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200 Series General Forum for the Volvo 240 and 260 cars |
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New (to me) 1980 Volvo 244Views : 2042719 Replies : 4092Users Viewing This Thread : |
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Feb 10th, 2020, 09:24 | #31 | |
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I think I'll get the tyres changed for 195/65R15, they are not expensive (a whole set for half the price of one rear tyre for my Porsche) and will make me feel much happier. I like the Royal Barge, and I'm please you approve (the name come from an experience with the military in Afghanistan, maybe I'll tell it here one day). Alan Last edited by Othen; Feb 10th, 2020 at 09:46. |
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Feb 10th, 2020, 10:28 | #32 | |||
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I like your aim with the car although i'd be tempted to add improvements where possible while returning it to standard. Many mods can be either permanently hidden until used or built into the car in such a way as to look factory. I'd be inclined to avoid T-Cut and use something like this instead : http://www.performancemotorcare.com/...on_System.html The Paint Cleaner does just that, removes oxidisation, ingrained dirt etc and leaves the paint ready for the Polish, that really makes the paintwork "pop" and then the Carnaube Wax seals it. It's not cheap but it's one of those things where you really do get what you pay for. THey're also all "diminishing abrasives" so the more you polish/clean with them, the finer they get Couple of tips on using them, pick a warm, dry day and do it in the shade, get a plant sprayer full of clean water and spray the panel before you start, if the compound starts to get dry as you're working it, add a little more spray to keep it liquid. If you have a machine/DA polisher, use it as it takes a lot of the elbow grease out of doing it. The rev counter should pick up its signal from the coil -ve terminal, even if it has been retrofitted with a 360 Hall effect dizzy etc the pick up point is the same. You may find that there is a wire off behind the dash or perhaps just cleaning the connectors on the multiplugs returns the rev counter to living status. Quote:
PS i did find the guide Loki referred to in the 240 Articles section but sadly it has been "Photobucketed". Likewise with the sunroof, it's purely a slide back and forth unit. Quote:
On the tyres, the original if memory serves correctly were 165/78/15 - the original, non-specified profile (aspect ratio) of 78% wasn't usually used in the designation so they would have been 165 SR 15 - your handbook should confirm that. Nearest correct diameter tyre is 195/65/15 and they are much more comfortable than the 60 aspect ratio. Think that covers it all! Oh yeah, instrument light lamps, from memory they are 1.2W "501" designation, often referred to as "T10". It's a long time since i changed them in a 240 so my memory might be playing tricks. Fairly sure they were just clear bulbs and the bluey/green hue came from filters in the instrument cluster. Later cars had translucent latex "condoms" over the bulbs/lamps to give a coloured light output. If yours has those, you can change for LEDs easily to whatever colour you want. Green seems to suit Volvos but go with what suits you.
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Feb 10th, 2020, 13:35 | #33 | |
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Super, many thanks. So, this morn I've changed the oil + filter and fitted the Osram H4 bulbs - I'll report on those after it gets dark. The oil that came out didn't look bad at all, as far as I can tell from the history it was changed 2 years, but only 1000 miles ago. It is an easy car to work on, but how many non-Volvo owners have a 25mm spanner for the oil plug? I managed to find a 1" from my American toolbox that fitted snugly. I'm glad you like my aim with the car, I'm not agin a few subtle mods, and I'm certainly not trying to return it to the way it came out of the factory. I'd looked a couple of similar aged cars (Triumph and Rover) before finding the Royal Barge, they were rust buckets and very low-tech in comparison. The 1980 244 is just about the sweet spot in classic motoring for me: it will be tax and MoT exempt next April, it only costs £80/year to insure (including the breakdown cover), it has just enough modern engineering (disc brakes, proper lights, power steering...) to be safe on the road, but none of the electronics that came just afterwards (ABS, traction control, climate control...) that will lead to the premature demise of many 1990s and younger cars. The bottom of the car looks marvelous for a 40 year year old: No sign of any rust or repairs, no oil leaks, everything looks very tidy. The exhaust look quite new: ... and everything looks good with the brakes and suspension: ... so all in all I'm very happy with the car. The Royal Barge's cabin is becoming quite a nice place to be now that most of the controls work properly. I was pleasantly surprised to find the