I have a 1982 245 Diesel wagon that was purchased new. The paint and interior is in great shape but has not run in 12 years due to both engine and transmission failure. I drove it about 5k miles after the reverse decided not to work anymore or only when it felt like it.

Interior is as new after about a gallon of Leathereque.

Started machine polishing the paint which is good. The car has been garaged since birth, including its 12 year vacation.

The plans are to put in a GM or Ford V6/8 along with an appropriate auto transmission. I have the books published by JTR, 1995 edition on the GM installation.

GM only uses the rear drive setup in trucks now and the Camero/Firebird engines/transmissions have become old and high mileage. Wreaked trucks sell for an unrealistic premium for my purposes. Suspect that I will go toward the Ford Mustang. Seems that there are a lot of wreaked ones.

I was looking for a Volvo 'LUMPS' (LUMPS are Jaguars with Chevy/Ford engines) forum or a group that might be interested in noodling out the conversion.

Didn't see much conversation on the subject in a few searches. Would appreciate some direction if there is any interest on this forum.

 

OK, found someone that sells conversion kits with some instructions for a Ford Explorer 1996 to 2001 302ci engine for the 240.

Found a 2000 Mountaineer 302 in a local recycling yard. It has 11k miles, been in inside storage for 8 years and would include everything from fan to drive shaft, including wiring harness and computer, MAFS to O2S and all accessories ie: alternator, starter, AC compressor.

Would you folks comment on how deep a hole I am digging myself? The wife has said get it running or get rid of it.

 

check this out:
http://www.brickboard.com/V8/

 

Check this site out: http://converse-engineering.com/index.html. They specialize on the 302 in the Volvo. I've always wanted to do it. If you got everything, you might be able to do in in a week or two.

 

I've found them and talked to Ross Converse. Very informative. Researching the various sites there seem to be strong feelings, positive and negative, for his product. But he seems to be the only game in town even if it is Waterville, ME. Hopefully this thread will generate some interest to post from those that have used his kit. I just need to feel more confident on the details of conversion.

JagsThatRun(.com) make their profit on the sale of the books they sell providing the installation details of the small block GM conversion. The parts they sell, like engine mounts are very reasonably priced and they proved the fabrication dimensions if you want to do it yourself. Bet they sold a hundred, or more, books for every mount they sold. Converse appears to be selling the knowledge embedded in the kit price. That's OK, but what is in the kit? What's not in the kit? Converse only pointed to the picture on the web page.

Such things as exhaust connection, PS connection, AC connection, MAFS/airfilter box connection. I have read of using the diesel air box, which I have. Is it that easy? I have the '82 wiring diagrams but need the Explorer descriptions and schematics.

The Explorer used an aluminum drive shaft. How do you connect to the Volvo (half)shaft?

What issues am I missing?

Discussed upgrading to a later model Volvo engine/ transmission with VoluParts today. Done business with them since they opened in 1977 but not in 12 years. They even remembered me. Seems that the conversion from an '82 to something this century is just about as difficult as the Ford 302.

Bottom line is that I would like to understand every conversion connection before I start rather than spend a year cobbling together whatever does not work.

Anyone want to help with this project?