240 General: New (to me) 1980 Volvo 244

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

The Penta wasn't fitted in cars Alan, not as a standard model anyway. It's actually a marine engine based on the B230 so there would be some bits to be swapped to "de-marinise" it.
Getting a donor car is going to be your best bet, if you're going for a B230E or B23E then the choices are a 240GLT (look out Chris!) from the later 1980s, an 86-90 740GLE and - errr, that's it i think! Maybe a 240GLE but not 100% sure as i think a lot of them had the horrible Pierburg/Solex/Stromberg in-bred carb that isn't the best. Can't remember on the 740GLT if that was K-Jet as well, the later ones weren't, they moved to electronic injection. Aside from a couple of bits (warm-up regulator and cold start valve) the K-Jet is purely mechanical but does need an electric fuel pump or two.

Some more info on the Penta :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_...ne#Volvo_Penta

Further up the same page is a lot more history of the red block including the various engine codes and their meanings plus in typical Wikipedia fashion, you have links to the B20 OHV engine and the history of that including vehicles it was fitted including the C202 which might interest you. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_L3314

As it happens, the plan (as i understand it at the moment) for the AW71L that Luke showed you (the one that's sold) is going to be mated to an AQ151-C then fitted in a hearse. Have a look for "The Morbidmobile Blog" in the 7/900 section if you would like to read more about it.

Enjoy your trip to Pentney today, the weather here in Suffolk is currently overcast but with occasional showers and the sun is trying to make a breakthrough - hopefully similar or better a few miles north of here!

Thank you for that Dave, it is always interesting to get some background.

Our friend in Worcester told me the hearse story, when I get a mo I'll have a look at it is the 900 section.

Pentney was lovely, fine and sunny. Bob is tired out after a day running around with his friend Bella (she is half his age - and wears him out a bit). He has had his dinner and crashed out for a kip :-)

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Hmmmm, you'd need the whole car for the ECUs etc and converting the RB to manual would alter the character of it too much IMHO - adding a few "steroids" to the RB in the form of a 4-speed auto and more power from the engine is one thing but a manual conversion takes things a little too far. Besides, it's a long way to drive with 300kg of engine in the boot!

Agreed Dave, I don't know what I was thinking about even considering a manual - the RB will always be an auto. The AW71 project is still on the cards - I'm just wondering whether it makes sense to upgrade the motor at the same time (you know my reticence about the B21a). If a suitable donor car could be had for £500 like the one in the ad that would be something of a no-brainer.

I think buying a complete donor car (ideally one that drives here with a day or two of MoT left) would be the best way to go if I decide on the complete power train swap. I can imagine that otherwise I'll probably be short of some little component that will take ages to locate and will halt the project.

:-)

[Othen]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

I agree with 'L.S.', Alan. I wouldn't want to reopen the manual vs automatic debate - I know that there are aficionados of each - but, having owned both, I much prefer the automatic 'box. In my view, the 2 and the 7 and 9 series cars are much nicer mated to the relaxed driving characteristics of an auto than they are to a manual 'box. I think you might regret converting the RB to manual transmission and would strongly recommend driving a car so equipped before pursuing the idea. The 4-speed plus O/D box on my 2.3 FI 245 GLT wasn't bad, but I still much preferred our automatic cars - but then, it is a matter of personal choice!

Apropos electrics / electronics: I wouldn't worry over much on this score either. The 9 series cars - certainly the earlier ones - were still essentially very simple cars with nothing like the electronics that one finds in a more recent car. For example, my 944 - a '91 2.3 FI auto - differed little from it's 7 and 2 series predecessors. I think the major differences over my '88 745 were the addition of a catalyst and ABS brakes.

Regards, John.

See above John, as I told LS, the RB will always be an auto (either a BW55 one or an AW71 one). I don't know what I was thinking of this morn.

I think a suitable donor car (with a B23e motor and AW71 box) would be a good thing to look for. As I said to LS, if one could be had for £500 like the one in the ad that would be a no-brainer.

:-)

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

Thank you for that Dave, it is always interesting to get some background.

Our friend in Worcester told me the hearse story, when I get a mo I'll have a look at it is the 900 section.

