Besides obviously lacking a turbo, what are the differences between a naturally aspirated 2.1 / 2.3 L 240 engine and the turbo versions?

The cams are different, the throttle bodies are different, the Hp and Torque numbers are different,

ok, thanks. I wanted to make sure because i'm considering buying an N/a 242, and putting a turbo on it. If the cam and throttle body are all i have to worry about, i dont see why i shouldnt.

Well if your going to do this you going to have to do a lot more work then what I suggested. N/A to TURBO conversions are exspensive.

Just buy a turbo model and mod it. It is honestly cheaper.

Well, I plan on running an aftermarket turbo/cam, and doing the T-5 trans swap, maybe even bore it out. I'm not looking to just get by with as little as possible to have a turbo car. I have an N/a 240 for my daily driver, so now I just want something to work on and mess around with on the weekend. In that situation, having a turbo engine to start with or not won't make much of a difference in price, will it?

Yeah it will.

You can buy an 850 turbo, T5R or R for so much less then turboing a N/A engine.

The thing is, is that turboing an N/A take a lot of time for starters, a lot of money, and great tuning. You would spend more in PROPER tuning then anything else.

I bet you could spend upwards of $5,000 to have a n/a to turbo conversion and have it run decently. But if you want it to run perfectly I bet you will spend more then that to make it run properly.

See it just ins't worth it when it comes down to the line. Unless you got the time, the bucks and can find PROPER tuning.

It is so much easier to buy a turboed Volvo and work on it then turboing an N/A.

Ok, well thanks for clearing that up for me. Looks like I just need to find a 242 turbo now.

ORIGINAL: iwillhunt

Ok, well thanks for clearing that up for me. Looks like I just need to find a 242 turbo now.


Good move.

ORIGINAL: iwillhunt

Ok, well thanks for clearing that up for me. Looks like I just need to find a 242 turbo now.


Good Luck they are getting Really hard to find.

ORIGINAL: S70driver

Yeah it will.

You can buy an 850 turbo, T5R or R for so much less then turboing a N/A engine.


I bet you could spend upwards of $5,000 to have a n/a to turbo conversion and have it run decently.


No disrespect intended S70

But you are so far from the truth. Turbo'ing N/A engines is not only affordable but can yeild great results some even superior to factory turbo cars.

B21/B23
Thesse motors take well to turbo'ing AKA +T. If you can do the work your self some poeple have done it for 5-6 hundred bucks most for under $1000. In todays market it cheaper to find a clean 242 dl and turbo it then it is to find a clean 242ti.
If you can find a 240 with the B23f with the mid 9's compression. This is a perfect car. You can get the ecu's from the 1984 760 turbo some ford brown top injectors and they are plug n play with the 240. Just plug the computers in, splice in the resistors add intercooler and this set up can easily handle 10 psi
B230
Thesse motors you have to be carfull anything befor 1990 hase the smaller rods and does not do well with a +t.
90 -93 are good for it using the larger rods and better placment of the thrust bearing. 93 and newer are the best for this
due to the combination of the 90+ block added with oil squirters for the pistons.

Dont write off doing this the lower compression N/a motors 9-?-1 yeaild great off boost power and can handle upwards of 10psi safley.
If your still interested P.M me and i will send you some links that can better help you with turbo'ing your N/A.

ORIGINAL: AlexR

ORIGINAL: S70driver

Yeah it will.

You can buy an 850 turbo, T5R or R for so much less then turboing a N/A engine.


I bet you could spend upwards of $5,000 to have a n/a to turbo conversion and have it run decently.


No disrespect intended S70

But you are so far from the truth. Turbo'ing N/A engines is not only affordable but can yeild great results some even superior to factory turbo cars.

B21/B23
Thesse motors take well to turbo'ing AKA +T. If you can do the work your self some poeple have done it for 5-6 hundred bucks most for under $1000. In todays market it cheaper to find a clean 242 dl and turbo it then it is to find a clean 242ti.
If you can find a 240 with the B23f with the mid 9's compression. This is a perfect car. You can get the ecu's from the 1984 760 turbo some ford brown top injectors and they are plug n play with the 240. Just plug the computers in, splice in the resistors add intercooler and this set up can easily handle 10 psi
B230
Thesse motors you have to be carfull anything befor 1990 hase the smaller rods and does not do well with a +t.
90 -93 are good for it using the larger rods and better placment of the thrust bearing. 93 and newer are the best for this
due to the combination of the 90+ block added with oil squirters for the pistons.

