Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,784
Club RR Member Number: 34
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volvo gearboxes- how tough?Dez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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ive seen talk of people using volvo gearboxes on various other motors- indeed, theres more than a couple of flathead ford v8s running them now. i know its also possible to get pretty big power from the turboed volvo lumps, so I'm assuming this means the manual boxes are pretty strong? is there more than one type fitted to the different engine permutations? if so, whats the one to go for?
i have change of the ones from a K-plate 240 torslanda, and a E-plate 240glt. worth having?
my thinknig is that if they're good enough to back up a flathead, i can probably get away with one on the back of a mild-ish Y-block. say 200-225hp.
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ISTR that the bellhousing-to-box pattern is similar to some fairly common variety of US tin. M45 = 4-speed manual. Fairly tough, but it's a 4-speed. M46 = 4-speed + electric-control overdrive. Again, fairly tough, and fitted to 240/740 2.3 turbos. M47 = 5-speed manual. Not as tough as the M45/6 - very rarely (if ever) fitted to factory turbos. M90 = 5-speed manual. It's the 850 transverse 'box in a RWD casing, AFAIK found in 940 turbos. Reputed to be tougher than the M46 - and commands a premium as a result. I understand that there are both iron-case and ally-case versions of the M46 - the iron versions being stonger but heavier. Only seen the iron versions in person. The trouble with putting one behind a V8 of similar power to the turbos is the power delivery - the V8 will be loads of grunt at low revs, whereas the turbos will tend to be higher-revving at the same output - and gearboxes are killed by torque more than power. 'course, one of the biggest factors w.r.t. gearbox life is how it's used - if you're dumping the clutch and all the time it won't last as well as one that's babied. And of course the amount of grip available is a big factor - I suspect that most turbo Volvos run stickier tyres than tall skinny crossplies.
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,784
Club RR Member Number: 34
|
volvo gearboxes- how tough?Dez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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forgot to say- has to be seperate bell- so the m90 is a no go. james, good informations, not that i expected anything less from yourself tbh a 4spd is fine, its 1 gear more than all but the rarest of Y-block boxes come with anyways! i have the mega-rare 4spd full-syncro truck box in the A, but chances of turning another one of those up are, well, you can guess really. hence me looknig for something else. id agree, 7.50x16 crossplies will be the rubber of choice, but yes i drive like a ©unt most of the time, especially in summat like this. i think the tyres would be the weak link. no welder or locker either, so 1 wheel burnouts means less breakages too.
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Last Edit: Oct 8, 2013 21:47:29 GMT by Dez
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I have two probably-ok M46 boxes and a broken M47 if you want one to mess around with. I would say I don't think they are as strong as they are made out to be. A lot of volvo people use the bimmer getrag box (289?)
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Faster. Faster. Until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.
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