1980 262c (haters of the 8 cylinders be forewarned)

[superstitious-hyperrealist]

I know this car is blasphemous to some people, but oh well. My dad and I have had this car for about 2 years now and are slowly making progress on it. Like the title says, its a 1980 262c. When we aquired it, it had a chevy 350 in it with an auto th400 tranny.
So far, we've added a new steering wheel(just a volvo wheel in good shape), plug wires, the gt braces, removed the solid metal motor mounts and put normal rubber mounts on. Poly suspension bushings, ipd lowering springs, sachs advantage struts/shocks, ipd sways, ipd adj. panhard rod, overhauled brakes(braided stainless lines, new rotors, rebuilt calipers, new pads, new brake master cylinder). We have also tuned the carb a little bit. edit: forgot to add we replaced the steering rack as well.

What we have left to do: install two new rear brake pressure regulators(i thought $75 was expensive from groton, try $250 from the stealership!!! but alas they were ordered today), prolly put on refurbished virgos that we have sitting in the garage, new tires, paint job(on hold until brakes are sorted out), possible dyno/carb tune time and a tru trac lsd.

Below are several pictures I took this past weekend. Be sure to give any suggestions, criticisms, etc.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/HulkHoganWillRapeYourDad/000_0530.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/HulkHoganWillRapeYourDad/000_0531.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/HulkHoganWillRapeYourDad/000_0533.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/HulkHoganWillRapeYourDad/74410a7a.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/HulkHoganWillRapeYourDad/000_0535.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/HulkHoganWillRapeYourDad/000_0536.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/HulkHoganWillRapeYourDad/000_0532.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

[Turborg]

You need not apologize for this car! It looks great and it is very obvious that you guys have a good plan and have done some excellent work. The appearance of the car is outstanding. I love the stock interior!
I also am a big fan of Chevy power, and have built several engines myself. I have never been a fan of the V-6 anyway(no particular reason) so to me a chevy powered Bertone 240 Volvo is kind of the best of two worlds. You have a good plan on the suspension and it should be a really fun car to drive! Keep up the good work!

[RedFridge]

Absolutely beautiful.

No hating here...but lots of thanks for keeping that car alive and beautiful.

Job well done.

[superstitious-hyperrealist]

Hey, thanks a lot for the compliments. I have a lot to learn about Chevy engines(we've always had volvo powered cars), but they arent that complicated and I'm willing to learn.

[luke242ti]

Great looking car!

You say a paint job is down the road!? It looks good to me, well as good as a 20+ year old car can be. The hood, roof and trunk look a bit worn. But nothing a good cut and buff couldnt revive, to a point at least.

That motor looks to be itching for a set of headers :)

Hey, thanks a lot for the compliments. I have a lot to learn about Chevy engines(we've always had volvo powered cars), but they arent that complicated and I'm willing to learn.

You will have no problems figuring out that 350 motor! Tis a simple carbed beast by comparison the the Volvos.

enjoy the power :)
If you had the inkling I bet an EFI conversion wouldnt be too difficult.
take are

[volvorod85]

Youve got one problem I can see....No PCV valve. Common mistake. Basically, it will keep you from creating oil leaks and its better for the motor in general. You need a PCV valve hooked up to manifold vacuum, either the front of my favuorite edelbrock carb, or right off the manifold. The PCV valce goes in one valve cover. There cannot be a breather in that cover. the breathers go in the opposite cover....so the crankcase gasses get sucked from one cover, and the fresh air goes into the other cover.....Its a driver, so a PCV system is definatly recommended.
Mark

[superstitious-hyperrealist]

Great looking car!

You say a paint job is down the road!? It looks good to me, well as good as a 20+ year old car can be. The hood, roof and trunk look a bit worn. But nothing a good cut and buff couldnt revive, to a point at least.

