Volvo Community Forum. The Forums of the Volvo Owners Club

Forum Rules Volvo Owners Club About VOC Volvo Gallery Links Volvo History Volvo Press
Go Back   Volvo Owners Club Forum > "Technical Topics" > 200 Series General

Notices

200 Series General Forum for the Volvo 240 and 260 cars

Information
  • VOC Members: There is no login facility using your VOC membership number or the details from page 3 of the club magazine. You need to register in the normal way
  • AOL Customers: Make sure you check the 'Remember me' check box otherwise the AOL system may log you out during the session. This is a known issue with AOL.
  • AOL, Yahoo and Plus.net users. Forum owners such as us are finding that AOL, Yahoo and Plus.net are blocking a lot of email generated from forums. This may mean your registration activation and other emails will not get to you, or they may appear in your spam mailbox

Thread Informations

240(245) Minor restoration

Views : 3855

Replies : 24

Users Viewing This Thread :  

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old Jan 12th, 2015, 20:51   #1
presario85
New Member
 

Last Online: Feb 22nd, 2015 20:36
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Newtownards
Default 240(245) Minor restoration

Hi folks,

Last week I purchased a 240 that's in brilliant mechanical condition. It's rot free (mostly) and extremely solid, but just needs some minor sprucing up, mainly to the interior. The car was purchased as something retro to pull my caravan with and I'd no intentions of doing any restoration work, but now that I have her, she seems to have wormed her way into my affections in just a week and now I'm going to do some work to bring her back to her best!

I'll put up some 'before' pictures at the weekend, and post weekly updates on the work I'm doing. I'm sure you've all got better things to do than read my ramblings about some minor work I'm doing to my old motor, but I'm putting this up mainly as a motivational tool to keep myself going to finish the jobs and in the hope that some kind and wise Volvo guru out there would be willing to give some advice and tips for me!

I've purchased a couple of interior bits and pieces which I need, but I need some other bits and pieces - so if anyone has any interior bits that they'd be willing to sell (especially plastics - A pillar covers, Handbrake surrounds, door pockets and a good condition tan leather drivers seat) please let me know.

On a starter point, I've a bit of a problem with my door speakers - they've been replaced by a previous owner and the replacements must be too deep as they prevent the windows going down. Can anyone recommend a good modern replacement speaker which wouldn't have this problem?

Things I've managed to source and order so far include door handle surrounds, speaker grills, clear indicator lens covers and the vital SEM colourcoat tan/camel interior paint.

So there we go - a little intro from me and hopefully someone out there will be able/willing to give a little advice and maybe find a bit of interest in my ramblings!

Michael
presario85 is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to presario85 For This Useful Post:
Old Jan 12th, 2015, 21:15   #2
martinsimart
Member
 

Last Online: Oct 12th, 2015 19:30
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Keighley
Default

Looking forward to seeing your progress

Good luck

Mart
martinsimart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 12th, 2015, 22:37   #3
stephend
Premier Member
 

Last Online: Dec 23rd, 2023 22:20
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: S. Wales
Default

So do I.

They have character, these old Volvos, don't they?
__________________
1989 740 GL 2.0 estate
2000 V40 2.0 (gone)
2005 Toyota Avensis 2.0 estate (gone)
2012 Ford Mondeo 2.2 TDCi estate
1999 Land Rover Discovery 2 TD5
stephend is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 12th, 2015, 23:29   #4
Angie
Premier Member
 
Angie's Avatar
 

Last Online: Mar 22nd, 2024 23:33
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Lostwithiel
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by presario85 View Post
Hi folks,

Last week I purchased a 240 that's in brilliant mechanical condition. It's rot free (mostly) and extremely solid, but just needs some minor sprucing up, mainly to the interior. The car was purchased as something retro to pull my caravan with and I'd no intentions of doing any restoration work, but now that I have her, she seems to have wormed her way into my affections in just a week and now I'm going to do some work to bring her back to her best!



Michael
They seem to have a habit of doing that!
Angie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 13th, 2015, 10:33   #5
Antz
No I'm not the redhead
 
Antz's Avatar
 

Last Online: Nov 25th, 2022 10:49
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: North Yorkshire Coast
Default

Im using a small pair of Pioneer speakers in my 240. Cant remember the model number of them but they are roughly the same size as Peugeot 106 rear speakers.

I cut the original speakers out of the square plate they are part of, bolted the new speakers to the plate and this enabled me to keep the original speaker covers too.
__________________
1988 Volvo 240 GLT T5

Swap a T5 motor into your RWD Volvo:The Guide
Antz is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Antz For This Useful Post:
Old Jan 14th, 2015, 16:43   #6
presario85
New Member
 

Last Online: Feb 22nd, 2015 20:36
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Newtownards
Smile

Thanks for the support folks, another quick question.

I've been doing some window-shopping of similair cars and I've seen a few nice touchs added that I liked and would like to replicate. I've been able to source most bits I need but one thing I seen that I couldnt find was an alternative grille for the front of the car which, rather than having just vertical 'fins', had both horizontal and vertical.

