I put a Porsche 944 turbo engine in my Volvo 850 turbo!
 

For a while there, it felt REALLY fast. :p The engine under the hood had a hand from Porsche too...
http://www.thewolfweb.com/photos/00366546.jpg

I'm actually thinking about importing an AWD manual 850 turbo wagon, and throwing a few pieces on it (you know coil overs/brakes, modify the engine to around 300hp, etc.) but that's for a thread in another message board...
Ahmet

My friend has a '96 850R.
Weren't they the fastest production front wheel drive sportscars for a while?

I believe it was the fastest Wagon sold in the U.S. or something like that. It's quite amazing the similarities between the Volvo 850 turbo engine and the 944 turbo engine. I believe Porsche helped design the engine, and it shows. Ladder block construction, very similar engine management bore/stroke ratio, etc. Except one more cylinder, and a lot more valves. The stock power and delivery are quite comparable, and they're quite comparable in weight too(These make 270ish hp and 290ish torque with chips, ~220/220 stock, weigh around 3200lbs). I like 944 turbos a lot, I've owned a few and I'm sure I may own more in the future, (I even own one now!) but for some reason I REALLY want a Volvo station wagon, and track it often... Chasis feels quite competent, but it'll take a bit of work. If it won't be too much trouble to import one, I won't mind doing the work. :)
Ahmet

I love my 850 sedan, I just turned 200K in it!

The volvo T5R wagon is a great car, I can't imagine it in AWD!

My dad actually recently just bought an 850 turbo sportswagon. Never felt a Volvo pull like it did!

Had an 850 Turbo, and loved it, now have a C70 coupe with the T5 motor and love it. I understand you can really build some HP if you wish; IPD has a motronic upgrade that is good for something like 275/280 tq.

I've not driven one, but I understand the S60R is quite the little 300 hp monster...

A couple of years ago I saw a new LMPS engine in the back of a Volvo wagon in the pits. Looked kind of cool.

Here in Sweden it is almost a national sport to cram power out fo those engines, 500 hp is not unusal in street legal cars..

That's like the time I had one of the Doom engines in my S-10. The truck was slower with it in there, so it was taken out. It's also had a Ford engine/transmission/trasnfer case in it, but I had the same problem with it being slower.

I'm now about 800 miles from home as I type this. Ofcourse I drove the 850 up here to Connecticut/Mass...

If anybody here can help my research on what was available in Canada, or general 850 tweaking info, it'd be much appreciated.
Thanks for the responses guys! :)
Ahmet

Take that a level further, and drop the M44/51 motor into the VW Corrado G60 engine bay....and you have a hybrid WRC contender!

Ahmet~
Are we talking Volvo 850? I can help ya out.

~Eric

I've got to disagree, the last real Volvo is the 940 :)
The sedan chassis was actually designated Volvo 944.

Eric, yes I'm talking about the Volvo 850 (turbo). E-mail me:
ahmet@rennlist.com
Thanks.
Ahmet

Looking for more input on the 850 and the early V70 set ups. I'm considering a dual purpose car quite seriously, so it will have to be AWD (in which case I have to import an 850) or a V70. Please get in touch with me if you can advise me on how viable the importing process is, or general feedback about the AWD drive train.
Thanks.
Ahmet