[DMCForum] Re: Continuing misadventures of a Volvo/B280F PRV

["cartermartin" <cartermartin@xxxxxxxxx>]

Robert, 

I could not agree more. In the case of the b280 it's a 3rd generation 
motor. All the kinks worked out. It suffered from the reputation from 
the early b27s and b28s. There is always someone on the 
brickboard.com who has gotten ahold of a pre '87 760 thinking it's a 
indestrictable tank only to find out that the cams are gone or heads 
warped. For my 2ton 760 it's great engine and the LH Jetronic system 
has been flawless. 

But sadly there are, as you point out, no performance options. But 
that's not what I'm after. At least for my car. The 760 is not at all 
stylish but for room and comfort and high speed freeway driving its 
hard to beat. AND more importantly after 18 years it's still a great 
driver. Of course there has been a lot of maintenance. These cars 
were designed to, with the proper maintenance, last an awful long 
time. I'm not sure anyone is building cars like that these days.

I am a fan of the 780 as well (never have liked the earlier 262s 
though). I've been looking at a few but I don't have the time or $$$ 
to sink into a project like that right now. I need to get a regular 
driver.  Plus when I get my new driver (245 wagon or Miata LOL) i'll 
have 4 cars and need to trim that # down. Sigh...

And don't get me started about Volvo mechanics. That's why i'm 
lurking around here. I know there are good knowledgable and 
trustworthy mechanics out there but i can't find them. I think my 
current problem might be a result of the last ham fisted, pea brained 
neanderthal (who came highly recommended btw). That's a long story 
for another time... 

I'm pretty good mechanic when I need to be but having to work on ones 
primary mode of transportation is not my idea of fun. I don't think 
an engine swap is in my future. That's too much work for a family 
sedan (A 780 sure but not my car). I think my engine is in pretty 
good shape other than the leaky head gasket but at 18years and 250k 
miles I might should just walk away. But like you said it's too 
damned comfortable...

I do want to get to the bottom of the problem at this point. If just 
to satisfy my curiousity. I want to pull the heads to see if I 
recieved any 'help' with the head gasket. But not right now. 

A 3-rotor engine for your Delorean would be a real performer. And 
would probably not throw the balance off much. It's interesting how 
classic cars can suffer from their power plants. I once had a 
Studebaker Silver Hawk (BIG FINS!). Had a 260ci v8 that apparently 
had been manufactured by Ford. However it was not the same engine as 
the 'normal' Ford 260. My grandfather told me that Studebaker went to 
GM and Ford for power plants. They agreed to sell them engines but 
they were entirely different and not compatible.

Good luck with your engine swap project. Have you considered maybe a 
honda or acura v6 in the delorean? 

Carter

--- In DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "therealdmcvegas" <dmcvegas@xxxx> 
wrote:
> I like the PRV. I think it's a damn fine engine. However, I think 
that
> it has the worst luck in getting put into vehicles that put it into 
a
> bad light. Volvos and Eagle Premiers are ALWAYS ending up on junky 
car
> lots, where they get sold to poor people that run these cars into 
the
> ground. And with DeLoreans, they always get parked, and then started
> up before their cooling and fuel systems are properly repaired. 
Hence
> in both cases, they sufffer premature death.
> 
> I like the PRV. However, we don't have the kind of resources here in
> the U.S. that make it a proper engine to hotrod, let alone properly
> maintain. DeLorean is like the last hold out that still stocks parts
> for these engines. Modern Volvo dealerships don't stock anything for
> them on hand, and their shop mechanics do not have the proper 
working
> knowlege for these motors, let alone the K-Jetronic fuel injection
> systems. In many cases, you'll find out that you are your own best
> mechanic when it comes to these engines. And save for tuning and
> adjusting the fuel mixture, I've never needed another mechanic to 
work
> on my engine. But with the lack of available performance parts, it's
> damn-near futile to rebuild these engines. All you'll get is working
> order, and no performance.
> 
> It's not that I have animosity against the PRV. I'm walking away 
from
> it with a positive opinion. It's just not what I want any longer. So
> why put the time, effort, and money into trying to restore it.
> Especially on a motor that is now a quarter century old, and NEEDS a
> complete tear down and rebuild. And besides, the DeLorean is too 
damn
> comfortable for me to want to give up. But as for the B280F, nah. I
> know that their reliable, but that isn't the primary concern.
> Especially with a classic car! :) Plain and simple, I just want a
> ground-pounder DeLorean to smack a few other egos upside their 
heads...
> 
> 760's ain't bad looking cars. Myself, I prefer the 2-door, chopped-
top
> Bertone coupes that Volvo produced. Especially the modern looking 
780
> Bertone. If you're looking for an engine swap in that one, there 
are a
> few options available, as you can see here:
> http://www.converseengineering.com/
> http://www.jagsthatrun.com/
> http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/309927
> 
> The DeLorean is most likely at this point going to be swapped out 
for
> a 3-Rotor engine. With the exception of the Rover, most V8 engines 
are
> way too heavy to put into the DeLorean. I don't care for the idea of
> throwing off the balance of my car any more. And while the Rover is 
a
> great Choice, I'd still be in the same boat of parts and performance
> availability. Yeah, they can be reworked and massaged, but the
> components are damned expensive, and rare, as they no longer build
> this engine. And Chevy is out of the question for me. So, that 
leaves
> the Rotary.
> 
> As for the Volvo, I've never done a swap, and I've only rode in one 
a
> couple of times. But personally, restoring an older Volvo, and 
doing a
> motor swap is still cheaper than buying a new luxury car. And it's
> nicer too. Late model European cars have far superior coachbuilt
> interiors that are crafted, rather than the snap-tite model 
interiors
> that are cranked out now worldwide.
> 
> -Robert
> 
> 
> 
> --- In DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "cartermartin" <cartermartin@xxxx> 
wrote:
> > Robert,
> > 
> > Yeah we shared the same 'pleasures' with those O-Rings. I 
appreciated 
> > the tips you gave me a few weeks ago.
> > 
> > I think I am heading down the same path you are. I've garaged the 
760 
> > until I can dig into this thing (as if i have not been dug in so 
> > far). I don't want to risk warping the heads (if they are not 
warped 
> > already). I was driving my '71 145 'rusty green'. I'm having to 
look 
> > for a better 'beater' since i'm going to be driving it for  a few 
> > months. So far the 'short list' includes a Volvo 245 station 
wagon 
> > and a '90 miata. 
> > 
> > Have you considered finding a B280F for the swap? Up until  march 
> > it's been solid as a rock. 252k miles and runs like new. Seems 
like 
> > they fixed a lot of things in that edition. Cept the 'O-Rings'.
> > 
> > As usual thanks for the tips sorry we seem to be in the same boat.
> > 
> > Carter

---

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