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1970's & '80s Volvos
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The problem with the stock B20 motor is that the camshafts are no good and neither are the timing gears. Neither one stops the car (usually) but they contribute to the motors very sluggish performance and its annoying noise levels. But you swap out the cam, using a B20E head and the SU type carbs, and some better timing gears, and of course rebuild that distributor, and you have a totally different car. And yes, they can be made to "handle" very well, too. But not stock.
The parking brake shoes are just too small. If I lived on a hill with a 240 and a stickshift, I'd recommend a wheel chock for sure. The parking brake is just poor engineering, plain and simple.
Then GM is now using a two century old technology, right?
BUT THE ONE I LIKED BEST WAS THE 76 BERTONE.. ALTHOUGH THE V6 VPR ENGINE WITH THE OHC OIL SCREENS REQUIRED CONSTANT CLEANING UNLESS YOU WANTED TO R&R ENGINE. THE 85 244 WAS NO ROCKET, BUT, A GOOD COMMUTE CAR...
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Does anyone have any suggestions for things to look for that aren't at http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/6570/tips.html.
Also, it only has a tape deck, so how difficult is a head-unit install on one of these? I didn't buy a Mercedes 300E (more expensive and a little bit rougher inside than the 780) because changing the stereo is supposed to be a nightmare....
I do plan also on taking it to a local Volvo specialist if the seller comes down a bit on price.
I'm not interested in putting a V8 in one or anything at any point, although if the engine died I understand that the straight six from the 960/S90/S80 2.9 is a drop in with about the same power and more torque that might even be lighter than the iron-block turbo four.... (That engine that's apparently going to be the backbone for Jaguar in the future. 'Bout time they went back to the straight six!)
Most stereos just pull out with the right tools inserted. A qualified shop should know how to do this pretty easily and it might pay for you to just pay for that...a quick stereo swap around here costs about $60-100.
As for paying $60-$100 for a headunit install -- wow! That's a fifteen minute job, tops, on a car with a standard (DIN, double-DIN, etc.) sized stereo when you buy the harness ($7-$10), and maybe a ten minute job when you just cut the old plug off and splice directly. Even on my Citroen DS, which required some re-wiring and cutting of metal to fit a DIN headunit inside a shafted bay (the trim-ring around it was DIN-sized, though), it didn't take more than an hour. My time is precious, but not to the tune of $300-$400/hr precious! (Now, installing the AC Delco alternator retrofit in the Citroen, THAT was a b***h! Must've spent five days tracing the wiring harness on it, even though I had a very good map!)
Then again, there are a lot of people who are scared of any wire that doesn't plug into a power outlet, I guess...
The problem comes in when there's lots of proprietary hardware. For instance, one can't just replace the headunit on a Bose system or on a Volvo/Dynaudio one -- you have to keep it as is or replace everything. I basically wanted to know where the 780 stood on that continuum.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Also there's a diaphragm inside that goes bad. But generally they'll give more power than the SUs, but less economy.
If you have the tools and the knowledge, they aren't bad.
No offense, but I think they're really fun to drive, even though many blast them as boring and dull. I've driven everything from a Miata to 5-Series BMWs and I seriously don't get the same thrill from those cars as I do with, say, a 5-speed 240 or 850. And yes, Mr. Shiftright, I give you permission to digress or disagree with me, since I know you kind of dislike old Volvos. But I would die for a '75 240 right now.
I suppose you could try to fling one around a turn and scare yourself, that might be fun, presuming you could duct tape yourself to the seat so you don't fall out the window.
My favorite old Volvo would be the 120 Series 123GT...next favorite a P1800 ES with modifications,next favorite or close favorite a 544 Amazon wagon, next a 544 B18 sport, next a 122 4-speed coupe.
Least favorite (okay, I despise them) would be a 164, followed by the 144, also a car I don't like)
240 series are okay, I can live with them.
I like 444s but wouldn't buy one because of the B16 engine.
I guess technically they are 545 Duets. It's a 544 with a station wagon body.
My father now wants to buy an old vintage Volvo to tinker on and repair himself. He's thinking of either a 140 Series, P1800, or 240. Your take on this, Shifty?