Hi, everyone. Anyone know how I can improve performance and handling on a 1996 N/A 850 automatic with hub caps and only K&N air filter for an upgrade, thus far? I am looking to improve handling and performance on my beloved brick without going to the extreme or trading it in. I just need it to pick-up faster from a stop and also handle the fast turns I take on the curves of the L.A. freeways and streets. I thought about picking up a PES ECU, an OMP strut tower brace, and some alloy wheels. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

I have been reading these threads for a few years now and have not seen any improvements that provide better acceleration for a reasonable cost. Alloy wheels will not make the car accelerate faster and a chip will only get you something like 10 hp. It would not be noticeable. Alloy wheels could potentially reduce unsprung weight and improve handling with wider, lower profile tires. This will come at the expense of ride quality, however. I am looking at new struts and a strut tower brace for my NA 850 (already have alloys). I have not anything to the airbox and would be concerned that I would mess it up. Good luck.

Do you have any recommendations on struts and strut tower brace? Thank you, BTW, for the replies.

Struts would be either the OEM Boge units or Bilstein HD or TC- I am having trouble deciding which. Strut brace would be the Volvo OEM one- I think it's a fairly innocuous color like silver or black and you can probably save something by getting it via mailorder. OMP makes one that is a bright yellow color, which I guess you could paint. Ipd sells the TME alloy brace, which is nice looking but seems a little expensive and perhaps not as sturdy as the others. Good luck.

Wayne, what size tires do you have on your Volvo?

I have the standard 30 some odd spoke alloys that came with the car. The standard tire size is 195-60 15. I moved up a little to 205-55 15 because I wanted a little better handling. If I recall correctly, the difference in diameter equates to a 1.4% difference in the speedometer. I have read that others have gone to 205-60 15 to get a slighly taller sidewall and better ride. If I was in the market for alloys I would probably buy a Volvo set from somebody looking to upgrade. But that's me- I would want to maintain a stock look to the car.

How does the car look with 205-55-15 tires?

I have 1997 850 N/A and i modified the stock air intake box with a k&n filter. I removed all of the plastic that was in front of the air intake above the radiator. You know the hose that goes over to the exhuast manifold, disconect that from the manifold and stick it straight back towards the passenger compartment and then down as far as you can push it. Mines almost a foot from the ground. Then take out the air box and slide out the part that goes into the air box that switches back and forth from air from above radiator to exhuast manifold, rip all of that stuff out that opens and closes it. I was suprised to see how much this stuff clogged up the intake. The thing was designed for quicker engine heat up but even without it during the winter in kansas when it was 10 degrees F my car warmed up in maybe 3-5minutes and stayed warm the whole time. With those couple of mods I found my car to be alot more responsive off the line and high up, I can take my friends 325is off the line and up to 50mph and i can take my friends 89 740 turbo. If you want pictures of the mods just ask and leave your email address. I also added a front strut bar from eastern aerospace that tightened the front end up quit a bit. I can take most of the little ricers too. We took a civic with nos in my friends 740 turbo and when we beat him and slowed down he pulled up next to us and says "Damn that's one mean volvo!" in this almost frightened voice, it was one of the funniest things i have ever heard in my life.

Hey Davos,

If you would, please send me pictures also at renerodz@bellsouth.net

I would really like to do it.

S60 2.4 N/A Manual

Hey Davos,

If you would, please send me pictures also at renerodz@bellsouth.net

I would really like to do it.

S60 2.3 N/A Manual

Dave,

I am sorry, but I don't see how in the world a 1989 Volvo 740 Turbo can take a Honda Civic w/ NOS, even with all the mods in the world, unless that Civic NEVER kick on his NOS.

I have many friends, who have build a Civic w/ NOS for drag-racing on the weekend at a local drag strip, and they have smoke cars that costs 5-6x more than them such as modified Porsche's, etc ...

Man, if your friend smoke that NOS-equipped Civic, I would love to see what he has underneath his hood, and find out whether that Civic owner ever activated his NOS.

Kenny

Wow, that's some upgrade I'd like to see. Please e-mail jpgs to gemrayus@yahoo.com. Thanks.

I don't know how we beat him or if he only had like 40shot of nos or whether it was an act of God. I know he hit the nos though all of the sudden his car almost lifted when he was going like 30 mph when we were racing.

Davos40, when you get the chance, can you please e-mail me pics of the mods you performed on your air filter? Thanks, Ed850.

It might be a few days b/c my dad hid the memory chips for the digital camera i'll email to u within a few days