16 Valve Engine Decision
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Why the Volvo B230 Bottom End and B234 16-Valve Head are a Perfect Match
If you’ve ever owned a Volvo 240 wagon, you already know its appeal. For us at Ando Engineering, the love started years ago when we realized how practical these cars are for surf trips. Tons of luggage space, solid build quality, and a timeless design make them the perfect daily vehicle. But, let's be honest: in stock form, they’re not the most exciting cars on the road. It wasn’t that they were bad, it’s just that they lacked that special something that makes a car fun to drive.
We knew right away that the 240 needed a power upgrade. Being in New Zealand, swapping in a Japanese engine might have been the obvious choice, it’s cheap, simple, and effective. But we couldn’t shake the appeal of sticking with Volvo parts. European forums were full of stories about the potential of the Volvo B230 bottom end and the elusive B234 16-valve head. So, naturally, we dove into the research, and what we found completely changed the direction of our project.
Why the B230 Bottom End?
The B230 is part of Volvo’s iconic “redblock” family of engines. famous for their durability, simplicity, and ability to handle big power, especially in turbocharged form. The block is cast iron and closed deck design, so it’s tough as nails making them perfect for performance builds. They’re reliable, affordable, and built to last.
The B234 Head: Why It’s Special
Now, this is where things get exciting. The B234 head was Volvo’s take on high-performance, modern engine design in the late 1980s. It was developed for the naturally aspirated B234F engine, found in models like the 740 and 940 GLE. Volvo wanted to compete in the growing market of efficient, higher-revving engines, so they ditched the classic 8-valve design and went all-in on a 16-valve head.
The result? A lightweight aluminum head with hydraulic lifters and two intake and two exhaust valves per cylinder, offering significantly better airflow than the old 8-valve designs. In fact, its airflow performance is comparable to engines like the Honda K-series, which is known as the benchmark for excellent head design. For Volvo to introduce this back then was truly impressive. This meant better combustion efficiency, higher RPM potential, and more power. The 16-valve setup made the engine feel alive at higher revs.
Why Didn’t Volvo Turbocharge the B234?
It’s a question we asked ourselves too. With such a capable head design, why didn’t Volvo slap a turbo onto the B234 and make it a beast? The answer lies in business practicality.
At the time, the turbocharged B230FT was already doing a great job in Volvo’s lineup. It was simpler, cheaper to produce, and had fewer moving parts, making it more reliable for everyday use. The 16-valve head, while great for naturally aspirated performance, was more complex and prone to interference issues (if the timing belt snapped, valves and pistons would meet in a bad way). Adding a turbo to this mix would have increased production costs and complexity, something Volvo likely wanted to avoid in a family car.
That’s not to say it can’t be done, plenty of enthusiasts have proven that the B234 head can handle boost when paired with the strong B230 bottom end. But as a factory offering, it wasn’t the direction Volvo chose to go.
Why the B230/B234 Combination is Legendary
So why put a B234 head on a B230 bottom end? Because it’s the best of both worlds. The B230’s cast-iron strength is perfect for handling power. Pair that with the B234’s 16-valve head, and you’ve got an engine that breathes better, revs higher, and makes more power without sacrificing reliability.
It’s a proven setup for enthusiasts who want serious performance. Turbocharge it, and you’ve got a powerhouse capable of making serious horsepower in a car that surprisingly doesn't weigh as much as people expect. For instance, the 1990 Volvo 240 has a curb weight of approximately 2,954 lbs (1,340 kg), which is relatively light for its class, enhancing its performance potential.
Why We Love It
For us, sticking with Volvo parts just made sense. There’s something satisfying about using the same DNA to create something unique. The B230 bottom end and B234 head combo brings out the best in the redblock series, giving the 240 the performance edge it’s been missing, all while keeping its Volvo soul intact.
So Our Plan Was Hatched
With the idea in place, it was time to start gathering the parts. We managed to source a B230FT engine, the turbocharged bottom end from an automatic Volvo 740. Not long after, we found a naturally aspirated B234F in a junkyard and quickly pulled the 16-valve head from it. Now that we had the two key components, the next step was figuring out the parts and modifications needed to make this combination work.
This was the beginning of our journey. Follow along in our next blog post for the components we used in the engine build to make the combination work.