all that crap doesn't work.. now what!?

[snoboarder_mike]

ok so all that turbonator crap and vortex whatever doesn't work... i got the advice and everyone here convinced me. i'd rather not waste my money and run the risk or both at the same time. then is there nothing that i can do to upgrade my car because i sure can't find anything on any website but i have hope in this one though. ok look i don't want to spend 10 thousand bucks but i'm still willing to spend money. i checked out the intake in my '96 volvo 960 (stock) and i noticed how many loops and bends that air has to flow in. what mods can i do to any part of the car to gain a bit more hp? you guys seem the most knowledgable about upgrades so prove me right! tell me what you know. give me suggestions! gimmie all you got

thanks!

[k4dje]

I'll try it..... Use the search feature look up Intake mods!!! wow I got to do it HE HE

meh... I changed my mind...

You won't know misery until your hotrod/daily driver breaks down on you.

I like what John and mikep said better... getcherself another car to play with. Keep the 960 as a stock, reliable daily driver.

[JohnLane]

Should you find that you do not care for your choices of mods VS $$ spent per power gained working with the 960, you may wish to consider replacing the car with one that started it's life with a turbocharged engine as they lend themselves to bigger power gains for less $$ then a Naturally aspirated engine in most cases.
Volvo's T-6 engine has been cobbled into your car...... Should fit good too.

[mikep]

OK, so you have a good daily driver that should be left reliable.

Now look for a beater, get the beater, and build a weapon/play toy. Then, when the toy breaks you can still get to work, pick up wimmins, shop for Cristal, etc.

[Tabor]

Originally Posted by mikep

Now look for a beater, get the beater, and build a weapon/play toy. Then, when the toy breaks you can still get to work, pick up wimmins, shop for Cristal, etc.

Not my idea, originally, but I love to repeat it because it makes so much sense to me:

Find a 242T(i) for $500 with a blown head gasket. Go from there.

[towerymt]

Things that have improved n/a performance on my car...

-reduce weight of car (not always a viable option)
-improve gearing (shorter rear end ratio)
-change camshaft to one that is more agressive
-improve air intake (marginal gains)
-improve exhaust (marginal gains)
-optomize fuel/ignition tuning (expensive)

An automatic 960 is somewhat limited to what you can accomplish on a budget. It's a heavy car, but it wouldn't be all that nice if the interior were gutted and the a/c & p/s were removed. There isn't but 1 choice for cams from a junkyard. Most specialized parts will come from outside the US at a significant cost.

[snoboarder_mike]

Originally Posted by 740ATL

I don't have much knowledge of the 960 engine other than the pics I've seen on this board.

From what I have seen, the 960 is going to be limited to NA duty. So unless you have plans for a T6 swap, make the best of what you have. Sure, improve the intake flow within the limits of what's allowable for emissions purposes (not sure where you're located). But regardless, you can get creative and be a little cheap on the intake side... Find a friend who can weld aluminum and fab a cold air intake.

Spend your real money on an exhaust header. I think Sam Steffason sells one.... either them or KG trimming. If the exhaust from the cat back has kinks or restrictions, eliminate them with some mandrel bends.

Check out what the poi has done with transmission shifter mods...

but regardless, gain some perspective of costs... make a reasonable plan, and go forward with it... don't nickel and dime yourself or you'll be forever spending needless $$ on the car fixing/improving things that could've been done right the first time for a little more $$ output.

search, read, learn, plan, then do.

remember... ya gotta pay to play... if spending $600 on a header scares you... consider not making your car a performance vehicle.

i should go to a custom shop and see if they could give me ideas and quotes on what you've suggested. i'm willing to pay money but i don't want to by my car 4 times over.

[snoboarder_mike]

has anyone swapped a volvo 960 motor with an 850 t5 motors or an s80 motor?

[ZVOLV]

Keep it stock and spend your $$ on maintenance so it doesnt blow up. Flush/change the tranny fluid and definately change the timing belt.

You could change out the cams for the earlier ones since they supposedly have more high rpm power vs more low end torque. But the job is a pain in the ass I have $500 worth of special tools I use for the job. The need for the tools is debateable here on tbricks, but I wouldnt do the job without em.

Keep it stock and get yourself a 740 turbo and mod the stink out of it with all the $$ you can afford to spend.

And regarding the t6 or I5 swap, anything is doable. Its just a matter of how much $$, tools, and experience you have.