Dont write off doing this the lower compression N/a motors 9-?-1 yeaild great off boost power and can handle upwards of 10psi safley.
If your still interested P.M me and i will send you some links that can better help you with turbo'ing your N/A.


They may take well, but I am afraid that it cost a lot of money to do so and to get proper tuning is the key here.

You can get 6-8 psi on stock turbo ecu icu managment. If you chosse you could go to a stand along like megasquirt {usualy under $500}. People have been turbo'ing N/A engines for a long time and it is alot simpler and cost effective then you seem to belive. I personaly owned a 83 242 dl with a b23f+t and was extreemly happy with the result and did the complete job for under $1,000. Now there is more knowledge and simpler ways of doing it.


But as far as the fwd volvo's i would agree with you about the work and cost effect would not be worth it. But with how htf the 240 turbos let alone the 242 turbos are becoming to find in good shape a +t is a great option for the mechanicaly inclined.

Re the front wheel drive Volvos-just get a used S40,have a chip upgrade and hold on. My S40 is running 13 pounds of boost, is 1/2 inch lower,with bigger fr and rear bars,cold air intake and Heico exhaust.Makes 200 plus hp,will peg the rev limiter and is a blast to drive.And all save the chip upgrade was done in my driveway.BJ

ORIGINAL: hocbj23

Re the front wheel drive Volvos-just get a used S40,have a chip upgrade and hold on. My S40 is running 13 pounds of boost, is 1/2 inch lower,with bigger fr and rear bars,cold air intake and Heico exhaust.Makes 200 plus hp,will peg the rev limiter and is a blast to drive.And all save the chip upgrade was done in my driveway.BJ


[&:] Im confused by your post. Your running 13psi with a chip upgrade? I remember reading somewhere. {i belive VS forums} the S40's come from the factory running like 18 psi with a mid 9 SCR?

ORIGINAL: AlexR

ORIGINAL: hocbj23

Re the front wheel drive Volvos-just get a used S40,have a chip upgrade and hold on. My S40 is running 13 pounds of boost, is 1/2 inch lower,with bigger fr and rear bars,cold air intake and Heico exhaust.Makes 200 plus hp,will peg the rev limiter and is a blast to drive.And all save the chip upgrade was done in my driveway.BJ


[&:] Im confused by your post. Your running 13psi with a chip upgrade? I remember reading somewhere. {i belive VS forums} the S40's come from the factory running like 18 psi with a mid 9 SCR?


I have never heard of an s40 running 18PSI from the factory. It is a 1.9L engine that is turbocharged with a small turbo.

My 1999 s70 awd comes with a 13g stock and was only running 5-7PSI from the factory. Hell even the 850R and T5-R's weren't running 18PSI from the factory. 10-15PSI max from the factory.

Not my S40. I wish it had 18 psi from factory,no need for the expense of a chip upgrade. It was running 7psi max when I bought it. BJ

I remeber being in shock when i read it but took it with a grain of salt due to my limited knowledge of the newer cars. 13psi still sounds low with a chip/remap? From what ive seen/read 20psi seems to be the breaking point on most whiteblock motors.

I plan on running 8-10 psi on my B6304 "n/a" with only a mild compression drop.

