LCM Volvo 245 '74 - 1UZ 4.0 V8 Engine Swap

After the LCM Volvo 940 with a 2JZ 3.0 GTE Supra engine, it's time for a new project. Obviously, another old Volvo, in this case, a 1974 Volvo 245.

Purchase

I had chosen a Volvo 245 with the old-fashioned round headlights, which I consider to be an "original Volvo." It can be difficult to find a first-generation Volvo 245 that is not completely rusted. After looking at a few, I decided to post in sales groups on Facebook, and after a while, I received a message from the north of the country. In Groningen, there was an orange 1974 245 that originally came from France and even still had French license plates. The pictures looked promising, and a few days later I met the owner, a very nice and approachable man, for coffee. After talking about cars for a few hours, I bought the 245, named Peter, and immediately scheduled an appointment at the RDW for an import inspection.

Import Inspection

While an import inspection sounds exciting, in reality, it's nothing more than a check of the papers, the VIN, and, in the case of an old car, an additional check of 9 points such as headlight height, brake performance, etc. Aside from a loose fuel hose on the mechanical pump, the inspection went smoothly, and 30 minutes later I was back outside with an "approved" Volvo 245.

Plans

The Volvo 245 was to be suitable for daily transport. So, reliability, good handling, and comfort are important. The 1UZ 4.0 V8 engine from Toyota/Lexus proved to be the most logical choice, as it is very reliable, can run on LPG, has enough power (265 hp), and, most importantly, is not much heavier than the original engine. The 1UZ is easily found in the UK. The most economical way is to buy a complete Lexus LS400 and dismantle it for parts. In the UK, they are available from as little as £600. The interior looks very retro, which I like, but it is not at all comfortable. For this reason, the fully electric seats from the LS400 will also be installed. A little less retro, but they sit excellently! The chassis, like the engine, was a logical choice. LucaCarMods.com supplies BC-Racing coilovers for the Volvo 245. Yes... Even for a 44-year-old Volvo! It is still fascinating what a difference coilovers can make. The Volvo 245 immediately looks much better with the BC-Racing Screw Set. Of course, the handling is also many times better than with the original suspension. Peter steers tightly and lies stably on the road.

Disassembly

First, the old B-series engine needs to be gutted; it will go back to Peter's old owner and be reused in another Volvo.

1UZ 4.0 V8 Engine

The question was how and if the V8 engine would fit, and there is only one way to find out. It was time to place the new V8 1UZ engine from Lexus into the Volvo on a few wooden reels. It turns out: A V8 fits perfectly into the engine bay of a Volvo 245! To achieve a good weight ratio, it is important to place the engine as far back as possible. With a V8, you are limited in this respect, as the cylinder bank hits the brake booster; this can, of course, be remedied but is not necessary in this situation.

Manufacturing Engine Mounts

You can easily make the engine mounts yourself. What takes a lot of time is adjusting and measuring! The car must be 100% level on the bridge, the engine block must be in line with the drive shaft, the engine block must be at the correct angle and height, and so on. This is where most of the time is spent. For the manufacture of the engine mounts, I used the following materials:

• 5-6 mm thick steel plate
• 3 mm thick-walled steel tube
• Control arm bushings from an Opel

I made the engine mounts in such a way that no welding and/or grinding work needs to be done on the Volvo. They can be easily mounted with the bolts of the subframe and the anti-roll bar.