My 240GLE

[SirNemesis]

Well, it's been awhile... I sold my '84 240GLE several years ago but the time has come to purchase another Volvo. I've got big plans for this, but it will be a slow process, so don't rush me



I picked up this clean 85' 240GLE recently for the tidy sum of AU$300. The seller indicated that he hadn't serviced it at all during the 2 years he had owned it, and used it as his daily driver. He only stopped using it recently because it kept stalling, overheating, power-steering didn't work, needed a new battery and he didn't have the time/money to clean it up. Safe to say, I think I scored a bargain.

I've purchased a new battery for it, reconnected the hose to the idle air motor to stop it idling, put a hose clamp on the pressure bottle hose to stop it overheating and filled the ps fluid up. Everything is working perfectly now.

Still needs a bit of a cleanup and a service, but I'll get around to that all in good time.





The long-term plan is a nice weekend-sleeper, that will eventually (very long term) become more of a suprise 1/4 mile rocket.

Little teaser shot of some plans...

[AndrewEG]

you had me laughing my arse off yesterday mate. Good to see a thread! Just need to add LS1 into the title somewhere, and maybe turbo

[Råda]

Nice 240, do want.
Here that car would be a GLT

[Mike87]

Originally Posted by Råda

Nice 240, do want.
Here that car would be a GLT

Also here! GLE has many chrome parts, this is similar to a Turbo

BTW very nice 244, like it so much

[Paddler Ed]

UK market is a GLT as well; they carried that nomenclature in Australia right up to the 850, we had an 850 that was similar to a GLT but with the 10V engine, rather than the 20v that the GLT typically had in the UK.

Looks good though! Good Luck with it, hopefully when I'm over I'll do a run down to Melbourne again to see my brother and the Bruces then.

[Crazychopstick]

Sweet color

[professor245]

Yeah all black trim on 240 is GLT in Europe, or Turbo, they kept GLT for a while my 2000. S70 is GLT

+my favorite front end

[SirNemesis]

Thanks guys. None of the 2-series carry the GLT badging in Australia as far as I know, also no factory turbo ones here either :(

[SirNemesis]

Well, I started working on this yesterday. While the intention for this car is to not use the Volvo engine, I do intend on driving it on the street occasionally. While engineering with my chosen engine would be possible in Australia, it is significantly more expensive (thousands of dollars) than I would like to spend for the convenience. So instead, I'm going to get the car roadworthy and registered with the standard engine first, and then swap it over.

Couple of things I've noticed that will be required for roadworthy are 2 power steering rack boots, and a nasty oil leak from what appears to be the front cam seal. I pulled the front of the engine apart yesterday and cleaned up the mess caused by the seal. Looks like it was the culprit so I changed it over, and gave the front of the engine a bit of a clean-up.



Also pulled the rocker cover off the engine to have a look inside. I dare say this engine hasn't had an oil change for a very long time...



I knocked the belt off the distributor drive accidently, so now I'll need to pull the balancer off to check the timing is set correctly. Job for another day...

[SirNemesis]

Alright, replaced the seal, set the belt and reassembled the engine. Working nicely now!

Noticed a few leaks on the steering rack and after further inspection the whole rack is toast, needs to be replaced. Also got the bonnet latch out as you need to be Hercules to pull it at the moment.





First of the goodies arrived yesterday...

[The Redeemer]

Gross! If car neglect came in a packet, this should be on the cover.
But wow, what a bargain for your 300. Nice work so far!

[Aussie240]

Did you get a chance to ae what camshaft version is installed in this!
And keep us posted as this will be ver excite to see!

[SirNemesis]

Thanks guys

Originally Posted by Aussie240

Did you get a chance to ae what camshaft version is installed in this!
And keep us posted as this will be ver excite to see!

I have no idea, how do I check?

[Fisherman]

Theres a letter in the back of the camshaft. Nice looking GLE. I like!

[SirNemesis]

Originally Posted by Fisherman

Theres a letter in the back of the camshaft. Nice looking GLE. I like!

Cheers. Once I get a roadworthy certificate and pull the engine out I'll pull the camshaft and have a look

[SirNemesis]

[SirNemesis]

Little update on the car. The steering racks been changed over and I've taken the car in for a roadworthy inspection. All passed without incident, and then transferred the registration into my name.

So now the fun begins. In this part of Australia we do not require yearly roadworthy inspections, only on initial registration. So, I can now pull out the Volvo engine to make way for the LS1 engine!

I've also made a little video of the car as it sits, and I'll continue to make more videos as I make progress. Seems to be a better way of showing things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SOE-mlJxfc

Progress pictures coming soon...

[SirNemesis]

Forgot all about this thread! Have made some progress.

First up, AndrewEG checked clearances with my spare LS2 block in his 242 chassis. Seems to fit ok.







I picked up a complete LS2/L76 engine for cheap, but it had a little damage.



Sold the heads from it because they are worth a fair bit, got some cheap standard LS1 heads to use instead.

Picked up a near-new stock piston and rod set.



Cleaned up the engine a little



Put the crank back in with the 24x reluctor conversion (to suit LS1 PCM).



Old rings weren't happy due to the ringland failure, need to replace these.



Plenty of spare pistons and rods now...



First order from the US arrived :D



Quick/sloppy hand hone and the short is reassembled.



eBay headstud kit fits well. ARP is too expensive for me.



Picked up one of these really cheap.



Looks pretty good!



Picked up a TH400 that 'may' be rebuilt. Unknown condition really, but the price was right.



Brian Tooley valve spring kit installed on the LS1 241 heads.



Finally making a start pulling some parts out of the Volvo.







And slot the LS1+TH400 in for clearance testing. Looking good!



LS1 coils don't fit, no clearance.



But L76/LS3 coils fit perfectly!



Won't be needing heater or aircon, so lots of crap can come out of the dash.







Bonnet clearance just makes it with the Edelbrock intake.



And just a quick shot of AndrewEG's engine mounts. These are just the prototype, still some small adjustments to make.

[245wagon]

Wow, impressive stuff!

[Manbeard]

looks like vthat bay was made for a v8

[+Kardboard+]

Hot dang.

[Old Iron]

Wow, I usually don't get excited about these kinds of Swaps, bit this is going to be cool!

[slow240]

snag that rear cam seal retainer off the old engine before you send it off! its a nice piece to have on a DD 240

[Forg]

Those coils ... you might end up having to replace your brake reservoir with something a bit smaller, that's really tight for how much an engine moves around (and I'm pretty sure that when you accelerate it leans that way?).

[SirNemesis]

Originally Posted by slow240

snag that rear cam seal retainer off the old engine before you send it off! its a nice piece to have on a DD 240

Will do, thanks mate.

Originally Posted by Forg

Those coils ... you might end up having to replace your brake reservoir with something a bit smaller, that's really tight for how much an engine moves around (and I'm pretty sure that when you accelerate it leans that way?).

Nar engine won't move very much with the mounts Andy made, they are almost solid. I'm of the impression the other side of the engine lifts anyway.