Very excited to be the new owner of a 1990 240 DL 5 speed!

Its odometer has stopped turning over so its got somewhere around 250k on it. Over all in decent condition. Some rust on the passenger rear quarter.

Picked the car up for 650 bucks. And for the price i didn't expect the car to really drive. But low and behold i took her around the block free of troubles. The previous owner states it is in need of a new water pump which i understand that is a more common ailment to the 240's.

Two questions for you guys.
1. How reasonable would it be to have that water pump replaced myself. I know almost nothing of turning wrench. But i have a repair manual so that makes me an expert right?
2. Good deal, bad deal? 650 sounded pretty well for me.

 

waterpump is pretty easy, and while you're at it you might as well put in a new timing belt since that has to come off and go back on. and a new thermostat, and if they aren't brand new flexible rubber, replace all the coolant hoses too, especially the heater hoses between the engine and firewall as those get neglected.

be sure to get the volvo OEM water pump seals, the aftermarket pumps tend to come with crappy seals that won't last.

 

Hmm, no, the timing belt DOES NOT have to be touched when the water pump is changed!

And generally, no need to change things that don't need to be replaced--common mistakes of amateurs that would end up swapping perhaps OEM parts with cheap Asian knock offs... and run up the tab unnecessarily. If it's not broke, you know...

 

well, timing belts should be changed every 60k miles per Volvo maintenance schedules. if its known to have been done in the past, say, 5 years, fine, but with a broken oddometer, who knows?

btw, to the OP, my 240 odometer reads 256254 and has for 15 years, the car has at least 400k miles on it.