I just purchased my first Volvo last weekend! I saw an ad in Craigslist, and I have been looking for a vehicle to haul my dogs in because all of my other cars are 2 seaters... anyway it was a clean two owner 240DL. AC doesnt work, and she had a pretty good vibration at 55, but straight body and a clean interior, and the best part $500...

So this week, I transfered the title, got the windows re-tinted, and purchased 4 new BFG Touring TA Pros(195 70R14)... the vibration went away with the new tires! I ordered a front suspension renew kit (ball joints, end links, bushings etc) and that will go on sometime in the next couple of weeks.

I am gonna cruise the junk yards tomorrow and try to find the exterior moulding... is there a trick to getting those off without breaking the clips?

Kags

 

Nice Score!

I like the wagons personally, but you look to have gotten a hell of a deal!

 

Hello Kags , I just bought a 1986 Volvo 240 DL for 600$ thats very similar to yours except mine has a sun roof. So far i've found a power steering leak and an oil seal leak to deal with. Mine like yours , doesnt have A/C either and the blower motor is out. If you plan on fixing your A/C , let me know how that goes. Maybe we can brainstorm together and fix some similar problems. -Mike (San Diego)

 

I had the same problem with the power steering fluid leaking from the rubber boots. If it's a small leak you can try Lucas Power Steering Stop Leak, this is the real McCoy! Do not try any other of these treatments that come combined with power steering fluid since these Volvos use Mercon-Dexron transmission oil. Never add power steering fluid!

 

That's one hell of a deal! Congrats on the brick, now If I could only find one

 

Congrats on your sweet deal! I just paid $1300 for a 1987 240 GL and hthought I did OK but you should be in jail for your deal! Hey, my front end is loose also and the mechanic garage wants $168 to do just one ball joint. Where did you get the front end kit? How much$ Why did you choose that particular kit over the other ones available? Thanks!

 

Nice 240. There is no trick to pulling those moldings without breaking the clips. Just keep spares around, they're cheap.

Also, those wheels are from a 740 GLE. Nice balanced wheels. Good deal.

 

I picked the $99 kit from FCP Groten because it was the cheapest and I wasnt sure what needed replacing, and this kit came with the stuff that wears out in the front... I still havent installed it yet....

 

Sweet deal bud.. I got my '88 240 for free.. well actually I guess I was paid to take it because I found 15 dollars in the ash tray.. But the lady did give it to me..it had been sitting for 5 years but it fired right up and it's been great to me so far! keep on keepin on!

 

Well I finally got my Texas Inspection done! I had failed smog because of high CO(%) on low idle test. All of the other tests were great. I did a little asking around and found that there is a CO adjustment on the Air Mass Meter that is set from the factory. Not having a gas analyzer, I took the car to a car shop that does a lot of work on "old" cars, the mechanic tweeked the CO Adjustment and she passed with flying colors...

Now I need to think about shocks and installing that front suspension renew kit... I want to do the struts/shocks at the same time while it is all apart....

 

Congrats on the find. I got lucky too, found and negotiated 6 Benjamin s down from 850...The radio and speakers were gone, check light on, dings, scratches, 4 bad tires, high idle, and has 186K. I think I did ok. I got new 195R14 75 instead of the OEM size and it now runs without the shakes.
I think it needs the front end kit like yours because it makes noises in the front steering area. I think i may need to get struts/shocks because of the back sags some. I also fail my CO emission test so now trying to figure out why it runs rich. Good to see a Volvo Forum exist.