May 23, 2012

Engine Stand and matching numbers

Last Monday I picked up the B20B engine block and the manifolds. Looks really good!  Sam put in the new "hard to get" cam bearings, probably the last ones in Australia.
I discovered the old expansion plugs were also gone because of the bath... another item to put on my wish list.
Whoow, the list is getting longer and longer and longer...

I bought some high tensile bolts 7/16 and mounted the block on the engine stand. After that I cleaned it with steelwool. Almost ready for the paintjob..

B20B block
Block after 13 years waiting for a bath, hone and face


B20 engine stand
B20B Block bolted to the engine stand

front view



Just waiting for a warmer day to paint the B20B as the temp needs to be at least 16C.

Today I also received an e-mail from Ulla (Volvo Cars Sweden) about the numbers and facts of the 122S;

"Hi Marc,
The following information is from the chassis register.
Model                122S
Chassis no.         316492
Type                  13334
Colour               99
Upholstery         431
Engine no.          363
Gearbox no.      306032
Body no.           316431
Reported OK    18 September 1968
Delivery date     8 November 1968
District              Australia
As it was the dealer that registered the car for the first time I have no information regarding former owners."

As the Volvo came with a box filled with bills, books, and other papers I checked the numbers with the info in the box........... the Volvo is 100% original, all matching numbers :)



  1. The body number is a serial number assigned to a complete body and is not the same as the chassis number which is only assigned to a complete car.
  2. The M40G gearbox is a variant of the M40
  3. The Bosch distributor 0231146078 for the Amazons is only used on the B20B
  4. This Volvo 122S was manufactured at the Torslanda plant near Göteborg in Sweden.


Promotional picture Torslanda plant - Volvo Amazon production  (1964)

More information about production and numbers can be found here








May 11, 2012

Rusty B20B engine


After being for more than 12 years dismantled most engine parts of the B20B were quite rusty.
I tried cleaning up the cylinder head, piston rods and some other parts with steel wool.
But it just wasn't going to get me too far.
After removing the grease and dirt it was obvious that the head and block need a light face and the bores a light hone. Another thing to do while the engine was still in parts was balancing the flywheel, crankshaft and piston rods.

After some surfing on the Internet I found Chris Milton Engine Developments just around the corner...
Specialised in high performance engines and engine developments and ... they have engine baths !

After bathing the parts the crankshaft journals needed a grind to get rid of pitted surface. Because of the grinding I couldn't use the original new bearings that came with the car :(
The chemicals in the bath are very aggressive so it's also necessary to replace the camshaft bearings after bathing the block.

The results are shocking good :
Volvo B20B head before cleaning
Volvo B20B head before cleaning

Volvo B20B head before cleaning
Volvo B20B head before cleaning

Volvo 122S B20B head after bathing and a light face
Volvo B20B head after bathing and a light face

Volvo B20B head after bathing and a light face
Yes, it's the same head

Crankshaft Volvo B20 before cleaning and grinding
Crankshaft Volvo B20B before cleaning and grinding

Crankshaft Volvo B20B after cleaning, balancing and grinding
Crankshaft Volvo B20B after cleaning, balancing and grinding

Rocker shaft B20B before bathing and cleaning
Rocker shaft Volvo B20B before bathing and cleaning

Rocker shaft Volvo B20B after bathing, steelwool "polish"
The rocker shaft took a bath, after that I took it apart, cleaned it with steel wool and soaked it in oil.

Volvo B20B flywheel before balancing
Flywheel before balancing

Volvo B20B flywheel machine stepped and balanced
Flywheel machine stepped and balanced
see drilled holes between the 2 white lines

Friday I can pick up the block with the new cam shaft bearings and the cleaned inlet- outlet manifold, Pics of the results will follow. So it's time to find me some long bolts to mount the engine on the engine stand and start reassembling the B20B.

But... before reassembling the engine needs a good paint, red, Volvo red.