hotter cam for B230K ?

[Jondb]

im after something to give the old girl a bit more ooomph as itll be towing eventually! i hear there was a cam that put output nearer 130bhp and read that it was fitted to police cars in sweden! might be a v cam not sure! any ideas anyone??

[Michael J]

Excerpted from my 1989 240 Owner's manual

SPECIFICATIONS
Engine Type       B200E          B230K          B230E          B230F          B200K        B200K
 designation                                                   (~UK)          (~EU)       (EU, ~UK)
Output, DIN    87kW @100r/s   85kW @85r/s    95kW @88r/s    85kW @87r/s    72kW @90r/s    74kW @90r/s
              118hp @6000rpm 116hp @5100rpm 129hp @5250rpm 116hp @5200rpm  98hp @5400rpm 101hp @5400rpm
Torque, DIN   155Nm @63r/s   192Nm @50r/s   190Nm @50r/s   185Nm @45r/s   160Nm @45r/s   160Nm @48r/s
                    @3800rpm       @3000rpm       @3000rpm       @2700rpm       @2700rpm       @2900rpm

As you can see, the 230K gives the most torque, which is relevant for towing. You can trade low/mid power for high revs power, but it won't help you at normal road speeds. The 230E might offer what you are asking for, I don't know how much of that increased power is due to fuel injection in place of the 230K carburettor.

[OldBlueVolvo]

Hello, if you look at this thread you will see an accessories catalogue which shows the B230K(H) tuning kit. It seems to consist of a V-cam and some diff parts.
Originally, the MY1985-1986 would have had an X-cam. The MY1987-1990 should have a T-cam. I've seen it the other way around in one book but I believe this is correct. If you try this out I would love to know what sort of improvements you find.
The B230K is certainly great for towing in its original spec.

[Jondb]

so best left alone really then! thats good to know it ll be in use for towing later this year.... just got my towbar s/h for 11 quid with electrics :thumbs_up:

[volvo always]

I remember my 1986 B230K 740 as having a 531 head I think it definately said 0000 531

Is it actually possible to fit that head onto a b230k engine? If not I must of been mistaken. It was quick enough but not fast. Could someone of messed with it and fitted that head?

James:thumbs_up:

[OldBlueVolvo]

I remember my 1986 B230K 740 as having a 531 head I think it definately said 0000 531

Is it actually possible to fit that head onto a b230k engine? If not I must of been mistaken. It was quick enough but not fast. Could someone of messed with it and fitted that head?

James:thumbs_up:

My '86 has a 530 head and my '88 had a 631 head. I suppose somebody must have changed the head on yours if you're sure. I wonder what cam it had though?

[Clan]

I remember my 1986 B230K 740 as having a 531 head I think it definately said 0000 531

Is it actually possible to fit that head onto a b230k engine? If not I must of been mistaken. It was quick enough but not fast. Could someone of messed with it and fitted that head?

James:thumbs_up:

Remember there is the B230KH from the 1987 era , which is very different to the B230K in the head department . People tend to mistakenly drop the H at the end !

[volvo always]

Remember there is the B230KH from the 1987 era , which is very different to the B230K in the head department . People tend to mistakenly drop the H at the end !

Hi I am sure it was a 531 head as at the time I knew it was quite sought of. It did say a B230K on the cam cover but I suppose it could of been replaced with a used one. It was first registered on the 1st september 1986 and had no egr system. Its a shame really as I px it.

James:thumbs_up:

[wooble]

It was probably a 631, easy to make the mistake if the numbers are a bit dirty. I personally won a supposed 531 head on ebay which turned out to be a 631 when I went to pick it up. 631 is the heron head which has no combustion chamber as it's in the piston on those engines.

[Daim]

Isn't the Heron head with hemispherical chambers? That is what I had in mind... or at least NEAR to hemispherical chambers... We only got that on a couple of 240 B230K(H)'s...

A 531 head can be fitted. It is basically plug and play - just the carb would need to be set a bit in order to provide the correct idling etc.

Problem is, you won't get the same power as the B230FB as the injection system actually helps gain some power (better combustion due to finer fuel particles etc.).

[sunsetlounger]

Jondb:
so best left alone really then! thats good to know it ll be in use for towing later this year.... "just got my towbar s/h for 11 quid with electrics"

Ahem, sorry about that Jondb you'd have got it for 99p if I hadn't slapped 10 sobs down in the last 8 seconds, I'd assumed someone was just going to take it to henry orchard's

Sunset

[rogerthechorister]

Towing

The B230K comes with the M90L or (if very very late) L2 with the REALLY deep first and second, so towing should be easy. If it's a saloon you should have a 3:31 axle and maybe a locker. If it's the estate it will be a 3:54 non-locker.

[OldBlueVolvo]

The B230K comes with the M90L or (if very very late) L2 with the REALLY deep first and second, so towing should be easy. If it's a saloon you should have a 3:31 axle and maybe a locker. If it's the estate it will be a 3:54 non-locker.

Are you thinking of the B230FK LPT? The B230K was a carb'd engine.

[rogerthechorister]

Correct

Yes I was indeed!

[Andreas S]

M90 gearbox on a 700 series from factory? dont think so... it came 1995 and b230k is 1980s engine