Hi Guys (and Gals),

Have been eyeing this 1989 780 Bertone 2.3 Turbo on Craigslist and pulled the trigger today. Got it for $250 + $100 on the Tow. Not running at the moment.

Guy says he drove it until a few weeks ago when it just stopped running well. He'd done the Timing Belt/Water Pump and mentioned that he hadn't retensioned it after the 5,000 mark. Thinks it slipped a few teeth.

Car cranks, everything power works, newer alternator, newer MAF, IPD Major Tune-Up Kit. Interior is rough, some body issues.

Got it with the plug wires disconnected and the timing belt cover/timing belt/accessory belts off. Car cranks but makes a sort of shrieking sound at a loping point in the crank.

He also said that when it started running poorly, it sounded sort of like one of those wind up flashlights and has VERY little acceleration.

Planning to set TDC and throw the belts back on; see what happens tomorrow when trying to start.

Oil also smells of gasoline...? No water in the oil though. Was late when it got home today so snapped a few photos until tomorrow.

Here are the pics...

 

After you put the timing belt back on do a compression test and go from there.

 

Thanks jagtoes! Will look for a gauge to borrow tomorrow. Also, he mentioned that turning the engine by hand became very difficult after the car started running bad.

 

roh roh

 

OH NO, SMITH VOLVO... :-( Bad...?

 

not sure yet - jury is still out- I will offer my services to get this on the road again as remote project
this could be fun (or ugly - or)

 

Oh man, thank you! Seriously considering selling my '96 850 N/A to fund the 780 more quickly. ALMOST decided to part out the Bertone, but quickly came to my senses.

Going to buy a solid Craftsman kit. Have some experience working on Volvos, though never to the extent that this one will get. Also have an uncle who has a full lift in his raised garage, complete tool set, and graduated mechanic tech school in the 80s. However, he lives 2 counties north. Gotta get the car running before approaching him for help. He's mostly into his Factory Five Shelby Cobra Replica, Harleys, and his drag cars though (no Volvo experience that I'm aware of).

It sure is rough, but not too far gone to be cherry with work. I hope. Trim Parts look expensive on ebay. Maybe an upholstery shop could do something with the seats, carpet and headliner...

Anything that you would like me to specifically check/take picture of?

 

Also, here's the seller's ad on Craigslist for backstory -

"Super rare - only 8516 made through entire model run - Volvo Bertone 780. This was hand assembled in Italy, designed by Carrozzeria Bertone, and was the super top of the line Volvo in it's day.
Nivomat shocks, hand stiched heated leather seats, burled maple inserts, 2 audio amplifiers - this thing was the cat's meow. The bee's knees.
This one has seen better days. It was owned by my friends father for decades, and I bought it from him when he passed. It has been well maintained, but Florida takes its toll on a car. The paint is
oxidized and peeling, the leather has shrunk and come undone in places, and all of the plastic is either fragile or cracked. No rust, but some of the exterior plastic, like the spoiler, is broken in
places.
This car has run great for over a year- we did all the maintenance (new plugs, cap, rotor, filters, oil seals, timing belt, water pump, alternator) and it has been great. Turbo works fantastic - step on
the gas, and 2 seconds later you are flying. Last week it just....stopped running well. Advanced the timing and got it home, sounds like the timing belt may have slipped. I replaced the tension and
re-did the timing belt, and it's fine, so it's something else.
My wife and I had just decided to sell it and get something a little newer for my daughter for college, and so rather than fix it to sell, I'll see if someone wants a cool weekend project.
So in summary:
Pro: Been a fine running car, super rare, lots of new stuff and maintenance
Cons: not running, interior is ugly, AC blower just stopped (have replacement), radio can be stubborn.
Call or text
-RJ"

 

By the way, should I move this thread to the 760 section or are you guys good with it here?

 

After you do the compression check you may want to pull the motor and install a chevy small block. Good luck

 

Nice project car! I was just out in Santa Clara on a biz trip and I saw a Bertone coupe (in Cali-nice shape) rolling down Great America Parkway. My first thought was wow that's rare. My second thought was it must be great to live where vintage cars live long lives (No, I'm not sure why I moved back east...)

 

Well, decided to part the car. It's on the Buy/Sell forum in a new thread.

They are very rare. Kills me to part it but at this stage in it's life, coupled with the rarity, it's best use is to help other 780 owners finish their projects. I'm from California and miss it terribly. Have adjusted to 90 degrees with 90% humidity in Clearwater though.

Small block in this would be boss. Good idea!

 

Unfortunately it's hard to restore these cars, and very expensive, as the finished product is not worth that much. All the parts unique to the cars usually is what goes bad--the drivetrain is a 740 turbo+, so no worries there.

Not a fan of swapping v8 in Volvo, the b230ft is a great motor! Any such mods are nothing but a headache down the line!