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1980 wagon FRENCH engine?[ALL/1998] posted by steve on
Thursday, 20 November 1997, at 1:21 a.m.
My brother in law has a 1980 wagon with a 2.3 liter 16 valve overhead cam V-6 aluminium engine. He called it a 640GL. I gather that it was built by Renault and/or Peugeot.
All things considered, for a 17 year year old car it is in good shape and has had some work done to keep it in good shape (front end, steering, master cylinder, clutch) BUT....their mechanic has diagnosed that it is in need of a head and valve job(400 per head) and a new exhaust. I think the main symptom it has very questionable horsepower and gets about 8 miles to the gal (and sounds like a bulldozer)
Cut to the chase...is this engine the lemon that I have a feeling that it is? Any experience with the French 6 cyl? Did that model have any other flaws Any other things (additionally) that could be wrong to cause such poor performance?
He will give it to me for free but do I really want it??? My other option is to sink the $$ into a purchase of another Volvo. My 1967 122 (automatic!) has been purring for 9 years now and she deserves a rest!
thanks
steve
Re: 1980 wagon FRENCH engine?[ALL/1998] posted by Dirk Mooibroek on
Thursday, 20 November 1997, at 6:24 a.m.
Oh crap! I have 2 Bertone's both had that same alum PRV 2.8 boat anchor.
They chew cams usually every 80,000 unless you have the top end oiling problem fixed. They are extremely expensive for parts and just some what unreliable. It sounds like your brother has a case of wiped cams. No power, bad gas mileage etc... Tell him to do his self a favor and convert the car to another motor/ trans. He probably has the same shitty 3 spd. Auto I had that runs the engine at 4500 rpm at 75-80 mph. To get the cams fixed I was told pull the motor and redo it all to fix the top end oiling problem would cost about 3,000.00 or they could just cut holes in the fire wall and slide the cams out and adjust the heads for about 1200-1500.
A little info on the engine it is the same engine as the infamous Delorean and
a variant of the Renault Alpine. Good basic design very few moving parts in the heads to eat power but poor following engineering on production. The same basic motor was in the Dodge Monaco and Eagle Premier and as you can tell when was the last time you saw one of those running?
Good luck, Dirk.
Re: 1980 wagon FRENCH engine?[ALL/1998] posted by Paul S. on
Saturday, 22 November 1997, at 5:55 p.m.
A 1980 V6 would prob. have the 2.8 L motor (B28F) with 12 valves. (2 per). If early 1980 build you got the crappy cams. (Too soft)
I think you have a 265 GL wagon.
The engine was built as a "cooperative" effort by PRV. (Peugot- Renault-Volvo).
With care the engine is not a lemon. But as most things Volvo it can be really expensive to fix if not maintained. I plan on driving my B28F till it melts. If you got your car for free it may be worth it to fix. On the other hand a 4 banger from the same era is a direct fit.
How good is the rest of the car? By dropping in a 4 you have a 245. Or just buy a 245. With Bertones (as I have) the body style is worth the engine conversion.
Send me private email on further trouble shooting. My car has 171K. It runs ok.
Paul Seminara VCOA Member # 9417
1996 855O 17K miles "THE BLUE GOOSE" In May '98 a "2 Kid hauler"...2nd in oven now!
1981 262C Bertone 171K "THE BLUE BLENNY" I'm too young for this car!
Checking out Nuccio as middle name.......