Looks like we got a little 'coverage'.....

http://www.streetmusclemag.com/news/street-feature-waking-up-a-volvo-sleeper-with-ls3-power/

Very cool and the ultimate car the 242. It must scream.

It's much too easy on the street to be at triple digits.....too old for shenanigans with our respected law enforcementers. Gotta find some non-competitive track time.

Michael I have an answer for your "need for speed". I am on the Board of Directors of EMRA (Eastern Motor Racing Association) and we will be holding a two day event at Summit Point Raceway's Shenandoah Circuit at the end of June. Our events include High Performance Driver Education (HPDE), Time Trial for those who wish to compete and sprint racing. We are a volunteer based "not for profit" organization and run most of our events in the Northeast but have a long tradition at Summit Point (West Virginia--near Winchester, VA). We offer classroom instruction and ride along instruction for beginners, lower prices than most track "clubs" and more track time than most. SP has many reasonably priced motels nearby - or for the thrifty minded (like me) camping at the track. Sign up for one day or both. You can find EMRA at emraracing.org.
We are a family friendly group and accept all manner of cars - from our Chief Instructor's latest toy - a rare Japanese market only Nissan Figaro to the Ford GT that ran our last event at Pocono Raceway. We haven't had many Volvos compete--but I was Class Champion in 2006 and 7 with the Volvo From Heck (1969 144S).
My own V8 Volvo experience was/is low-tech but a very successful road car--1963 Olds 215 V8 (340 lbs complete) in a '76 265 - currently under reconstruction in a '93 245 with a T5 gearbox--long stalled project. Any questions--call me at six-three-one 968-8933 --- Dave

Thanks Dave -- appreciate you posting the info here. That's good stuff for everyone to know about. I raced SCCA for about 10 years, 2 regional championships in IT. If I get it into a track situation like you're describing, the red mist will hit and I'll just break something, or someone else's red mist will hit and then that idiot will hit me -- or both. I was thinking more like courtesy laps during lunch break at the Mitty - put yourself last in line and then you can let the crowd move away 2 or 3 turns and then catch them up. Mildly so as not to be asked off the track before your 10 laps are up. Not that I have any experience with that....LOL! When I feel the need for more speed than that, I'll write a check and go wail on BMWs in Greenville or Porsches at Barber, let someone else's car take the wear/tear. The stability control systems have gotten so good that they feel comfortable turning just about anybody loose in the cars these days.

Nice to see this write-up--well deserved!

You decide how to approach selling yours?

Not yet . . . I'll probably do something a little later this year. Mom-in-law health issues are taking priority. We're up and down to the Rockingham area about every third week right now. Her driving has become an issue, so that will make things even more difficult. Wish us luck.

Know it all too well - my mom passed April 6th - memorial service this weekend. 85 - great life, albeit the last decade dealing with a lot of pain/osteoporosis (5" shorter when she passed!). So more relief than grief, especially for her. She was vocal about being ready to leave. MIL still in pretty good shape at 87 - 93 lb, 4'11" Japanese lady---hell, she could live to 110! Thankfully, my mom never drove (old skool!) and my wife's mom gave it up 7 years ago at 80. So at least we don't have that to deal with.

Nice! That's awesome!
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My homepage:

Thx Greg!
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82 242 6.2L coming...; '15 Honda Fit; '16 Subie X-Trek

Pretty cool to see you both still on here... I've started and abandoned 4 volV8 projects since the mid nineties, when I was reading posts from Michael and Greg and learning to speak Brick. Had a few turbos since then but now I'm getting back to my roots (hopefully) and planning a 91 245 LSx swap. It's nice to know I'll have a few veterans to lean on. Nice work! Great car!!

Mike K

Have fun with the swap!

Mr. Yount,

Pure awesome. I'm all in reverence. And in the article, how you describe the HP per pound and yet, a fuel economy as good as the original four cylinder Volvo engine.

Have you checked into the face-space-group V8 Volvo Club
https://www.facebook.com/groups/217023333172/

You can see it without an account, I guess. Maybe best to log in. You could post your mighty 242 V8 there. Or, at least the article?

I'd be glad to.

Thank you.

Mac Duff.
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Give your brickboard.com a big thumbs up! Way up! - Roger Ebert.

And a few hours later I was admitted to the group....so I posted the link. Thanks for heads up.

Hi Mr. Yount,

Glad you were able to get into the group!

There are some other facebook groups for each rear wheel drive model range.

The Volvo 240 fan club is paragraphs the largest. They ask help me questions. I send them to the RWD, V8, and AWD forums, as well as the FAQ here. If just to help get more active members.

You'll get many likes.

Such impressive work you've done there, though. The 242 (my fave 240 model) with your engine that belongs in that engine bay.

I'll bet your V8 engine you have in there does not weigh much more than the i-4 redblock, also? I've driven some go-fast cars a long time ago, yet I don't have the nerve to so that.

Else, I just cruise the speed limit.

Though it would be nice to have an extra 50-60 HP / 50 -60 ft-lbs torque just as is with the same engine control. That would take more than an A or K-cam, I guess. For such a heavy engine, you think it could produce more output without too much bother with a redblock.

On some groups, they put Toyota R22 engines in, BMW inline six engines, Volvo 850 Turbo engine, and I guess the final holy grail is the B234 with Turbo. And these people do fab work fro huge turbo compressors with some wild exhaust set-up.

Do people put in V-6 engine? I recall someone here had a Buick V-6 engine in a 740 or 240.

Nothing I would do. Have to have a garage and such. Even if I had a garage, I'd just deal in rust, stereo install, and finally having A/C work again in at least one of the three. Been putting off the A/C retrofit and HVAC fan replacement for years now. Oh well.

Thank you again for the inspiration!

Happy Holidays!

Mac and Duffed
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Give your brickboard.com a big thumbs up! Way up! - Roger Ebert.

Can't compare weight to a red block....never had a red block to weigh. But overall, the car is within the range of curb weights listed for 242's through the years. The 5.0L that came out of the car (with aluminum heads) weighed 411 lbs. The LS3 that went in weighed 393 lbs. No flywheel on either, no accessories. With heads, valve covers, intake mani, fuel and ignition systems, shorty tubular headers on the 5.0L and cast iron manifolds on the LS3. Of course, the flywheel, clutch ass'y, bell housing, and tranny are all a bit heavier for the V8 than for the 4 banger. All in - I'd guess 75-100 lbs. more for the all aluminum V8 compared to a red block. But with the battery moved to the trunk, and the Commando bumpers laid up in fiberglass (that knocked about 50 lbs. off the car) - it all comes out in the wash.

Keep in mind - the 5.0L Ford motor has a deck height of 8.2"; the LS3 is 9.2" - same as a 351 Cleveland. Those typically weigh about 75-100 lbs. more than the 5.0L's. So that gives you another reference point. An efi 351C with aluminum heads/intake would likely weigh 100-120 lbs. more than the all aluminum LS3 in the car.

Well, clicked "join group" - got the "pending" treatment for about 2 hours. And now the "join group" button is active again, as if I'd done nothing at all. That's about right for my adventures with stuff like this....LOL!

Well, I joined that group to see if I can figure out how to post something - educational for a social media newb like me. My request to join is "pending" - whatever the hell that means...

I have an account - but not much of a FB fan....
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82 242 6.2L coming...; '15 Honda Fit; '16 Subie X-Trek