Yesterday's low mile Volvo sedan was too much to take - slushbox, $10k price tag...MADNESS!! It is time to get back to DT basics with this 1988 Volvo 240 5-speed offered for $2750 in the Bay Area, CA. A 80s Volvo sedan won't get you front row parking from the Valet, but it will be a great family hauler and something to pickup rare parts for your Italian garage queen. Tip from Kaibeezy.
This 5-speed equipped white whale isn't exciting for anyone but a dyed in the wool Volvo nut, but it certainly beats the pants off a Camry, Accord, Focus or other bare bones econobox. The 4-door sedans are the most pedestrian of the three different 240 body styles offered by Volvo over the years and are the most plentiful. The 4-doors sedan model is also easier for back seat passenger access and a good choice for a 240 fan who has car-seat sized offspring and doesn't need a wagon for his trunk sized dog or cat.
Pop the hood and we find the simple and effective B230F naturally aspriated, overhead cam, 8-valve 2.3L inline-four. Unfortunately the factory 240 Turbo cars were last produced in 1985, and by '88 there was only this one gasoline engine option offered in North America. Mileage is great with the EFI engine, especially paired with the 5-speed manual. If economy isn't the highest priority and the entertainment factor needs to be turned up a notch, adding a turbo system from a 740 or 940 is fairly straightforward. Fuel & ignition control units, the turbo itself, exhaust manifold, airbox, intercooler and plumbing can all be adapted to work on the later 240s.
See another 4-door brick for cheap? tips@dailyturismo.com
Also an option if you want to keep it N/A is the "K" grind camshaft. Really opens these cars up in the higher RPMs. And this has the block mounted distributor, you won't need to modify (droll/slot) the cam to fit like you do on the later b230f.
ReplyDeleteThe M47 gearbox found here, while not as good (durable/modern) as the M90 that we never got in the states, is superior to the M46/Laycock de Normanville combo from the earlier cars in that you don't have to deal with repairing an external OD and its assorted switches and relays. They are however slightly weaker than the M46. Not a consideration for this car in its current state but something to consider if you ever decide to go F+T.
I owned an 85 wagon once. The disintegrating wiring in the engine bay nearly killed me though! Did they have that fixed once 88 rolled around?
ReplyDeleteErik, I asked the same question on the 940 Turbo post, because I had it happen to my 1986 745 Turbo. I still can't believe a recall was never required for the issue.....it melted my fusebox and the smoke made the car smell like an electrical fire for the rest of my ownership. I wouldn't own a Volvo from this era unless the wiring harness had been replaced.
DeleteYes, the biodegradable harness issue was solved prior to 1988 (in 87 or 86, as I recall). 88 is a good year mechanically for the 240. If this one was a California car from new, you'll have to deal with EGR (minor issue - limits ECU replacement options if the installed unit fails).
ReplyDeleteWhile I prefer my '90 and '92 245s, the '88 and '92 244s that I've owned were both much quieter than a wagon.