So some of you may remember this past April, when I reported my #1 car repair falure yet, breaking the A cam I was putting in my '86 240DL. So today I just got a K cam and put it in (without breaking it) and holy moly, what a difference! The M cam is so much worse. Now, when I get over 3000, the thing seems to take off like a rocket, and I almost forget that it's an '86 volvo. I'm just so excited about this that I felt I had to post...and promote the K cam for being a definite hoot to drive...does anyone know how much my gas mileage will suffer from this? ta ta for now!

Nate Gundy

Congratulations!

I have a B23E with the K. I get 20mpg in pure city driving - almost no freeway, and have gotten 28 mpg on the highway (at slow speeds- with a tail wind!). Driving down a twisty road in third at 4500rpm is a hoot! Day to day city driving can be bit frustrating as there is no torque down low. Unless you dump the clutch at 5500rpm, any minivan can get away from a stop faster. Drag racing is overrated; bring on the twisties! Of course, if I had a 302 in there I would probably be saying the opposite!

peace

Nate - I came across this post regarding installing the K cam in your '86 240 and would like to mention that I have one in a 1981 265 GLE - converted over to an '87 B230f - that has been in use for a couple of years now and can confirm the fact that it injects alot more life into a reliable but otherwise 'it does the job' engine.Transmission is a AW71 and the idle tends to be quite ragged if in neutral, but otherwise it is very responsive and loves to rev! I never abuse the car but occasionally it is a bit of a thrill to let it wind out up to 5500 rpm or so. Drivability is very good and gas mileage around 400 miles to a tank on the freeway cruising around 65 mph.Anyone contemplating a switch from the anemic M cam will be quite pleased I am sure. The carburetted A cam is somewhere in between performance wise. I live in Vancouver,B.C. Canada and even here K cams are not as common as they once were so I imagine U.S. residents will find it very difficult to come by. I should mention that there have been no problems with passing emissions testing here which are quite stringent. Cutting out the center muffler and setting up a 2 or 3 chamber Flow Master rear muffler ( or equivilent )- as I did - helps the engine response and will free up a few extra ponies. As well, an electric rad fan is a definite upgrade that allows for easier underhood access and helps the water pump live longer. Even with the less desirable later head I would estimate the engine puts out at least 130 hp as it accelerates quite a bit more than stock.

What else had to be changed to use the K cam? I'm not familiar with it. Is the engine still non-interference? Any disadvantagees with the new cam, besides possibly gas mileage? Can you recommend another good site to get more info?
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Thanks to everyone for the help, Doug C. 81 242 Brick Off Blocks, stock, M46; 86 240, 135k

For more info on cams and other performance issues try: www.turbobricks.com

I have an Enem V15 cam in my 240DL wagon. Very nice. Widens the power band. No measureable loss in gas mileage. Idle is smoother than the stock M cam. In short, this is the cam the car should have come with when new. More expensive and harder to find than the K cam.

I hear a lot of good things about the VX cam as well....

mormit
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85 245DL, 02 S40