Volvo guys.. what to look for

[vinnie mack]

Not what to look for IN a volvo guy but in a Volvo itself. Looking for a good winter/parts runner car and found a 81 Volvo 240 Wagon.

Any issues? from what I gather the motors are rock solid and it seems like these things are made for the snow.

For some strange reason I have always been attracted to these bricks.. when they ran them in the BTCC and after seeing this pic when i was younger.

http://www.carlustblog.com/images/2008/02/22/8503.jpg


Thanks

[GordRoss]

Glad to hear you're not looking for a Volvo guy. Most of us are, by definition, married and dull.

Volvo motors are bullet-proof. Rust in the usual spots. I'm not personally aware of anything particular to these cars.

For info, check out IPDUSA, or the brickboard. For parts, try Hamilton's corner garage in Guelph. They're a Volvo only wrecker. Most of the stuff that is prone to wear out (shocks, bushings, etc>>>) is pretty easy to get.

We pounded a 1972 Volvo P1800ES at Targa for three years with a stock bottom end and a stock tranny (for 2 of those years).

Tough cars

Gord

[vinnie mack]

thanks for the info Gord.. i remember that place now since my sister when to Guelph University i remember seeing it on the way up.

this one may turn out to be not available to me so if you or anyone knows someone with a half decent.. older (prefer wagon) Volvo let me know.

[John Powell]

I like real Volvos so much I recently bought two of 'em ... an 88 240 automatic with O/D (which is much better than most slushboxes I've driven ... nice crisp shifts) and an 89 240 5 speed. They're good solid cars, but be aware that most 240s are old enough that there will eventually be some fixing to do, such as suspension bushings, brake calipers and discs, etc.. And here's another link to a pretty good Volvo site: http://forums.swedespeed.com/zeromain

[gravlguts]

On the 240, watch for...

deteriorated/sagging transmission mount. If the mount is gone, look at the floor around the cross member. The cross member must be removed to replace mount and the captive nuts are often rotted in the body.

engine mounts

transmission tailstock bushing and seal

drive shaft hanger bearing

front spring seats - they rot and then break.

Floors in general for rot

otherwise, mechanical stuff is all dead easy and pretty reliable on that era 240.