Volvo 780

[BILLBARD]

I'm looking to buy a 780 Volvo. A friend says the 780 only came with a 2.7 or 2.8 V6 engine. Do they not come with a 4 cylinder as well. I have a full house 230FT sitting in my shed looking for a home and I like 780s and would like to put this engine to use. Any comments?
Bill

[Redwood Chair]

780s were availabe with the B230FT+ engine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_700_Series

In the first 2 years that the 780 was available worldwide (1986 and 1987) it received the B280F V6 engine and a solid (live) rear axle. In the Italian market, originally only the Volkswagen built D24TIC was to be offered, with 129 PS (95 kW),[21] but soon the V6 also became available and a 155 PS (114 kW) 2.0-litre turbo (B200ET) Italian tax special was also added later in 1986. In August 1987, the 780 came equipped with Volvo's independent rear suspension, which used self-leveling Nivomat shocks, to keep ride height correct. An improved climate control unit (ECC) was also fitted.[16]

The B280F at this point had roughly 150 PS (110 kW), but the car itself weighed nearly 3,400 lb (1,500 kg). To address concerns about performance, Volvo introduced the B230FT+; a B230FT with Volvo's Turbo+ boost controller, increasing the engine output to 175 PS (129 kW). The following model year saw it increase to 188 PS (138 kW). In Italy, later 780s were available with the B204GT. This was a 16 valve turbo motor producing 200 PS (147 kW). A mere 165 examples of the 780 were built with this engine. In the car's final year, 1991, it was rebadged simply as "Coupé". At this point, the car came only in turbo guise.

[daijoubanai]

1989 and newer cars had the b230ft.

[PCH]

They also came with 4 cylinder 16 Valve Turbo. In it's motherland only I believe.

[Janspeed]

What Redwood wrote.
It might also be important to know that V6 and 2.0L-16vT cars came with independent rear suspension.
The 780's with B230FT and D24Tic had the live axel rear suspension.

It doesn't have to be a deal breaker. All drive shafts are 2 piece units. It is possible to use a 4cyl front section mated to an IRS rear section.

[daijoubanai]

Originally Posted by Janspeed

What Redwood wrote.
It might also be important to know that V6 and 2.0L-16vT cars came with independent rear suspension.
The 780's with B230FT and D24Tic had the live axel rear suspension.

It doesn't have to be a deal breaker. All drive shafts are 2 piece units. It is possible to use a 4cyl front section mated to an IRS rear section.

Not quite. Once the IRS models came out, all cars had IRS. By the time the 4cyl engines were used in the 780, they all had IRS.

[2manyturbos]

Originally Posted by daijoubanai

1989 and newer cars had the b230ft.

Not quite. 1989 and new Bertones had the option of the 4 cylinder turbo. The B280 V6 was still used in 1989 and 1990. The 1991 Coupe only came with the B230FT.

[VB242]

Originally Posted by daijoubanai

Not quite. Once the IRS models came out, all cars had IRS. By the time the 4cyl engines were used in the 780, they all had IRS.

My 89 B230ft 780 has IRS.

[daijoubanai]

Originally Posted by VB242

My 89 B230ft 780 has IRS.

same

Originally Posted by 2manyturbos

Not quite. 1989 and new Bertones had the option of the 4 cylinder turbo. The B280 V6 was still used in 1989 and 1990. The 1991 Coupe only came with the B230FT.

yeah I forgot they kept using the v6.

[2manyturbos]

Originally Posted by VB242

My 89 B230ft 780 has IRS.

87 was the only year of the live axle here in the US. I have owned 3 87s, 2 88s, 4 89s, 2 90s and 1 91 Coupe. This article with help sort out the timeline of the 780. Davies Owens is a 780 fanatic. He has some super nice examples of the cars. I met him at IPD's 50 years of Volvo Garage Sale and car show. He had his 70K mile 1989 Bertone parked next to my renovated 1992 240 GL. I ended up selling him my Coupe 3 years ago when he was passing through Oregon on a trip to purchase yet another 780. He is putting together a network of people into these cars to make owning one a better experience.

https://780coupe.com/the-volvo-780-b...-story-part-1/

[daijoubanai]

You've owned more 780's than I've ever seen, lol.

Also that looks like a good site, I'll have to check it out.

Maybe one day my 780 will run again.

[swedishiron.com]

I've owned 2 of them.

One was an white '89 with tan leather interior and I fixed it up to sell to some young lady on the Kitsap peninsula. I have no idea what came of it.

The other was an '87 or '88 that was a dark gold metallic over brown / black interior. IIRC, it had the V6 which I didn't even bother to get running. I saved all the good parts and towed it to the wrecking yard.

I can recall seeing at least 4 in the local wrecking yards over the past 10 years. I can't remember their years, but at least 3 of them were with B230FT. The most recent one was originally bought in Hawaii and suffered some pretty bad rust around the sunroof.