240 General: New (to me) 1980 Volvo 244

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

I'm not sure how serious I am about this one Dave - it might look a bit boy racer-ish for the Royal Barge. The instrument needles are indeed white on the RB, and I quite like the simple look:



... the centre console is quite crowded, so there is nowhere obvious to put the extra instruments:



... unless perhaps I put something here on the dash, as you may see someone has attached something previously. I suppose a couple or three gauges neatly set into some 2" holes in the dash (I don't know what is behind that area) would look okay and hide the wires. I'm not sure it wouldn't look a little bit naff though, what do you think.



This adapter would seem to be the right part, and is available in the UK:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Adapter-F...YAAOSwsypey-Vt

Space might be a bit tight because of the oil filter and alternator?

I think this is one of those 'wait and see' projects, I'll mull it over for a few weeks, if I manage to convince myself it makes sense then it would be a good job for the winter break.

Stay safe,

Alan

You should be able to find a place/orientation of that adaptor so you can fit everything fairly easily, might be a bit of Krypton factor type juggling though.

I'm not sure what's behind that part of the dash on yours, i know below it will be heater ducts to the vents.

Something that crossed my mind that would work nicely and give you more of a project to get your teeth into is to make your own custom pod in the style of the main instrument pod but designed to fit alongside. Some sheet aluminium covered in a thin layer of upholstery foam then black vinyl to make it feel right, either bring a flat black cable out from under the front and in behind the heater vents to go whereever the wires needed to go or a hole through the top of the dash with the pod sat over it.. Alternatively, make the front panel of the pod wrap under the top of the dash so it hides the cable coming out the front.

Just some ideas for your mull it over time!

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

You should be able to find a place/orientation of that adaptor so you can fit everything fairly easily, might be a bit of Krypton factor type juggling though.

I'm not sure what's behind that part of the dash on yours, i know below it will be heater ducts to the vents.

Something that crossed my mind that would work nicely and give you more of a project to get your teeth into is to make your own custom pod in the style of the main instrument pod but designed to fit alongside. Some sheet aluminium covered in a thin layer of upholstery foam then black vinyl to make it feel right, either bring a flat black cable out from under the front and in behind the heater vents to go whereever the wires needed to go or a hole through the top of the dash with the pod sat over it.. Alternatively, make the front panel of the pod wrap under the top of the dash so it hides the cable coming out the front.

Just some ideas for your mull it over time!

Actually the pod idea might not look too bad, maybe something like this adapted to fit:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-2-52m...EAAOSwIGxb4ddY


... or this one for twp instruments (oil pressure and volts):

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-52mm-Ca....c100005.m1851

[john.wigley]

For only a 'score', your idea is certainly worthy of closer investigation, Alan, but 'L.S.' does make some very valid points, especially concerning reliability and accuracy. The gauges don't look that bad to me - certainly not what I would consider to be 'boy racer' - but I think I would try for original Volvo items if I was to seriously consider doing this.

Regards, John.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

For only a 'score', your idea is certainly worthy of closer investigation, Alan, but 'L.S.' does make some very valid points, especially concerning reliability and accuracy. The gauges don't look that bad to me - certainly not what I would consider to be 'boy racer' - but I think I would try for original Volvo items if I was to seriously consider doing this.

Regards, John.

Thanks John,

As you know, I'm mulling this over. The Chinese gauges are sort of tempting in that they are so cheap they might be worth a try. I could quite easily test their accuracy (and maybe adjust with some series resistors if required) and if they prove unreliable then just replace (they all seem to be 2").

Alan

[Laird Scooby]

Me being me, i'd use that as a "skeleton" and build a pod over that to mimic the shape of the original dashboard.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Me being me, i'd use that as a "skeleton" and build a pod over that to mimic the shape of the original dashboard.

Yes Dave, that was more or less my thinking - get it looking similar to Mr Volvo's idea.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

Yes Dave, that was more or less my thinking - get it looking similar to Mr Volvo's idea.

That's what i was hoping! Must admit, i need to follow suit with the engine wiring loom in at least one area on mine - the oil pressure switch! The cable has deteriorated so the blub no longer lights when it should. Might leave it until i do the valve clearances though, might be able to see a bit more then!

I've found the cable for it, i just haven't found the switch itself!

The other thing i'm thinking of is a bespoke phone holder that looks like it was original factory fit - i also have lots of mulling over to do!

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

That's what i was hoping! Must admit, i need to follow suit with the engine wiring loom in at least one area on mine - the oil pressure switch! The cable has deteriorated so the blub no longer lights when it should. Might leave it until i do the valve clearances though, might be able to see a bit more then!

I've found the cable for it, i just haven't found the switch itself!

The other thing i'm thinking of is a bespoke phone holder that looks like it was original factory fit - i also have lots of mulling over to do!

Good morn Dave,

If it is just the one electrical item that is playing up you could just run another wire, it wouldn't even have to follow the original path if that was inconvenient. With the RB most of that loom had problems with the insulation hardening and falling off, which I believe to be a very common fault that affects most pre-1985 cars.

That switch must be down there somewhere! - I'm guessing the engine bay of a 760 is a tad more congested than the 244 :-)

I was thinking of finding a cell phone holder just to cover up that little mark on the dash you may have noticed:



... I rather suspect it is as a result of the PO's cell phone holder. I could fill and paint it, but it would be easier to stick another phone holder over it (also it would be in a better place - I use one stuck on the windscreen at the moment - which is a tad too high.

Another option I thought of was installing a nice big SATNAV touchscreen like this one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-LCD-Tou...6f606fecebfd4f

... but in a neat pod that matched the instrument binnacle so it looked like it is supposed to go there - and routing the power wire through the hole in the dash under it.

Just a few ideas I'm kicking around - the large SATNAV one is favourite at the moment and would be quite useful.

What do you think?

Alan

[Bugjam1999]

Volvo did make a three gauge pod for the top of the dash, they’re very rare though.

This page shows some photos

https://www.240turbo.com/dashgaugepod.html

Cheers

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by Othen

.Another option I thought of was installing a nice big SATNAV touchscreen like this one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-LCD-Tou...6f606fecebfd4f

... but in a neat pod that matched the instrument binnacle so it looked like it is supposed to go there - and routing the power wire through the hole in the dash under it.

Just a few ideas I'm kicking around - the large SATNAV one is favourite at the moment and would be quite useful.

What do you think?

Alan

While certainly useful, Alan, I don't think that, if I were you, I would do this in the R.B. Your car obviously pre-dates the 'built-in' sat-nav era, so any such installation would be both immediately and obviously clearly non-original - a state which you have said you are keen to preserve. The gauges are one thing, being original (optional) equipment - or a close approximation, should you use Chinese copies - but I personally do not feel that a built-in sat-nav would fit comfortably with the R.B.'s ethos. Just my opinion - but it's not my car!

Regards, John.