Can't Sleep

"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg) 04/27/2020 at 00:10 • Filed to: None

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I can’t sleep, so I’m building my buddy’s Volvo hotrod motor in my head. Yes, you heard that right, Volvo hot rod. No, its not the one above, but thats an inspiration.

We currently have a 2.3L I5 turbo block and head. Plan is to use a bellhousing and modified oil pan and pickup out of a 960 f or RWD install, along with an adapter to a Tremec T5 out of a Mustang .

The exhaust side will be a custom 5 into 1, long tube, equal length header with a merge collector. Intake is going to be an Eaton blower (M62 or M90, need to run numbers) installed upside down and blowing into an ME7 intake manifold off a later S60. It will be draw thru carbs, probably a pair of SUs or similar mounted to the blower. It still uses a dizzy so spark is taken care of.

At some point I’m going to polish the head and we’re going to install a set of NA cams with adjustable timing gears. Goal is low 300s RWHP.

Since I can’t sleep I might as well go start blower calcs.

PyramidHat > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/27/2020 at 00:15

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I’m told Volvo engines are largely under stressed, so lots of room for growth... in 

Jim Spanfeller > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/27/2020 at 00:41

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Volvo hot rod? Now that’s my kind of crazy! 

phenotyp > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/27/2020 at 00:59

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What are you guys thinking of for a body?

Nauraushaun > PyramidHat 04/27/2020 at 01:56

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I hear the chassis are also quite stout. For safety reasons, not performance, but rigidity is rigidity is ridigitty

Snuze: Needs another Swede > phenotyp 04/27/2020 at 07:45

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I dunno, that’s his department. It’s mainly his car, I’m just handling the development of the engine & drivetrain. Chassis, suspension, and body is all on him. I mean, I’ll help where I can but that’s all his call.  He’s really into pre-war Grand Prix cars - so think early Auto Unions, Silver Arrows, Maserati Tipo 26, etc. 

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Jim Spanfeller 04/27/2020 at 07:52

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Yeah, I think it’s a cool idea. He really wanted something crazy like a V12 or inline-8 but there’s nothing like that remotely affordable that also performs decently. He’s really into pre-war Grand Prix cars so he want’s something that can give that level of performance but also presents a bit of that feel visually . So that rules out something simple like an LS V8.

W e had to look at smaller, more modern stuff and a fter comparing few other strong candidates we settled on the Volvo whiteblocks. We are going to make some mods to the exterior casting and dress it up a bit with things like those vintage looking “rag wire” spark plug wires, it’s going to breathe through twin SU carbs, etc. So it should give the old school look and feel, and decent performance, and he liked the idea of the I5 because it makes neat noises. And the turbo I5 is already setup to handle boost.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > PyramidHat 04/27/2020 at 07:55

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Yes, we went with the 2.3L turbo which has a nice, thick deck and thick block walls, so it can handle a lot of boost.  Though in reality we’ll probably only end up with about 300 HP, give or take a few.  

Jim Spanfeller > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/27/2020 at 12:07

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That sounds awesome! A lot of people complain that hot rods are all unoriginal and boring now, but your friend is proving them wrong. I think that by their very nature, hot rods have enormous potential for creativity. I love thinking up ideas for unusual hot rods.