B230 compatibility? ('85 and '92)

I got a good deal on a used engine delivered to my house with AW70
attached. It was described as coming out of a '91 240 wagon, and
having only 100,000 kms on it. I have a '92 with over 300,000 kms so
figured a good spare engine and transmission may prove useful in coming
years.
Anyway, on closer inspection of the engine, it appears to be from an
'85 Volvo (that year is stamped on the top right rear of the block).
The instrument cluster that came with the engine (along with a load of
other parts that were stripped off the donor before it was junked - it
was hopelessly rusted) shows 98,000 kms on the odometer, and on the
back of the cluster is the date 1985. So all points to this
engine/tranny indeed having that low mileage but coming from an '85
240.
Question is: should I need to replace my present '92 engine with this
one at one time, are the two engines compatible enough? (They're
both non-turbo B230's obviously.) I assume the transmissions should be
fully compatible (both AW70's).
Thanks.

 

Just read on a site that in '89 the B230's were equipped with "New fuel
system with integrated ignition system (LH-Jetronic version 2.4)", so I
suppose if I wanted to use the '85 (with LH 2.2), I'd have to swap the
injection/ignition system from the '92 to the '85... darn...

 

That shouldn't really be an issue, it's easier to leave the fuel/ignition
system in the car when you remove the engine anyway. It's only a couple of
bolts to remove the whole fuel rail assembly.

 

Oh that's good to know, thanks!!

 

You'll need to transfer the tailshaft housing from you car to the 85
trans. The 85 had a cable driven speedo, yours should be electronic.

On the injection/ignition side you may have to change the distributor.
And as was said the fuel injection is completely different. You may also
have to change the coolant temperature sensor. The engine harnesses on
pre 87 cars were notoriusly bad so you may oopt to change that over as
well. The 85 engine has different thrust bearings on the crank shaft,
the piston oiling is slightly different, and the timing belt pullies may
be the round top design (quieter)than the square top on the 85, but
otherwise the engines are mechanicaly identical.

Bob

 

It's best to, though I've seen mechanical speedo trannies put in electronic
speedo cars, the fitting is simply left disconnected.

 

Thanks for the additional tips Bob and James. Whether I ever need this
engine time will tell, but it's good to know that I can get it to work
in the 92 with those necessary substitutions. For now, I'll limit
myself to swapping the starter (the one on my 92 is starting to sound a
little noisy so may be on the go - 310,000 kms), and having a look at
cam wear on the 85 engine, as well as health of seals etc.
I'll disconnect the tranny and engine on the 85, which will make
storing the stuff in my garage easier, and allow me to check the back
end of the engine etc. I can practice taking the timing belt off and
on, which will help when I need to do it on the running 92 in a couple
of years.

With the boxes of stripped parts from the 85, I also got all the power
window motors, windshield wiper motors, windshield washer pumps, and
lots of other engine bay and interior paraphernalia. I assume most of
this will be compatible with what I have in my 92. I also got all the
light bezels, but I gather from information I've read on the net that
there may be slight differences between 85 and 92? Also got a good
grille, and a new-looking rad (the plastic type though).

I was also fortunate to pick up a set of nice 14" Volvo alloy wheels
for a good price, which I'll clean up, paint, and stick my summer tires
on. The stock wheels will get the winter tires.

I suppose that with all this stuff, I'm now fairly committed to Volvo
ownership!

 

In North American models the front end sheetmetal changed significantly in
'86, so fenders, hood, lights, grill, bumper and any other cosmetic bits
from that area are different on an '85.

 

Um, too bad... Oh well, there's always Ebay for that stuff...