The Volvo S60 is a slick car, made to deliver executive class features, a smooth and comfortable ride, and safety. While they have a respectable amount of performance and power, there are a few simple parts and accessories that can help you squeeze a little more out of your S60. For appearance, performance, and handling, here are 8 essential mods for Volvo S60 tuning.
Handheld Programmer
Gone are the days where you have to leave your ECU tuning up to an expert, costing you lots of money and time. Handheld programmers are more advanced now than ever. These are similar to what your shop based tuners use, except they are far more simple and only allow you to change the things you should worry about. Programmers and tuners for S60s range from preprogrammed chips that you plug into your ECM port, to units that allow you to mess around with certain settings yourself.
Catback Exhaust
For most people, a less restrictive catback is a great investment. These allow for less resistance from the exiting exhaust, and allows the engine to run more efficiently. From a simple catback swap, you’ll pick up more horsepower and improve fuel economy.
High Flow Catalytic Converters
High flow cats might be a little further down your list than some of these other mods, but they’re a good investment if you’re trying to squeeze out every bit of power you can from bolt-ons. Since you can’t just take the cats off (seriously, don’t), high flow catalytic converters are the next best choice to ease up on exhaust restriction. Usually, aftermarket downpipes will sport a high flow cat, which is why most people choose to go that route and get a downpipe.
Cold Air Intake
A cold air intake is one of the best investments any vehicle owner can make. These kits move the intake air away from heat of the engine so the air coming in is much colder. This matters because colder air is more oxygen dense, and higher amounts of oxygen will lead to better combustion.
Air Filter
If a new cold air intake isn’t in the cards, the next best thing is a high flow air filter. These work by letting more air flow in than the traditional OEM filter. When more air makes it in, efficiency improves. Some people note a fairly noticeable increase in throttle response as well.
Lowering Springs
This mod isn’t really about picking up power so much as it is improving looks. When you use lowering springs, you can bring the car closer to the ground, and close the wheel-well gap for a much more aggressive look.
Shocks
Getting a good pair of shocks is vital to handling and ride feel. The stock OEM shocks will go pretty far, but once you start testing the limits of driving, increasing power, and putting wear on the shocks, you might find something much more suitable for your driving style out there.
Fuel System
When your fuel system isn’t providing enough fuel, that’s a huge problem. While you might not be to the point where fuel starvation is noticeable, if you’ve maxed out the flow of your system, you’re losing power. This area of Volvo S60 tuning usually comes in to play after you’ve modified the engine. Higher flowing fuel injectors and a high flow fuel pump will make sure enough gas is making it to the engine.
All of these mods have a few things in common — they’re pretty inexpensive, straight-forward, and completely reversible. You don’t have to make permanent modifications to your S60 to complete any of the projects above. However, you’ll find that your Volvo S60 will be quite responsive to these changes, and you’ll be pleased with the results.
