B230ET shortblock

Post by **foggyjames** » 25 Feb 2007 11:04 pm

Howdy chaps,

We're offering a 1989 B230ET shortblock. Believed to have 13mm rods, but you'll break bits of 360 long before you break the rods, even if they're 9mm.

The engine has covered just shy of 200k, and was removed from the car due to a) leaking oil like a sieve, and b) being a suspect for a cracked piston ring - the car was smoking badly. Point A can be rectified with a new set of seals (relatively cheap...£20 for a full set?), and on Point B...the machine shop who skimmed the cylinder head said they thought the oil burning was due to a head gasket failure - so nothing to do with the block.

Having covered 200k, the engine was a touch rattly when cold, but it still pulled well....in fact, as far as I'm aware, it's the quickest B230 powered 7/900 series Volvo in the country.

Let's assume for the moment a ring is cracked...does anyone want a B230ET as a fancy ornament, test-fit rig, or rebuild project? It's only worth the value of the rods (if they're 13mm) to us, so make a beer money offer and come and take it away. If, as I suspect, it's AOK...come get a VERY cheap perfectly usable turbo shortblock.

cheers

James

Post by **Van Hoof** » 26 Feb 2007 08:58 pm

Where abouts in Lincoln are you mate? Very VERY tempted by this.

Still need to pay for something on here anyway, but once that's done, and if you've got a way of getting it into the back of my 360 for the journey back then I want it.

Post by **foggyjames** » 27 Feb 2007 01:51 am

The Birchwood end of Doddington Park. Are you a local? We have a hoist for the forseeable future...so it'll go in easily if you come soon!

It doesn't actually belong to me - so I'll have to have a chat with my housemate to see what he wants to do with it, and how much he wants for it. I wasn't expect a response so soon...so didn't bother telling him I'd advertised it

It's in the way at the moment, so I doubt he'll want a lot for it.

cheers

James

Post by **foggyjames** » 28 Feb 2007 03:50 am

Bump! Pics:

It needs a very good clean (and bring a rag or 5 for the car!), but I've confirmed tonight that it's yours for the £25 I mentioned.

cheers

James

Post by **volvorsport** » 28 Feb 2007 09:34 pm

quickest 7/900

it was mine before it was his !!

mine officially is since i have a time from curborough .

Post by **foggyjames** » 01 Mar 2007 01:08 am

cheers

James

Post by **shimon340** » 01 Mar 2007 10:57 am

hi james!

gonna pm you about this!

Shimon

Post by **Chesh740R** » 01 Mar 2007 01:27 pm

Quickest 700/900

Where was the proof???

No dyno pulls, not the quickest 700/900 1/4 mile times.

Its all here say, pure and simple.

Post by **foggyjames** » 01 Mar 2007 06:38 pm

I was counting your car as out of action Chesh. That would probably be an interesting contest!

No dyno or representative 1/4 miles numbers, but it was outdragging a Scoob WRX STI TypeUK thingy....one of the ~270bhp jobbies...which gives us an idea of what ball-park it's in.

cheers

James

Post by **Van Hoof** » 03 Mar 2007 07:19 pm

Hi mate, just a couple of questions still for this. Obviously it's just the block at the moment (and internals etc) and no head. Do you know if all the headwork from any other engine will fit on it? I'm thinking about doing all the work on this off the back of the engine that's already in the car and was wondering if that'd work or if I'd need to source the parts for it.

Thanks

Ben

Post by **foggyjames** » 07 Mar 2007 12:36 am

I believe any 2.3 head will fit AOK. Only turbo heads have the coated/filled valves to cope with the extra heat, but people boost on NA heads with no trouble. A 2.0 head will bolt on, but I'm not sure if the combustion chamber is the same size. The '531' head from a B230ET (740/760 Turbo) is marginally better flowing (and with greater potential for headwork) than the much more common standard '530' casting, but it's not as big a deal as many make out.

I have a 1996 530 on my B230FK which I would be willing to sell, although I'd prefer to keep it intact until a later date...and a turbo 530 is nothing rare, so should be available from most scrap yards for ~£20.

Apart from the head, I think everything can be used from your original engine. The head is a bit of a question mark, so probably best to source a turbo 530/531 from a B230 to be on the safe side. I'd also get it skimmed, tested, and cleaned...very worthwhile 'insurance', and fairly cheap to do (easily under £30).

We can have a good chat about all this if you're popping round - we've just done the same for the new engine in the 740, and I'm slowly 360-ising my B230FK, for eventual installation when I've had enough of playing with the NA setup. You can have a look at all the parts which are different, etc.

cheers

James