New here: Dutch 240 estate

hejhej, I recently got me a 240 and am totaly in love with it!

It's a 1992 240 GLE estate with B230F engine. Auto transmission and airco.
250.000km. Blackline. No rust, everything working.

This is what I changed sofar: put in a small rpm meter. adjusted the bonnet,
balanced the wheels, chrome plate holders, lockable gas cap, 2 snowcaps,
front armrest and a dog fence. I already got 4 other meters (ambient temp,
oil pressure, volts and economy) but need to find time and courage to
install them.

In future (not so near) I want cruise control, 2 more speakers and a volvo
radio with cd exchanger in the back, fog lights and a lugage cover. (hard to
find?!)

Any comment is welcome

Jan.

ps: images!

http://www.janthea.nl/gle1.jpg
http://www.janthea.nl/gle4.jpg
http://www.janthea.nl/gle21.jpg
http://www.janthea.nl/gle14.jpg
http://www.janthea.nl/gle30.jpg

 

Great looking car, have fun with it!

Don't forget to check out: http://www.volvo-forum.nl/

Arnoud

 

Nice car. I installed a 270° voltmeter in my first 740 wagon. The scale
went from 8 to 18 volts. It proved very useful one time while traveling
through deserts of Arizona. The voltage regulator shorted out and the
alternator was overcharging the battery. This kind of fault will not show up
on your dash idiot light. My wife and navigator noticed that the gage was
reading 16V which could not be easily resolved on a 80° guess my voltage
meter. I turned on every electrical load other than the windshield washers
and lugged in the highest gear to nearest service center. The battery was
starting to stink but the gage saved the day.



Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see:
Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs (among other things) http://www.viatrack.ca

void _-void-_ in the obvious place

 

_____
The car looks like it was very well cared for, and garaged most of its
life when not in use. 16,000 km per year of use is typical.

I recommend following:
1) Start using Mobil 1 synthetic oil; engine should last to 500,000
km. My son's 240 wagon from 1985 has almost reached that point.
2) Put Red Line synthetic gear oil in differential.
3) See if you can find synthetic transmission fluid, and replace the
regular ATF.
4) Check all brake pads and rotors. At about 250,000 to 300,000 km
the rotors need replacing, especially the front ones.
5) Similarly, the shock absorbers in the front struts may need
attention. Check that the top (fine threaded) nuts that holds the shock
inserts in place are secure. Consider replacing the rear shocks.
6a) The engine should have received its third timing belt, and at that
time the idler pulley (every odd belt change) should have been replaced.
6b) Check the valve clearances. To my amazement, the B230F engine
rarely needs valve adjustment! Very good and simple design.
7) Check the alternator brush pack for worn brushes. The Bosch units
will typically last 300,000 km. Then it is wise to pull the alternator,
have new ball bearings installed, slip rings turned, and casing bead
blasted. You can easily replace the brushes yourself. Alternator
rebuilds cost typically $100.
8) The water pump may start to leak or squeal a bit. Simple to replace.
9) Install your gauges in the upper radio compartment. You should
have received a pressure sender for the oil pressure gauge. I don't
remember if the wiring harness already has the wire for the oil pressure
gauge. None of this is difficult.
10) Adding fog lamps (below the bumper) should be simple. Bosh sells
a very nice set that comes with a relay and proper hardware. Try to
find lamps with a high light output; the higher the better. Most Volvo
240 models have some wiring already in place for fog lights. The small
switch above the main head light switch is often used for fog lights.
The location of the lights impacts their usefulness. The best physical
location on a 240 is _below_ the bumper. I find that the light is
"smeared" out too much. I own an old Mercedes, and its fog lights are
mounted next to the head lights. This location provides a better beam
pattern.

_____
Difficult to say where you might find a Volvo cruise control unit (made
by Dana Corp). I found mine at a well known Volvo wrecker's yard in my
town. You need to change the signal stalk, and install the
electrical/vacuum switches above the brake pedal. Speakers and such
should not be a huge challenge.

/ John

Nothing but Volvo 240 since 1979:
240 DL sedan, petrol, new 1978
240 DL wagon, diesel, 1984
240 DL sedan, petrol, 1989
240 DL wagon, petrol, 1981 (the only one left)
Now Mercedes diesel also since 2001.

 

_____
Probeer contact op te nemen met Bram Smits. Ik geloof dat hij in
Lelystad woont. Zijn email is hoogstwaarschijnlijk b r a m s m i t s AT
g m a i l DOT c o m. Bram is een van Nederland's beste Volvo
specialisten. Hij "praat" vaak op de SwedishBricks groep.

/ Jan

 

Hej hej,

ik heb regelmatig contact met z'n maat Albert waarmee hij een
knutselschuurtje heeft in Woudenberg. Van hem heb ik de snowcaps
gekocht. Hij heeft al aangeboden een CC in te bouwen. Rolhoes
wordt lastig....

Bedankt!