I am again considering buying a 544,,,has anyone put a 240 engine in one? Kris

My 1965 has a b20b which I am very happy with. It has about 30 more HP and looks likes it belongs there.

And then there is Bob Melville who shows up here every once in awhile and his 544 with the 346 ci Small Block Ford in it..... Now if you really want PERFORMANCE....

Brett
--
Brett Sutherland & the 1.5 million mile 122 CANADIAN --- WINDSOR, Nova Scotia the birthplace of HOCKEY www.ecvintagevolvo.com

Everything is possible if you put enough effort into it, and this would take a lot of effort in terms of both front-end and engine shape modification. Amazons are better candidates for this kind of thing. Search for Paul Malone's work in the Archives.

My personal thoughts are that, although it would be nice demonstration of your mechanical prowess, the performance gain wouldn't be worth the effort. With some fairly basic modifications you can build a B20 that will out perform anything stock you can pull from a 240 series. I have a basically stock B20 with a K cam and a carbed, slightly shaved F head plus OD and ipd bars, and that gives me more power and top speed than the car can comfortably handle. At the low end, first gear is pretty much superfluous, and even in OD it will accelerate smoothly from 25 mph. I, for one, don't need anymore than that. But tastes differ, and that's why they make ice cream in different flavors.

Bob S.

What rear end ratio are you using?
Thanks,
--
George Downs, Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!

George,

The standard 4.1 rear end. However, I have smallish 185/65/15 tires on there, and that would contribute to the low end git-up-and-go. When these wear out I'll go for something a little taller, which should give me better gas mileage. On my last long-distance trip, trying to stay on 70-75 mph, I was getting around 27 mpg, but running around in the neighborhood I'm lucky if I get 22.

Bob S.

Most 240 B23's are fuel injected. They are also tipped at an angle. You can set them upright but the tranny will need adapter and oil pan will need modification. Consider a B20 as a great replacement of a B18.

Christopher

My understanding is that no adapters are required. The OHC block will bolt to an M40/41 bellhousing, (giving you an upright engine) and you use a B20 oil pickup tube and pan. The only thing you would have to fabricate are motor mount brackets.

However, I tend to agree with you (and everyone else) that a good strong B20 is all the motor a PV will ever need. Consider that the first PVs had about 40 HP, B16Bs were 85, B18As not much more than that. A stock B20B is 125 HP, already more than TRIPLE the rating of the original B4 of the earliest cars. If that's still not enough for you, there are hot cams and other possible means to boost the power of the B20 even higher. Remember too, that the PV only weighs about 2200 lbs., so big horsepower numbers are not required for impressive performance.

If you are going to go to the time and trouble of major modifications, upgrading to disc brakes (at least in front, if not all around) is a much more worthwhile project than an OHC conversion.

I run a B21F in my 122. Some information is on Volvoadventures.com:

http://volvoadventures.com/122SB21M41.html

It's mounted upright using a B20 oil pan and oil pump. No modification to the body was done to fit it (so, it can always be put back to stock). It's now fuel and sparked using a DIY system call Megasquirt.

I have a chance to buy a P210 ('61 A-model with the roll down rear window), and I was thinking of do the same conversion to it that I did with my 122.

Paul

Needs moAr turbo!!!

I was messing around with the turbo'd 245 once and left the wastegate rod unattached, so the wastegate was flapping open and there was no boost. MY GOD that thing was slow with no air being crammed down it! But with 20 psi, it flies.
--
'63 PV544 rat rod, '93 Classic #1141 245 +t