I've got too many ideas and not enough time or energy to execute them all.
But...here's an idea that I've had for so long that I figured it'd make a good post topic.
I used to drive a 1984 Volvo 240 station wagon—it was dark blue over dark blue vinyl and could seat at least six of my closest compatriots in relative comfort. It had an awful (but reliable) 2.4L inline four mated to an equally awful automatic transmission that had no overdrive.
The thing that I never understood about that car was why the hood was so damned long. Popping the front end revealed that tiny little engine waaaaay back behind a giant fan shroud and big gap bewteen the radiator and bumper. Volvo never installed anything larger1 longer than an inline-4 in these cars from the factory, so I still have no clue why there was so much space in there.
So it occured to me that it would be fairly straightforward to dump a, you know, supercharged (or worse—turbo'd) Chevrolet 350 up in front and tie it up to the remaining running gear. The Volvo station wagon with a hood full of balls is a fantastic sleeper.
It turns out that there's a company (JTR, or Jags That Run) which makes a conversion kit and manual to turn your tame Volvo 200-series car into a fire-breathing Chevrolet-powered beasticle.
Sign me up.
P.S. This is also an excuse for me to add a 1984 Volvo 240 category on the side. Because this relates to my, err, old Volvo.
1 See the comments below—it looks like Volvo put a V6 in the front of the 200 series—but they didn't put anything longer than a four-cylinder in there.
That's much more reasonable than the crazy idea I had of putting an 18 cylinder WWII bomber engine in the back of a Suburban.
I expect to see a post with in the next couple weeks regarding the purchase of a used-rust free station wagon.
Jarrod-
Rockin'. Which one do you have in mind? The only WWII bomber engines of which I can think are all radials.
Raven-
I hope, oh so much. Alas, I've got a Merc to square away and a pilot's license to earn.
Maybe after I've cleaned out some space in the garage.
--Dan
I may be incorrect, but I thought Volvo produced a 262 which was the 242 body with a V6.
Yep, you're right—that was a total brain fart on my part. The B27E was sold in the 264, 265, generic 260, and Bertone-bodied 262C.
My first thought was that Volvo waited until the 700 series chassis before dropping the V6 in the front. Oops.
best car ever made :)
I once had a 1976 Volvo 264GLE with a 2,7 V6 engine B27E, it got ruined after 2 months so i changed it to a 2,3 turbo engine (B230ET)most reliable engine I've ever had. The V6 engine is really made by Renault so it's crap once it's driven more than 200'000 km.
but now i have a Volvo 240GLE 1987 model with a B230K engine and I couldn't be happier by the power it gives. Volvo's engines are the most reliable engines you can get your hands on.
I have a 240 sedan 1993 w/chevrolet 350 G. I (1975)
I'm starting the proyect in 2 weeks, it will take me a while, i'll tried to keep u post, wish me luck,