Currently my car has the stock B230F engine. Even if I were to put a larger exhaust system and a the ipd VX or Unitek V15 camshaft in the car, would a limited slip be worth adding to the car? I can already spin the wheels when cornering hard and under full accleration, but unless it's raining outside or I'm doing something really stupid, the wheel spin does not last long and doesn't really impact my driving (it is a 114-hp motor, after all). I doubt that would change much even with the added speed from a larger exhaust and more aggressive cam.

Is it worth it to put a LSD on anything less than a turbo (or highly-modded NA) engine? I'm tempted to call up a local 4x4 shop to get prices, just to see how they react to my queries for a Volvo.
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'89 244 GL -- 106,XXX miles (see profile for info on car)

Gotta agree with Bob (volvodad) I had a couple of 'vettes, ('68 & '71) that were just flat deadly in the rain. "Cool Factor" and bragging rights aside a street legal NA or turbo for that matter 240 would never need one and the possible downside in slippery conditions makes one very low on my performance list.
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Dave Shannon
Spring Valley, California
'88-240 190K+
'65 1800S ????K
'73 1800ES 117K
'92 745Ti 160K
Jeep Wrangler Sahara 19K
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you should NEVER take LSD and drive at the same time

Your first step is to establish the cost of obtaining and installing a LSD in the car, then consider if the benefits are worth it.

OK - now my view on these things: they are great in straight ahead poor traction conditions, which usually means 'winter'. A drawback is that, when cornering, and applying throttle in poor traction, both rear wheels can break traction and the rear end will immediately and rapidly swing out.

I suppose this was the direction of thought for Volvo's engineers on the later 940's. Mine has an ALD (automatic locking diff), but it only functions below about 20MPH.

Given the scenario of good traction and sporty/aggressive driving with a N/A B23/230 engine, I can't see that an LSD would add much to your driving experience. The usual cam/exhaust modifications to that engine usually just extend the RPM range upward a little and add some torque in the mid-upper ranges. This comes at the expense of a reduction in torque at the lower revs, which is typically where the need for an LSD occurs. The only way I have ever been able to break traction on a N/A 240 was to rev it and dump the clutch from a dead stop. And then I only got a (ie: one) black stripe about 6ft long!

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Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F, dtr's 83-244DL B23F, 'my' 94-944 B230FD; plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, hobbycar MGB, and numerous old motorcycles)

A drawback is that, when cornering, and applying throttle in poor traction, both rear wheels can break traction and the rear end will immediately and rapidly swing out.

Isn't that the idea of installing it?
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Drive it like you hate it

It may be the right technique in road racing or autocrossing, but I think you missed the "poor traction" part of my post....ie: real world streets in bad weather.
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Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F, dtr's 83-244DL B23F, 'my' 94-944 B230FD; plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, hobbycar MGB, and numerous old motorcycles)

Mi Amigo,

I surely think a LSD would be a great benefit to a Volvo, even more so if you modify the motor. The benefits of added traction help, from hooking up to hard cornering, in every aspect of performance. I say, with the cam and other mods, a N/A (b230) motor is easily capable of making 175hp with basic head, intake manifold, air box, cam, & exhaust modifications. Of course, larger injectors might be necessary but those are cheap and attainable (Ford browntops in our case).

The transmission is also a factor, with a manual set up being optimum. An auto trans would need a higher stall converter to really maximize any extra cam realated power on the street... I still need to do a little research on the converter... but I have heard they are out there (if any one can help me here)!

In an aside, the VX cam in my ride has helped tremendously, worth every dime in my opinion. Sterndogg runs the V15 (Enem). Turbobricks.com is a great way to get down with a Volvo's potential.

Finally, the set up of a Volvo rear w/ LSD is very easy and the parts are also readily available as it is a Dana unit... and gear ratio, combined with your set up, can make for a quick steet ride.

Peace, Jon