Any ideas?

IainS · 08-25-2004, 11:11 PM

What I have is a 1978 242 DL with a B21A, 4sp, no overdrive and a set of IPD antisway bars installed. Beyond that the car is bone stock. What I would like is a suggestion or two on getting more out of this car reasonably cheaply. Down the road I would like to swap in a turbo engine, but I have to live with the engine I have for now. I'm just a little underwhelmed by the 95HP that a stock B21A puts out.

Volv-a-Ratti Man · 08-26-2004, 11:41 AM

First, get a good free flow exhaust & K&N air filter, then maybe a VX cam. That should get you another 20 hp. You could then go for a FI conversion, K-jet would be easy, but an electronic FI that is adjustable like Megasquirt would do better.

Good Luck!

vurbo · 09-15-2004, 09:07 PM

there was a R-sport turbo kit for the carb engine's in the 80's i think some of the part's can still be sorced. also i read that K-jet is so crappy the stock carb's will out flow K-jet! so you can actully run more boost on the stock carb than K-ket. i think a turbo project is in order

. besidea turbo a head cam and exaust will be in order for cheap power. im not sure what head and cam came on the B21A but i recommend finding a 405head and K cam from a B23E. your in canada so that won't be hard. the VX cam has a a bigger power band but the K has more peak power and is consiterably cheap due to the fact you can get them in JY's while the VX'es are much rarer and i don't belive came to north america.

so here's my list for you
-405 head and K cam(K cam's are on 405 head's so there most likely to be found togerther)
-2.5 exaust(IPD sell's them for a good price) or a 3" if you go turbo ;).
-turbo it(you'll need a mani, turbo, DP, intercooler and pipe's and a few other thing's but they shoulden't be too expensive turbo volvo's are old and cheap now)

Volv-a-Ratti Man · 09-16-2004, 12:37 PM

It just occured to me that your B21A has only one carb, right?

If all you did was put on a dual carb set-up and an exhaust, your 242 would be almost 140 hp. IIRC, the B21A is a higher compression motor than the B21F of the same years. With the right carbs, you could really push some hp to over 160 if you did the head like Elliot suggests. You may also have a hotter cam than the B21F in there already. It has the potential to be a hot n/a hi-rev motor.

vurbo · 09-17-2004, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Peter in Texas
It just occured to me that your B21A has only one carb, right?

If all you did was put on a dual carb set-up and an exhaust, your 242 would be almost 140 hp. IIRC, the B21A is a higher compression motor than the B21F of the same years. With the right carbs, you could really push some hp to over 160 if you did the head like Elliot suggests. You may also have a hotter cam than the B21F in there already. It has the potential to be a hot n/a hi-rev motor.

ye[ it is a single carb and yep K-ket is that bad! the single carb will STILL out flow it!

does anyone know what cam came in a B21A?

IainS · 09-17-2004, 01:38 AM

I am aware that the B20 and earlier engines had the dual carb intake available, but I have never seen the arrangement on a B21. Is it the same intake as the B20? With the intakes existing on opposite sides of the engines I'm kind of doubtful on that one.

Volv-a-Ratti Man · 09-17-2004, 10:17 AM

Well, you may be right about a Volvo 2 carb set-up for the B21, never seen one, but there's been a few aftermarket intakes for Weber conversions. I know there's a Weber 2bbl progressive 32/36 DGV available (same as was for the B20) which would be another option. That would be about 125 hp.
I would contact eurosporttunning in CA to find the Weber. Last I looked they had the 2bbl and 4 single Weber CDOE carb set-up.
The 4 Weber DCOE would be a full race set-up and can get 200+hp out of that B21.

gsellstr · 09-17-2004, 11:02 AM

Just out of plain curiosity, how do the DCOE's handle daily driver tasks? Starting, colder weather, etc.? People keep telling me to go that route on my B20, but I like the driveability of the K-jet.

Also another crazy thought...the Penta engines came with single or dual carb setup's even on the OHC engines iirc. Might be thinking of the OHV's but I know the OHC engines DID come with carb setups - at least a downdraft carb anyway. Don't know a whole lot more yet.

Volv-a-Ratti Man · 09-17-2004, 11:14 AM

Your right! Most of the Volvo Penta B21/B230's came with a twin carb set-up. This should be easy to find at a marine salvage yard.