I drive a 96 960 and I am always thinking about the mods I COULD do and I have decided to keep it stock. I guess I could start changing cams, exhaust, intake, remove weight, etc but then you loose the reliability and comfort of a stock car and you end up with a noisy car that is less reliable and barely faster.

[kahluaTDI]

fwd and rwd. different platforms, higher cost. a t6 from an s60/ should be a easier fit, but its still gonna cost some mulah.

For the first set of improvements, i'd of course, stage 0, then upgrade the suspension a bit so you can get a better feel, exhaust, full 3in , gut the cat if you dont have emissions, and get a newer mufler with less restriction. Port and polish the intake mani and portmatch the head. get rid of the air box and all the different bends that air has to go through, and put some pipe in the place.

and of course, lose weight.

[snoboarder_mike]

Originally Posted by guidom12345

Keep it stock and spend your $$ on maintenance so it doesnt blow up. Flush/change the tranny fluid and definately change the timing belt.

You could change out the cams for the earlier ones since they supposedly have more high rpm power vs more low end torque. But the job is a pain in the ass I have $500 worth of special tools I use for the job. The need for the tools is debateable here on tbricks, but I wouldnt do the job without em.

Keep it stock and get yourself a 740 turbo and mod the stink out of it with all the $$ you can afford to spend.

And regarding the t6 or I5 swap, anything is doable. Its just a matter of how much $$, tools, and experience you have.

I drive a 96 960 and I am always thinking about the mods I COULD do and I have decided to keep it stock. I guess I could start changing cams, exhaust, intake, remove weight, etc but then you loose the reliability and comfort of a stock car and you end up with a noisy car that is less reliable and barely faster.

well my plan was to somehow buy a t6 or i5 swap and having someone else put it in seeing as to i'd probably not trust myself with the job. are all 850 front wheel drive? what would be the most ideal engine to swap that could give me the greatest results?

[ZVOLV]

Real simple question: How much money (ballpark) are you willing to spend?

[JohnLane]

Originally Posted by guidom12345

Real simple question: How much money (ballpark) are you willing to spend?

We ask this so that we can help you by our being honest and maybe help you to set realistic goals......

'Having someone do a T-6 swap for you' is REALLY not the way to do anything on any kind of a budget. This manner of work is not for the faint of heart and hiring a shop to do it will cost thousands....... Please do not take this as my trying to piss in your shoes.....I'd much prefer for you to end up with a project that gets FINISHED and as such is much more fun for you.

How mechanically inclined are you? Are wanting to learn?

Do you have a place to work on the car?

Is the car your primary transportation?

[ZVOLV]

Hey, I just drove my 96 960 around for an hour or so today. It could definately use more power and better handling, so I understand your desire to mod it. However, I also noticed how smooth, quiet, and solid the car feels. It is a great car and I would not sacrifice the comfort and reliability on it doing a few crappy mods.

It already has a locker/LSD. I LOVE it! Moments such as puling out of say a driveway under heavy throttle the iside tire spins for just a second and then the locker does it's thing!

However, as I was driving today I was thinking that some lower profile tires (already has 2XX/55 R16 tires) would help out and maybe some stiffer shocks. But then you would loose some of the soft ride and comfort.

I am going to probably put about $1000 into it on tint, fixing A/C, tranny flush, tires, speakers and a myriad of minor cosmetic repairs (I.E $60 cupholder from volvo. Bastards... new corner lights, etc) Point is, I am sure your 1996 car needs some maintenance and your money could be better spend than on crappy mods.

Originally Posted by guidom12345

Real simple question: How much money (ballpark) are you willing to spend?

VERY important question. Please give an idea of the budget. Are we talking $1500-$2000 or 5k plus (engine swap territory)

[socalsean]

Buy my 242 turbo and mod that instead!

[snoboarder_mike]

guidom12345
I would be aiming to spend no more than a couple thousand bucks but i would pay more if i could have a manual transmission. (if possible)

JohnLane
hey don't worry about it. you're not "pissing in my shoes" you're just telling me things that i need to hear. i would like to hear it more from you guys anyways than from anyone else. i really trust this forum anyway because most of you have experience in what i'm greatly interested in...
and for your question... i'm not very mechanically inclined unfortunately. i know some stuff but i'm nowhere near good and knowledgable enough to swap an entire motor myself. i just wouldn't trust myself with it. i have done repairs to my 960 before but not on the motor itself.
i know two mechanics that would be willing to help me install it. i trust them both because i have known them for a while and i know they wouldn't overcharge me. this car is my primary form of transportation but i could manage borrowing a family members car for a while

guidom12345
i understand what you say about the quite ride. i feel safe in my car and there are repairs i must attend to. maybe you're right. i should worry about those things rather than entire engine swaps.


so should i not do an engine swap and do upgrades and mods such as cool air intakes, exhaust, and such? oh and let me know how to put pictures up. i would like to show you guys my baby (my car) as it is right now

[BB-Q]

I'm guessing you want to mod this car as it's the car you own right now. Nothing wrong with that- been there, etc.

