290 replies to this topic

[Daisy_854]

Whos swapped out from an N/A motor to a turbo motor?
Discuss.

[danm]

impossible !

[D s50r]

Unless u have a smashed turbo shell and a mint mint mint non turbo car it's not cost effective... With that said I've turbo charged my 87, 88 and 91 300zx's and helped turbo a scion tc

[sconeman]

Oh boy, every 3 months we need to have another one of these threads..

Let's just say not many people have done it and it's a PIA. as Ds50R mentioned you need a slew of parts off the donor turbo car. There's been many inquiries whether it can or should be done.

[Keaton85]

IF you had both vehicles for free then maybe, but actually spending money on this kind of project does not make any logical sense.

[Commander Riker]

Sure. It's actually an easy swap. Sell NA 850. Buy Turbo 850. Comes with free search skills on the inter webs too!! :-/

['93 Dave]

a few people have done it but dont really talk about it. volvospeed doesnt really progress because of well "lack of motivation" also because everyone is poor and cheap (your dealing with old used volvos so go figure). i dont know exactly what to search for. i just remember it because it was a red 93 850 just like mine that someone did it in not too long ago

[D s50r]

It's not that anyone is too poor or top cheap the only reason in my opinion I would add forced induction to a n/a is if that car didn't come that with that option or if a turbo model was a harder to find in good condition such as the 300zx's ive owned

[lookforjoe]

a few people have done it but dont really talk about it. volvospeed doesnt really progress because of well "lack of motivation" also because everyone is poor and cheap (your dealing with old used volvos so go figure). i dont know exactly what to search for.

Bullshit. To everything you've said.

This is not a practical swap, period.

[Jardim]

well too bad the OP has everything she needs for the swap and her NA motor is fubar'd....


VS-ers will just say get a turbo but since your N/A shell is mint and you just dropped it i say go for it.

IF you had both vehicles for free then maybe, but actually spending money on this kind of project does not make any logical sense.

Just like swapping from auto to manual, everyone i've met said it was a waste of money....but to me it wasn't. Im glad i did it.

[Deimos]

Did any of the turbo cars in the USA not come with a sunroof? If not, then that might be a possible justification to swapping into a non-sunroof N/A.

I've looked into doing it, and it would be an extra PITA for me since I have a '99, but for a 93-98 I think most people overestimate how much more work it is in addition to a normal engine swap. If you've got a donor turbo with an unmolested engine bay, like one that was rear ended and totaled, it wouldn't be that bad and you might as well do a manual swap too while you're at it.

I haven't done it because of the extra issues of mine being a '99, the fact that I'd prefer AWD, and the fact that I'm currently living in an apt with no place to do my own major work.

Just my $.02

[(n)A-GAME]

In for the lulz.

[Jardim]

Well i think all she needs now is the wiring harness.

['93 Dave]

Whos swapped out from an N/A motor to a turbo motor?
Discuss.

this guy seemed like a pro. id send a pm to the op of this thread
http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/topic/45718-my-idea-for-an-aluminum-rip-kit-no-welding-necessary/

[Daisy_854]

Booming topic so far & It gets me a little excited that some of you guys think that it isn't cost effective to do, or that it's a PITA.

Heres my story; One week ago I was on Craigslist searching for Volvo items & I came across a turbo block. After inquring about it we decided I can get it Tuesday.
The next morning it seems as if my timing skipped, and I ended up with a seized engine.
Towed it to my house Monday night. Tuesday I picked up the block, injectors and a 15g.
Wednesday am I had a hoist delivered to my parents house.
Thursday I had a good friend over to begin taking things out of my bay.
By 4pm Friday we had my motor pulled with little problems. After that I met somebody for my ECM & a RMS.
Yesterday was Saturday & somebody pulled a harness for me. *My key element.
Today is Sunday & I'm getting a Head, intercooler and piping.
Monday I'm calling in my FCP order.
By tuesday my s60r exhaust manifold should be here (:
Wednesday I can start building the motor and Thursday I'll have a complete exhaust pulled from a parts car.


I'm all set, and under a major time crunch. I'm doing everything in my power to turbo swap Sophie before Carlisle.
I pretty much have everything I need sourced already. Theres always those small misc. things but I'm not too worried.
Wish me luck everyone.

[Mesoam]

Melissa are you friends w/ any of the Danbury Volvo people? Paul and Jim did a swap from N/A to turbo in Jim's 94 n/a wagon. They dropped in a 96 IIRC, didn't even have to do much work. I know Jim sold the car a while ago but I'm sure he'd be willing to chat about it, both of them are good mechanics.

[lookforjoe]

Hopefully you picked up the fuel components as well (return lines, FPR, perhaps higher flow pump?). Maybe 850 won't have the fuel return issues of the '98 to deal with.

Make sure you post how it goes & any issues you run into. If it all works out, having a guide for other 850'ers to follow would of course be very helpful.

Here's hoping for smooth progress on your swap. Look forward to seeing it @ Carlisle.

[sconeman]

so you're serious... nice. Forgive us but a lot people have posted threads like this serious as hell about the swap only to find out what's involved and then say no thanks.

you've got:

Turbo Block (do you have the coolant hard piping?)
Turbo
Rmani
Exhaust
ECM
wiring harness
IC and piping
injectors
turbo

other stuff not listed that you would need:

intake pipe and airbox or cone filter
BCS
Fuel return lines from Fuel rail and turbo FPR as mentioned by lookforjoe
HEAT SHEILDING for the firewall
Turbo gauge cluster or preferable a boost gauge.

what might slow you down is the little parts that you might not have. Sounds like you can do it though. best of luck

here's a pic of the turbo 850 fuel rail setup VS the NA setup.


NA




Turbo

[Keaton85]

Does the rail set-up matter much though? as long as the fuel pressure regulator is working then location should not matter? Just as long as you are getting the correct pressure at the rail...

The ONLY item I would be concerned with is the harness leading into the vehicle. Are they the same from older N/A style to Turbos?

[sconeman]

on NA-games swap he ran into big problems because the system was setup to operate under vacuum only. My understanding is that without the turb setup you will get misfires and your car will run like garbage. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but you need a return line that's for sure.

Edited by sconeman, 29 April 2012 - 02:29 PM.