hello folks.. so i have a 68 144s. i bought it with a b20 in it and a b20 badge on the grill. the chassis number is 50,xxx out of 52,xxx made in 1968 from what i gathered on vlvworld.com

so i googled alot and searched but i cannot find my engine numbers listed on the sites with any b20 engine info. all earlier numbers than mine.

the numbers stamped on the pad in the middle above the distributor says...

(8191) (15300)


all the numbers i see start with 6


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68' 144s B20B M40

It would help to get the whole VIN for your car and full type number for the current engine.

There were produced some 52 700 cars of the 1968 Volvo 144, from serial number 37 100 to 89 799. The last 6 digits of the VIN is the serial number of the car.

There were maybe 200+ different B18/B20 engines made. All have a 6 digit typecode, some digits in the cast and the rest stamped.

140 series used 77 variations of the B18/B20 engine. All started with 49. All B18 had 4968xx and all B20 had 4969xx/ 4980xx/ 4982xx.

A B18B engine in a 1968 144S, with M40, US version, should have a type code either 496836 (without exhaust cleaning) or 496865 (with exhaust cleaning).

Your current engine, with I guess typenumber 498191, is not from a 140. Its a B20F engine, most likely from a 1972-1973 P1800E/ES.

im not sure how the vin will help but here is my vin plate and chassis number.


no idea on what engine it is... the previous owner had no clue about volvos

also its hard to see in the pics but the red paint on my block is brighter than the cylinder head. im assuming the head is not the original for the engine.


http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/NO_SPRK/20151107_095210_zpsyroxs5pn.jpg

http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/NO_SPRK/20151107_095222_zps5spavtkd.jpg

http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/NO_SPRK/20151107_094949_zps4e0q7wdl.jpg

http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/NO_SPRK/20151107_094632_zps59vtpd4u.jpg

http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/NO_SPRK/20151107_094653_zps7hiipc2p.jpg

http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/NO_SPRK/20151107_094815_zpsdzppbmud.jpg

http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/NO_SPRK/20151107_094820_zpsrph4lgou.jpg

http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/NO_SPRK/20151107_094826_zpsjxs3wygm.jpg



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68' 144s B20B M40

I have seen some lists that shows some information relative years of production, but nothing official from Volvo.

However, I can usually tell by certain features on the outside of the block generally when an engine was made. Unfortunately, I was unable to see any of them in your pictures.

However I can tell you that you have a B18 cylinder head on a B20 block.

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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502

well hot damn wouldnt you be right!

so by what i found online i have a 1974-75 block with a b18 head.

no wonder it runs like crap on anything but premium and i had to drop the timing a little
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68' 144s B20B M40

I don't know much about serial numbers, but there are a few here who have a list of numbers. 1st, 1968 model cars had a B18 in them, so you have a B20 which somone fitted. Is it a single or twin carb car? The needles in the carbs might tell you what it had, because B18D were sometimes fitted.(less compression and an A or very rare B cam). I would see what you actually have, measure the head and gasket thickness, measure the cam lobe lift, follow the instructions on testing the cam timing and do a compression test on it. I like the middle era E blocks, a late E head for a stock stroke engine, or a late A head for a stroker.

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69 142S Overdrive + 69 164S Manual

Bought the car with a the b20, with a b18 mechanical advance distributor and weber 32/36 cannon intake. I fitted 3 bolt SU HS6 carbs (no idea of needles) with a p1800 intake and fuel injected exhaust manifold/240 downpipe

I have a 69 145s parts car and the blocks have different casting marks in them.

I'd rather not take apart my running engine. I was just curious what year block I have

I would use KD (high compression 115hp B18B) or KN (high compression 118hp B20B) needles depending on which style of needle you have. Both are pretty much the same and work great on healthy stock to mild engines. BBB are first choice with HIF SU's.

Next, you need an electronic dizzy from a B20 powered 240.

It does not matter what block is running happily in your car, it matters when you rebuild. E block is best so long as it does NOT have metric main bolts in them, those things need a serious bolt upgrade. Head choice depends if and who is going to port it.



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69 142S Overdrive + 69 164S Manual