Here's a question that I haven't found much helpful information on.

I have been looking for a nice 5 Speed 850 for quite awhile, then it just so happened that one popped up about 5 miles down the road. I went to look at the car, it's very rough, as in, it will probably need a new engine rough.. So here's the catch. It's a 1994. It drives just fine for now, and the transmission is in excellent condition, based on my evaluation of receipts on the repairs made on it, and also driving it around today for about 30 minutes or so.. The other catch, he only wants $700 for the whole car.

I'm a pretty young guy, but have grown up in and around Volvo's, only ones I have little experience with are 850's. I have a purple 960 wagon that I drive, and I'm not looking to just make a "quick fix" on the 850, I'm looking to make this a PROJECT car. Many guys start "projects" but come up with excuses to why they can't finish them; work, a wife, money, or all of the above..

So here's what I'm really at..
1. How compatible are the 1994 850's and the 1995-1997 850's? Engine mechanics, exteriors, suspension, engine electrical, etc. If anyone even knows of a website that explains that I would appreciate that too!
2. Is it possible to put a 1995-97 engine in the 1994 850? Or will it have to be strictly a 1994 850 engine?
3. What about putting a turbo charged engine in? Also refer to question 2, would it have to be a 1994, or wouldn't it matter?

I have time, money (kinda), ambition, and tools.. I want a project, now I just need some opinions! Any information is welcome.. More questions may come to follow. Thanks!

 

Dude, an 850 is an 850. If you are willing, you can make the changes you want to get it the way you want. If you drop a turbo in it, you will need the computer and other things needed to make the turbo work, including the radiator, etc.

 

gilber or others would know this info for sure; know you would want to steer clear of the '93s since that was the first MY and quite a few things were different/improved from the '93 on subsequent years..

 

talk him down a little, buy it then get a 850 turbo and put the manual in that lol

 

1. Basically all of the parts are interchangeable throughout 850s and 98 S70s.

2. 93-95 engines are EGR and 96-97 are SAS, engines are interchangeable, you'll just have to make the necessary adjustments either to the emissions system or the ECU or else you'll throw a CEL.

3. If you don't have much expertise on 850s, and turbo swap is beyond you...no offense. Even guys with extensive knowledge will not do a turbo swap into an NA due to how much stuff is different. i.e. ECU, engine harness, intercooler, fuel system, intake, exhaust, radiator, etc etc etc.

If you want a turbo and a manual, your best bet is to find a turbo 850 and do a manual swap, which are fairly easy to do, however, you'll either have to source a manual swap kit, or find a donor car. IMO, I would buy this wagon for the manual transmission/shifter/pedals/cables and then buy an 850 Turbo and do a manual swap.

Read this:

What to know about modifying a fwd volvo

And this:

Manual Swap information

 

I'm with Shelby on this one.

 

If you look at is as your Manual donor its a good deal, but do try to talk him down. $700 for a full manual setup is a good deal.
I am will gilber, dont try to turbo it, buy a turbo and move on.
Swapping the engines will go fine if you take it down to the long block.

 

Well thank you for answering my compatibility questions, that really helps to know that! What you guys are saying makes the most sense, I wouldn't want to go through putting a turbo in a non-turbo setup.. So, here's my plan!

I will assume that the lowest I can get the 850 for is $700, though I will try to go in at $600 or so.. Something VERY interesting popped up as well since the time I initially posted the question.. I don't know if it is for sale, but about 6 blocks down from my house, I found that there is a rough looking 850 Turbo just sitting in a yard collecting rust. I'm going to see if I can't make an offer on that car and bam, I would have my turbo.. Then I would save what I need from the 1994 5-speed 850 to make the Turbo 850 run/look better, and scape the rest of the 5-speed one for $200 or so..

What about that? Plus, I want to thank you guys for confirming that it is a bit more complicated then I would want to handle to put the Turbo engine in a non-turbo.. Even if I can't get the Turbo 850 right down the street from me, I will start looking for another one! thanks again

Edit: Also thank you for those links, I'm going to go grab my reading glasses and thinking cap..

 

Bought the whole car for $700 even.. I feel happy! But we will see what I can do.. thanks again for the suggestions, I'm sure I may run into a few more issues that I need to post about, but I will do my best not to ask questions that could be answered by searching previously answered questions! So. I will keep an update of the car, before and after shots and all!