I've heard rumors about a volvo marine engine crankshaft with turbo pistons bringing a 240 up to 160 h.p. without(!) a turbo setup. How can I find out more about this??? Obviously I have my doubts. How could it make such an improvemnet, and if it's so great, why didn't volvo do it to begin with? At the same time, this is very, very tempting...

It is not an unusual modification here in Scandinavia, particularly for racing. As mentioned, you need new pistons as well, or turn off the existing ones. If you search for "b230 marinvev", "b23 marinvev", "volvo marinvev", you will find a few interesting Swedish sites. Like this one; a Volvo PV with B23 + marine crankshaft and 236 hp: http://medlem.spray.se/nikl/matsoewa.html

Erling.
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My 240 Page

A marine cam would be unusable in an automotive application, because marine engines run at a more or less constant RPM. The cam in question might develop 160hp at a specific point in the power curve, but very little or no torque at low RPM. I think that the Penta engines also use different pistons, with a different bore and stroke than a B230F. Ergo, you would have to tear down and rebuild your exisitng motor.

The cam used in the Penta AQ151 is the Volvo V grind. It is actually a good cam for a turbo motor. The VX3, which has the same intake profile as the V, but a lesser exhaust profile, would be better for a non turbo.

These motors were very close to auto motors and can pretty much be dropped in and driven daily. Or internals can be swapped.

Philip Bradley

The crank is from the Penta AQ151 or 171, and has a 6 mm longer stroke for displacement of 2.5L with 96 mm pistons. As far as I know, these are for B230 motors. They may be for only mid 87 and later motors. The block is the same as an automotive block.

I think adding a turbo using all OEM parts salvaged from donor Volvos is easier than rebuilding a motor. You need special pistons with the longer stroke crank.

It can be done but is not a $5 weekend project. Your best bet would be to salvage an entire Penta AQ151 or 171 and rebuild it and install it in your car.

Or salvage a turbo motor. Or turbo your motor.

Philip Bradley

A Penta crank & possibly some aftermarket (if available) oversized pistons, sound very much like a great idea for my '90 B230F 240 - I dont want to join the 'turbo brigade' particularly as I'd like something different. I can forsee there being a lot of work involved, but if I get my hands on another engine, and build it on a stand, I could easily take my time with it all and there wouldnt be any need to rush.

Is there anymore information or anyone who has done such a conversion I could get more information from. I have seen some of the swedish sites, but I (since researching volvos so often) can only read between the lines and understand little bits and pieces of swedish.

Just something of note to the person that originally posted the article though, there are lots of gains to be had with camshafts, minor head work, extractors (headers? for those in the US), decent exhaust system, airbox/induction changes, etc

I run a small, however, quickly growing volvo parts business, and I use my 240 as a project car, it is a rolling example of some of the components we supply.
It goes to display days through the Volvo Club of Victoria, does track days, and also gets used as a test bed for parts we develop.

Details of the car itself:
http://www.geocities.com/ashvolvo

Davies Volvosport
http://memebers.optusnet.com.au/ashdavies/dvs

The cam that comes in penta engines is the V cam. Very good overall cam. Swapping in turbo pistons would be a dump idea and you woudl lose power, since they are of lower compression. Just find the V cam in a penta engine, and swap it in your car and enjoy.

Search "vx cam" penta on http://groups.google.com. I don't think it would be a very smooth or economical engine, due to the high compression and high octane fuel requirements. From reading the message boards I've gathered that it's much cheaper to add a turbo to an n/a engine, or just build up an existing turbo. It would sure be cool to have a volvo stroker though, I bet it would have a great loping idle and an exhaust note unlike anything else on the road, not to mention the power.
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'83 245glti