Hi everyone, Volvo newbie here. I am a college student with an entire summer ahead of him. I currently have the opportunity to buy a 1980 242 dl slicktop flathood that has been sitting for ~30 years. I am wondering if this car would be a doable project for someone that is relatively new to Volvos. I am not afraid to get my hands dirty, just want to know what people with more knowledge than me think. Seems to have low rust other than some surface and under the radiator. Engine turns over by hand and it was driven to where it has sat for the last 3 decades.
Thanks for the help!

 

Lambsauce, given your circumstances as a college student with a whole summer to spare, I would pass on that car. Leave it for someone with the tools, garage space, and experience. Those "ran when parked" cars often have major issues like a blown headgasket, overheating history with cracked heads, etc. That CIS fuel injection can be troublesome...especially if it has been sitting opened to the air for 30 years. Mismatched ignition wires tell me somebody has tried and failed to get it running...it's not running, right? Insulation from wiring can be tasty to some rodents...and I think I see the remains of a nest on top of the manifold.

 

Great observations - and i agree. A CIS car if not running for many years - Will not likely EVER RUN AGAIN using the existing cis system - at least without massive injections of $$$$.

That would not be a good choice for anyone with limited $$$ - and a "whole summer to spare" will not be enough time to make that car run.