I was looking at a B23 block the other day and other than the slanting nature of it, it looked pretty similar to a B20. Are the dimensions or water passages different? I imagine they must be, because I've never seen this done and I'm no genious when it comes to thinking up ideas! It just seems that the ol' B20 would benefit from the cross flow thru the chambers. Anyway, thanks.

While the block's similar enough that I'ld imagine you'ld eventually be able to bolt it on, I'm not at all sure it's a good idea.

First of all it's an overhead cam head and an overhead valve engine, so you'ld have to engineer some way to drive the camshaft in a meaningful way. Once you've taken that hurdle there are still some minor issues like the bore size being different, probably some oil and coolant passages that don't line up, the fact that your combustion chamber shape and compression will probably be screwed up, the head being bored for metric bolts and the block requiring UNF, finding a jet/needle combo that works on this hybrid, and building a set of custom manifolds.

As an engineering challenge you'ld have a winner. From a sensible point of view, fitting in a complete b23 or B230 or even a V8 would probably be easier and cheaper.

Bram

Never tried but why bother? The B21/B23 generation of engine is a development of the earlier engines and the blocks are very similar. However say an overhead cam head were to fit the earlier block, what about the waterpump, or distributor and oil pump drive from the camshaft.

If you want this head in an Amazon or 1800 fit the whole shooting match. Canted over engine, bellhousing and appropriate gearbox. It can be done, I've seen one in an 1800ES. The turbo am told is very difficult. I reckon the whole engine gearbox route would be much easier than re-engineering the the engine.

Regards

"overhead cam" Oh yeah. Never mind. Every B21/B23 I've ever seen in a 122/1800 was upright, with a B20 sump. How well does the slanted engine fit in?

I on't really know. As I say I've seen one but don't know how it was achieved, whether they used the volvo angle or put it slightly more upright. Was looking at my 122S project today and it doesn't look very hard. As always with these projects the main lump either fits or doesn't, the time and money goes into all the little details.

Regards

And how to drive the overhead cam in the B21/23.....?