I have two 240 wagons. Clean 89 non-abs. Just got a beat 92 parts car with ABS and airbags. 89 is a tight dry west coast car that has sentimental value. 290k miles but I put a nice salvage motor in it at around 200k. I am wondering how easy/hard it would be to swap the abs and airbag from the 92 to the 89. Issues I see are if the wiring harnesses are completely different or if ABS is just an addition to a similar system in the 89 and a list of what mechanical parts that would need to be changed. Both cars run well and 92 has about 200k on it. ABS light is on on the 92 but it has been sitting and I have not looked at fluid level yet. Bad pulse at pedal on 92. Recent brakes on the 89. Not sure about the airbag system.

 

I think it would be rather difficult. Not only is the wiring harness an issue, the ABS-equipped cars have a different tone ring in the differential to provide the speed signal to the ABS system. Therefore, you would have to swap differentials or at least the tone ring.

 

and speedometer, ABS cars have a different speedo.

I believe you'd need to swap the master cylinder, all 4 brake calibers, the ABS controller, all the brake plumbing, AND the differential tone ring and speedo.

 

It's a chore, but can be done. My question would be, "WHY?'. The advantage of installing a 20+ year old air bag is lost on me. The primitive ABS even more so. Of the late model 240's, my personal favorites are the 89 and 90 models as they have LH2.4 and are available w/o ABS and airbags. YMMV.

 

i was thinking it would be an upgrade and nice on the safety side. i think it might just be too much work for the effort. i may just go with using it as a parts car for the 89 on the body and interior and just let it be what it is.

interested to know why you think its better without the airbag and ABS.

 

I have nothing against airbags in general...just nearly 25 year old airbags. We've had two incidents of spontaneous deployment here at the shop in the last 20 years. Totally spontaneous...no one around the car to blame. Also, from time to time we accumulate the odd air bag or two from when we have to buy an entire used column for just a few pieces no longer available. On slow days we have been known to go out back and deploy the air bags manually. A significant number of the older ones don't deploy...even after several attempts.
As for ABS, chalk it up to me being old enough to distrust it...especially the old primitive variety found in rwd Volvos. Nothing quite as exciting as expecting ABS to work and then have it fail. As you know, braking in emergency situations is totally different with ABS than without it. By the time you realize ABS has failed, the event has passed. There is seldom, if ever, time to correct for a failed ABS. So, I choose to drive without. My wife's car is brand new; has ABS, side air bags...the works. I'm sure it is much safer...just not my cup of tea. I'll put my faith in the Swedish engineers and their crumple zones.

 

Can be done but more time consuming and trouble then worth it to most.

The newest airbag in these cars is 20 years old.

1989 was the last year for non airbagged 240's. 1990-1993 had drivers airbag AND a warning to have it looked at 10 years from date of manufacture.

 

all airbags up to some time in the mid 90s had that 10 year replacement warning. some time after 1996, they decided they lasted quite a lot longer and relaxed it to 'let it go'.