Which is the best way to go?

[Phatt_daddy]

I know that money will de the deciding factor for either swap but humor me.
I have been intriged y the volvo dohc swap and can get a complete enging for $300.00 at a local jy. I have also wantd to do the turbo swap and can get everything necessary to do tyhe swap for $500.00 with the block and internals being upgraded at a later date. I also know that boost will only be up in the 9 to 10 lbs range until I upgrade the block and internals. So what would be the better swap?



Nate

 

[88stangmangt]

Ive read your post a couple times and still cant understand what your trying to ask. But i will try my best to guess.....the Volvo Dohc head swap is not a bolt on by far...if i have done my HW right it requires some of the rear oil passages to be machined and the head its self has to be extended so your talking machine work...IMO you would have the most fun droping in a complete TC motor...you can find anything you want at turboford.net

 

[Shawneebear93]

Drop in the Ford turbo motor and pick up the Volvo DOHC for possible use at a later date. If you don't use it you could sell it.

 

[Red_LX]

From what I've seen, the volvo head swap is a can of worms at best...requires a lot of machining and fab work. I'd say stick with the turbo 2.3 for now, and forget about the volvo head swap until somebody perfects it.

 

[KurtPB]

I also know that boost will only be up in the 9 to 10 lbs range until I upgrade the block and internals. So what would be the better swap?

not even if you mean turbocharging a n/a 2.3 but a 2.3T can easily run what, someone confirm, but i think my sis' bf's tc ran 15 or 16 with the premium switch.... and now that motor is mine.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

I'd say stick with the turbo 2.3 for now, and forget about the volvo head swap until somebody perfects it.

Or until it gets abandoned and people realize that a factory Ford 16v engine swap could be about the same amount of work as a Volvo head. At this point it's like trying to put Cleveland heads on a Windsor. Once upon a time it was the only way to get heavy breathing heads on a windsor, but now there are cheaper, easier, more effective, and generally better options. Not to knock the people that have tried and/or done it, but seriously, about the only thing that doesn't get changed is the shortblock......why not upgrade that too?

 

[Phatt_daddy]

The boost is for a n/a block until I could get the turbo long block off the guy. I know nothing about doing the whole turbo swap or head swap, I am used to working on either 302's or 4.0's so the whole 2.3 game is new to me when it comes to modifing them.

Nate

 

[stykthyn]

boost on a n/a block is a bad thing. you may push 6psi before it detonates and your engine bites the big one. save everything for a complete t/c motor swap. there is a lot of info out there on it. it shouldnt be that difficult. stinger has put together some awesome turbo motors. he helped build project bolt on, and that car has zeroed in on 10's in the 1/4.