I have a 1998 XC...I have owned the car for 1 year, and the engine recently died (oil pressure light...). I purchased a replacement engine from what I thought was another '98 V70 (VIN 56). I recieved the motor several weeks ago...I just know found the packing slip...it states the VIN of the car...I checked the VIN and it came back as a '99 C70. Is this engine the same as my XC...is it compatible for an engine swap??? Thanks in advance for the help.

What's the engine model #s on the timing belt covers (like B5234T for example)? If those #s are the same, you'll be OK. Any of the turbo engines will bolt up the same but one engine might have a bit more power than the other, that's all.

sorry frank,
a 98 XC has a distributor ignition, a 99c-70 does not.
the block may bolt-up but, the harness will never work.

...........and why is that a problem? Take the '98s distributor and put it in the '99 engine (removing plug from '99 engine where distributor needs to go). It'll work.

no way bro,
a 99 c-70 has a totally different fuel injection system. the displacement is
different also. you'll open a can of worms if you try to put it in and make it
work.
what's up with the oil pressure light? did the engine seize? did you check the
oil pressure before you ordered an engine. maybe you just need to re-seal the
oil sump pick up tube.

Again, one keeps and uses the '98 engines ignition and EFI, swapping anything that's included on the '99 engine that's different from the '98 engine. I've done plenty of engine swaps in my days (between car model years, hearing lots of the "no way, can't be done" talk before but I've proved them wrong before) so I can tell you that as long as the engine model # is the same (same exact CCs), then it'll work.

Frank...I would really like to speak with you about this. If you don't mind could you give me a call 800-835-7029 x426. I can not get a straight answer on this from any mechanic where I live. Thanks

....from your new post above, it looks now as though you've found another engine and a better alternative. Considering the differences between '98 and '99 engines, even though a VERY experienced Volvo tech "might" be able to make it work (and that's questionable after the added notes below here), you'ld be far better off using the exact same engine from the same model, same year car. XC and V70 AWD use the same engines, drivetrain components.

The engine did not sieze, but sounds awful. The light comes on once the temperature gauge gets about to about 1/3. I have had the car looked at by three different people, and all said the same thing..."the motor is probably shot". I had two options, either begin tearing the existing motor apart until the problem was found or replace the engine. The first option could be easy and cheap or end up very expensive. The second option will definitely work and is less than $3,000, except that I now have an engine that might not work in my car, and have to try to battle the salvage yard who sold it to me as a 1998 V70 engine.

Has anyony thought about the variable valve timing on the 99?

Well, if it's '99 when they added that it does indeed add yet another cog in the works doesn't it? Considering that feature in itself, I'd then prefer to steer away from using a newer engine as perhaps it wouldn't be impossible but then no doubt more difficult technically even for a very experienced tech.