Just bought my first Volvo yesterday. I think I might be a fan for the rest of my life.
1990, no rust but a whole lot of rotted trim parts. And quite a bit of deferred maintenance that I need to catch up on. Only around 84K on it.

The P.O. included a new set of taillights, and I have a set of front markers on the way. I'll be getting at all the basic tune up stuff, plus a valve cover gasket and new timing belt very soon. Then it's off to the junkyards to hunt for trim parts.

IMG_0773.jpg?t=1312341928

 

Welcome. She looks like a classic, and if you say you might be hooked, you already are. 84,000 is low compared to the picture. Must have been exposed to the elements... I always see missing trim from 240's and I am not sure how that happens. Do people take it off, for whatever reasons, and forget to put it back on? Anyways, you are in the right place to ask questions when you have them.

 

if you're doing the valve cover gasket, you should probably do the camshaft seals too. actually, our 240 has 400K miles and needed a camshaft seal a few months ago, the valve cover has never been off the engine.

re: the trim, the plastic clips that hold it on break, and it starts falling off. I'm planning on removing the side and trunk trim on our 240, and replace it with some glued on generic black rubber molding. and, I'd love to find the euro GLT style blackout bumper trim but I'll probably keep the standard chrome-on-black hockey-sticks just because.

 

She was a Florida car, which explains the lack of rust. (I live in Ohio) and the general condition of the paint and plastic.

Odometer is working, but I can't say 100% the mileage is correct.

 

Florida car = no rust?
I disagree. Maybe inland, but near the ocean, you can watch the rust grow, it's terrible! That also explains the faded gray, but gray always looks faded...
Where do you live in Ohio? I'm in the Toledo area, near Michigan.

 

Down around Findlay,

I've never been to Florida, so I have no way of knowing. But living here all my life and watching rust eat my Cherokee I know this car could not have lived it's life around here!

Are there any 240's in the yards around Toledo?

 

Yes, six or eight in this one big yard.

 

Your own personal yard?

Changed the taillights out today, made a heck of a difference. Also replaced a couple bulbs and chased away the orange warning light. While I was back there I changed out the liftgate struts the P.O. gave me. Also put the new air cleaner in. New plugs, cap, rotor, and an oil change come tomorrow.

I'm going to do my best to give this car the fanatical maintenance that it's obviously been denied.

Next things I have to find are rear headrests, (Missing) a radio antenna (Broken), and some headlight lenses (Fogged).

Then at some point pick up the blue book and start learning how to change a timing belt and replace some seals.

 

[QUOTE=Red Tractors;283767]Your own personal yard? /QUOTE]

Won't be long. Why you ask, not many yards in Findlay?

 

[quote=Burn Stains;283787]I think Findlay has one salvage yard left, and they don't let you walk through. I'll be heading north to hunt parts. I need to re-familiarize myself with the Toledo area salvage yards.

 

Hey, just PM me when you're thinking of heading up here, maybe we can meet up, talk, and part hunt together, and get a deal, never know.

 

Today's update.

Changed out the front marker light lenses, had to do a little surgery when one screw broke off. But it came out ok. Changed out some of the screws for stainless steel. Then I pulled out the drivers seat and repaired the foam, it had separated over the right side frame tube. A little spray adhesive and some heavy cloth should hold it all together for awhile. Sure makes a difference in comfort.

After that I did battle with a set of nasty Champion plugs that must have been in the car for the last fifteen years or so. I was very worried about twisting one off in the head, but I managed to get them all changed. In went a set of Bosh Platinum plus. Last of all I changed the cap and rotor. It's time for new plug wires very soon.

 

re: plug wires, get the bougicords, they be da kine.

Volvo Igntion Wire Set (240 244 245 940) Bougicord 272194 | FCPEuro.com

 

Sounds like a plan!

 

Excellent! And they seem to have everything else I've been looking for. Honestly, the reputation for expensive replacement parts Volvo's have is undeserved. Having worked in Auto parts quite a bit, most modern cars are more difficult, and more expensive to maintain than this 240 seems to be. AT least in the mainstream aftermarket.

ALL dealer parts are expensive, regardless of the make.

 

Yeah, whenever people think European cars, they think expensive parts because of work shop prices. Of course parts from the shop will be expensive because they are paying full price and making a profit off them. They almost scared me away from a 240, but those people are the ones who only go to the dealers...

 

many dealers and even a lot of upper crust indies won't even look at a 15+ year old car anymore. sigh.

btw, if you DO need Volvo factory parts that the FCP/IPD/etc folks don't list, go to TascaParts.com, they are a ford+volvo dealer who sells all parts at about 20% off list. hard to beat. fast and good service, too. It *is* a good idea to get your hands on a VADIS dvdrom and learn to use it, as thats the Volvo full parts catalog that runs on a Windows PC, its exactly what the dealer parts guys had on their counter a few years ago (after 2005, Volvo switched to a different web based system).

 

Well FCPGroton just got a chunk of change from me tonight.

"1378870 Volvo Engine Valve Cover Gasket
71039 Audi Saab Volvo Volkswagen Fuel Filter - Bosch 71039
272194 Volvo Igntion Wire Set (240 244 245 940) Bougicord 272194
TBKIT032WP-OEM Volvo Timing Belt Kit and Water Pump Kit (Comprehensive) OEM Parts
1377332 Volvo Differential Gasket (240 740 760 122 1800 140 160) Scan Tech 1377332
1360894 Volvo Sunvisor Clip Wagons (240 245 265) Genuine Volvo 1360894 (2)
L293 Volvo Bentley Repair Service Manual (240 244 242 245) Bentley L293

Sadly I don't order stuff online often so I completely missed where to put in the 10% off promo code. Really wished I could have saved that extra $20

 

I like the color. Many 240 Volvo's come in hideous paint colors. I passed by quite a few that were too ugly to believe.

 

Thanks,

Next summer it's getting repainted. I am split between three options. Back to silver, a dark gunmetal gray, or midnight blue.

Between now and then I'm going to replace the brakes, shocks/struts, and every bushing. And hopefully find and eliminate the ticking sound she makes under acceleration. (Exhaust I believe).