My New 1990 245 DL, $225 fixer, 56K no thx

[Sean]

I have been wanting a 90+ 245 for a long time with their big window tailgate and other niceties. I found this car on CL listed for $300:"
1990 Volvo 240DL Wagon, 5spd, A/C, Pwr doors/windows/brakes, 200k miles, needs front end work. Car was in an accident the first part of December and needs front sheet metal work. Was a family car driven on a daily basis up until that point. Title is clear and in my possession. Car will start right up but no drivable at this point. Sold as is, where is. Contact Sean at 5******** for more info. "
<p>
It was close (20 mins) and I wanted a 1990+ wagon and this would be about the only way I could afford one; so I went and looked at it on 1/16/06. I had called the seller 1-15-06 he said, "oh yeah it drives but the fan isn't turning cause it's against the radiator, but the radiator isn't leaking" it has 218K but runs well, sounds good has good power.<p>
I was thinking oh well probably bad frame damage (and I don't want to mess with that), since the fan is into the radiator. But I had another reason for driving to the town; SO I went and looked at it; the fan was only against the Radiator SHROUD, and the car was really pretty clean (except the interior looked like someone had dumped a 12 pack of beer on the pass side), I drove it back and forth, R was a little hard to get it into at first but I think I am just not used to the M47 shift pattern. So I offered $225 he took it.<p>
So I drove the car home Saturday 1/21/06, drove well, plenty of power, no overheating, no issues (I removed fan shroud and hood, folded hood and put into back of car). The only things I noted were the tailgate wiper not working (checked and harness is all broken), and clutch would slip if I floored it I am hoping this is a kink in clutch cable or something, but if not she'll get a Getrag.<p>
Anyway onto the pics, below is when I went to look at it:
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658428.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658429.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658430.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658432.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658433.jpg
<p>
Ok some interior pics when I got it home, before I cleaned it, vacuum in car is because I snapped a pic right before vacuuming each section. After pictures will be loaded on in a few...
<p>
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658435.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658450.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658447.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658451.jpg
I think the pic below of the back seat pass side, it smelled strongly of beer, I think he musta been drinking and when he crashed it broke open the 12 pack of bottles or something. It was NASTY.
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658453.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658454.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658456.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658436.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658437.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658443.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658496.jpg
<p>On the pic above, why does the panel between the deat back and the cargo area floor not sit down flush without weight on it? is there an adjustment for this? I am used to the old style where they are levered off the seat and go flush when seat goes down. This style seems to be sprung seperately and no connection to seatback.
<p>
And the fender right before I removed it, I had already removed the bumper.
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658445.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658466.jpg

So far I have spent ~1 hour cleaning, ~1 hours pulling fender and cowl and bumper..
The car had a nice battery no problems, the right headlight is good just the mounting black plastic plate is destroyed, grille is cracked, probably zip-tie-able.
<P>
Once I can get me hands on the body panels I want I will straighten the front and have the frame checked and straightened if necessary. I am fairly excited, oh I will post the after cleaning pics after I get them uploaded.
<p>
If anybody in Oregon has the front right fender from an 86+ they want to part with let me know, also anyone who has an 86+ hood that wants to trade it for a flathood? also bumper and radiator supprt, and front cowl. Any other parts you can see I need that you have in Oregon, I am trying to keep this cheap as I surely can't afford anything else so it will wait until I can find some cheap parts.
<p>
OK now some after pics of the interior and exterior:
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658527.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658596.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658612.jpg
Interior:
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658618.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658619.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658621.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658616.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658602.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658607.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658608.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/39355/658598.jpg




More info on car here (http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?p=671411#post671411)

Sean

[Three Fat Tigers]

I have no doubt it will need some frame straightening. Don't think I've ever seen a '90+ with a blue interior, but I know they made them at least through '92.

[CAPT_BLOTTO]

just buff it

[Sean]

yes I know that the right frame rail will need straightening, as I said it will be something I will address when I get the body manual and a lead on parts.
Sean

[Homer]

I have no doubt it will need some frame straightening. Don't think I've ever seen a '90+ with a blue interior, but I know they made them at least through '92.
Really I thought that blue int. was very common. That's what I have myself.

[ElPiloto]

Just look at this as a way to build the car the way YOU want it. I always look at any car I get as the starting point.

Take your time and do it right.

[isaac]

I didn't even know blue pleather even existed in Volvos. That's messed up. Still a decent grab. I too lust after the large tailgate on a Volvo.

[coldfusion21]

yea, my wagon happens to have the blue vinyl **** too. Those seats make me love my cloth...

[noz-e8tr]

You know..It's good to know that on a 16 year old car, the Airbag still worked as designed...

[ZyreX]

You know..It's good to know that on a 16 year old car, the Airbag still worked as designed...
Very good point, my man..

but what now? is it possible to put in a new airbag?

