I've just picked up an Amazon wagon that has been sitting since '97.
It came without an engine or trans, but luckily I happen to have a B20 & M41 sitting the garage.
It is a ways from getting back on the road, but I have a couple of questions.

1. Rear end ratios. I've searched and have found the question, but never a definitive answer: I'd like to change it to something like 3.90 or even 4.10 would be OK. The Spicer rear end seems to be a bit of an orphan. Was this rear used in any other cars? What ring and pinion sets would be compatible?

2. The drivers door is kind of beat up, is the front door of the wagon the same as the 4 door sedan? The Volvo green book says they are "similar". Someone on ebay is selling a wagon door and indicates that it is unique.

As Matt says, the year makes a big difference.
Also most, if not all the 220s (wagons) had a Salisbury rear end, SIMILAR to the Spicer
but not identical. Thus it might be difficult to change ratios.
Having said that, I have had (since 1984) a '66 wagon with overdrive and found the 4.56 ratio
to be pretty satisfactory in overdrive. It figures out to the equivalent of about 3.68:1
Also the principle problem of high revs in a Volvo is wear and tear on the DRIVER, not the engine!
I'd stick with the rear end you have unless it eventually proves unsat.
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Oklahoma

What year is it? Wagon rears changed type somewhere around mid-late '66.
--
-Matt I ♥ my ♂

1:Wagon I believe have a 4:56
2:Front doors are the same for P120 and P220, back doors are the same on the bottom, different on the top (but can be modified to fit by switching the tops)

Thanks for the info on the doors.
Perhaps just a set of taller wheels/tires would help with the high winding drone and the gas mileage.
I'd still like to know if R&P swaps are possible.

I realize I'm not going to answer your question about the ring & pinion, but if you're going to put the M41 in the car, isn't the problem solved? IMHO, you don't want a 4.10 rear gear with the M41.
--

Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES
BlueBrick Racing Website
YouTube Racing Videos

"but if you're going to put the M41 in the car, isn't the problem solved? IMHO, you don't want a 4.10 rear gear with the M41."
I'd have to disagree with you on this Gary. With the 4.56 he'll be running close to 4k RPM at 70mph even with the OD. My first 144 (after many 122's, including a few wagons) was a 1968--B18, 115hp stock--slightly warmed over with a 44mm intake head and K cam. I put an M41 D-type in that one and 70mph with the 4.10 rear worked out to a comfortable 3k rpm. I rarely had to shift to 4th even climbing the steep grades of Rt 17 in NY. The '68 got rear ended and replaced with a '69. Once I was satisfied the lower end was sound I moved the head and cam to the B20 and installed a later M41--still running an original 4.10-with the revs at just a little over 3k with the slightly shorter J type OD ratio. The extra torque of the 2 litre made 4th-OD even more usable. Now that car has a later rear from a factory OD car (4.30) and I added a used LSD from a 265 because I sometimes run time trials with it (70 now at 3300rpm).
With the 122 wagon being a couple of hundred pounds lighter (2550 if I remember correctly) than a 140 series I think a 4.10 combined with the B20 would be a near perfect solution to $4 a gallon gas and still have plenty of oomph on the road.
Like Gary, I can't answer the rear end parts swapping question--perhaps Planetman would know. -- Dave

"With the 4.56 he'll be running close to 4k RPM at 70mph even with the OD."

Somewhere along the line, our math doesn't agree. Not even close. :)

Assuming correct tires (~26" dia on a 122 wagon), my spreadsheet shows a little less than 3300 rpm at 70 mph, with the later .797 OD and 4.56 rear. You can take 150 rpm off that if you're using the .756 D-type, making it 3150.

And BTW according to the shop manuals, there is only 50 lbs difference between the 122S wagon and the 144, at 2550 and 2600 lbs respectively.

--

Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES
BlueBrick Racing Website
YouTube Racing Videos

Hello,

There are other ratios that will work in all 3 types of rear ends for the 220.

But you need to know exactly what you have to be able to determine what gear sets are available.

All 3 use the same rear end cover, so that does not help.

The Salisbury has carrier bearing retaining bolts that stick through the case, so look for the end of the bolts or the bolt holes that face the front of the car.

The Dana 27 has a "27" clearly cast into the webbing of the carrier housing on the upper right corner facing the rear of the car.

The Dana 30 has a 2 1/2" diameter axle tube.
--
Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502

I spent some time crawling around under cars this morning.
It appears as though the rear in the wagon is a Dana 30 (it looks just like the dana 30 in my other 122) it also has C 32808 in one rib and has "30" on the other.
As luck has it, my parts car has a Dana 30 4.10 rear, though the case looks a bit different (no numbers, the ribs look different)so if the need arises I most likely have a gear set I can swap in.

Thanks for your replies