V8 or Twinturbo 6

[Fiorano]

okay i am building a project car up (Volvo amazon-122)
i have a roll cage and the firewall cut out to repair the rusty problems- so the engine options are open.
would a SBC or SBF V8 do the trick? or a smaller and lighter twin turbo V6
or a natural V6- now the v8's woud be too heavy and harder to locate within the existing size so no crazy TT V8 set ups
so what is a better direction and a more livable street open track car?
no rotaries... the SBC or SBF option and the V6 options are sourced as Penta Volvo marine blocks to keep the car authentic or as Volvo as possible

[clutch-monkey]

[slicks] i think you'll find the SBC is actually lighter than the V6TT [/slicks]

[johnnynumfiv]

I'd go with a LS1 or LS6 (lots of mods available) with a T56 transmission backing it up.

[Quiggs]

LS1 + LS7 heads = win.

[pimento]

You're best off finding the one that gives the best balance in the chassis, so look at weight and how far back you can mount them. Probably.

[adrenaline]

I don't know much about 122 Amazons, but from what I have seen, they are small-ish coupes? I would expect a heavy V8 to throw out your balance and send handling to hell. TTV6 get's my vote.

[fpv_gtho]

Is this the sort of vehicle in question?

Personally i think you could gain alot from a compact engine pushed pretty far back, so a V6TT should do it.

[nota]

I'm unfamiliar with the underbonnet space of Volvo 120s but have driven 140s with SBF (Windsor) 302 and SBC 327 V8s, both are old-style iron engines. The Ford is a better and apparently quite easy fit, and there is or used to be a specific conversion kit available in the US for this Ford engine swap. I've also seen a local 140 that was fitted with a 4.4 litre Leyland P-76 V8 with twin turbos, an all-alloy motor closely related to the Rover-Buick 3.5 V8

Those original all-iron Volvo inline engines are pretty hefty units themselves, weight-wise

[Ferrer]

Is this the sort of vehicle in question?

Personally i think you could gain alot from a compact engine pushed pretty far back, so a V6TT should do it.

I think the 122 is this one but with 2 doors.

[sicilian973-2]

small displacement v8tt

[h00t_h00t]

I think you should go with a V8, SBC/F pushrod engines are really small so (in theory) should be easier to fit than the TTV6. Also you won't have to find a place for the intercooler(s) and all the associated pipe-work. I've heard that standard SBC are pretty reliable too.

The extra low-end torque would make it better on the road, and most important of all:

The V8 will sound better (imo).

[Fiorano]

aha good input.
i am aware the inline 4 wieght it has in near 400 lbs if not over that, complete
a alumimium v8 is less, and a sbc IS indeed about that much.
i would move it back about 75mm (3 inches?) and yes that is a pic of the car, mine has two doors.
i am guessing i would end up with a iron block and alum. heads for this.

I like the V8 idea, although the V6 is still tempting....

Counter points the parts and fun available for a V8 is soo much more plentiful.
V8 -you guys are certainly swaying me...um SBC (5.7L or 350 +cu.in.) or SBF 5.0 (302-347?)
either are easy to find- as far as the SBF i am afraid of the 2 bolt blocks cracking down the center- even with a girdle they do... under race conditions, which this car will do...
there is a budget, but i am doing most of the work myself

I heard an NSX zoom by me today and it had a crazy sexy sound and wail- this is a great argument for an V6...but in front? in the volvo?

any other good V6 points?

[cmcpokey]

my logic in the whole thing might be a bit off, but here is my take:

i would use a ford 5.0 small block. it is lightweight, and smaller than the comparable 350, so it can be easily tucked further back in the chassis. performance parts are plentiful, easily installed, and its a rather simple engine. and then there is the little thing that volvo is owned by ford currently, so it would almost be the same as putting a volvo engine in it.

[Fiorano]

that's a good bit of logic.
but any idea about the cracking 5.0 blocks? and how common it is
i have seen 3 of them crack down the valley and held together by the girdle. of course this is out of a few i have seen in the shops- a few hundred...over a number of years. Looking at what a 7 K redline?
should be good..
Ford 5.0...hmmm.
any one have any counter point for the V6..anyone? bueller bueller bueller anyone?

[fpv_gtho]

If youve got the money and are really worried about the 302 block splitting, maybe one of the new ones Ford Racing are making in the US would be worth a look.