2.0s-to-2.3lpt
 

I have a 2.3 lpt 1998 celebration auto with bodywork that needs quite a lot of attention and a 1994 2.0s auto with engine troubles but a good shell. I am thinking of putting the celebration runningear in the 2.0s and realise that I would change engine/gearbox/back axle. My concern is converting from non turbo to turbo engine and loom layout etc. I wondered if another member had carried out this conversion and the problems encountered.

or, sell both and get another that you like.

What you are proposing is a LOT of work with a LOT of unforeseeables. If you are putting in that much effort, it would be as well to do all the renewal and upgrading you can while the patient is already on the table.

The costs soon get out of control unless you have access to free everything including labour. Ther sensible thing is to get shot of both and find a nice, complete replacement.

The 1998 is with anti-theft system steered by the key, the 1994 not.
The 1998 is with electric fan, the 1994 not
The turbo is with a different steering coupler than the 1994 non turbo

If you have time, possible
If you have all the skills, no problem
Is it worth the time, energie and money? No

I think the same about this idea like aardvarkash10

Good luck, Kay

Many thanks for your comments, I have use of a workshop and help but having both the cars it would mainly be a case of swapping but am concerned about moving/fixing battery, washers and relays etc. I have tried to follow the engine bay loom and on the turbo some seem to run inside the car under the dash which it doesn't on the 2.0s. Think I might consider dropping in a 2.3 n.a.

I'm going to throw this into the mix, it's a 740 estate for sale in London with a duff diff :

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=281146

The engine should be a straight swap with your 2.0 or you may want to sell him the back axle from your 2.0 or some other combination.

Might be worth some thought and a few PMs swapped to get you both sorted one way or another.

So whats the differences between 2.0 n.a and 2.3 n.a.

Personally unless you have plans for the car or have a sentimental attachment and the required skills it's not worth it.

If you are not confident then there is a good chance you could end up with two cars that don't work and are not worth much instead of two cars that have more value as they are.

As for the swap and the age difference etc it's not a simple swap, Volvos have a lot of wiring in them and with the age and engine difference swapping them over will most likely require the dash out too and quite a bit of the internal loom changing which is not a simple job.

If you do decide to do it then make sure you identify and clearly label all connectors etc as working them all out afterwards can take a lot more time. There is also the chance of damaging the loom removing it from the donor car and finding a small wiring fault in such a big loom would take ages unless you have a good understanding of the car, loom and automotive electrics.

I'm not trying to put you off it as I'd love to see it done (and I'd do it myself if I was in the same situation but I have a lot of experience swapping engines etc and rewiring cars) but it's not a simple task.

In basic terms, not a lot! The most obvious is bore size with the B230 having a 96mm bore against the B200s 88.9mm - both have an 80mm stroke.

There are other differences including camshafts, cylinder heads and so on but you should be able to swap a 2.3 into the place of the 2.0 and gain the increased capacity.

If the 2.3 is a turbo then everything jimsiss said above will apply, unless you come up with a "Field Developed and Tested Modification" aka bodge so it doesn't over-boost. Alternatively, bin the turbo and find a n/asp cylinder head for the 2.3 turbo short engine.

It would probably be easier and more satisfying to buy another car, similar to one of the two you have, keep the similar one you already own for spares and sell the other as spares or repairs so you end up with one good car and one similar for spares - probably the best choice for your wallet and sanity as well! ;) :D

Many thanks for your help, so now thinking use 2.3 turbo block and try to obtain 2.3 n.a cylinder head. Could I use either the 2.0 or 2.3 turbo inlet manifold and injection and is the exhaust manifold the same between the 2.0 n.a and 2.3 n.a. I would probably need a 2.3 n.a E.C.U.

Some of the n/asp heads are shared between 2.0 and 2.3 engines, it's possible you may already have the right head to go on the 2.3 turbo to make it a high compression n/asp. I can't remember the different designations but the one i'd go for would be the head from a B230E which is normally K-Jet so no ECU available.

That said, your existing 2.0 ECU should cope and be able to "fine tune" enough although you may need to alter the postition of the throttle butterfly at idle and also the idle position of the Throttle Position Switch to take that into account.

The one thing you might come unstuck on is the distributor, depending where it is on your 2.0 but that can probably be sorted. ;) :D