If I understand correctly, sometime in '89 Volvo switched back to 13mm connecting rods from the decidedly weaker 9mm connecting rods.

First off, is this correct?

Secondly, is there a way to tell (via VIN # or otherwise) if a given '89 B230FT has 9mm or 13mm connecting rods?

I'm considering buying one, and would like to know what's in there.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Jeff Pierce

I don't have a Volvo New Car Features Service Manual for 1989, but it should tell about when Volvo introduced 13mm connectin rods as a running change.

Another respondent discussed the K block as it was an interim engine. Any B230 engine with 63mm main bearing journals (and thrust bearing on number 5 main bearing) is a K block motor. So, all B230 engines made from about two months into the 1988 model year production until production ceased are K block motors. The early engines had the K cast into the block. Later engines don't have the cast K, but have a K on the ID tag found on the cam belt cover.

The only way I know to determine whether 13mm connecting rods are used is to remove the pan and inspect. 1990 and later engines all have the 13 mm connecting rods. Volvo does not sell individual connecting rods to service the early engines. They only sell a set of connecting rods, and I will assume that Volvo services 9mm connecting rod engines with a set of 13mm connecting rods.

John
With all this talk im lost, my engine does not have the tag on the time cover, it has either been removed or fallen off, someone spoke of the number above the upper radiator hose connection on the Head but i was unable to understand the codeing there, there was also talk of this K being in a certain place i happened to find it on the block next or close to the Knock Sensor. Man Fac date on the door jam is 03-89, is it possible that maybe the VIN # would be coded to relate to the engine type? Im very curious as to what's inside this monster, i only have a B230F so pressure of strenght isnt really and issue just curious, and really i dont plan on removing the Oil pan anytime soon unless it starts leaking, or this mysterious problem im having leads me down that way.

go to turbobricks.com -- check out the mods section, follow the link under staged mods for the 700 series cars. In the beginning you'll get a brief writeup on the different motors.
basically first came the B230, with the small rods and smaller rod journals than the B23. Then came the K motors up to late '89 -- a revision of the "weak" B230 motors, then came the later motors with the beefed up rods, but retained the smaller rod journals.
If it's an '89 you are looking into, it's either the good stuff or the K motor (just fine IMHO) -- The VIN has a K below it on the door jamb, the timing belt cover will have a "K" on it and the side of the block will have a "K" underneath the motor serial number if it's, obviously, a K car. If you can't find the K markings and it's an '89 then you have the stouter motor.

Read up on the motors in the mods article and you'll know how much power you can safely extract from them... apparantly the motors with the smaller rods have an undeserved reputation for being weak; reports of 250 HP out of them safely.
FWIW, if I ever do a motor rebuild I'll source the larger rods and throw them in there just to upgrade to later factory specs, until then I have no doubts about the strength of my current K motor ('89 740 TI).. unless I start cranking up the crack (boost) for more substantial power gains.
BTW, my K motor has 196,000 original miles on it --- still makes excellent power.

Thanks Matt. That's just the info I was looking for.

Jeff Pierce
--
'92 Mercedes 190E (my daily driver), '93 945 Turbo (a kickass family car), '53 Willys-Overland Pickup (my snow-plow truck/conversation piece)

I have read that when looking into the larger rod upgrade for my 89' K motor that is not as simple as just putting in larger rods. Maybe someone could clarify this?

vinraz,

Did you check out the link in Matt's post? It addresses that upgrade. If I understand correctly, there's also a difference with the shaft and bearings. Check it out.

Jeff Pierce
--
'92 Mercedes 190E (my daily driver), '93 945 Turbo (a kickass family car), '53 Willys-Overland Pickup (my snow-plow truck/conversation piece)