Hi everyone, brand new to the forum here. I am looking at picking up a 244 in the near future. It is being advertised as a 1982 244 diesel with an automatic transmission. Through my quick research I am skeptical that this could be a diesel car, but I have not been able to find a lot of information from Wikipedia on what models came with which engine/transmission during what year etc.

Can any of you Volvo experts tell me if there was a diesel automatic 244 sold in the US in 1982? Also, if there was one in fact manufactured and sold with that engine/tranny combo in that year, it would be smog exempt in California, being that it is older than a 97', correct? Thanks in advance!

 

if it says 240DL on the back, then its a DeLuxe (which is really more of a base model, the GL Grand Luxe were the fancier ones). the diesels say DIESEL in big letters on the trunk.

stay the eff away from any Volvo Diesel of that generation, they used an awful VW diesel motor.

 

Easy enough to check if it's a diesel, and you indeed don't want it if it is... Not a good motor and filthy to boot, banned in Europe without major modifications.


A diesel 6 cyl. 240 was available in the US in 1982.

 

some signs its a diesel... no ignition coil, no spark plugs on the motor.. would say DIESEL on the fuel gauge, and next to the gas cap. inline 6 cyl engine.

 

Thanks for the information! It did say Diesel on the trunk. I was going to pick it up with hopes of motor swapping it without the worry of smog since its CA exempt.

Appreciate the info!

Thanks Pierce!

 

note the diesel motor was much heavier than the B21F or B230F motor, so the diesel cars were equipped with significantly beefier front springs.

an 82 might have the 3 speed BW55 automatic, rather than the 3+overdrive AW70 used on later cars. I'm not sure how suitable that BW55 is for engine transplants.... an AW70 car would have a pushbutton on the side of the shifter ****, this toggles the OD lockout.

now if you're talking about transplanting some other engine like a small block chevy, then you'll probably also be replacing the transmission, and the drive shaft, and ....