Buying a 440 in 2024

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

My first Volvo was a 3 year old 440 Turbo back in 1992. It's a real wolf in sheeps clothing - brilliant car.

Usual checks for a 30-40 year old car, rust etc. especially door bottoms and rear wheel arches.

I'd add check all electrics are working well - including door locks, windows, instruments, speedo etc.

Check the engine will run for periods at full boost, i.e. accelerate hard to as a fast as you dare. If the wastegate is siezed or vacuum pipe damaged it will overboost and then abruptly cut power.

Check exhaust is in good condition, all suspension rubbers etc.

The Turbo models had standard car brakes which weren't really up to sustained hard driving, so make sure good quality pads and discs are fitted.

These cars had a Renault engine which is solid but starters and alternators often didn't make 100k.

Back 30 years ago I developed a simple turbo boost control unit which basically took over the control of the turbo control valve from the ECU..

The system is mapped to 150 bhp but only allowed 120 bhp from the factory. so with a rotating potentiometer you could vary the power from the standard 120 bhp to 150 bhp.. I sold about 20 of these units all were very successful ! Porsche developed the 400 1700cc turbo engine for Volvo.