However, my advice to you would be to get a car with a red block turbo motor and save yourself a lot of pain.

Whiteblock 6's are expensive and relatively difficult to tune and are in no way a good idea for someone who is unwilling and/or unable to fabricate a lot of the parts themselves. Red blocks, on the other hand, are nice, basic engines that are very easy and cheap to extract good power from and are also an excellent basis on which to learn about engines- being easy to work on and having plenty of room in the engine bay.

[Al]

I have a 97 960 and I love the car for what others before have said. Luxury!!!
I am just getting started on the mods planned for this car. Improving the fuel mileage is my pet project with this car. So far getting the car up to "0" I have got my base line mileage at 28.8 mpg at 65 mph. That included doing a 30K service, replacing all fluids with synthetic and doing an Auto-Rx treatment. I am planning doing some grill blocking, improving the air box flow, lowering it, installing a full belly pan and side skirt's.
According to the Aero Guru's on another site I should easily see 34-35 mpg highway in this car with the stock engine and gearing.

[740Weapon]

if you do a cone intake and aftermarket exhaust. your car will get more loud, but only a wee bit more fast.

[ZVOLV]

Originally Posted by snoboarder_mike

guidom12345
I would be aiming to spend no more than a couple thousand bucks but i would pay more if i could have a manual transmission. (if possible)



guidom12345
i understand what you say about the quite ride. i feel safe in my car and there are repairs i must attend to. maybe you're right. i should worry about those things rather than entire engine swaps.


so should i not do an engine swap and do upgrades and mods such as cool air intakes, exhaust, and such? oh and let me know how to put pictures up. i would like to show you guys my baby (my car) as it is right now

Ok. So the budget is $2000. That is about what I might spend on my 960. Hopefully under $1000. You need to CHANGE THE TIMING BELT, change the tranny fluid (maybe a full flush), fix the cosmetic flaws, check the brake pads, and then for perf upgrades I would buy wider low profile tires. Maybe 215/50's. And replace the shocks on all 4 corners. Tint the windows. There, your $2000 is spent. Did I mention you should change the timing belt?

[JohnLane]

Did I mention that if you have so much as looked sideways at the timing belt that it should be replaced?
The six in your car is a BIGTIME valve bender that tends to kill not just the head but pistons and bend connecting rods when a timing belt breaks. I have seen the T-Belt in this motor fail at 28,000 miles.
$2000..... You can have much fun with your budget. Get the motor in GOOD HEALTHY condition...... T-Belt and anything the least bit questionable under the timing cover, fresh synthetic oil, fresh coolant, spark plugs, be sure that the O2 sensor and air mass meter are good.....Fresh fluids for the rest of the car......
Free up air intake restriction......
Same for exhaust........ Careful about making it too noisy with either of these.
Suspension will be where you will have the best return for dollars spent. Be sure that all the bushings and pivots are healthy. Shocks.... Swaybars..... More aggressive tires..... Fun!!
Enjoy your project.

John Lane

[snoboarder_mike]

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1.../DSC08716v.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1.../DSC08715v.jpg


this is what she looks like so far. asthetically shes doing pretty good. i guess i'll just work on making the engine as healthy as possible. give me some feedback! thanks guys you've all helped me save money, time, and helped me to formulate a plan

[snoboarder_mike]

Originally Posted by Bertiebandit

I'm guessing you want to mod this car as it's the car you own right now. Nothing wrong with that- been there, etc.

However, my advice to you would be to get a car with a red block turbo motor and save yourself a lot of pain.

Whiteblock 6's are expensive and relatively difficult to tune and are in no way a good idea for someone who is unwilling and/or unable to fabricate a lot of the parts themselves. Red blocks, on the other hand, are nice, basic engines that are very easy and cheap to extract good power from and are also an excellent basis on which to learn about engines- being easy to work on and having plenty of room in the engine bay.

can you give me more info on the red block turbo motor?