LT1 V8 Swap: 1977 Volvo 244
The numerous Volvo 240s that grace these pages seem to fall into two buckets, first is for the clean/original junkers that cost a few grand and would be great for a daily driver, and the second is for the Chevy V8 swapped hoon mobiles that also cost a few grand. This next feature falls squarely into the second bucket. Find this 1977 Volvo 244 V8 Swap LT1 offered for $5,000 in Largo, FL via craigslist. Tip from Cory.
From the seller:
This 1977 Volvo 244 has been carefully put together with a Chevy V8 LT1
from a 1993 Camaro Z28 and the matching T-56 6 speed manual. The pair
had an estimated 65K miles on them. A shortened Ford 8.8 inch rear end
sits in the back with 3.73 gears and trak-lok. The transmission meets
the rear end via a custom cut drive-shaft. Mazda RX-7 discs and calipers
bring the Volvo to a quick stop. The car has been lowered and the
suspension is performance-oriented. In the rear are heim-joints. So much
more has been done to include a custom exhaust with shorties, tune, the
car was professionally wired, custom working dash, cold A/C, power
steering, and a hurst short-throw shifter. The all-performance tires
have roughly 5k miles on them. The car was put together by a mechanical
engineer who is very meticulous.The car as it sits has 22k miles on it
since the build.
The V8 looks snug in the engine bay, and I’m sure the car is a blast to drive — but the little details like the working AC and RX-7 brakes adds a lot of value. The seller only includes one small photo of the interior, but states that it has been swapped in from a 93+ Volvo, another plus if it was well done.
See another V8 swapped 70s box? Send it here: tips@dailyturismo.com
The first thing I thought of when I read "RX7 brakes" was "why would anyone take brakes from a 2100lb car and put them on a ~2800lb+ car?"
But maybe it's FD brakes? Hopefully? Then the weight differential between the two is only ~300lbs with the Volvo in the heavier column.
Volvo brakes are excellent, especially with vented rotors on all 4 corners. My only gripe would be that doing this on a much more popular wagon would be in the style of Paul Newman. These 240's can be made to handle very nicely and can be really competitive in SCCA and vintage racing. The values are eeking up as the interest in them grows. In another few years don't be surprised if the bring what nice Amazons bring now.
awesome in so many ways. And it has AC!
The RX7 brakes that people use for 240s are aluminum calipers from the FC Turbo II. They are larger and lighter than the stock 240 calipers. Rotors come from a 960 to get the right diameter & thickness but maintain the 5x108ness.
yoshifab.com/store/rx7-brake-adapter-bracket-kit.html
4 piston aluminum beats 1 – 2 piston sliding all day. Plus more swept surface on the larger diameter rotors. But "RX7 brakes" to my pedantic self means something different than RX7 calipers and Volvo rotors. I'm a hit at parties.
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Yeah, the FC Turbo calipers are a common swap part on various cars, notably E30 BMWs.
Memo to the males out there: when you're on a date, quote random part numbers from various potential projects. You'll get one of three responses.
One is where she thinks something else is a better idea. You'll have a great marriage for a decade and then you'll split up over whether to put an LS1 or a blacktop Toyota 3S-GE BEAMS in the Austin Healey under a tarp in your garage.
The second is where she just ignores you and goes on to something about the shoes one of her coworkers was wearing earlier. You can, probably, live with that level of disconnect for about forty years as long as there's no economic friction.
The third is where she decides you're from a different planet and prefers not to play Mindy to your Mork.
You know, my wife's history of being bungee-corded onto a Silverwing at a very young age has paid some dividends…
Too funny, my wife was also bungee corded to a motorcycle or two at a very young age, a Honda Goldwing and a Suzuki Cattlegrenade …err suzuki Cavelcade. She grew up with RVs, motorcycles (she has her own now and has ridden since 15) and old German cars. I must agree that it pays dividends as she is very tolerant of the constant talk and accumulation of vehicles.
A/C AND Dash working…THIS is the kind of project car you buy. If the owner was willing to get into the hassle of those sorted, then you know the rest of it has probably been done right as well.
22K miles on it, so it's probably reasonably sorted, no one puts 22K miles on something like this if it beats you up or blows up every month.
AC works and it's from FL so someone cared enough to make sh…uh, things work. Probably as good as you're gonna get for a conversion.
California smogability undetermined and probably not practical.
I bet you could get this thing past the BAR referee as a legit '93 Camaro swap. From the ad description it sounds like the biggest job would be adding cats and stock exhaust manifolds.
Possible, not sure how easily the Camaro bits would fit on there. They might also bitch about the open-element air filter.
As mentioned the miles driven since the swap and the working systems are a good indication that things were done correctly. I wish the price was a little lower but it's probably fair and I just want it to be cheaper to justify a trip Largo to get it. Overall this build looks very well thought out and the 6 speed is the icing on the sweedcake for sure
And…it's gone. That sucks.