940 Turbo to 240DL Engine Swap

[jackasquires]

Hey everyone. I've been thinking for a while about doing a turbo build on my 1989 240dl wagon. It currently has an M47 5 speed transmission and a non-turbo engine. I've been looking at either putting in a turbo engine or modifying the stock engine with a turbo. However, I've recently seen a 1994 940 T wagon for sale as a parts car with a good engine as far as I know. i still need to look at it and do some digging to make sure it's a good engine, but I wanted to know before I do if that engine would even be a good fit for my 240 5 speed wagon. Is it a fairly straightforward job to swap in a 940 turbo engine into a 1989 240DL wagon? What do I need to know before I seriously consider buying this parts car for such a project? Thanks! let me know if there are any added details about my car or the parts car that would be helpful to know.

 

[BDKR]

No need to swap the engines when you can just convert your 240 to turbo using the parts form the 940. There are some hurdles to clear, but they're not that bad.

• Both cars should be LH 2.4. Just plug in the computers from the 940.
• You can get some high impedance injectors then you don't have to wire in resistors
• You will have to extend the MAF wiring to the opposite side of the car. Easy!
• The DP from the 940 will hit the firewall in the 240. See below.
• The cam in your car will work if you don't feel like swapping them.
• You will probably want to use an IC from a 240 or 740.
• You'll need to create oil feeds and returns. Not difficult.

What I did with the down pipe was cut out a 1.5 to 2 inch section from it in the area right after the flange (connects to the turbo) before it turns downwards then rejoined the two parts. This section ends up remove the O2 sensor bung/plug but relocating it is no big deal either.

You could still swap the engine AND transmission (because AW71 > AW70!), in which case everything above still applies. The wiring because it would be easier to just extend the MAF and swap to high-z (high impedance) injectors than swap the harnesses on the two cars (wich likely woudn't fit anyway!).

I've converted two '89 240's and loved 'em.

 

[jackasquires]

No need to swap the engines when you can just convert your 240 to turbo using the parts form the 940. There are some hurdles to clear, but they're not that bad.

What is the advantage of converting the current 240DL to turbo rather than swapping the whole engine? I read somewhere that the 1994 940 turbo engines are really good because of the squirter system. I also want to keep my M47 5 speed transmission. The 940 engine i'm looking at has a busted tranny and I'd prefer to zip around with the 5 speed.

 

[Uncleknucklez]

Make sure the parts car runs, check the oil for foreign substances, then buy the parts car, Swap motors, plug everything back where it was, do what BDKR mentioned above with the MAF wiring/Injectors, DP, intercooler, then fry tires man.

Really, my opinion is if you have the means to pull of the motor swap do that, The 94 B230FT is a good stout motor, the B230(F?) in your DL will have higher static CR and therefore be more prone to knock at above "stock" boost levels.

You have a really easy swap ahead of you if you plan appropriately.

 

[BDKR]

1990's don't have squirters. They are better than the early B230's and K blocks but squirters didn't show up until '93, '94.

That said, the motors are essentially the same other than, valve makeup, cam, and pistons.

Fools have been converting these motors too turbo for years now. As long as u don't do dumb things they live.

If you want more work, swap the motors. Otherwise, at least take the the old one as backup.

 

[BDKR]

My Bad.... For some reason I thought your motor was a '90.

That said, Uncleknucklez is right. It's an easy swap.

Now the next question: how much power do you feel you need? If you're not after north of 300hp, yank the 940 and put in storage until you blow up the current one.

 

[jackasquires]

Make sure the parts car runs, check the oil for foreign substances, then buy the parts car, Swap motors, plug everything back where it was, do what BDKR mentioned above with the MAF wiring/Injectors, DP, intercooler, then fry tires man.

Really, my opinion is if you have the means to pull of the motor swap do that, The 94 B230FT is a good stout motor, the B230(F?) in your DL will have higher static CR and therefore be more prone to knock at above "stock" boost levels.

You have a really easy swap ahead of you if you plan appropriately.

Great! thanks for the reply. Am I going to be able to use the volvo 240 m47 5 speed transmission with the 940s engine?

 

[baramack]

hi everyone,

new to this forum. would like to rebuild by 1990 240 dl wagon with the above 940 engine. any recs on where i should go in chicago area for something like this?