Pentney was lovely, fine and sunny. Bob is tired out after a day running around with his friend Bella (she is half his age - and wears him out a bit). He has had his dinner and crashed out for a kip :-)

You obviously had similar weather then Bob to what happened here. Sasha had her first walk for two days this afternoon (i don't mind if it's spitting but full-on monsoon is different!) and is asleep near my feet waiting for dinner! Glad you and bob had a nice day out!

Managed to find the Morbidmobile thread without too much hunting :

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=285447

Another long one!

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

You obviously had similar weather then Bob to what happened here. Sasha had her first walk for two days this afternoon (i don't mind if it's spitting but full-on monsoon is different!) and is asleep near my feet waiting for dinner! Glad you and bob had a nice day out!

Managed to find the Morbidmobile thread without too much hunting :

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=285447

Another long one!

What a fascinating the Morbidmobile story is; I skimmed through it, but will revisit it soon.

Bob and I had a lovely day out, he is tired, full of chicken, liver, kidney, heart and steak (his favourite) and snoring away in the kitchen.

:-)

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

What a fascinating the Morbidmobile story is; I skimmed through it, but will revisit it soon.

Bob and I had a lovely day out, he is tired, full of chicken, liver, kidney, heart and steak (his favourite) and snoring away in the kitchen.

:-)

It's definitely a long thread! Quite a story too!

I've got one doing the same as Bob on the end of the sofa, she's full of turkey & duck (according to the tin) & mixer, roast pork, crackling, Yorkies (the batter variety, not the furry), gravy, a few veggies and a few spoonfuls of tiramisu.

As long as she doesn't get the hiccups we'll be fine!

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

It's definitely a long thread! Quite a story too!

I've got one doing the same as Bob on the end of the sofa, she's full of turkey & duck (according to the tin) & mixer, roast pork, crackling, Yorkies (the batter variety, not the furry), gravy, a few veggies and a few spoonfuls of tiramisu.

As long as she doesn't get the hiccups we'll be fine!

I've just read the first 10 pages on the Morbidmobile story - wonderful. I'll read a bit more when Bob and I get back from first walk.

:-)

[360beast]

If you were to turbo the 244 using a donor car it would involve removing your dashboard and heating system to allow you enough room to feed the new loom in. LH2.4 uses a thick loom from the EZK above the drivers feet that then goes along to the N/S of the car and over the heating system, this then goes through a big grommet in to the engine bay. The O/S has engine bay loom through a grommet to the ECU, there are then wires going from the ECU off to the main wiring loom for the fuse box etc, It isn't a quick easy job as I was looking in to converting a 760 V6 to 2.3 turbo, luckily the customer decided on a 940 saloon instead for me to convert that is already running LH2.4.

If it were me I would be building a B230E so you have the 130ish hp to start with, then fitting twin webers, decent manifold and stainless exhaust with a VX3 camshaft. This should see you in the region of a 165hp turbo engine but with no lag and a much nicer noise... less hassle too!

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Othen

I've just read the first 10 pages on the Morbidmobile story - wonderful. I'll read a bit more when Bob and I get back from first walk.

:-)

... I've just finished pp10-20; it is a bit RB-esque (not a bad thing I think).

The bit about the rear lights seemed to go on for ever, but the chap got there in the end (and even seemed to buy himself a multi-meter as some point). I liked the front suspension bit, and I can't wait to find out what the chap decided to do about the wheels and tyres.

Reading it is a bit like catching up on old episodes of 'Homeland' (which I'm doing on Netflix (it is a bit addictive).

:-)

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Othen

... I've just finished pp10-20; it is a bit RB-esque (not a bad thing I think).

The bit about the rear lights seemed to go on for ever, but the chap got there in the end (and even seemed to buy himself a multi-meter as some point). I liked the front suspension bit, and I can't wait to find out what the chap decided to do about the wheels and tyres.

Reading it is a bit like catching up on old episodes of 'Homeland' (which I'm doing on Netflix (it is a bit addictive).

:-)

... pp21-30 read: I can't wait to find out whether the chap did bought a donor car and swapped the engine and gearbox, but it will have to wait until later. Places to go, people to see, things to do ...