1977 Volvo 242 project-b6304/T5

[rms]

Rear brakes lines done and started on the fronts. Pressed in the long BNE studs on the front hubs and mounted up the Brembos. Making progress...slowly.

[itlksez]

That’s beautiful.

[Vol242vo]

Yes!!!

[MikeSr.]

Where are you in Acworth? I am over by the lake.

[rms]

Originally Posted by MikeSr.

Where are you in Acworth? I am over by the lake.

I’m in Brookstone.

[3wagons]

Been a while since I've checked in on your progress. Car is coming along great. Sounds like we may have enough local folks for a cruise in at some point.

[MikeSr.]

We could start an Acworth 242 club- I have 2- ‘81 with LS swap and a stock ‘83 flathood turbo.

[rms]

Looking forward to it!

[white855T]

Originally Posted by rms

Thanks! Beige is definitely last on my favorites list too, but something about the original paint and patina that make this car an exception.

Yo man, Beige is the like the best Volvo color ever! You don't even know how lucky you are...

I just picked a swag table for my bandsaw, can't wait to use it for exhaust stuff. I got mine with the foot switch.

[rms]

Originally Posted by white855T

Yo man, Beige is the like the best Volvo color ever! You don't even know how lucky you are...

I just picked a swag table for my bandsaw, can't wait to use it for exhaust stuff. I got mine with the foot switch.

You’re gonna love the Swag table, and the foot switch is a must! 👍🏻

[rms]

Worked on the interior a little. Dyed the rear carpet black with Rit dye in a tub, and used good front carpet from a 90 in the junkyard. Looks great after a shampoo. Also used the rear seat covers from the 90. My original brown interior had turned purple. This two tone brown/black should look pretty sweet.

[rms]

So I’m changing things up a bit. I’ll be V8 swapping my 242 with a Ford 302, and still using the T-5 transmission. I already have a roller 302 and a set of TFS heads. This will be carbureted as well. I made the motor stands from plans I found on here, and the block bolts in great. Steering shaft is tight and I know the headers will be too.

Also scored some nice wheels from MikeJr on a trade. I think they look pretty sweet. 17x8 et40 with 215/45/17 and a 25mm spacer.

[rms]

My dash pad is in bad shape with multiple cracks, having spent 4 decades under the Florida sun. Fortunately, a great member here had a perfect one and I was lucky enough to score it. Now that the old dash pad is off, I may see about changing out the heater core. I can’t image that’s a fun job.

[740atl]

Awesome project. The 302 is a nice little drop in and the tfs heads will wake it up.

[rms]

Originally Posted by 740atl

Awesome project. The 302 is a nice little drop in and the tfs heads will wake it up.

Thank you! I am definitely more excited about it, now that I’ve changed directions.

[740atl]

I like the little 302. I know it’s not the most advanced or highest flowing or has the most power but it gets the job done. You won’t be disappointed. I just installed an explorer gt40 intake and gt40p heads on my buds 242 302 and it runs great. I chose to use the exploder coils and trigger wheel setup to run edis8. The edis8 starts flawlessly every time.


Not to mention you can almost drop an entire 5.0 drivetrain in the car. Except for the yoshifab ds to diff adapter it’s all stock... and pullapart must have a ton of them in stock.

[rms]

Originally Posted by 740atl

I like the little 302. I know it’s not the most advanced or highest flowing or has the most power but it gets the job done. You won’t be disappointed. I just installed an explorer gt40 intake and gt40p heads on my buds 242 302 and it runs great. I chose to use the exploder coils and trigger wheel setup to run edis8. The edis8 starts flawlessly every time.


Not to mention you can almost drop an entire 5.0 drivetrain in the car. Except for the yoshifab ds to diff adapter it’s all stock... and pullapart must have a ton of them in stock.

I've been a Ford guy my whole life, mostly Mustangs and F100s. I needed a cool project a little out of my comfort zone. When I found this 242, and this forum, I knew that was it. I was really hell-bent originally on using the 6 cylinder white block from the 960 I bought, but now I'm glad I decided to go back to my roots, drivetrain wise. I have a ton of spare Ford parts, like this 302, so it really works for me.

Pull-a-parts here in ATL, 3 of them, are pretty sparse in Mustang stuff. I may be able to score a driveshaft there though.

[matt b]

WHat are you using for a panhard bar ?
Looks good, the dyed carpet looks like it was always black. Loving the progress.

[rms]

Originally Posted by matt b

WHat are you using for a panhard bar ?
Looks good, the dyed carpet looks like it was always black. Loving the progress.

Thanks! I was pleasantly surprised how well the Rit dye worked too.

I have the Kaplhenke V3 panhard bar.

[rms]

Mocked up the bellhousing, trans, and Foxbody driveshaft. Have a Yoshifab adapter coming for the pinion yoke. I’m very pleased, and a little surprised, how well it all fits in then 240. Driveshaft to floor clearance is a little tight at the rear, so I may clearance the tunnel a bit. The shifter even pops through the factory hole perfectly. I’m pretty happy at this point, but I haven’t got to the exhaust yet...😕

[2turbotoys]

Very cool, the 5.0 has one of my favorite exhaust sounds when done right. That is worth a lot in the drivers seat. T5? I missed that part

Edit, it is in the thread title lol, my bad

[rms]

Originally Posted by 2turbotoys

Very cool, the 5.0 has one of my favorite exhaust sounds when done right. That is worth a lot in the drivers seat. T5? I missed that part

Edit, it is in the thread title lol, my bad

Thanks! Agreed, the 5.0 with a mild cam and 40 series flowmasters is an amazing sound. Exactly what this will be. Takes me back to high school days.

[rms]

Mocked up the heads and shorty headers. Just like everyone who has done this said, one driver side tube hits the steering shaft, and the header flange hits the body on the passenger side. Nothing a BFH and some redneck engineering can’t fix.

[rms]

More mock-up and header solutions. The passenger side header flange hit the frame rail, so I cut it off and tacked in a 45 degree elbow. This seems to be a good option, and it’s still removable from the top. Also modified the transmission crossmember for the T-5.

[rms]

Pulled the heater box out to replace the heater core. Decided to strip it all down and clean it. It was pretty filthy. Core was actually fine, but I’ll replace it anyway since I’m here. I just hope I can figure out how to put it back together.