You can get 3 stages of upgrades on most Volvo aftermarket chips. Mine is Stage 1 and that is plenty of boost for me.My car is a daily driver, gets great fuel economy, and will suck the doors off most rattle can Hondas with loud mufflers. Nuff said?BJ

ORIGINAL: hocbj23

You can get 3 stages of upgrades on most Volvo aftermarket chips. Mine is Stage 1 and that is plenty of boost for me.My car is a daily driver, gets great fuel economy, and will suck the doors off most rattle can Hondas with loud mufflers. Nuff said?BJ


Sorry somtimes i forget not everyone goes to the limits. lol The s40 turbo is a great car the power to wieght ratio is a fun one to play with. I strongly concidered one when shopping for a new car for the wife but decided on a trailblazer becuase it was the first thing i sat in that i actualy had extra leg room in. {being 6"6}

Yep> U would not fit into an 1st gen S40 very well.I am 6 feet and ny head is real close to the roof with the seat all the way back and down.It isnt a big persons car.Lol.BJ

How hard would it be to turbo a non-turbo S80 2.9L? I prob won't do it but I am curious to know just in case.

Well lets put it this way. It isn't worth it.

1. You need a turbo or turbos if you want it like the T6 s80.

2. You will need a downpipe or downpipes

3. Exhaust catback system

4. Injectors

5. Intercooler

6. Intercooler hard pipes

7. Vaccum lines

8. Turbo Hoses

9. Injectors

10. Most importantly proper ECU tuning. Dyno time as well.

I am leaving a crap load of items out, but you get the picture.

Sell your car and get a turbo model.

Yeah I guess that confirms what I had feared....oh well. I guess I can always play around with some superchargers/nitrous and then just sell the S80 later on and go for an S80 turbo. Appreciate the response:D.

As someone who has gone from NA > NA+turbo > blown up motor > rebuilt turbo bottom end with full top of the line internals + turbo.

Buy a proper turbo motor and be happy and secure knowing that not only is your motor built to take the extra power but so are all the other drivetrain parts involved in handling all the extra torque you will have.

Adding 50-75 HP to the whole drive train is A BAD IDEA IN GENERAL. Regardless of make or model of car some things are universally true. If you add the power and go cheap on everything else you will kick yourself when it leaves u stranded. Then you will wish you bought the turbo from the start.

I have seen 5+ 740/940 Turbos for under $2500 in my area ( Southern California).

And time for an example:
Car 1: 740 NA
Turbo/manifold/boost controller/injectors/ecu/fuel pump = if you use mostly OEM Volvo parts I saw rougly $1000 quoted on here.
Cost of car lets say $1500
Total = $3000 ( where did the extra $500 come from? Fastners, gastkets, and stuff you generally forget to include in budget like silicon couplers, IC piping etc etc)

Car 2: 740 Turbo
Boost Controller/Injectors/ECU Flash= Not sure but I would guess no more than $400 for all these items with a small bit of shopping around.
Cost of car lets say $2500
Total = $2900 and I would bet pink slips that the turbo motor will make more power in the end with just the listed parts and it will do it more reliably.

No, I am not fully informed on ins and outs of volvos (yet) but with the extensive enigne mods I have done on my 330 WHP neon, I can tell you this: DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME GO TURBO TO START!

ORIGINAL: WhooFleuryScores

How hard would it be to turbo a non-turbo S80 2.9L? I prob won't do it but I am curious to know just in case.


HOLD THE PHONE!!!!!!!!!!! :D

I found this miraculously on ebay. This is half of the s80 t6 turbo setup for the volvo s80!!!! You'll just need to find the manifold, add the proper injectors...etc The guy selling it has no idea it's from an s80, but he lists all the part numbers and they match up to factory s80 parts.

I bet you could score this cheap. And you can pick up the turbo ecu for another 100-200 bucks. The manifolds, probably another 100-200 as well. Plumbing you could most likely use braided steel line. As s70driver is stating, this is only half of it, but this is probably the most expensive and difficult to find chunk of the puzzle. If I hadn't decided to do just a single turbo setup or an engine swap, I'd be bidding this already. But since I don't wanna be like everyone else and be stock, I'm not going to.

There's also a volvo t6 turbo manifold on ebay right now...lemme get the links:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VOLVO-TWIN-TURBO-TURBOCHARGER-XC90-S80_W0QQitemZ260098202838QQcategoryZ33742QQssPageN ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Good luck and let me know (I'm not going to bid on it so no worries)

P.S. Couldn't find the links for the turbo manifolds or the turbo computer, but they're both on there. I'd give it a shot, bidding never hurts.