Okay so just to clarify:

I have a 96 850 T wagon.

Doesn't say T-5, just turbo.


Do I have the Motronic 4.3 and the TD04-15G?

Here is the Wiki specs on the 850 line.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_850

Now Notice the LPT model has the Mitsu****i turbo and is putting out 190HP.

I know mine was a 225 model I believe?


If mine does have the Motronic, do I really need an R ecu?

 

You should have the 15g Turbo and the 222 HP the 96 turbo was the T5 for that year but it never got the T-5 badge.
In 97 the GLT got the LTP everything else up to that point was a HPT.

You can stick a MBC in there and up the boost to about 10PSI or so and be pretty close to the R in HP.
But make sure you have an aftermarket guage before installing the MBC.

 

Yeah I just wasn't sure of the differences.

After Christmas I will be investing in a gauge pod, gauges, and an MBC

 

Sounds like a good plan.

 

Tech

So what you are saying is that the 1996 850 Turbos are really the T-5 power plants. I have the same car as VJZ in the Platinum edition. I wasn't sure that I had that much power, except whenI get my foot into it, it really takes off and goes.

So what do you do to increase the boost in these cars?

Ray

 

The best/safest way would be an ECU upgrade or a chip. Costly, but worth it. Actually, Right now on turbobricks is a group buy for preformance chips.

The cheapest way would be a MBC (manual boost controller) and an aftermarket boost gauge running 10-12psi.

 

+1

 

As long as you don't decide, "Hey its a Volvo, it can take the pain." and take your MBC up all the way to OMBWTFBBQORLY psi, you'll be okay.