Hello fellow bricksters!
Surfin around on the net I have seen some pages about turbo charged
bricks, but none about tuning and making a n/a brick fast.
Therefore I will dedicate this page on how to make a hot n/a brick!
My brick is a originally a 244 GLE from 1979.
I bought the car in 1994 and have since invested most of my money into
it.
It is not much of a looker, the paint job was
done by a good friend behind his country house!
My Background
I was born in Stockholm, Sweden and have always had an interest in
cars. My mother tells me I fell asleep in my bed holding a matchbox in
each hand.
I have a bachelors degree in business, an MBA and currently completing
a masters degree in chemical engineering.
Enough about me.
If you want to know more about me check this out: ME
NEW PICTURES ARE SCANNED!
WILL BE POSTED VERY SOON!
NEW!
PARTS FOR
SALE
As I have more parts than I'll ever need I have decided to sell some of them!
Prices are quite negotiable!
NEW!
MY PORSCHE
931!
I have bought another car...
Alas not another Volvo, but a mint 1979 Porsche 931.
Read all about it, and its mods, on my new Porsche page.
After considerable research and a case of good luck I have found out
that it is possible to register my car with a turbo!
The car will "simply" (at least it seems that way) be registered as
a modified vehicle.
As this page is for modifying n/a engines, I have a turbo page.
A 1979 244 GLE. What can one do with a car like that?
The original engine was a B21E. I remember porting the head (myself!)
and driving it like crazy.
Worked fine until I kind of over-revved it.
I was driving on a very loooong downhill on a highway at WOT, 220 on
the speedo, 6900 on the tach for about 10 minutes. Today that engine does
not exist...
What to do, well as this is Sweden engines are pretty easy to find. I could not go for a Turbo as that would involve a lot of BS with the authorities.
I found a B23E. The "best" n/a engine ever produced for a brick. The
head is a 405 (made in 1983) and the cam was an H.
140 hp.
Not enough...
To say the least, the standard suspension on a 244 is not the best for
spirited driving.
I was lucky that I got a 79 GLE as this shared the front suspension
with the GLT and later the Turbo.
The first move was to get new springs. Who makes the best springs?
Eibach.
OK, got some Eibachs. Nice change, lower, but not too low. Definately better turn in and overall driving experience.
Who makes the best shocks?
Koni or Bilstein.
I got Koni.
Liked the adjustability.
Here is where I hit the first obstacle in making my brick perfect.
Thanks to the rear suspension simplicity Koni does not make its yellow
shocks for the back.
So I got yellow up front and red in the back.
Wow, big change over the standard gas Sachs.
Sway bars...
As I didn't know about IPD I got newer bars from a Turbo.
(speaking of IPD, I called them and asked about their 25 mm bars. Guess
how much the shipping would be? $170!)
Bushings.
Some nylon (in the front), some just harder rubber (most of the back).
Stiffening braces.
Tower to firewall
Strut
Lower
These braces made a huge change to the entire behavior of the car.
Actually I think that the tower to firewall braces made the biggest
impact, so if you can only afford one, get that!
The B23E with the H cam was the most powerful n/a engine produced for the 240. In standard shape it is not a bad performer, but it is real easy to "fix".
Easy mods.
Air filter + box (K&N and opened up = "ram
air")
headers (4-2-1)
exhaust (2.5")
ignition (MSD)
Little tougher.
camshaft (GT 6)
electric fan (16" from 940, 2 speeds)
Adjustable cam gear (KG)
Big mods.
Port and polish of head
Port of intake and headers
3 - angle valve job
CIS from Turbo
modified throttle body
Another mod that I did not perform but does give good results are larger
valves.
Especially the exhaust side profits from larger valves and valve seats
Links to My Favorite Sites
Another way to really get to know someone - especially someone who
spends
as much time on the Internet as I do - is to learn their favorite sites:
Turbobricks - cause I really want
one
Brickboard
Ryan's Hot N/A 744
Send me e-mail to: Patrick on
hotmail?