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"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg) 04/13/2020 at 09:00 • Filed to: None

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Remember !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I posted about a couple weeks ago? It’s mine.

It’s currently sitting at another Oppo’s house until I can go get it. I t runs a bit rough and doesn’t have a lot of top end so I am making arrangements to tow it home.

Overall it’s exactly what I expected. It’s a 10 footer, but the body is clean and straight minus the janky rear end. A full paint correction will go a long way on this car and I have someone who can help me out with that. The interior is surprisingly good for the age - seats are salvagable, the only other major issues are cracked dash, a missing head unit, and broken trim bit around the parking brake. All of these are things I can fix.

Mechanically it runs but not great. Motor mounts are shot. It also has an oil leak on the front of the engine up high. I believe this is due to the front cam seal leaking due to a clogged flame trap (Volvo PCV). I need to pull the timing belt to get to the seal, so I’ll go ahead and do the belt and water pump while I’m in there. That and a general tune up should go a long way and have this little S wedish tractor engine purring right along.

So what’s my plan? Well, first I need to get it home. After it’s at my house I’m going to swap on a set of f actory wheels I found locally and get some OE springs and put it back to stock ride height for the time being. That will make it much easier to get in and out of my driveway and to work on. Once that’s done I’ll address the oil leak and tune the motor up, and then I’ll attack the rust and janky body work. Once it’s happy (and we’re allowed to go places again) I’ll take it to Ikea.

So there you have it , I’ve officially lost my mind. I’m ready to bequeath my fortune to FCP and IPD. Please send help.

Just Jeepin' > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/13/2020 at 09:04

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Out of curiosity, what’s the fix for the cracked dash? New panel or is there actually  a good way to stitch it back together?

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/13/2020 at 09:09

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YESSSS!!!

I normally hate aftermarket wheels but I actually kinda like those. I’m all for returning stuff to stock though.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Just Jeepin' 04/13/2020 at 09:14

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Truth be told, I don’t know. That’s a lot further down on the punch list and doesn’t materially affect the drivability of the car, so I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Cash Rewards > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/13/2020 at 09:17

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Awesome! You got time to get ready for Cars and Coffee!

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Just Jeepin' 04/13/2020 at 09:19

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Armor All... lots of Armor All until the crack is filled...

:-p

functionoverfashion > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/13/2020 at 09:21

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Nice! I don’t hate those wheels. But probably more sidewall would be good. Should be good value in them though.

66P1800inpieces > Just Jeepin' 04/13/2020 at 09:23

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Might be too late to get new parts from Volvo, or too early to get them from Volvo. They have a Classic division that makes parts for their older vehicles that are not too pricey and can be ordered at local dealers. They don’t have a version of the older dash for my car (1800) but VP-Autoparts (you have to click on the US site) makes a lot of really good repop parts. I bought an upper and lower dash pad (not cover) from them a nd it looks great in the box. Hope to get it fitted in the next week or two.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > MiniGTI - now with XJ6 04/13/2020 at 09:28

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It’s funny you say that, I like those wheels too, but I already have a set of Volvo factory BBS wheels in the OEM bolt pattern that look very, very similar to those wheels. I also love the lowered look, but this was just slammed on either cheap lowering springs or cut springs and it rides like a cob. So it sounds silly that I’m going to undo 2 of the things I like about the car, but it’s cheap and relatively easy and it will help me work on it in the long run. Then I can redo it the right way, with a proper lowering kit and factory wheels, after I fix other, more important things. 

I think that’s going to be the theme of this project - taking all the stuff I really like about the car and redoing it the right way.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Cash Rewards 04/13/2020 at 09:29

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Yeah, I think once I’m done with it, it will show well at Katie’s.  

facw > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/13/2020 at 09:30

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Yes! This is a good mistake!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > 66P1800inpieces 04/13/2020 at 09:32

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Thanks for that bit of info! The dash is way down on my punch list but I’m always amassing sources of info and parts for this. 

Sovande > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/13/2020 at 09:34

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I may have an engine mount for a 240 - Anchor brand if I recall correctly. It's yours if you want it. 

Snuze: Needs another Swede > functionoverfashion 04/13/2020 at 09:37

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Thanks!

