Well I used to think so untill 3 1988 2.3 engines did the same trick.

This is what my old man has posted on the voc



Last night I had to tow my son's 1988 GLT home. It had a rebuilt engine (new pistons, oil pump, shells) from a 1988 740 which replaced a previous 1988 lump. The problem was number one con rod had broken and gone through the block. The previous original engine in the car had suffered exactly the same problem. Also a couple of month's ago we towed in a 740 turbo with the same problem, same age. The common factors are 2.3, 1988 and no 1 rod snapping without warning. Mileages have ranged from 160 -240k. Is this just a very big coincedence?
Has any one else had similair experiences?
Mike


What do you think? Strange or what?
They have all snapped the rod about 25mm above the big end.

If your bottom end has the 9mm rods Volvo Green Books tell you to replace with the 13mm rod kit. Maybe a quiet admission of the 9mm not being up to the job? Not that I've particularly heard of Redblocks throwing rods.

could have simply been a bad batch with a flaw in the conrods? 160k isnt bad for an engine anyways

9mm rods for the lose - thats about the age they started to get updated .

basically the first years of the B230 werent too strong , they sort of went back to B23 size equipment but with the better rod/stroke ratio of the B230

Yep the early B230's are not such a stong engine so it seems.
My brother is now going to be building a later engine up to go in the car. I think is is going to put new n/a pistons into a late turbo motor we have knocking about.

Another vote for the 9mm rods causing you trouble.

What was he winding it out to (ie: RPM)? That's a BIG problem with the skinnies. My limiter is at 6250, and I'm not planning to move it.

Sam Collier in the states made 300bhp at the crank on 9mm rods (and a totally stock head), and Dave's mate Dennis made 200bhp NA (after balancing), so it is possible....but you're walking a tightrope in terms of susceptibility to damage from pinging, etc, when you're using them in a performance application.

cheers

James

He used to rev to 7000-7500rpm but when it went he was cuising at 2500rpm then all locked up. He engine has been the worst of all of them -
The cam has bocken into loads of peices the big end cap has bent and the piston got smashed up!

classicswede wrote:He used to rev to 7000-7500rpm but when it went he was cuising at 2500rpm then all locked up.

Too used to B23s I bet! That revving is the problem. They're just not designed for it. I'm surprised it didn't have a limiter. They can manage upwards of 7k, but only after further balancing.

Sounds like he got "Cullen Syndrome" (TBricks)...threw a rod out of the block sat idling in a car park. After a week of abuse like, but still....FUNNY!

cheers

James

haha, cullen
thats why the strongest volvo engine, is any that a t-bricker hasnt touched.
b23ft's or late penta

Doug had B23FTs didn't he? I'd settle for a late B230 on strength grounds...then again I'm not thinking upwards of 400bhp.

cheers

James

5lab wrote:could have simply been a bad batch with a flaw in the conrods? 160k isnt bad for an engine anyways

160k not bad???

I have a 245GL in storage in Melbourne thats got 498,000k's on the clock. The bottom end has never been touched! (Yes it probably need to be, but only really burns oil above 5500rpm )

Even if were talking miles i'd be upset killing a redblock in that kind of time.

I got a Volvo Penta 16v engine for my project, the first thing i changed, was the 9mm con rods. I'm planning on about 350hp from the engine with turbo, and without it should have about 200. So no room for weak con rods here.

I spoke with a guy, that has wrecked 3 B200 engines in his 340 volvo, driving endurance, 5-6hours @ 4-6krpm did the trick to all of them. They only had about 140hp. Then he went over to a B23, and he's much happier.

DO NOT REV over 6500rpm with the 9mm conrods, they'll come out when you least expect it! That's why ALL B200 engines in 300 series have a limiter @6200rpm as far as i know, and even the Penta 16v i have, had a built in limiter in it's Renix box @6200rpm.

Some very sound advice there. 9mms can be raised to 7000rpm after balancing, but not continuously. The limiter is there for a reason!

cheers

James

i still dont understand what u guys are talking about, there is no limiter on my car, i have revved it up to 7k rpm just once to see, I thought it was natural to rev these engines out to 6.5 k (no that i do)

Which year is yours? Anything with a Renix unit should have a limiter, but I have heard reports of people being able to wind Renix cars right out.

Going way up in neutral (ie: no load) is the most dangerous thing you can do...it's like punching the air with all your might...you're likely to pull a muscle.

cheers

James