Hello,

Since my turbo engine search is proving quite fruitless I am looking more and more towards the possibility of swapping in a Chevrolet 305 (5.0L) small block V8 for a number of reasons: Number 1) Cheap parts, Number 2) getting 250 horsepower/300 ft lbs of torque from a V8 while still retaining excellent fuel economy is child's play, Number 3) I can buy Volvo Penta marine valve covers for it that say VOLVO in huge embossed letters (So I can lie to people and say it's a rare V8 Volvo developed for racing ;) and Number 4) It would surprise the HELL out of any Rustang or Slowmaro I met up with.

Problem is...how to do it. As far as going the Ken King route a number of people have told me to be wary of his work (not that I could afford it anyway), and the many times I have tried to call/e-mail him I couldn't get ahold of him. It's safe to say that Jags That Run will NEVER publish their conversion book. So, what to do? I contacted SPG9 (Formerly Group 6) and they still sell the engine/tranny mounts to do the swap. BUT-how do I hook up the accessories? I figure that I have these things to worry about-Air conditioning, Power Steering, Vacuum lines, Fuel delivery, Sensors and gauges, Firewall clearance, Trans tunnel clearance, Clutch compatibility, and a Custom driveshaft.

I'll take this step by step. Engine accessories...I was thinking that it might be possible to simply connect the Volvo A/C lines to the GM compressor and be done with it, likewise with the power steering pump...Yes/No? The alternator would be a cake walk I would imagine...Just pick up a one wire hookup marine unit and use that. Of course the GM smog pump would be retained but that only deals with the other GM components on the engine. Anything I'm missing here? Would I be wiser to make/have made brackets to adapt the Volvo accessories to the V8? How is this handled in the 240 swaps?

Next, engine sensors-Would the best approach be to adapt the Volvo Oil pressure/Water Temp sending unit to fit the Chevrolet block? But then what if the sensors do double duty (Ex. The engine temp dictates what the fuel injection computer does-Obviously the Volvo sensor wouldn't work with the GM ECU) Again, what do you 240 guys do?

Any and all help is appreciated...

Thanks,

Matthew C. Hall