Ford 2.3L - Volvo 16 valve head conversion

[Colin]

This has been my project for a while now.. it's still a ways from being done. Basically... someone somewhere down the line figured out that the Ford OHC 2.3 (as found in Ranger, Mustang, Merkur, Thunderbird, Cougar, etc) and Volvo B234F had a LOT in common. Holding the headgaskets over eachother, the water passages line up, most of the oil ports line up, the cylinders are spaced the same, all the headbolts are in the same locations, etc.

Basically, Ford's SOHC head flows like a soda straw, and the Volvo head flows like the Mississippi... there is much power to be gained by converting to the DOHC head. Not just that, but the aluminum head (as opposed to cast iron) is a giant weight saver, and definitely helps to balance the car a little better. So.. here's what it entails:


Weld a block to the back of the head to cover the water jackets and one additional oil drainback port.


Weld shut the center oil drain hole and reduce in size the outer two.


Block off the coolant bypass hole, but don't use this kind of plug.. use a recessed square type so that it clears the water pump.





The Ford block feeds oil through the small hole near the head bolt. The Volvo head does not have this hole. A hole must be drilled to route oil to the upper level of the head, where the head's oil passages will distribute it out to the lifters. A line can be run externally to the upper head, or the head can be built up with filler rod (as pictured) and drilled internally.

Custom manifolds must be built, standalone management should be used, custom pistons must be ordered (Diamond Pistons has the dimensions on file), and the timing belt/tensioner situation must be adressed.

So far, I'm planning on using a '91 Stealth SOHC belt in conjunction with round tooth pullies from a Ranger, spaced .465 outward from the original location. Without the spacers, the alignment is off:





Ford tensioner bolted to Volvo head. It will need an arc cut into it and another hole drilled/tapped in the head to make it work... I will probably fab up a new bracket that mounts to the existing holes in the head.










I had to drill/tap a hole for the oil return since the block I am using is from a '95 Ranger (N/A).


Crank position ring as used on EDIS block... should prove useful for a standalone.

I'll be running the Diamond pistons, a 2.5L stroker crank, Crower sportsman rods, the Ranger EDIS block, one-piece stainless exhaust valves, a mandrel header, custom plenum intake, lots of boost, etc... it should make some power. Almost all the conversions currently running are making over 400 at the wheels, and the guys who built/drive them still swear by the engine as a daily driver.

More info:
Stackz' conversion
SDSefi-managed 2300-16v
MerkurTech 16v info page

I guess this isn't really useful for most of MNSC... but that's what I've been up to lately.

Colin

[POS_NeonTech]

It may be useful for people like me :P

[Matt D.]

That's awesome, Colin. I was wondering if you were ever going to get anywhere with that head.

[Colin]

Yes, sir. Now all the head modification is done, so it's *mostly* just buying internals, getting it all machined, and assembling everything. My intake manifold is almost done... I'm using the stock Volvo runners cut off right behind the injector bungs, and welding some mandrel bends from a 91-96 Escort manifold to them... the Escort runners fit awesome, and curl up and around the fuel rail perfectly. Gotta weld a bigass plenum to the top of that and attach this 65mm Crown Victoria throttle body I've got.

It *would* be running by this summer, but I'm running a little short on $$... so my goal is spring/summer 2006.

Colin

[PSI]

That is absolutly the most insane thing I've ever seen(love it).I guess the first question I would have to ask is,wouldnt it be easier to take the whole volvo motor and put some forged internals in it and stick that in there?

[Colin]

No. The 2.3T bottom end was carved from granite by the hands of god.

[iamgod]

^^nice!

[jeffescortlx]

Now hurry up and get this project done so I can go for a test ride! lol :D

[Colin]

Test ride? Come on.. once I've got it done you can drive it all you want. It's the least I can do in return for all the assistance you've given.

Colin

[Colin]

Here's the intake manifold I've been working on. It's made of Escort 1.9 SEFI runners (thanks Jeff!) welded onto the flange/truncated runners from the Volvo.. with a really thick 3.5" pipe on top. I didn't weld the pipe on yet. I'm thinkin it should turn out alright.















I'm not quite sure if it will clear the hood... but if it doesn't I guess I'll just have to graft a DSM bump onto it or something. :?



Here's the belt alignment now that I got the lower pullies spaced out.

Colin

[npaulseth]

I love it. This is by far the coolest thing I've seen in the past two weeks.

[b204dr]

that looks like alot of work- what kind of hp range will it run finished

[Colin]

I'd like to see 400 whp, but I'm happy with anything over 300.

[Forced-Induction]

That is truly spectacular, and you've done an excellent job with the welding and fabrication. Wickedly Sweet!

[jeffescortlx]

Look'n good Colin. I think me and you have the same problem, one day we opened are hood, and have'nt been able to get out of the engine bay and stop making more power.

[chad1.5litertoaster]

300hp, are you gonna put a turbo on that thing?

[Colin]

Yeah, but I'm not sure *which* turbo yet. I'm considering a Holset HY-35W, but I'm not sure if it will be big enough.. kinda want a full T4. I dunno. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go look at some compressor maps, check my bank balance, and cry myself to sleep.

[chad1.5litertoaster]

Yeah, but I'm not sure *which* turbo yet. I'm considering a Holset HY-35W, but I'm not sure if it will be big enough.. kinda want a full T4. I dunno. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go look at some compressor maps, check my bank balance, and cry myself to sleep.

T3/T4 60 trim. Don't go too big and end up with a turbo you can't spool until 5000rpm..... lol

[tonyk]

that thing is insane. Awesome work. Its incredible what people can do with engines

[Colin]

The Holset is comparable to a T3/T4 60 trim... except it's cheaper, lasts longer, spools faster, and is more efficient. So it's not really comparable... but it is better suited to the 2.3T, methinks. But you're right... a smaller turbo like that is going to be more appropriate than a bigass T4 or something.

[Jon from Utah]

go with the holset.


also I would like to see this sometime.

[Colin]

Whoa! An SVO on MNSC! Sweeeeet.

Lemme know when you wanna "see it"... I'll call up the rest of the 2.3T mafia and we'll have a turboford meet.

[SFC]

go with the holset.


also I would like to see this sometime.

omfg, you aren't from Utah, hax0r!

[chad1.5litertoaster]

Now I have another question. Are you sure the right valves are opening at the right times and that you have the correct valve timing? I mean you do have two different brands of engine there. Maybe I missed something though. The head and block are both from 2.3L motors, right? I don't know, I haven't done any homework on these engines.

[POS_NeonTech]

Yes, I'm pretty sure the head is from a volvo 2.3l.