The 164 is a 144 with an inline 6 cyl engine and an extra 4" in the wheelbase. From 1969 through 1975 it was Volvo's luxery model. In 1976 it was replaced by the 264 (PRV V6).
The engine is a B-30, and it is really a B-20 with two extra cyls added on. It is almost bulletproof. From 1972 on it was equipped with EFI. Power ranges from 125HP to about 170HP, depending upon the year. Transmission was either an automagic (BW-35) or 4sp with overdrive.
Other standard features included (depending apon the year) leather seats, power steering, air conditioning, power windows and better sound proofing. Some came with sunroofs (those didn't get leather seats).
Mine is a 1975 with a little over 100K miles on it. I get about 15mpg city/20mpg highway (YMMV).
Ron Tewksbury
ront@twg.com
> The engine is a B-30, and it is really a B-20 with two extra cyls added
> on. It is almost bulletproof.
Make that IS bulletproof. :) I had a 75 164 and I drove it for 14 months and 18000 hard miles. It had 133000 when I sold it. At that time it never sounded better and the smoothness never wandered. It was an automatic but I even wound up the motor on a daily basis. I also cared for it religiously. Great car, great engine.
Michael D.
In-Reply-To: <9311042113.AA18323@eco.twg.com>; from "Ron Tewksbury" at Nov 4, 93 12:22 pm
>> The engine is a B-30, and it is really a B-20 with two extra cyls
>added
>> on. It is almost bulletproof.
> Make that IS bulletproof. :) I had a 75 164 and I drove it for
> 14 months and 18000 hard miles. It had 133000 when I sold it. At
> that time it never sounded better and the smoothness never wandered.
> It was an automatic but I even wound up the motor on a daily basis.
> I also cared for it religiously. Great car, great engine.
> Michael D.
Actually, I have heard that rod bearing failure was a problem with the B30. Just a few months ago someone on the Volvonet advertised a 164 with a thrown rod. When I was shopping for a 164, there was one I looked at that had a rod knock, and the seller was planning to replace the bearings before the sale. He said that his mechanic told him that this is a common failure for the B30.
Of course, this "bearing failure" occurs at 150K+ miles. Only us Volvo folks would consider this "premature"! With proper care and timely oil changes, I dont think its really a problem.
And I agree, great car, great engine.
>I think I remember reading once that the peak horsepower for imported-to
>the-US models was in '71. I was hoping they were equipped with standard
>transmissions; I'd prefer that if I could find one.
Yes, 1971 was the year for peak horsepower. It was also the last year Volvo measured HP using (lets see if I can get this right) DIN figures. I believe that in 1972 the ratings were SAE, and the power was down about 20%. DIN HP is measured at the flywheel without any accessories attached (ie not alternator, PS pump, etc.) while SAE is measured with all accessories included, at the rear axle (or something like that).
>> Mine is a 1975 with a little over 100K miles on it. I get about 15mpg
>> city/20mpg highway (YMMV).
>Sounds like yours is relatively new! Or is the 100k on a rebuilt
>engine?
No, the car only has about 110K miles. Still a youngster.
>How much do you think the 15/20 MPG has to do with smog equipment? I've
>always understood that one should avoid American cars built in '74 and
>'75 due to the poor performance that non-catalytic emissions systems
>caused/required, but I don't know if this is true of imports.
I don't know how much the smog equipment on mine cuts into mileage. I do know that through 1973 the only things that changed on the engines were the compression ratio and distributer advance/retard. In 1974 they added an EGR setup and in 1975, an air injection pump and CAT. By '75 the HP was down to 125HP/145lbft with CAT, 130HP/150lbft w/o CAT SAE. I think the car has adequate power. If power is what you are after, get a '72 with 4sp/OD. The bodies are lighter than the later cars with collapsible bumpers, and it has EFI and no smog stuff. I chose a '75 because the later cars are more comfortable, and because I couldn't resist getting a low mileage well maintained vehicle for a change (I usually get fixer uppers or project cars...)
Ron Tewksbury
ront@twg.com
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