I own one, an 88 740 turbo sedan, with this engine.
I love it.
That particular engine ........
is 'enhanced' a bit for less internal mass and reduced internal friction.
i.e. the rods and pistons are smaller than previous B21F volvo engines.
So they are a little underbuilt compared to the previous versions of the
same basic engine.
I have seen a rod through the side of the block of one, but I suspect that
was mainly due to hot rodding.

I never get a ridge at the top of the cylinder wall of any engine .........
but there is one on my first engine ( got about 170K out of that one before
it started getting oil in the coolant )
I think the ridge is from the piston tilting due to being a shorter than
what -used-to-be normal size piston. ......and both engines, sort of not
quite 'knock' at idle......

I started to put a B21F (same external dimensions and layout, just no
turbo ) in a Vanagon once.
Got the adapter etc.
However............when I saw the engine out of the volvo car - the engine
looked huge .
And I thought of how I've never seen one out of the car hardly - usually one
does head jobs, timing belt jobs, clutch jobs, and engine mounts .......
but at least I had not really seen that type of volvo engine out of the car.

By measurement, I think I would have had to cut out some of the rear edge of
the vangaon engine compartment door opening.
and ..........tilting it over .........to keep the engine low, the spark
plugs end up on the down side ............not preferred.

so all in all, I'd say it's not a natural cadidate for installation in a
Vanagon.

if one wants to go turbo gas ..........a subaru turbo engine, besides being
much newer technologoy ......
is 'a natuiral' ....since it's an opposed four aluminum engine ........the
same basic layout that rear engine VW Vans have had since Day One.

But I'll sell ya my old spare turbo volvo engine if you like.  Even has a
water cooled turbo.
 If you get out of the car at night, and look at the turbo and exhaust
manifold - they are glowing red, even in normal cruise mode at 65 to 70 mph.
Best car I've ever owned in about6 45 years of car and van ownership,
including a mercedes or two.

Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "pdooley" <psdooley@VERIZON.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 1:33 PM
Subject: Re: Volvo B230FT Engine --> Vanagon?

> You mean the turbo itself or the motor?
> Like Neil said the Garrett's are fine, and the motors are stout.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Kenneth Lewis
> Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 3:52 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Volvo B230FT Engine --> Vanagon?
>
> Nine out of ten mechanics told me to "run not walk" away from turbo
> volvos.
> Ken