The 4 DCOE Weber set-up is very finicky. From what I've heard, they are a beast to tune and jet, and idle is a rough 1200 or greater rpm. The launch is rapid and the set-up will make the car feel like a race car. Not for the daily driver.
A really nice pop to the exhaust though!

vurbo · 09-19-2004, 01:13 PM

the B21/23/230 based penta motor's came with dual carb's. but unlike peter said most of those penta motor's tend to either be in great condition ina boat or corroded beond repair. i recommend seaching "vovlvo penta" daily on Ebay and you'll occasionally see dual carb mani's from the AQ151's ect.

08-25-2004, 11:11 PM	#1
IainS Board Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Windsor, Nova Scotia	Any ideas? What I have is a 1978 242 DL with a B21A, 4sp, no overdrive and a set of IPD antisway bars installed. Beyond that the car is bone stock. What I would like is a suggestion or two on getting more out of this car reasonably cheaply. Down the road I would like to swap in a turbo engine, but I have to live with the engine I have for now. I'm just a little underwhelmed by the 95HP that a stock B21A puts out.

09-17-2004, 11:02 AM	#8
gsellstr Vintage anti-ricer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Somewhere in a northern California smog bank	Just out of plain curiosity, how do the DCOE's handle daily driver tasks? Starting, colder weather, etc.? People keep telling me to go that route on my B20, but I like the driveability of the K-jet. Also another crazy thought...the Penta engines came with single or dual carb setup's even on the OHC engines iirc. Might be thinking of the OHV's but I know the OHC engines DID come with carb setups - at least a downdraft carb anyway. Don't know a whole lot more yet. __________________ RIP Doug "Mr. Doug" Williams, 4/15/2009 74 144 B20 http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=224983 90 745Ti, AW71L, IPD bars/springs, Koni SA's, JVAB B230FT, Big Valved 531 head, IPD Turbo cam, GT2871R @ 18psi, TLAO chips, E85, NPR, 3.5" DP, 3" DP-back, MSD, TruTrac, Wilwood BBK If you need Superpro bushings PM me or check the current GB, running until 3/31/13 at http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?p=4493644).

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08-26-2004, 11:41 AM	#2
Volv-a-Ratti Man Board Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Prosper, TX	First, get a good free flow exhaust & K&N air filter, then maybe a VX cam. That should get you another 20 hp. You could then go for a FI conversion, K-jet would be easy, but an electronic FI that is adjustable like Megasquirt would do better. Good Luck!

09-16-2004, 12:37 PM	#4
Volv-a-Ratti Man Board Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Prosper, TX	It just occured to me that your B21A has only one carb, right? If all you did was put on a dual carb set-up and an exhaust, your 242 would be almost 140 hp. IIRC, the B21A is a higher compression motor than the B21F of the same years. With the right carbs, you could really push some hp to over 160 if you did the head like Elliot suggests. You may also have a hotter cam than the B21F in there already. It has the potential to be a hot n/a hi-rev motor.

09-17-2004, 01:38 AM	#6
IainS Board Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Windsor, Nova Scotia	I am aware that the B20 and earlier engines had the dual carb intake available, but I have never seen the arrangement on a B21. Is it the same intake as the B20? With the intakes existing on opposite sides of the engines I'm kind of doubtful on that one.

09-17-2004, 10:17 AM	#7
Volv-a-Ratti Man Board Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Prosper, TX	Well, you may be right about a Volvo 2 carb set-up for the B21, never seen one, but there's been a few aftermarket intakes for Weber conversions. I know there's a Weber 2bbl progressive 32/36 DGV available (same as was for the B20) which would be another option. That would be about 125 hp. I would contact eurosporttunning in CA to find the Weber. Last I looked they had the 2bbl and 4 single Weber CDOE carb set-up. The 4 Weber DCOE would be a full race set-up and can get 200+hp out of that B21.

09-17-2004, 11:14 AM	#9
Volv-a-Ratti Man Board Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Prosper, TX	Your right! Most of the Volvo Penta B21/B230's came with a twin carb set-up. This should be easy to find at a marine salvage yard. The 4 DCOE Weber set-up is very finicky. From what I've heard, they are a beast to tune and jet, and idle is a rough 1200 or greater rpm. The launch is rapid and the set-up will make the car feel like a race car. Not for the daily driver. A really nice pop to the exhaust though!

09-19-2004, 01:13 PM	#10
vurbo Board Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: notgnihsaW, mahgnilleB	the B21/23/230 based penta motor's came with dual carb's. but unlike peter said most of those penta motor's tend to either be in great condition ina boat or corroded beond repair. i recommend seaching "vovlvo penta" daily on Ebay and you'll occasionally see dual carb mani's from the AQ151's ect.