[Sean]

First of all; yes I am planning on making this jsut as I want it. I have a 1991 B230ft with lh2.4 and complete harness and all parts (I was going to swap entire engine into my 75 but I am now just going to add parts to this engine), I will be +T ing this after the body repair is complete, I have a .60/.63, 3" exhaust, IPD sways front and rear, IPD lowering springs (front, rears I want something else), hydras, and a pair of new black leather sport seats. That is the plan for this car, and I imagine I will also replace the M47 with a Getrag along the way.
<p>
The reason that I hadn't done my other wagon with the parts listed above is that I didn't have an LH 2.4 flywheel so this is a WHOLE lot easier than swapping it all into my 1975, even including the bodywork and frame straightening.
<p>
Yes I have a new airbag and airbag module sourced for $50, so it's not impossible to replace them.

<p> and finally, does anyone know why Snapandshare is totally sucking donkey balls today? It keeps crashing on my uploads and not loading anything, I have the "after" pictures and want to put them up, seriously fun to see how this car cleaned up with 1 hr of vacuuming with 6hp shop vac.

<p>
So I guess I do need to research the LH2.4 +ting procedure, but I am damn sure I have everything already so it won't be costly. What are the limitations of the LH2.4 +T compared to MSnS?

Thanks all!
Sean

[Three Fat Tigers]

Another tip: pull the carpets out and use some soap with oxyclean mixed in, then use a pressure washer to rinse them off. You'd be surprised how nice they will turn out.

[Sean]

Another tip: pull the carpets out and use some soap with oxyclean mixed in, then use a pressure washer to rinse them off. You'd be surprised how nice they will turn out.

Thanks TFT,
The carpet pretty much looks mint now except behing and underneath the drivers seat where it looks like whoever owned this car had a serious hand to mouth problem.
<p> Check updated pictures in the original post.
<p> As in they couldn't seem to get the food from their had to their mouth, at least without dropping a LOT of it.
<p>The PO told me about his accident (oak tree from the branch remnants in the engine bay and interior) how he hit a tree. I asked him how the airbag treated him and he was like "Yeah the airbag was good; I didn't really know what happened I woke up and there was a bunch of dust in the air and I realized that the airbag had gone off"
<p> I am pretty sure this was a alcohol related accident after cleaning out ~3 month old sitting beer out of the back seat floorwell. I think he must have had something to drink perhaps on his way home from buying beer (maybe it was a drunk beer run we'll never know) and when he hit the tree it spilled all the beer. I can't explain the distinct smell of beer that was in the back carpet otherwise, plus there isn't any sign of leakage from the doors or windows. <p>

The car had been sitting since thanksgiving which is why it had that serious mildew problem, as you can tell oregon during the Winter and Fall is a moist environment. I don't think it helped that they didn't empty any of the spill or clean it at all.
<p>
Anyway check the updated pics in the Original post and comments are welcome.<p>
Sean

[klr142]

Really I thought that blue int. was very common. That's what I have myself.
ME too... But cloth...

Sean, what do you want to know about lh2.4+T? I've been researching it for a couple months now... Send me a PM or something.

[Sean]

Did anyone even see the afters? damn I thought it turned out pretty well considering it was only an hour or so with a shop vac and some towels.
Sean

[fivealive]

Haha now we can be wagon buddies :)

What's funny is that if you didn't want a newer wagon with the big window & other niceties, you probably could've bought the '82 245 off of your brother for cheap.

Glad you didn't tho cause I'm so happy I bought that car, it's been totally sweet. I have put about 1500 miles on it and have maybe $700 in it total. It gets 32mpg freeway also so good for the wallet too. The interior is much, much nicer than before as well - it cleaned up nicely with the help of some junkyard runs.

Too bad about the beer, but it looks like you got it cleaned up very nicely. I had to deal with a similar problem restoring the '82 - the mouse had gotten into a lot more than just the rear storage compartment. Had to replace the headliner and clean some mouse nests out of the doors to get rid of the smell :-P I used a lot of orange cleaner lol.

If you didn't see these pics of the '82, here they are:

http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=59778

[Sean]

Haha now we can be wagon buddies :)

What's funny is that if you didn't want a newer wagon with the big window & other niceties, you probably could've bought the '82 245 off of your brother for cheap.

Glad you didn't tho cause I'm so happy I bought that car, it's been totally sweet. I have put about 1500 miles on it and have maybe $700 in it total. It gets 32mpg freeway also so good for the wallet too. The interior is much, much nicer than before as well - it cleaned up nicely with the help of some junkyard runs.

Too bad about the beer, but it looks like you got it cleaned up very nicely. I had to deal with a similar problem restoring the '82 - the mouse had gotten into a lot more than just the rear storage compartment. Had to replace the headliner and clean some mouse nests out of the doors to get rid of the smell :-P I used a lot of orange cleaner lol.

If you didn't see these pics of the '82, here they are:

http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=59778

Yeah adam, I already had the smurf
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/37185/652912.jpg
http://album8.snapandshare.com/25778/37185/652910.jpg
That was what I was going to do my driver wagon project out of, swap in B230ft, getrag, lh2.4, black leather in, IPD sways, Lowering springs, tinted windows; however I was having a hard time finding the lh2.4 flywheel, and I found this car for $225 so I think that it will be ncie to start out with such amenities as PS, AC, LH2.4 etc etc and not have to do nearly as much work, hell I think I will just +T this engine and if it lets go put in the 1991 b230ft.
Anyway good to see your wagon is looking pimp, can you PM me your phone number again?
Lates,
Sean