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Volvo B230FT specs: 142 ci 4-cylinder, 96 x 80 mm (3.7795 x 3.1496 in) bore and stroke, 8.7:1 compression. Rated 160-162 hp, 1985–1995.
The Volvo B230FT is oversquare — the 3.7795" bore exceeds the 3.1496" stroke by 20.0% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 3.1496" stroke does not reach 4,000 ft/min of mean piston speed until about 7,600 RPM, so piston speed is not what limits this engine's revs — valvetrain and breathing are. Each of the 4 cylinders displaces 35.5 ci (582 cc).
8.7:1 is low by modern standards and generally happy on regular pump fuel.
It is one of 7 engines in the Volvo 142ci family, all of them 142 ci — the differences between them are in compression, heads and rating, not displacement. 11 factory variants share these dimensions, rated from 160 to 162 hp across 1985–1995.
| Displacement | 142 ci |
|---|---|
| Bore | 3.7795" |
| Stroke | 3.1496" |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Configuration | I4 |
| Compression ratio | 8.7:1 * |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.2 |
* Compression ratio from a single source; not yet cross-verified.
| Fuel type | gas |
|---|---|
| Advertised HP | 160–162 hp |
| Years | 1985–1995 |
| Year | Version | HP @ rpm | Torque @ rpm | Comp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | B230FT net | 160 @ 5300 | 187 lb-ft @ 2900 | — |
| 1986 | B230FT net | 160 @ 5300 | 187 lb-ft @ 2900 | — |
| 1990 | B230FT net | 162 @ 4800 * | 195 lb-ft @ 3450 * | 8.7:1 * |
Factory specification sheet. * Not yet cross-verified.
| Bore/stroke character | 1.200 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 3,150 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Displacement per cylinder | 35.5 ci |
| Static compression | 8.7:1 — low by modern standards, generally happy on regular pump fuel |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.
These records share identical bore, stroke, displacement and compression. They differ by model year and factory power rating.
| Year | Advertised HP | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 160 hp | B230FT |
| 1986 | 160 hp | B230FT |
| 1987 | — | B230FT |
| 1988 | — | B230FT |
| 1989 | — | B230FT |
| 1990 | 162 hp | B230FT |
| 1991 | — | B230FT |
| 1992 | — | B230FT |
| 1993 | — | B230FT |
| 1994 | — | B230FT |
| 1995 | — | B230FT |
1 factory vehicle, 1985–1995. Each year opens that model's engine table.