I had a 96 glt non-turbo wagon. Not impressed with the 168 horsepower I looked at all ways to see how to bump it up. Here's what I learned. I installed a K&N air filter. It helped. I installed a free flow exhaust from the catalytic convertor back. It helped but I would also install a free flow cataltyic convertor as well (something I will probably do on my 95 turbo wagon).

Forget the turbo upgrade. Your approach would appear to make sense to you but it is not the rgith way to go. First, the non-turbo engine is different in terms of bore size and compression ratios. Netx time take a look at a turbo engine and then your engine. While they both look the same on the outside, you'll notice that the spark pulgs are different and there are a hell of a lot of hoses to connect for a turbo. Also, the non-turbo iis a 2.4 liter engine. A turbo is 2.3 liters. There is a difference you need to account for.

Installing a turbo would require not only adding the unit iself, but a wastegate, turbo piping, an intercoller, and changing the boost. Adding a new ecu may not get you what you want since the IPD unit is made an original turbo engine not a modified one.

Believe me I tried all over the web asking everyone if adding a turbo could be done. They all say yes but then after reading about all the other changes that need to be made, it gets very expensive and difficult.

I will tell you that adding the filter and larger exhaust gave me about 20 more horsepower in feel (it may not actually be that amount).

I guess I'm trying to tell you what others told me (which irked me but ended up being right), don't bother. Get yourself a turbo version (keeping in mind that with the new S80 coming out other volvo owenrs may trade up, and you may find what you're looking for). No matter what you do to your vehicle, it will never be the same as a turbo.

Delgado-Rucci

San Diego