Hey, I'm a new user from Finland! I joined here because I really need help from people who know what they are talking about.

I have a Volvo 740 wagon 2.4D from 1986. It was my first car and it has a lot of sentimental value, it was bought used with 100€ and it was slow as a snail to accelerate, but it meant freedom to me. Unfortunately I have very limited knowledge of cars and back then it was non existent, to the extent that I didn't even know what a timing belt was, or that it should be checked, and my parents knew even less. I had it only for a few years and on 2014 the timing belt broke while I was driving, shattering the engine. The camshaft broke into 3 pieces. The car was in garage all the way till 2020 when I towed it to a repair shop in hopes that the engine could be fixed, just to find out that it was beyond repair. The block (? the thing that holds the cylinders) was split as well. The car was towed back and has been sitting in the garage in pieces with the transmission in the back and the broken engine in a corner of the garage for a while. A lot of money was wasted because I didn't know how to check it myself, the car was torn apart and can't even be towed on its own since the drive shaft is hanging and spinning with the read wheels, disconnected from the engine. The electrics have been disconnected as well. I needed to rent a trailer to get it back to the garage. This means that with my limited knowledge it will be even harder to do any repairs myself, since I can't document what I take apart to be ready to put it back in. I am 28 and am still studying, having quite low income and (extremely) limited resources.

I really want to save this car. It doesn't have to be fast, it just has to work and be reliable to drive. It is impossible to find a D24 engine (non turbo) from my country. I even checked LT Volkswagen vans with similar engines. If there is one, it is on its last legs, broken or a vague, hazy apparition in a dream.

Can I put some other engine in it? Converting it to petrol interests me because of the possibility of LPG conversion later in the future but apparently it is a huge ordeal (or is it?), but is there a diesel engine that could fit then? How big of an ordeal it is to do any of it myself? The car itself is otherwise in a beautiful condition and almost rust free.

If all you cared about was to save the car and drive it often, what would you do? Could I do any of this myself? Otherwise I have a good knowledge of metal working and woodworking, so I am good with my hands, just not a lot of technical knowledge of cars. My car fixing experience limits to changing few charger belts to Toyota hilux and age old Volkswagen transporter painstakingly on a gas station parking lot with ****ty tools as well as basic maintenance. I know some basic engine parts and have a vague idea of the basic functionality of both diesel and petrol cars.


Ah the good old days

 

No, you cannot reasonably fix that car. Sorry - you just need to let it go - maybe park it in your driveway or living room if it means that much. You will spend so much more trying to resurrect that car than a reasonable replacement running vehicle could cost.

How about this guy https://volvoforums.com/forum/market/107976 Just posted his 2005 in Switzerland for $1000 obo.

 

Rebuilding the engine you have is a non starter, obviously. Getting another 2.4 diesel is hard in EU, less hard in the US but the logistics are difficult, and that diesel is nothing to brag about. I'd try and put a b230, or b200 in this car which shouldn't be too hard. Best way to do it is to find a rusted 740 or 240 or 940 with a solid engine (most of them are), park the two side by side and swap the motor from the donor to the car you have. This would be the most economical way to go since buying parts a la cart will quickly become much too expensive. The key would be finding a good running but other wise shabby, cheap, Red Block somewhere in N. Europe and then, have fun! It'd take time and effort on your part but it shouldn't be too complicated or expensive. Depending on your abilities and commitment you may end up with a better car than you had before.

 

Sorry, I have a replacement car and I have no interest or need for any other car. This is purely a project of passion that has been sitting aside for a long while waiting for a better time. Thanks for your reply though.

 

Thanks! Red blocks are the older petrol engines from 200 series right? How difficult it would be to exchange a petrol engine into the diesel car? I would also have to take the transmission from the donor car right? What else would need to be changed? I'm sorry for bombarding you with questions 😄 The main thing I care about for the engine is that it would have a long life and maybe be more fuel efficient, but its kind of a heavy car so I guess the latter won't be possible, since it has to also be powerful enough to get around on our 120km/h max highways.
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You will need a complete ~1986 740 with a gasoline engine to swap the parts from. Everything will be different from a diesel. Engine mounts, engine, transmission, transmission cross member, power steering hoses, ac stuff, alternator and connections, radiator and connections, shift linkage, driveshaft, complete fuel system including gas tank and fuel pumps. Whatever wiring harnesses and electronic boxes go with those. (that will not be in good condition after 35 years) Sure it would be possible - and it might take a year or so to complete. If you have the tools, ability and knowledge to do something like this. Yes I've done stuff like this - but I chose a life as a mechanic at 17, and did that kind of thing for a living, a career for 50 years.

Why not take $1000 and purchase something that actually runs? that you don't have to work on for a year or so to make it actually run again?

Or - go for it-and let us know how your project turns out. Send us pictures next year or along the way, of the hulk in your garage being transformed or the completed running gas powered 25 year old Volvo.

 

I wish the volvo was only 25 years old.I have a car that runs and that's why I don't need to get one that does.
I am in college at the moment, so I won't have a lot of time to put on it now, other than take small steps and gather information. I want to know what it requires, what are the alternative possibilities, what should I find out and where to seek out information and so on. Start to plan for it as the parts are becoming more scarce.

Sounds like the petrol conversion is as tedious as I thought. Maybe swapping in a diesel engine would still be a better idea.

 

Red Blocks are all the 4 cyl b200, b230 engines that came in the 240/740/940 lines. They are robust and reliable and quite usable. Just try and find a 740 as close as 1986, and swap its innards into your 740. If you have a "donor" next to your 740, it'd be doable, sure, it's a project. You should be able to find a running 740 somewhere close to you, someone is looking to unload. I get the passion you have for your old 740, some people don't. A later V70 has nothing to do with an earlier Red Block...

 

Thanks! It makes no sense for sure! 😄