I'm curious how to tell if my '85 wagon has the original engine. I bet it does but stuff was done to it and I'd be curious to know. I can't find the actual vin number on the engine block, but these are the numbers I've found. It's a b230f. Vin number is yv1ax8854f3596505, two numbers on the cam cover are 499858 and in smaller lettering 1778. On the engine block there are several numbers but the last 5 I can make out as 01778 so it looks like the last four of that sequence is on the cam cover. Anyone able to decipher this info and tell me if it's original or not?
Thanks,
Lewis

It is very likely your B230f is the original engine in your 85 240.I am quite sure that 1985 was the first year for the B230f, "low friction" engine...(I own 2 1985 240s, both have B230f engines.The "f",is for "federal" because cars shipped to north America had to have certain pollution control things.)

A couple of years back, I bought an 86 240 for a parts car.I paid $100 bucks for it, after I got home,I noticed the valve cover on the 86 was different from my 85s, I did some research and found out the 86 had a B23 in it.( The B23 was the predessor to the B230, and was discontinued in 1984.)

Bottom line; B230f is a good engine,I believe it was modified in 87, and was used in all 240s and 740s from 1985 on.,and that is one thing I like about owning a 240,there are millions of parts cars and engines out there, and even if your B230 was not the original factory installed B230, it is the stock engine for your 85.

best wishes.....d

Bump....any Ideas on IDing if this exact engine came with the car from the factory? Forgot to add earlier that it's a Canadian model, assembled in Nova Scotia.

There is no way.
Dan

No data base or anything to match up engine numbers with Vin Numbers? Oh well, it would be nice if there was some way to do that.

Why is this so important??

I'm just curious.

OK, it's not like you got a vintage Corvette or anything!
Dan

LOL, I know, with head date though being very close to the manufacture date of the body I would guess it to be original.

http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/376515/220/240/260/280/b2123230_comp_ratios_197686_engine_numbers_engines.html

Ahh- the famous motor type numbers!
I have them up through about 4982xx, for B20 late engines.
Did not know of a source for them for later models, but since I haven't owned a 240, 700, etc,
I had not pursused them.
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Thanks for the info, looks like 499858 is correct for a 1985 model year. Is there any way to tell if this specific engine came with this specific car out of the factory?
Thanks,
Lewis

Not the bottom end that I know but when shopping for a new project I usually look at the head to see of the date code stamped on the back is in the ballpark of the car's build date. It's usually within a couple of months. Clearly not definitive proof everything's original unless the heads are a year or two newer than the car.

Thanks for the info, where is this date code located on the head of the car?

end of head next to #4 plug

Thanks a bunch, just scrubbed half an inch of grim off of it to see it! Car body was made early September 1984, and the head has a date of July 18th 1984, so I guess that's within spec. Guess it isn't a solid positive but that should mean the engine is original, unless for some reason the block was replaced and the head wasn't, which wouldn't make any sense!

I don't think Volvo did a matching VIN/engine number thing like some manufacturers.

I know how to tell - If the odometer reads less than 500,000, it's probably the original engine. :)