Indeed, the tolerance between the valves and pistons is pretty much zilch. My insurance plan is having a spare bottom half of a 16v head, complete with valves.

Reality: most engines are of an interference design. Stay on top of timing belt changes, and keep tabs on idler pulleys, the tensioner pulley, and tensioner. Same with the balance shaft equivalents.

Seems Volvo redesigned the tensioner pulley set-up... and not for the better. It's too narrow, and I think it allows the automatic tensioner to over-tension the belt. I'm working with Volvo now to try and resolve this.

Simple alternative engines:

1) B230F: Simplest. Should be almost completely plug and play.

2) B230FT: Same as above, but there's some plumbing involved. The engine wiring/layout is sort of a mirror image in some ways.

3) B230F+T: Kind of a hybrid. Not as much oomph ultimately, but more power than a plain ol' B230, yet better fuel economy than a B230FT.

For all the above, you'll likely need a crossmember from a 8v car.

-Ryan
--

Athens, Ohio
1987 245 DL 324k, Dog-hauler
1990 245 DL 142k M47, E-codes, GT Sways/Braces, Dracos, A-cam
1990 744GLE 189K 16-valve
1991 745 GL 304k