Hello VolvoForum,

I'm working on a 1979 242 and would like to switch from the CI Fuel Injection system to a carburetor-fed fuel system. I have some questions if anybody has any experience with this:

-What parts will I need to get this done? I have to change the manifold and the head too.

thanks
-zantegeorge

 

full disclosure - never done this myself but here's some things to consider

1) make sure the fuel pump matches up to a carburetor not FI. FI uses higher pump pressures than a carb. You can research pumps from an older carb model car
2) yes the intake manifold will need to be for a carb. I'm not sure about the need to swap the head or not - have you inspected where the injectors go?
3) you need to swap in the throttle linkage appropriate to a carb
4) does the carb intake manifold have coolant ports? (I recall my old BMW 2002 had such an arrangement).
5) what kind of choke mechanism are you going to use? if manual, you'll need to run a cable and control to the dash.
6) Have you looked at any carb conversion kits (google "volvo carb conversion" and you'll see IPD actually sells a conversion kit for older Volvos. They may be able to coach you on what would work for a '79

If you don't find a kit or if they are too pricey, what I'd do is look for an older 240 part car or shop eBay or a swap meet and see if you can get donor car or parts for the manifold (head?) linkages etc. I'd go new for the fuel pump and carb. You should be able to find a nice 2 barrel Weber downdraft that fits a factory manifold. Dual side-drafts would be way cooler but much more expensive and you need to know how to balance and tune (generally this requires a flow meter to do it right, particularly if you build the engine).