You can buy a complete low mileage 90-95 B230FT longblock with turbo, manifolds, downpipe and most accessories for about $1350. A low mileage AW71 to go with it would cost about $400. The computers would cost about $200. The wiring harness could be a bit of a problem, depending on the compatibility of what you have now. The harnesses on the salvaged motors are usually cut. You could salvage another harness or buy a new one. The harness into the computer might take a bit of work, depending on what you have now. If you have LH 2.2 or LH 2.4, the job would be easier. I am not that familiar with the V6s. Labor would probably be on the order of 2 days, or maybe 16 hours at $50. Definitely worthwhile to find a shop that has done swaps before. Reinventing the wheel can take hours of expensive shop time. I would put the cost at $3000 if all goes perfectly. If you do some preventative maintenance and have some odd problems along the way (expected), the cost might well be closer to $4000. You can turn up the boost a bit and add a free flow exhaust in order to obtain 200 reliable hp. The most foolproof way to do a swap is to have the donor car available. Not sure how to buy an insurance total, but it is possible.

A Ford V8 conversion, dead stock, by Converse, costs $5500 for all parts and labor. That would get you 205-225 hp. Not much more hp, but much more torque than the turbo. You can modify the V8. For about another $2000, you can have a bit over 300 hp. For about $2000 more than that, you might get closer to 400 hp.

Rebuilding your V6 is another option. Every now and then you see new PRV longblocks for $2000, but I have not seen those ads lately. I know of one fellow who had one rebuilt for just under $5000. There are few performance parts available, but some people have researched the possibilities and created higher performance motors from Eagle Medallion 3 liter PRV based motors and I think some other donors. A few people have even turbocharged specially built PRV6s, but it appears to be expensive to do it right -- more than the B230FT or Ford 5.0.

Obviously, a do it yourselfer might save money on any of these projects and the lucky person who gets some parts really cheap would also do well.

Philip Bradley

It'll cost you about the same as going to a 5.0 Ford V8, and you'll end up with a $2500 modified car. When it gets hit/totaled you won't like it.

Should be able to get about 400 hp from the 5.0 for about $3600 w/o juice, also w/o trans but that's another issue. Get a junkyard 86-88 mustang 5.0 for maybe $1500 and rebuild the engine and transfer the engine/trans to the volvo. Converse Engineering in Maine has most of the conversion parts (last time I looked around $750 for kit, like engine mounts, wiring harness, etc.). See website...use hotbot.com and search on volvo converse maine.

Not to rain on your parade but unless you're really in love with that car or seriously want a very time consuming and expensive project, you'ld be best by just selling (or trading) your car for a turbo car.

By far the best and cheapest route is to get a donor car- as complete as possible. If there is one that is the same year as yours, and has been hit in the rear or rolled, leaving the front intact, that is the dream car. At salvage, price depends on mileage, age, and level of damage, so count on spending $2,000 and hope for less. Labor is the big variable, which can range from nothing to $2,500 based on who does it. The other part about the donor car deal is there may be a few hundred dollars worth of parts to sell after you are finished with your needs.

John Howes at southwestauto.com did a 240 Bertone that way and may have the particulars as to cost. He probably has the parts to convert also, but for sure has the particulars. Best to have a donor car if you can find one and just do some serious swapping.

dick