850 Engine Swap

[wtruttman10]

My engine might be toast so I've been looking at other engines to possibly replace it. I'm getting it checked out soon so hopefully it can be repaired. I have a 1997 Volvo 850 glt wagon so it's got the 190hp turbo engine with a 4-speed automatic transmission. The R engine is basically the same so I'm not worried about it fitting but I'm just wondering about the transmission. Would the R engine be adaptable to the transmission (since I believe that the R engine has a 4-speed auto version) or would I have to buy a new transmission for it too? If it is adaptable is there anything else I would need to worry about replacing for it?

[wtruttman10]

*Update* The engine is basically dead.

[Swedespeed96]

That’s to bad! What happened to the motor ?
if you find an R motor and trans it should be an easy swap, with little to no modifications needed. Just make sure to get the ECU as well

[Swedespeed96]

If you just have the motor it should work just fine with the GLT transmission that is in the car now

[wtruttman10]

Multiple problems with it and it’s just cheaper to buy a new engine rather than get it sent somewhere to get torn apart and fixed. Plus if I get a R engine I get like 40 more hp. But now I get to do the fun process of trying to find a good condition engine and ecu.

[Swedespeed96]

Not worth the hassle of trying to find an R motor. You will have better luck just finding another GLT or turbo motor and just upgrade to a 16 or 18t with bigger injectors a tune and a rip kit.

[wtruttman10]

Thanks for the advice I’ll keep that in mind but I’m gonna try and look for one if not I’ll just buy a glt one.

[05V70RGT]

No difference. GLT or R. Both are the same. the ECM is what makes the power.

[wtruttman10]

So then if they're the same engine could you but in a R ecu into a glt engine and basically have a R engine?

[850ARE]

Yes Basicaly the turbo engines are the same. Its ECM that makes the difference.. the NA models have a 2.4 ltr instead of 2.3 ltr and the intake manifold is bigger throttle inlet . If you have the time best option is search out a manual transmission...im curious to excatly whats wrong with the original engine.?

[05V70RGT]

Yes, my wife's 850 turbo wagon is an "almost R" cuz it has everything an R has except for the VIN number. Slapped an R ECM in it and BINGO

[wtruttman10]

That's what I'm going for the "almost R" set up. I'm more than welcome to talk to you if you want to talk about the engine. There's a lot of issues with it and it's basically dead. A manual transmission would to cool to get but then I have to rip out the auto trans stuff and change the shifter and stuff. Plus I would need to learn how to drive manual.

[Swedespeed96]

Maybe you can post what issues you had with your motor, just so anyone who reads this can make sure catastrophic failure does not happen to them.

[wtruttman10]

I just had 3 main issues. 1. I had a engine tick that sounded terrible and I put some stuff in it to clean out the engine but it didn't help. 2. When getting up to around 3k rmps the engine would kinda seize up and it would rattle. 3. I would get up to 4k rmps and the engine would stall for about a half a second. I was told it was a problem with the tcv and I tried fixing it but no luck. I have some other posts with the issues already on here that you can look at if you want.

[05V70RGT]

Learn to drive a manual, they're so much more fun. It's a fairly simple swap as well.

any engine you're going to buy, R or otherwise, should be checked for compression at the very least. I have an 05 V70R for sale for DIRT ASS CHEAP if you have to have an R engine. Of course it would include the rest of the car as well. BIG 4 pot BREMBO calipers, awd, 300hp. Just sayin.