NEWBIE! Fruity E30 project / worlds longest introduction!

Right I am now in a position to buy an E30, but need to know a lottle bit more about the differences betweem them...

Ie; when is the facelift year, and what are the differences?

I want to fit fibreglass arches to it, and am toying with the idea of M3 arches, or normal e30 arches, but don't know if they are interchangeable with the different models....

Also, what differences are there in parts between the engine sizes? Ie rear axles etc... As I will be using the volvo engine, and box, then a custom prop, and the only concern is rear axle...

Rob.

Aramil wrote: rhubarb7 wrote: Nova propped up on bricks It had a piece of wood on top of the concrete blocks, to not damage chassis rails! Plus it only weighed peanuts - I could pick it up on my own without an engine in, and two of us could lift it up with the engine in!!

Buy yourself some stands mate, bricks etc break up

Bigian wrote: It's nae a case of taking hat off its changing drawers afterwards.  its just a wee 7.5tonne for the moment heres hoping in a months time 10tonne dont do the same thing or will be needing box of nappies on bed in truck. mind you can remember in getting the arse oot on the bus another story for another time.

Mental!

Ben O Brien wrote: the M90 out of a manual Volvo 960 2.5 will bolt up to the T5 engine, same bell housing pattern, Use a Diesel Clutch out of an 850 TDI and your away! Red blocks have blocks that are painted red leaving the factory, White blocks are aluminium and unpainted so "whiteblocks" . Its just easy that way to determine which generation of engine one is talking in Volvo circles, as a General Rule of Thumb the reds are RWD and whites FWD, the exception being the 960 with a 3.0/2.5 6 cyl whiteblock but RWD. Thankfully the rare manuals will allow the likes of you and me to use a Manual Box in a RWD T5 set up. Just that 960 mounts will be set up towards RWD and wont be at funny angles, easier to make adaptor plates/arms etc. The Sump Shape will make it easier for you to fit the engine around the E30 subframe... at least it should! Best Engine is the B5234T that would be found in a 94/95 850 T-5, If you are after crazy power you'll be fitting Sten Rods and Pistons or similar so you basically want the 2.3 engine as it has thicker cylinder walls over the 2.5 and also the Pre-S/C/V70 engines will be non VVTi and easier to work with in terms of ECU's etc. Also theres a lot more about and less money spent on the engine means more for nice parts!

So what sort of power can the M90 box take? Guess its a 5 speed...

Same with the 850 TDI clutch...?

Interesting about the red / white block - makes sense now!

960 mounts make sense, as does the sump now, fwd sump would hit the subframe I guess... 

Like the sound of the B5234T, sounds perfect. Will be on the lookout for a battered 850 T-5 then!

EXCELLENT INFO!

Rhys wrote: Blimey, you are a complete nutter aren't you... I think you'll fit in nicely here! Welcome to the forum

Cheers mate!

The blue bullet wrote: Hello and welcome Aramil  I am looking forward to the adventures of your e30. I'm loving this already, the motoring equivalent of a pick 'n' mix - keep it coming!

Me too - going to be a fun project this one!

Rhys wrote: Blimey, you are a complete nutter aren't you... I think you'll fit in nicely here! Welcome to the forum

couldn't have put it better myself!

the M90 out of a manual Volvo 960 2.5 will bolt up to the T5 engine, same bell housing pattern, Use a Diesel Clutch out of an 850 TDI and your away!

Red blocks have blocks that are painted red leaving the factory, White blocks are aluminium and unpainted so "whiteblocks" . Its just easy that way to determine which generation of engine one is talking in Volvo circles, as a General Rule of Thumb the reds are RWD and whites FWD, the exception being the 960 with a 3.0/2.5 6 cyl whiteblock but RWD. Thankfully the rare manuals will allow the likes of you and me to use a Manual Box in a RWD T5 set up.

Just that 960 mounts will be set up towards RWD and wont be at funny angles, easier to make adaptor plates/arms etc. The Sump Shape will make it easier for you to fit the engine around the E30 subframe... at least it should!

Best Engine is the B5234T that would be found in a 94/95 850 T-5, If you are after crazy power you'll be fitting Sten Rods and Pistons or similar so you basically want the 2.3 engine as it has thicker cylinder walls over the 2.5 and also the Pre-S/C/V70 engines will be non VVTi and easier to work with in terms of ECU's etc. Also theres a lot more about and less money spent on the engine means more for nice parts!

