Hello,

Mr. DeWolfe gave some excellent advice. Does the "official verdict" come from a mechanic familiar with old Volvos? Years back I remember feeling certain my engine was dying. Eventually, it stopped working altogether. Turns out it was those evil Strombergs. They were responsible for horrible fuel economy, poor power output, dieseling, very difficult starts (esp. but not exclusively on cold days) and really made me think my engine was on its last legs. Replacing the ZS carb setup was a revelation to me. Just this year I had a good look at the cam and other internals of my vehicle for the first time and everything was peachy. B20s are known for their extreme sturdiness and longevity. I'm not saying it couldn't be a worn camshaft, bad lifters or (less likely still) severe engine wear. I'm just offering another possibility.

If the verdict is sound and the problem is isolated to ONLY the camshaft, repair costs should be minimal. Here's roughly the parts price breakdown I had when I upgraded to a "D" camshaft a couple of months ago: "C" or "D" grind camshaft = ~$96, lifters = ~$80, four replacement gaskets = ~$40, motor oil and engine lube = ~$15. Of course, Mr. Dewolfe makes a good point in suggesting a refresh while you're in there to ensure top performance and longevity. If you choose to put in another B20, bear in mind that they came in several different flavors from '69 to '75, some of which may be more desirable to you.

Best of luck to you!