Flying Brick! V8-swapped 1990 Volvo 740 GL

While auto makers push 5000+ pound SUVs as modern family haulers, this ’90s Volvo reminds us that station wagons can be practical and fun, especially with a 420 horsepower transplanted V8! This 1990 Volvo 740GL in Palm Desert, California swallowed a potent General Motors LS3, a 6.2L version of the swap-ular V8 LS series. The “reliable, fun” modern classic comes for sale on Facebook Marketplace where $17,000 makes it yours. Thanks to Mitchell G. for spotting this brick-shaped V8 Volvo.

Yep, that’s a 6.2L LS3 mill, like you’d find in 2007 to 2017 GM performance vehicles, and it’s still available new as a crate motor. Short of delivering pizza to a swim suit model dorm, it’s hard to beat the LS V8 for cheap thrills. The LS3 weighs about 25 lb more than the stock motor, a differential you could offset with a trunk-mounted battery. I used to autocross against a V8-swapped Volvo wagon, but its carbureted Ford 302 wouldn’t stand a chance against this sweet LS3.

At 2932 pounds, this 740 weighs a ton less than full-sized V8 SUVs, and about a half-ton less than many modern V8 performance cars, a benefit you’ll notice every time you fill the tank or hit the Go pedal. Applied physics dictates that accelerating twice as fast requires halving your weight or quadrupling your power, so dollar for dollar, this lightweight wagon will shame many bloated modern monsters.

This Volvo one-ups most modern sporty cars by having a proper gearbox with three pedals. Transplanted sport seats don’t match the tan interior, but they match the upper dashboard, so call that close enough. Note how the Volvo’s brick-like styling continues to the interior with a mostly rectangular motif across the board, typical ’80s styling bleeding into the next decade.

Please secure or disconnect that subwoofer before your test drive. That thing would be smashing windows left and right before I got a mile down the road. Unidentified flying objects aside, look at the room back there! I doubt $17,000 buys much of an SUV today, and my crystal ball shows you replacing $870 fuel pump controllers and $1400 headlights in seven years. Meanwhile, think of the memories you’d make with this LS-infused Volvo, smoking poseurs who think turning off traction control makes them the next Ken Block, making friends with your local constabulary, and proving that bricks can fly. Would you put your family in this V8-swapped super-Volvo?