have an 04 V70R. I dreamed of this swap too but knew the time and money would not be worth it. That being said, this is my 2nd Volvo and I will never own another. I wish someone would just drop my VR off a cliff for me so I could collect insurance monies
Also, there was a guy that did a swap in your body style, but it was a HUGE project. He had to cut the bottom out of just about the entire car and fabricate everything from the front to the back, including floor pans, engine cradle, front suspension, etc. I think it was in Europe that he did it, I found it just doing some searching. After looking that over I decided to steer clear of that body style! That's not to say mine would be easy by any stretch, but not as challenging as doing your body style!!
Launching!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 287
Likes: 4
From: Richmond, VA
Yeah, all he did (well not all exactly..) was put the shell/body on a custom frame etc. Sick though.
The AWD angle gear, 4c shocks and ABS system are the biggest pains. And the suspension sucks for as advanced and expensive as it is. I love how comfortable it is and how it looks though. I wish it didn't have all the annoying issues.
The AWD angle gear, 4c shocks and ABS system are the biggest pains. And the suspension sucks for as advanced and expensive as it is. I love how comfortable it is and how it looks though. I wish it didn't have all the annoying issues.
Last edited by SWAGON; May 20, 2013 at 02:11 PM.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 31
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From: West MI
After re-reading this thread, it was this post that had the one from Europe. Would be sick, but I'm not sure I'm down for all that work.
Enough time (&money) and anything is possible.. This is a local guy here in Sweden, not much left of the original car but it's a cool build.
http://www.garaget.org/?car=209785
http://www.garaget.org/?car=209785
I know it won't be easy. This is a 95 or 96 850. It basically shares a very similar drive train. I am good at fabricating, was just hoping someone here has done this so I could know what I'm in for.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFrPjMVhP04
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFrPjMVhP04
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 31
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From: West MI
My bad, you are correct. I thought it was a 850.
http://www.theantiteam.com/www.TheAn.../Volvette.html
http://www.theantiteam.com/www.TheAn.../Volvette.html
What I would do is find a pick n' pull junk yard and go there w/ a tape measure and note pad. The subframes might not be that far different where you can actually use an older RWD car's subframe in your V70. Might have to swap front suspension for the steering pick-up points too.
Biggest thing I'd worry about is having enough room in the transmission tunnel and enough room in the rear to fit a pumpkin that will hold the v8.
Biggest thing I'd worry about is having enough room in the transmission tunnel and enough room in the rear to fit a pumpkin that will hold the v8.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: West MI
What I would do is find a pick n' pull junk yard and go there w/ a tape measure and note pad. The subframes might not be that far different where you can actually use an older RWD car's subframe in your V70. Might have to swap front suspension for the steering pick-up points too.
Biggest thing I'd worry about is having enough room in the transmission tunnel and enough room in the rear to fit a pumpkin that will hold the v8.
Biggest thing I'd worry about is having enough room in the transmission tunnel and enough room in the rear to fit a pumpkin that will hold the v8.
There was a V70 I found that had a LS3, but no info. I need to do more research and see if I can locate this guy.
Too much work. Unless you want to make your own trans tunnel and custom linkage. Go with an earlier Volvo, they look much better IMO. That's why I did it in my 245, and I DD my v70R.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 31
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From: West MI
From the research I've done, I would have to build a trans tunnel, a custom engine cradle, complete front suspension, then deal w/ the rear diff. It would be a unique car when it's done; but so would the Datsun.
Thanks for all the input!
The further I look into it the more I agree. I also have a 75 Datsun 260 that, IMO, would be a better car for the swap. Just thought I'd check and see what's involved.
From the research I've done, I would have to build a trans tunnel, a custom engine cradle, complete front suspension, then deal w/ the rear diff. It would be a unique car when it's done; but so would the Datsun.
Thanks for all the input!
From the research I've done, I would have to build a trans tunnel, a custom engine cradle, complete front suspension, then deal w/ the rear diff. It would be a unique car when it's done; but so would the Datsun.
Thanks for all the input!
It's hard being a trailblazer, just have to decide if it's really worth it for you when you account for your time and of course the money it would take.
I sure wouldn't be mad to see another v8 z running around