Anyone any ideas on where I'd go to get one of these?
presario85 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 14th, 2015, 20:16   #7
Jack Spaniel
Senior Member
 
Jack Spaniel's Avatar
 

Last Online: Jun 20th, 2017 20:13
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Portsmouth
Default

That's called the egg box grille. Not sure you can buy them new but I have seen them occasionally on the sales section on here.
__________________
Previous Cars
1 x 1999 V70 2.0 10v
3 x 245
1 x 244
Jack Spaniel is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Jack Spaniel For This Useful Post:
Old Jan 16th, 2015, 22:26   #8
presario85
New Member
 

Last Online: Feb 22nd, 2015 20:36
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Newtownards
Default

I've been doing a lot of searching this week for options to do with my front seats.

I've been quoted £300 to repair the front seats and £500 to replace the covers and foam with matching material. Neither of these seem like good value for money to me. I've also been unable to find a second hand tan leather seats.

I have however found an early Volvo v70 with mint interior nearby for for £400. I know that front seats swaps can be done, but I just don't know how hard it is - has anyone done this before and can you offer any advice?

Thanks,
Michael
presario85 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 16th, 2015, 22:34   #9
oblark
Member
 

Last Online: Aug 11th, 2023 22:19
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Hampshire
Default

I`ve looked into fitting 850 seat into my 240 and I`ve found a few things.

1. the seat runnings on the 850 are wider than the 240
2. Brackets would have to be made to fit the front & rear mounting piont.
__________________

1996 850 AWD M4.4 ECU with COP`s, K24 turbo, 3.25" MAF,
oblark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 18th, 2015, 21:54   #10
presario85
New Member
 

Last Online: Feb 22nd, 2015 20:36
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Newtownards
Default

Hi guys!
As promised, a wee update!

I've been thinking about the 240 all week, trying to think about exactly what to do with her. I want to give a new lease of life, but despite her great all round condition, she's never going to be concourse. I've therefore decided to go down the mild resto-mod route. I know this may be slightly controversial with the purists, but it's what I think is right for the car in this instance and what will mean she'll get used most and draw the most attention.

So I managed to get a couple of hours on the car today (though with the kids helping that means about 20 minutes work!). Here's a couple of the pics of the car at the start of today......




First thing to note, is that she is remarkably clean. no visible rot whatsoever and (touch wood, mechanically very good).

Here's a few issues that I plan to work on in the next couple of weeks.....

Mismatched door pockets - previous owner seems to have been unable to get hold of tan door pockets so has purchased black ones, missing door handle surround trims, missing speaker grills etc.


Front seats - passenger seat is in salvageable condition, but as you'll see the drivers seat is shot - foam is completely gone and the leather is dry, cracked and torn. Also note the missing door handle surround



Front indicator lens' - original orange colour lens'


Driver's side tail light lens cracked and damaged and missing trim (1xhockey stick and 1xstraight)


Other issues I want to look at the take her down the resto-mod route are the orange repeater lights and the all important ride height (i'll come back to that in a moment!)

So, as I said, I had a bit of time today and addressed a few issues, firstly the door pockets - I used the correct SEM Colorcoat paint (eventually sourced online for a very reasonable £10 + VAT per tin). I also tracked down door handle surrounds (black) and speaker grills (though these havent arrived just yet).


after a few coats, these came up well - here's a wee pic of the pieces back in situ..



next my boys and I tackled the lens'. Here's a pic of the almost finished product. (amber bulbs not yet installed at this point). I got these from parts for volvos online for a very reasonable £10 per corner


I've been doing a bit of research regarding the seats. Good condition, tan leather 2nd hand ones just dont exist (or so it would seem) so I got some quotes to repair or get new seat covers and with prices ranging from £350 - £800 it just seems too expensive for me. I done some (read as several nights up to the wee hours) reading around online as to solutions and 1 alternative which was raised on another forum was Alfa Romeo 156 seats. I've owned 5 Alfa 156s over the years and my favourite aspect of them is the interior. The article I read said theyre a great colour match and very easily adapted, so an hour after reading this, I'd found a pair 60 miles away for £60 in the right colour so I jumped in the Volvo and went purchasing! Here's a pic of the seats I got. theyre not perfect - very very dirty, but I gave them a quick clean and as you'll see in the pic theyre already starting to come up nice and the colour match is unbelievable, they look like they were made for the car. Next weekend I'll tackle the rail mods to make them fit!


That brings me to the ride height! Again, I've been doing my research and it would seem most people seem to agree that a 40mm drop on the front is as low as you can go without messing with the steering geometry, so that's the front taking car of itself. So it's just the rear end to sort. My 240 is going to be used for towing my caravan in the summer so I cant do anything too crazy. I spoke to the folks over at classicswede and they've given me 2 options which may suit -

40mm front drop, 20mm at rear. This would give a nice 'nose down' stance and with only a 20mm drop at the rear, it'd still be fine for towing, or......

40mm front drop, 60mm rear drop but with the addition of adjustable perches. This would have her sitting nice and low and even out the arch gap out, whilst the adjustable perches would allow me to raise the suspension back up to tow the caravan. I can see the advantage of both and the price difference is only £75 so I'm really not sure which way to go - has anyone got any advice or experience in this area?

So that's it for now! Apologies for the ramblings and the typos, but hopefully someone found it interesting and, as always, any suggestions or input is always very welcome!

Thanks.....
Michael
presario85 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 15:49.


Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.