Sony radio will play music from a USB stick, so I had Robert Plant singing away during my short test drive. Thank you for the advice on cutting the paint, I'll follow that up when the weather improves a bit (Easter I should think!). You are probably right about the tacho as well, I have to take the instruments out anyway to fix the illumination (501 bulbs ordered) and I'll probably find a bad connection somewhere which will fix it. The driving/fog lamp installation is a complete mess, fortunately I'm an trained as an electrician (although I don't do it as a business) so it won't be difficult to resolve. If you would send a link to the article you found that would be helpful. I think I'll keep all the lights, but mount them properly and sort out the wiring so both sets operate properly. Re: the bonnet release cable. Do you mean the ferule sits on the engine side of the bulkhead in a bracket, with the release handle poking through into the cabin? That is what looks like should happen. I don't think that will be hard to fix, as long as I can get access to the bulkhead via the driver's side wheel arch (I have not looked yet). Okay, I'll go for the 195/65R15 tyres, I can get a whole set for £150, fitted, balanced and including the tracking adjusted - that is so cheap compared with my other cars (and even my motorbikes). I'll probably order them this afternoon - I'm not all that happy about driving round on the wrong tyres (or odd ones). Many thanks for all the help - I suspect I will have several hundred more questions as I discover more about the Royal Barge. Best wishes, Alan Last edited by Othen; Feb 10th, 2020 at 14:12. |
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Feb 10th, 2020, 14:52 | #34 |
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I used the Meguiars 3-Step system on my old Rover 827 Coupe, surprised even me how well it came up! The Paint Cleaner is kinder to paint than T-Cut yet still lifts all the rubbish.
Curious to know which Triumph and Rover models you also looked at? A few links for you : https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=142059 Wiring driving lights ^^^^^ https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=188157 Wiring Diagrams ^^^^^ https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=120293 Bonnet catch/cable problems ^^^^^ I hope i'm right on the 501 type bulbs for the instrument cluster, as i say it's a long time since i renewed any on a 240 so i hope my memory hasn't played tricks! I'm guessing you've bought Nightbreaker bulbs? Pretty good but have a limited life span, should brighten your evenings up when driving though!
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Feb 10th, 2020, 15:35 | #35 | |
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I've ordered the new tyres (I went for 195/65R15 as per your advice), they are being fitted on Wednesday - I'll be much happier with the right size and all 4 the same. The whole set was just £150, fitted, balanced and with 2 wheel alignment checked. That is too cheap to take a risk with the dubious old ones. If the 501 bulbs don't fit I'm sure they will come in handy somewhere else. The Nightbreaker bulbs came in the mail today, I'll try them out on some spurious errand when it gets dark. If they work well I'll order some more (two of my bikes take H4 bulbs). Many thanks for the links. It is a miserable afternoon here so I'll stay in and do some reading. Best wishes, Alan PS. The wiring diagrams link doesn't work any more - too old for web hosting I should think. Last edited by Othen; Feb 10th, 2020 at 15:42. |
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Feb 10th, 2020, 16:55 | #36 | |
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It sounds like you're into your cars (you said you have a Porsche as well i think) so i'm sort of surprised by the comments. That said, a lot would depend on the age of the cars in question, both of which would be at least 4 years older than the Barge. I'm not too well up on the Triumph spec but seem to recall the last models had PAS, disc front/drum rear and independent suspension all round. Again on the P6, a lot would depend on age but all P6s had disc brakes all round (inboard at the rear, independent suspension all round and from (i think) 1972 onwards on the V8, PAS as standard. It shouldn't have leaked oil from the engine though, what did the oil pressure gauge register? If it was over 35psi when hot, the breathers are blocked and will cause oil leaks. If it's been run like that for a considerable time other problems could occur too. It does seem as if you made the right choice out of the three cars though! Good news on the tyres, even just having all 4 the same will be a vast improvement over a mix'n'match set. Hope the Nightbreakers work well for you, i know the local Police round here use them but have to change them every 2 months! Sorry the wiring diagram link didn't work, in all honesty i didn't check it but i have checked this one : http://www.myvolvolibrary.info/Tech_...g_diagrams.pdf Should be the right Model Year for yours being a V reg (79-80) so hopefully helpful!