That motor looks to be itching for a set of headers :)

The paint isn't really too bad, but it had been repainted previously and apparently it was a cheap job. So we're gonna get a good one slapped on there.
About headers. I would love to get some. But I'm not sure if I could get any to fit. Its pretty tight in there. I'm gonna have to look into it though.
I've thought about getting a junkyard 350 to take apart and put back together just to know what it's all about. I'm also gonna buy some literature about building them up. EFI could be a possibility in the future, but for now, I just want it to run smoothly.

Thanks for the compliments though.

[superstitious-hyperrealist]

Mark(Volvorod),
Thanks for letting me know about the PCV valve. It makes sense. I just never thought about it. It will definately be something we do.

~Nick

[PRVersion]

I have a lot to learn about Chevy engines(we've always had volvo powered cars), but they arent that complicated and I'm willing to learn.

i think the part about sb chevy engines being not that complicated is the understatement of the week.

and while i normally am a v8 hater, seeing it in there, and the car as a whole, really, it seems that the 262 should have had a v8 from the get-go. so well done :)

[volvorod85]

and while i normally am a v8 hater, seeing it in there, and the car as a whole, really, it seems that the 262 should have had a v8 from the get-go. so well done :)

Its funny...my boss said the exact thing last week when we were talkin about the 242 i just bought.
Mark

[mr brick driver]

Nice car. I like black 240s and 280 for that matter! I think that I would leave the coronas on the car for a more sleeper/stealth look. I like virgo's but, I think the Coronas look more at home on this car. Good luck and happy bricking.

[CountOfNowhere]

looks fantastic. I agree with mr brick driver. Virgos would look horrible on that car, I think. The Coronas look good, they're just too damn small and skinny.

It really does look fantastic tho... The interior looks very nice.

[superstitious-hyperrealist]

We lucked out on the interior being pretty damn good. About the virgos. I've seen a couple of 262s with them on and thought they looked pretty good. Although the coronas are fairly light. I guess time will tell with that though. I doubt I can afford it, but I would like to get some widened steel wheels for it in the future.

[BDKR]

I think the car is cool. I'm not into push-rod V8's anymore, but they are to be respected. An arse kickin' 262 is a thing of majesty. Keep it up!

[pwschuh]

A pair of block-hugger headers made for a street-rod would probably fit.

[swedishiron.com]

A good-running Chebby V-8 is better any day than a dead (or soon to be dead) PRV-6 in my book. Nice job of bringing it back to life and taking care of it!
JD

[superstitious-hyperrealist]

A good-running Chebby V-8 is better any day than a dead (or soon to be dead) PRV-6 in my book. Nice job of bringing it back to life and taking care of it!
JD

A dead PRV-6 was exactly the reason this car got a V8. Thanks for the comments. We should have the brake pressure regulators(brake valves) installed in a day or two.

[VQ]

i think the part about sb chevy engines being not that complicated is the understatement of the week.

and while i normally am a v8 hater, seeing it in there, and the car as a whole, really, it seems that the 262 should have had a v8 from the get-go. so well done :)

Wel if it wasn't for the fuel scare in the 70's the PRV would've been a V8, but no, they got scared and chopped off the two fornt cylinders and made it a roughish 6.

[blacknite3]

I remember reading about a Volvo 240 owner years ago, long before I registered for this board when it was still in its infancy, that had built a full drag car from it. It was powered by a Chevy V8 and the guy was trying to get Volvo to donate a set of Penta valve covers. The Penta V8 engine was/is essentially a Chevy 305 or 350. I can't remember if the covers say Penta or Volvo, but it would be a slick way to blend the Chevy V8 into the Volvo. It wouldn't seem like so much of a stretch from the Swedish bloodline ;-).

I've always liked the 262 but know that the V6 isn't Volvo's best moment.

It would look pretty nice to add a V8 emblem from the new XC90 :).

[Silver Bullet]

are you kidding, i love V8s and one in a Volvo makes it so much cooler, nice car :cheers: