As a relative newcomer, I'm still pleased with the 95 960 I got for my new-driver daughter. She loves the car, especially since Christmas brought a new sound system. Tearing into the car for the install, I found more impressive signs of how well these cars are built.

I was originally looking for a wagon due to a large musical instrument in the family. Now that I'm so impressed with the sedan, I had in the back of my mind that a wagon would still be great, but there's no pressure to find one since we have enough cars. Which opens the door for something more time-consuming. Today I came across a 97 960 wagon with a bad trans. I'm thinking of grabbing it, selling the good-running engine, and doing an V8 swap. Probably just an LM4 truck engine, not a crazy hot rod. It would be good practice for the BMW E39 LS swap I plan on doing next year.

The bit of reading I've done on the topic reveals a car or two with fully-functional OBD II and O2 sensors. Lots more that are pre-96 without the issue, and guys talking-up the older cars for that reason. Since this 97 has presented itself for a very few hundred $, I need to consider it. Does anybody know how difficult it is to get an LS-style swap running with fully functional OBD II up and no codes?

 

Ken from V8Volvos.com has done it. Mike in Western MA did it too about years ago. Ken sometimes posts here. Mike's thread is in Turbobricks/Performance.

 

I passed on that one due to color (purple) and trashed interior. Not that the price didn't justify it, just feel there's enough work in a conversion that I didn't want to deal with a color and interior change. I'v ebeen following some BMW LS conversions for a while, and the most common is "wish I had (or glad) I started with a clean car." After many used cars I agree ... I'd rather handle a major mechanical issue than try to revamp an aesthetically challenged car.