1981 244 GL & 1976 244 GL re. parts interchangeability

Hello.

I'd like to know if the 1981 244 GL external parts and 1976 244 GL external
parts are interchangeable.
I'd like to replace cracked rear light plastic covers to start with, and if
the parts are interchangeable I might get an engineless 1976 244 GL, which I
can get very cheap - though, I haven't seen the Car as yet.

I should be grateful if any of owners/mechanics out there would direct me to
the right direction.

Thank you.

m.244GL.au

 

The taillights on the '81 will wrap around the corner, on the '76
they'll just be flat, so they won't work. I'm not sure about the
configuration in Australia, but I think that the front will be
completely different as well.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

NOTE: new address!!
Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

 

Thank you for your reply, Mike.
I should have done Google Images search!
1976 has round head lights, and 1981 has square ones.
I'll call in to wreckers tomorrow to see if they have those brake light
covers.
Thanks again, Mike.

m.244GL.au

 

My news server seems to be playing up ATM - I haven't yet seen the
original post.

1981 was the first year of plastic bumper bars. The front guards,
indicators, headlights and grille are all different to earlier
models. The tail changed in 1979, so the bootlid, taillights, etc.
are all different.

To top it off, around 1978 or 1979, Volvo changed their door locks,
making the doors incompatible between vehicles before and after the
change.

In summary, about the only external panel that is likely to be the
same between the '76 and '81 is the bonnet.

Oh, and the dashboard changed in '81. The dash shell is a different
shape and all of the gauges are different.

A few small internal parts such as the headrests on the seats are
the same between '76 and '81. The cloth trim seems to have changed
in about 1979, so interior trim is unlikely to interchange. I must
admit that all of mine are cloth trim, so I don't know if the vinyl
or leather trims were the same over the years.

The mechanicals also changed a number of times over those years, so
I don't expect that a '76 244 would even be much use for mechanical
parts! Different sway bars, front struts (wheel bearing size),
lower control arms (later are more reinforced), etc.. The rear
axle and suspension are the same, though!

 

G'day, Athol.
Thank you for your reply.
Now I know I'll need to look for only 244s manufacturered after 1981..

m.244GL.au

PS. Re. newsgroup server(s), my original didn't get "published" on my server
for at least 2 hours, when I see mine, Mike F. already replied my original..