Ben O Brien wrote: Yeah the Getrag 265 in the 635 or the pre 85 735 will bolt up to the 4 cylinder red block. Not the 225 unit unfortunately. In America they use crazy boxes with the 4 cyl, everything from mustang 5 speeds to 6 speed Supra Gearboxes, I suppose any Engine and box will go together if you spend enough money on adaptor plates etc. Good news is you can buy that T5 engine complete for around 3-400 pounds, a lot cheaper than an E36 M3 engine! They are 225 in the 850's, 250 in the T5-R and 850R (it was only a difference in mapping) then in the V70 T5 they were 250 standard. in the later V70R AWD's they were 265 with a bigger turbo, I find it gas how for upped the capacity to 2.5 and its still 225! Volvo were getting this in 1993 when they brought out the 850 T5 and it was from a 2.3! You would probably find it easier to use 960 mounts and a 960 sump just shorten it by 1 cylinder, ill be doing this myself so i can forward on measurements etc when ive done mine. The mounts will be easier to adapt for an E30 chassis anyway due to the crossmember location. Believe it or not a 240 is not much bigger than an E30, its the fact there made of Granite that gives them the tankish weight!!!

Shame about the 265 box! Boo! Any boxes that bolt straight to the 225 worth looking into? Why is it called red block / white block? Any reason?

So 5 cylinder wise, would it make a difference which one to try and get hold of? I know they are different power outputs, but that is irrelevant obviously, but in terms of cc, which is the 'better' starting point? (Getting bits for them - rods, pistons etc...) Any advice?

Any reason for the 960 sump / mounts over the others? Mounts stronger maybe, but sump?

Good old granite Volvo's eh?!

Thanks a lot mate!

Bigian wrote: Welcome to the forum once converted you will never go back unless you nail it to hard going round a roundabout it can be quite entertaining tho it looks even more impressive when I'm drifting my lorry dont think boss would be to happy if he seen me. Anyway welcome

Lorry drifting...? I take my hat off to you!

Yeah the Getrag 265 in the 635 or the pre 85 735 will bolt up to the 4 cylinder red block. Not the 225 unit unfortunately. In America they use crazy boxes with the 4 cyl, everything from mustang 5 speeds to 6 speed Supra Gearboxes, I suppose any Engine and box will go together if you spend enough money on adaptor plates etc.

Good news is you can buy that T5 engine complete for around 3-400 pounds, a lot cheaper than an E36 M3 engine! They are 225 in the 850's, 250 in the T5-R and 850R (it was only a difference in mapping) then in the V70 T5 they were 250 standard. in the later V70R AWD's they were 265 with a bigger turbo, I find it gas how for upped the capacity to 2.5 and its still 225! Volvo were getting this in 1993 when they brought out the 850 T5 and it was from a 2.3!

You would probably find it easier to use 960 mounts and a 960 sump just shorten it by 1 cylinder, ill be doing this myself so i can forward on measurements etc when ive done mine. The mounts will be easier to adapt for an E30 chassis anyway due to the crossmember location. Believe it or not a 240 is not much bigger than an E30, its the fact there made of Granite that gives them the tankish weight!!!

Right, the engine your using if its a 5 cyl is the B5234T Also known as the T5 motor, thats the one you want, 225 out of the factory, With relatively simple mods like bigger turbo/injectors/strengthened rods and pistons 350-400 brake is easy enough to reach.

The T5's were all front wheel drive, however Volvo out the whiteblock engine in the 960 albeit 6 cylinder but it was RWD and some were manual so theres your gearbox issue sorted, well if you can find one. (I have one but your not getting it :D)

If tis 4 cylinder your after then itll be a B23ET red block out of a 740 Turbo Pre 85. Parts are easier to come by for the older red blocks esp in scandanavia and easier to get Gearboxes as they were all RWd anyway. However id be going for the T5 whiteblock if i were you purely for the rarity basis.

I am building a Volvo 242 Coupe at the moment with the T5 engine fitted and M90 box, its never been done to a 240 in the uk or ireland and there is a few stateside and in scandanavia so it should be interesting. especially since its one of about 4-5 242's in Uk and Ireland. Its a 242 mind not the more common V6 262 with the chop top.

If you need any advice pm me and ill give you my number, dont go down the Volvo road without getting some advice first anyway.

Sten Parner is worth googling too, he supplies everything you could need for bleeding hp out of Volvo units!

And go for it, Theres enough S50 engined and S38 engines E30's out there, be different! And if its anything like the Nova it should turn out fantastic.