Hi all,
Thought it was about time I created a thread for my current 240.
After my old 240 estate was written off I knew I'd need to get back in the seat of a 240. Was distracted by a Rover P6 2200TC for a while as I had to wait nearly a year for a 240 I liked the look of to come up.
Now had J195 for about 2 years. 1991 240 GL 2.3i with a B230F and M47 manual box.
It's my only car and daily driver. Never left me stranded yet although I can't say it's been the most reliable car I've ever owned, but after 15 years of retro car ownership I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment.
I've done quite a lot to her in the last couple of years.
Lesjofor -40mm springs
Bilstein B4 gas shocks. Original OEM oil shocks has utterly fallen apart.
Reconditioned Hydra Volvo 16" alloys
Reconditioned breaks all around
New wheel bearings all around
New exhaust
2x ECU coolant sensors
2 x new IACvalve
Cam belt, water pump, 3 new end seals.
General tune up - cleaned throttle body, rotor, cap, leads, plugs, oil, filters.
Cleaned injectors and fitted new seals
Otherwise a really good clean up. Paint is generally good and a few sessions with clay bar, polish and wax have improved the ol' girl now end. Was quite tatty when I first got her. Flat matt paint. Door jams were a right oily mess. Interior was thick with unidentified mank. Engine bay was black with crud. Was all pretty icky from one end to the other. Many hours have been spent getting her to her current condition.
Recently fitted an egg crate grill from an earlier 240. Had to make up brackets to get it to fit but it looks the part. :tongwink:
Also fitted an original dealer fit 240 CD changer. The original radio unit was bust. Got the Volvo CD changer in the boot and Changer Control Unit with it's rare 240 surround in the lower dash slot. Sounds good on it's original speakers. Might have to change them out for something more modern at some point whilst keeping the original grills.
Drives really well on the lowering springs and Bilstein B4s. Corners a lot better, lot flatter, than it did originally and looks the part. Ride is a little more harsh but totally fine for every day driving, I'd probably compare it to the more harsh suspension of any modern car to be honest. Only slight annoyance is that whilst being more taught it also manages to be bouncy at the same time. Undulating roads seem to result in a bouncy castle like ride at times. Any ideas? Just refit new OEM shocks?
Had a series of slight running problems over the years. Sticking idle sorted by IAC. Cold start problems sorted by ECU temp sensors. Each time I go out for a tinker I seem to get it running a little better. Very rewarding. :regular_smile:
I also managed to blow up my old gauge cluster whilst fitting a volt gauge. Not my proudest moment as it went up in smoke, tacho and all bulbs dead (replacing didn't help) so got an earlier cluster fitted. Wrong mileage and had to play with wiring to get it to work but good for now whilst I find somewhere to fix the original.
Plans for the future: whilst the car looks great from a distance, my OCD wants to sort the bodywork out a little more. Passenger side sill rear is going crusty where it meets the arch. Both front and rear screens have rust coming through in at least once place. Dent in driver side rear arch from a knock at some point in the past. Paint blistering/spidering in a few places.
I'd love to track down a good leather GLT saloon interior for it's seats. The bog standard grey cloth is a little dull but the main problem is various cigarette burns dotting the seats, and the foam is going. Sit down and a cloud of desiccated foam litters the carpet. If anybody knows of any good seats anywhere, let me know :tounge_smile:
Earning her keep last Christmas:
At one of my old haunts:
Thought it was about time I created a thread for my current 240.
After my old 240 estate was written off I knew I'd need to get back in the seat of a 240. Was distracted by a Rover P6 2200TC for a while as I had to wait nearly a year for a 240 I liked the look of to come up.
Now had J195 for about 2 years. 1991 240 GL 2.3i with a B230F and M47 manual box.
It's my only car and daily driver. Never left me stranded yet although I can't say it's been the most reliable car I've ever owned, but after 15 years of retro car ownership I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment.
I've done quite a lot to her in the last couple of years.
Lesjofor -40mm springs
Bilstein B4 gas shocks. Original OEM oil shocks has utterly fallen apart.
Reconditioned Hydra Volvo 16" alloys
Reconditioned breaks all around
New wheel bearings all around
New exhaust
2x ECU coolant sensors
2 x new IACvalve
Cam belt, water pump, 3 new end seals.
General tune up - cleaned throttle body, rotor, cap, leads, plugs, oil, filters.
Cleaned injectors and fitted new seals
Otherwise a really good clean up. Paint is generally good and a few sessions with clay bar, polish and wax have improved the ol' girl now end. Was quite tatty when I first got her. Flat matt paint. Door jams were a right oily mess. Interior was thick with unidentified mank. Engine bay was black with crud. Was all pretty icky from one end to the other. Many hours have been spent getting her to her current condition.
Recently fitted an egg crate grill from an earlier 240. Had to make up brackets to get it to fit but it looks the part. :tongwink:
Also fitted an original dealer fit 240 CD changer. The original radio unit was bust. Got the Volvo CD changer in the boot and Changer Control Unit with it's rare 240 surround in the lower dash slot. Sounds good on it's original speakers. Might have to change them out for something more modern at some point whilst keeping the original grills.
Drives really well on the lowering springs and Bilstein B4s. Corners a lot better, lot flatter, than it did originally and looks the part. Ride is a little more harsh but totally fine for every day driving, I'd probably compare it to the more harsh suspension of any modern car to be honest. Only slight annoyance is that whilst being more taught it also manages to be bouncy at the same time. Undulating roads seem to result in a bouncy castle like ride at times. Any ideas? Just refit new OEM shocks?
Had a series of slight running problems over the years. Sticking idle sorted by IAC. Cold start problems sorted by ECU temp sensors. Each time I go out for a tinker I seem to get it running a little better. Very rewarding. :regular_smile:
I also managed to blow up my old gauge cluster whilst fitting a volt gauge. Not my proudest moment as it went up in smoke, tacho and all bulbs dead (replacing didn't help) so got an earlier cluster fitted. Wrong mileage and had to play with wiring to get it to work but good for now whilst I find somewhere to fix the original.
Plans for the future: whilst the car looks great from a distance, my OCD wants to sort the bodywork out a little more. Passenger side sill rear is going crusty where it meets the arch. Both front and rear screens have rust coming through in at least once place. Dent in driver side rear arch from a knock at some point in the past. Paint blistering/spidering in a few places.
I'd love to track down a good leather GLT saloon interior for it's seats. The bog standard grey cloth is a little dull but the main problem is various cigarette burns dotting the seats, and the foam is going. Sit down and a cloud of desiccated foam litters the carpet. If anybody knows of any good seats anywhere, let me know :tounge_smile:
Earning her keep last Christmas:
At one of my old haunts:
