What's the word on b204gt?

[SalvadorP]

I just found a wagon for sale. A 745 with a b204gt engine. I had never even heard of these (maybe briefly read something about the 16v redblock).
I found a great post on turbobricks about the engine, but no personal expericence reports on owning one of these.

I'm kinda salivating for this wagon I have to admit. If the guy would take a straight swap for a VW polo I have I would do it, but I think he wouldn't and I have no need (nor money) to own 2 wagons.

[B10B]

The B204FT/GT is a 2 litre 16v turbo engine made mostly for the Italian market and other tax heavy on engine cc European countries.
The FT has cat GT has no cat I believe.
We never got this engine in the UK, no reason to say it's bad I guess, just needs regular care like anything else but likely more involved timing belt or head gasket replacement for sure.
A good base for tuning as they are said to have about 190-200hp standard, compared to a B200FT with an 8v head making 155ish.

[SalvadorP]

Originally Posted by B10B

The B204FT/GT is a 2 litre 16v turbo engine made mostly for the Italian market and other tax heavy on engine cc European countries.
The FT has cat GT has no cat I believe.
We never got this engine in the UK, no reason to say it's bad I guess, just needs regular care like anything else but likely more involved timing belt or head gasket replacement for sure.
A good base for tuning as they are said to have about 190-200hp standard, compared to a B200FT with an 8v head making 155ish.

One thing I can't understand is whether or not they are non-interference engines. Because they are considered redblocks but they are 16v. So I don't understand that and couldn't find info confirming or denying.

[griston64]

Originally Posted by SalvadorP

One thing I can't understand is whether or not they are non-interference engines. Because they are considered redblocks but they are 16v. So I don't understand that and couldn't find info confirming or denying.

They are interference engines

https://www.volvoclub.org.uk/faq/Eng...ferenceEngines

[SalvadorP]

Originally Posted by griston64

They are interference engines

https://www.volvoclub.org.uk/faq/Eng...ferenceEngines

Thanks. That clarifies my question.
I wonder if anyone on the forum has one of these engines, considering they weren't sold in the uk. Maybe some import.

[360beast]

I sold some parts to someone with a B204FT and asked him about them, this was his reply.

They are interference as you said, the oil pump has it's own pulley driven by the timing belt, the pulley is really crappy and needs to be replaced with an updated, but still crappy version and a harder bolt. Otherwise the pulley and/or bolt shear and destroy the engine.
They also have some kind of harmonic balancing device, two shafts on both sides of the block, with their own belt, driven by the crankshaft. They are supposed to dampen vibrations for some stupid small range like... 4000 to 4500 rpm. This belt also snaps and gets into the timing belt of course. So I, and many others just cut it off without much noticeable difference. Of course the (heavy!) balancers are still there, and leaking oil.
And lastly, the block, like the actual cylinder walls are a bit "softer" and wear out faster than any other redblock. Not terrible, but not what you expect from redblocks. Oh and they also have a horrible system where the oil/water exchanger is INSIDE the engine mount.
I'd like to know what they were smoking in Volvo when they did some of these changes, but I have a spare head and plan on putting it on a regular b200ft block to make a durable engine before mine blows. Thank god I got mine from an old man, so the car still has only 120k km.

[SalvadorP]

Originally Posted by 360beast

I sold some parts to someone with a B204FT and asked him about them, this was his reply.

They are interference as you said, the oil pump has it's own pulley driven by the timing belt, the pulley is really crappy and needs to be replaced with an updated, but still crappy version and a harder bolt. Otherwise the pulley and/or bolt shear and destroy the engine.
They also have some kind of harmonic balancing device, two shafts on both sides of the block, with their own belt, driven by the crankshaft. They are supposed to dampen vibrations for some stupid small range like... 4000 to 4500 rpm. This belt also snaps and gets into the timing belt of course. So I, and many others just cut it off without much noticeable difference. Of course the (heavy!) balancers are still there, and leaking oil.
And lastly, the block, like the actual cylinder walls are a bit "softer" and wear out faster than any other redblock. Not terrible, but not what you expect from redblocks. Oh and they also have a horrible system where the oil/water exchanger is INSIDE the engine mount.
I'd like to know what they were smoking in Volvo when they did some of these changes, but I have a spare head and plan on putting it on a regular b200ft block to make a durable engine before mine blows. Thank god I got mine from an old man, so the car still has only 120k km.

Oh lee crap! That's all I need to know.
Pretty much looks like volvo just improvised something to satisfy a market need. I'm gonna stay away, especially since this particular one has 390k km.

thanks
salvador

[baggy798]

I don't know why they didn't just install a higher capacity pump in the block, and a dmf instead of the balancer shafts. Much cheaper than minting a new block.

[360beast]

Originally Posted by baggy798

I don't know why they didn't just install a higher capacity pump in the block, and a dmf instead of the balancer shafts. Much cheaper than minting a new block.

I'm sure they had their reasons but to me your suggestion is exactly what I thought!

I know Saab used balance shafts on their 16v engines so maybe it was the engineering solution of the time in a "large capacity" 4 banger 16V.

[classicswede]

The gear is easy enough to fix https://www.classicswede.org/shop/b2...=60a19cd634c45

And the balance shafts are best removed and blanked off https://www.classicswede.org/shop/b2...=60a19cd634c45

The oil pump is a high capacity pump and driven directly off the cam belt and is a much more modern system. The down side is no new replacement parts available.

As to the blocks being softer I do not think that is true. I have seen B230turbos with worn out bores by 150k and others still ok at 250k, just the same for the B204 engines from what I have seen (not first hand on the B204)

The valves in the B204 head are smaller than the B234 and a B234 head can not be used on a B200/B21 bottom end