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Feb 10th, 2020, 20:51 | #37 | |
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I've just popped out in the Royal Barge to get Bob a new squeaky ball (I know, a somewhat spurious pretext) _ the lights are quite a lot better, and now well up to the performance of the car. I'm pleased with the Osram bulbs and will order some more for the bikes with H4 fittings. Good value at £11 a pair as well I thought. I can't remember the exact details of the Triumph and the Rover, I think the Triumph was a little older, the Rover was about the same age as RB. Neither had PAS (but both had huge steering wheels), the Triumph only had disc brakes on the front and both were OHV engines. The Rover was quite a nice car - sophisticated in some ways (discs all round, lots of aluminium panels...), but it did leak oil (I don't know why, maybe a crank end seal) which put me off. Anyway, the RB fits in well with what I wanted: a running and riding car at a good price that has just enough wrong with it to give me something to do. I think it was the right car for me, I have no intention of restoring it, but I just might still be driving it in 20 years time. Best wishes, Alan |
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Feb 10th, 2020, 22:41 | #38 |
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You're welcome on the diagram Alan, there's other information in the parent directory that might be helpful :
http://www.myvolvolibrary.info/Tech_files2.html Surprised the Rover was the same age as RB, the P6 went out of production in 1976 except for a special run of "VIP" models fitted with a lot of toys including electric windows, air-con and a special silver-grey paint job. There were a few made with different paint but again, it was a one-off colour that i can't remember now. It should have had PAS though which begs the question why not. Glad to hear the Nightbreakers lived up to your expectations, hopefully they continue to do that! Hope Bob enjoyed his new toy too! If you look after this one it should do you the 20 years quite easily. No tax from April is a nice bonus too!
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Feb 11th, 2020, 06:10 | #39 | |
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Many thanks for the link, I'll have a look after Bob's 06:30 walk. The Royal Barge becomes tax and MoT exempt in April 2021 (historic vehicle is a generous system by the government, I did it with a 1976 Suzuki 2 stroke). I was serious about keeping RB another 20 years, I'll be 79 by then and my son (Dan, now 15) will have claimed my Porsche as part of his estate many years before :-) Best wishes, Alan |
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Feb 11th, 2020, 07:13 | #40 |
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As far as i'm aware Alan, the Historic VED Exemption comes on the 40th anniversary of first registration. That means from MARCH this year, the RB is eligible for free/historic raod tax/VED.
OGP 492V ✓ Taxed Tax due: 1 February 2021 Incorrect tax status? ✓ MOT Expires: 20 April 2020 Incorrect MOT status? Warning If you’ve just bought this vehicle the tax or SORN doesn’t come with it. You’ll need to tax it before driving it. Vehicle Details Vehicle make VOLVO Date of first registration March 1980 Year of manufacture 1980 Cylinder capacity 2127 cc CO₂ emissions Not available Fuel type PETROL https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/ Information from the DVLA website and link to same at the bottom. As you'll have to pay for all of the VED due in March, i would think realistically you could enjoy Historic Road Tax from 1st April this year. If you wait until next year, it will be 41 years old. I could be wrong and apologies if i am but i'm pretty certain you can get historic tax from this year, worth checking out anyway! *** EDIT *** Also from March this year, you should be eligible to not have to enter it for MoT, simply making a statement it is roadworthy. However i would suggest an MoT test would still be a wise move, just for your own peace of mind.
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Cheers Dave Next Door to Top-Gun with a Honda CR-V & S Type Jag Volvo gone but not forgotten........ Last edited by Laird Scooby; Feb 11th, 2020 at 07:17. Reason: As stated! |
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