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The 240/245 LS Swap SUSPENSION thread

Eviltwin

New member
Joined
Jan 23, 2007
Location
Ottawa Ontario Canada
I've searched, I've googled, I've hunted on LS1Tech, I've cruised around here too...nothing really is coming up with a concrete answer.

1983 Volvo 245 Wagon

what have you guys used in terms of coils, struts, shocks to not have the front end bobbing and feeling harsh?
I don't care much for lowering the vehicle, but if it does descent by 1-1.5" that's okay...but i'm not about to go scraping around town with my pretty new Holley oil pan...

thoughts/comments/suggestions are welcomed!
Ryan
 
I put an old school 350/350 Chevy in my 1978 wagon 30 years ago[ 285,000 miles so far]. My oil pan is just above the the front cross member by about 1/2". I lowered the car f&r 2" with IPD springs, And run Koni adjustable shocks on all 4 corners. The car handles and rides beautifully. I don't know what problems the LS motor brings with the install. But I,m sure that the pan should not hang down below the cross member
 
There is very little difference between the weight of a B21/B23/B230 engine and an LS1. Less than 100 lb. You aren't going to need to do anything special with the suspension. My 1975 242 with an old school 327 with TH 400 automatic swap weighed less than 150 pounds more than the car weighed with a B20 engine and M40 transmission.
 
Yeah the old 4 cylinder was heavy, and I did not weigh before and after. However, I will say depends on how the engines are dressed too. Removing a AC and headers help. That said, I would like to have just a little stiffer spring or longer. I feel my 5.0 dropped the front IPDs some even if it is say ~100 pounds more. My next step will be to put stock back in all around, and see how it looks. I make only have to cut the rears to even it out. Getting Ben's coilovers would be the ultimate in addition to his adjustable rears too. Regardless of weight, the car is going to drive different. Subscribed.
 
Wasn't there a guy on here that built his own ghetto coilover setup using 2.5"x10" X 300# springs and adjuster sleeves?
 
Wasn't there a guy on here that built his own ghetto coilover setup using 2.5"x10" X 300# springs and adjuster sleeves?
There are several who have. Dont know if I would call it ghetto. Pretty straight forward. Not too many ways to make a coilover without making a new spindle and tube assembly. Really, really straight forward if not looking to lower, but want upgraded suspension with increased alignment capability.
 
On my ls 244 I'm using 9inch springs 400lb rate with revalved he's. It sucks ass, I will say this Doo the swap and figure out corner weights and talk to Josh at yoshifab and he will get you set up proper
 
There are several who have. Dont know if I would call it ghetto. Pretty straight forward. Not too many ways to make a coilover without making a new spindle and tube assembly. Really, really straight forward if not looking to lower, but want upgraded suspension with increased alignment capability.

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bht5pueFSg3/" data-instgrm-version="8" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.5% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bht5pueFSg3/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Looks like the Dutch are getting busy @jrzsuspension. Fresh batch of 240 JRZs getting made. One of these is slightly different. Can you spot it? #volvo #volvo240 #kaplhenkeracing #kaplhenke #BNEparts #bneapproved #bne #turbobricks</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/beigepower/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Kaplhenke Racing</a> (@beigepower) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2018-04-18T15:41:51+00:00">Apr 18, 2018 at 8:41am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

Did someone say new tubes?
 
That said, I would like to have just a little stiffer spring or longer. I feel my 5.0 dropped the front IPDs some even if it is say ~100 pounds more.

Keep in mind that the LS1 has an aluminum block. Iron block LSx engines weigh ~80-100lb more than the aluminum blocks. So I'd imagine your 5.0 probably weighs a bit more like 150-200lb more than the redblock.

Cursory googling suggests that a fully dressed 302 weighs ~425lbs with aluminum heads and 475 with iron, while a redblock clocks in at around 300lbs.
 
Keep in mind that the LS1 has an aluminum block. Iron block LSx engines weigh ~80-100lb more than the aluminum blocks. So I'd imagine your 5.0 probably weighs a bit more like 150-200lb more than the redblock.

Cursory googling suggests that a fully dressed 302 weighs ~425lbs with aluminum heads and 475 with iron, while a redblock clocks in at around 300lbs.

It also depends what else was deleted- or how the engine is "dressed". No AC drops some and with your figures I am off maybe 75 pounds off of my guess. So a few sacks of potatoes? Regardless, it needs more spring, and if running an iron block LSx, then the same would apply. Also, even if the ride height was the same, the car is going to handle much differently than the redblock- weight transfer, etc.
 
Pulled a 5.0L/aluminum head motor out of mine and replaced with LS3. Put em both on scales as part of the process. Similarly equipped (fuel systems, ignition systems, tubular exhaust manifolds, balancers, but no flywheels or accessories except water pump) the 5.0L weighed 411 lbs.; the LS3 weighed 382. I've not had a red block on scales for comparison.
 
Just for more approximation.

Out of curiosity, I measured the mass of the LS6+T56 and was pleasantly surprised [256.8 kg]. This is without pressure plate, clutch, flywheel, but with AC, PS, Alternator, Cast Headers. It's only ~33 kg heavier than the volvo engine/trans (assuming 20 kg flywheel+PP+Clutch). not bad, huh?

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^^^ So 17.6 slugs. Tough to argue with an actual scale, unless of course it isn't calibrated.
I really don't think there is too big a difference whether it is Ford, GM or Volvo, none are that light. Another factor depends on where you have it positioned in the bay- hence a comment above about corner weights. The assembly could be 100#'s lighter, but be positioned farther forward and negate the savings as seen by the front suspension. As always YMMV.
 
With LS3, my corner weights indicated 53/47 front/rear bias with battery in the passenger side butt cheek. Cross corners easily adjusted within a pound of each other with minor coil over adjustments. I don't think there's a significant fore/aft placement difference with most of the swaps. Seems everyone needs about as much room at the front as they can get - so they all get pushed back about as far as they can. And that dimension (fore/aft length) is pretty close to the 4 cylinder.
 
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