I mentioned in another reply, I have a set of Volvo OEM BBS wheels that look very, very similar that I will eventually fit to it, but I’m going to throw cheap stock 15's on it for the time being. Those ASA wheels go for $200/ea when new, and I’m sure the tires are worth something. So there’s definitely some money to be made back on this.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > facw 04/13/2020 at 09:38

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Plea se  tell my wife that!

Aremmes > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/13/2020 at 10:00

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I can now say that I’ve exclaimed a part of the lyrics to Talking Heads’ “Once In A Lifetime” unironically.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/13/2020 at 11:14

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This is the kind of “mistake” we all wish we made right now. You can never have too many Swedish bricks. Congratulations!

promoted by the color red > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/13/2020 at 11:21

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Welcome to the family! In addition to FCP/IPD, a number of Volvo dealers have online parts departments. I’ve shopped at the Culver City dealership’s online store and their parts manager actually called me to let me know I forgot to order the oil trap O-ring. Prices are competitive and sometimes undercut the big online names even with shipping. .

But have you considered swapping in the B230FT? You already have the ‘86-’93 chassis...

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/13/2020 at 11:28

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If you can’t find the Green Books online I have a link to a website with most of them, they’re on  http://www.volvotips.com/index.php/240-260/volvo-240-260-service-manual/

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 04/13/2020 at 11:50

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Thanks! It should be an interesting project, to say the least. 

Snuze: Needs another Swede > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) 04/13/2020 at 11:50

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Thanks!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > promoted by the color red 04/13/2020 at 11:51

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Thank you! That’s some good advice and I will check out Culver City and some other local dealerships.

I have considered some engine swaps, and it is likely to happen down the line, but first I want to get this back to good, or “Stage 0" as some of the forums call it, before I start monkeying with too much stuff.

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/13/2020 at 14:02

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I like dis

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 04/13/2020 at 14:05

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Thank you! 

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Sovande 04/13/2020 at 14:11

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Yeah, I’m interested. Shoot me an email at mark . gates @ gmail

Sovande > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/13/2020 at 14:47

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I just looked - it's part Anchor part #2429 and it looks like they cost about $5....

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Sovande 04/13/2020 at 15:02

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Ahh, okay. I may just pick one up on my own then. Going to be placing an order for a few things here soon.

Sovande > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/13/2020 at 15:08

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Yeah, I thought maybe it was actually worth something... Good luck with the car! I have two Propus wheels (17x7.5) I am looking to get rid of too. And a ful set of Canopus wheels too. All cheap. 

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Sovande 04/13/2020 at 15:24

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I’ve only been wrenching on Volvos for a year and what I’ve learned is they seem to like to eat bushings, mounts, etc. And based on the reviews and things I’ve read only the OEM stuff really seems to hold up, or certain OEM equivalent suppliers. So I thought maybe Anchor was one of the good off brands, but I have no idea.

The Canopus wheels are FWD, right? I have a full set of Propus (17x 7.5") wheels at home, but one of them has a small crack in the lip. Ugh.

Goggles Pizzano > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/13/2020 at 22:07

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Congratulations ! I think you’ll find the running costs very affordable, unless that is, you belie ve time is money . Parts are cheap though, a nd it’s so simple to work on.

T he internet says b lown front seals are due to a clogged flame trap. I believe this is partially true but it’s my experience the design is weak. Although it’s a tractor motor it doesn’t like to be abused. Specific ally , it doesn’t l ike heavy load when cold. My advice is take it easy with the throttle until the temp needle hits the first white mark and not full throttle until totally up to temp .

When you repair your center console remove both seats just to avoid breaking it again when you put it back in (t hat thing is so fragile). I’d also suggest not only repairing it, but also reinforcing it all over while you have it out. I crazy glued strips of 1 mm thick plastic on the in side.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Goggles Pizzano 04/14/2020 at 09:13

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Thank you for all the great advice! Time is money, but wrenching time is priceless. For me its a way to relax and do something I enjoy. I plan on keeping this one for a long time so I’m in no hurry, other than preservation stuff that I don’t want to let go too long.

Good to know about the design - I try to take it easy on all my cars in the way you describe - no aggressive driving when cold and no full throttle until fully warmed up. Im hoping that's all there is to it and not some other major problem lurking underneath.