suitable engines for volvo 66

[batavus]

right i have decided to sort this car,but i am looking to put an engine in it,so can any of you tell me,what choice of engine,i assume renault preferably a lower cc,will fit into the volvo 66,apart from the 12 and 18. what other will fit !!!
i have done google searches but have come up with zero.

[trabitom99]

The B14 from a Volvo 343 will fit (apparently). That way you have 1400cc and 70 horsepower. The problem is, the later air filter arrangement (from 1981 onwards?) won't fit under the bonnet of a V66, so you'd need the earlier type air filter. Trying to find one of those can be a problem ...

This is all 3rd hand information so better wait till it's confirmed by someone else ...

Cheers

Tom

[Tero Huikko]

If you are planning to use original clutch and variomatic gearbox there are problems with B14 engines. I can't see that it's worth the effort.

Go for the original B130 with machined camshaft, bigger valves, clear the airways in the head, use good header, larger exhaust and two weber 40 carburetors. This will result in 70 to 80 horsepower and you can put your money on the engine instead of machining adapters and modifying clutch axles to make B14 work.

Tuned up B130 is also crispier in use than baseline B14 will ever be. It's also lighter.
http://www.dafhobby.nl is your source for header and intake manifolds for double carbs.
Every good machine shop will grind you a custom cam from the original.

Just COUNT and THINK of the cam profile before grinding. There are a number of rally DAFs around in Holland and they can give you some hints on what to gain on different mods.

Even Volvo sold a "GT performance kit" that had dual weber, cam and ported head. This kit stated 75hp at the time.
There was a link to that brochyre somewhere but I've lost it.

You'll have to toss out the spare tire with the dual carb setting naturally.

If you want another engine why settle for B14 that has adapter and axle work to do anyways?
I'd go for yamaha based 1.25 zetec from mid 90's ford fiesta and fit that with custom ignition and fuel kit.
That's a very good 16 valve 75hp engine that has potential to 90hp easily.

[nvdw]

I found the Italian wikipedia for Renault's Cleon engine particularly useful: http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motore_Cl%C3%A9on
Engines that come from a Renault might not be a straight swap, but at least you could use the bits coming off your own engine to make it all work. I'd recommend sticking to a 1108 or 1289 cc engine, with the 1390 cc Volvo 340 lump as a side option considering the bits of extra work required. Of course you could chuck in every engine you like, but those Cleon lumps are 'compatible' in more ways than one, because they rev rather happily and don't pack too much low-end torque, making sure you can use the original variomatic/clutch setup.

[batavus]

thanks for the info,but i am not looking to increase performance .i want to put a smaller engine in to make it more fuel efficiant,without going to a lot of trouble.
i am thinking perhaps a renault clio 1.2 8 valve pushrod engine if it will fit onto the bellhousing !!!

[Tero Huikko]

If you count even £100 for the new engine and labour, you will drive quite a while with that money as it is...fuel consumption isn't that much better with similar cleon engine no matter how much smaller it is.

Make a LPG or E85 conversion out of the one you already have and put your pennies into that?

[trabitom99]

I agree entirely, if you put a weedier engine in, you'll be putting your foot down more to get equal power, eating up any savings you may have. Danny from dafhobby.nl sells LPG conversion parts for DAF/ Volvo 66s, you're much better off going down that route IMO.

I know a guy in my town who commutes to work every day in his V66 on LPG (the same chap who's considering the B14 conversion) and is more than happy with his fuel costs.

Tom

[nvdw]

If fuel consumption is your worry, don't even bother. I've got an old car magazine yearbook on my lap quoting the average fuel consumption of your 66 GL 32.5 mpg at a constant 62 mph. The DL 1.1 version does 34 mpg on the same stretch and is remarkably slower. Clio engines and the like just add more cost to the equation because of all the incompatibility issues. I'd throw a few € at some engine and transmission overhaul work if your car consumes too much fuel for your liking; my trusty steed (a 340 variomatic) improved some 25% by doing just that

[classicswede]

If the engine is tired I do have a good engine on the side that I doubt will ever get used.