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Is this 1983 244DL a good deal?[850/1995] posted by David Wright on
Thursday, 19 March 1998, at 9:50 a.m.
Help! I found a 1983 244DL that I can get for about $1000. Its needs are as follows(as far as I can tell!):
Valve cover gasket and cam seal leaking
Motor mounts bad(see above, oil leak!)
(Right side engine, chain from exhaust manifold to frame to hold engine in!)
center muffler(resonator?) bad (see above, motor rocking!)
Rack leaking seals, bad boots, and bad inner joints
(Spring compressor in trunk, evidence of alignment to compensate for rack
trouble at Strut mounts)
Wiring trouble under dash
Chrysler Ignition (instead of Bosch)
Brakes UNSAFE!--left front rubber hoses connected together, back brakes only!
Now for the good:
113K
Body straight, no accidents apparent
A/C and A/t good, engine strong
Heater fan good!!!!
interior ok
Basic dash, no sunroof, manual windows
Some specifics, can the rack be rebuilt shade-tree style, or should it be replaced?
Is the car worth it overall with the indicated problems? (I know it can't match my 1983 242GLT!!)
Thanks for any responses, I have only known Volvo since January, but I'M HOOKED!!!
Dave Wright
1983 242GLT 181k SWEET!
Re: Is this 1983 244DL a good deal?[850/1995] posted by Paul S. on
Thursday, 19 March 1998, at 11:42 a.m.
Sounds like a $500 car to me. A chain? Brake hoses connected together? WOW. Buy a rebuilt rack. Not that expensive....rebuilding your own is nasty business and contary to some opinions my rebuilt rack (from Griffiths Technical in NJ) is working great....in fact I replaced the PS pump and lines at the same.
Get this car cheap, (make a low low offer)and good luck.......!
Paul S.
Re: Is this 1983 244DL a good deal?[850/1995] posted by Mark Erickson on
Friday, 20 March 1998, at 5:24 p.m.
This sounds more like a $300.00 car to me....
Just for Reference I bought an 83 244DL last sumemr for $750.00
This was what was wrong with it.
Heater Fan was not working
Body Damage on Right Rear Fender (a Reliant tried to take it on and lost)
Spare Tire Wells rusted out,
Some floor rust and assorted dings, scrapes, ect.
165,000 miles.....
Drivers Lumbar Support Broken
Right side headlights out (corroded connector).
It drove fine and handled well.
Repairs I have done to it...
New Timing Belt
New Heater Fan
New Fuel Filter
New Battery Cable end
Had the wiring connections on the Distributor redone...
Put a hose clamp on the torn boot on the steering rack..
It Still needs:
Belly Pan, New Brakes
My car is ugly and banged up but its a reliable going to work and grocery
getter and I never have to worry about parking it in bad neighborhoods or
door dings... Offer a really Low Price on this car.. it needs Way too much work,
Re: Is this 1983 244DL a good deal?[850/1995] posted by Paul S on
Friday, 20 March 1998, at 7:52 p.m.
Yeah...you're right...those chains holding the engine scare me....the brake stuff is easy though, just start over.
Paul S.
Re: Is this 1983 244DL a good deal?[850/1995] posted by Steve in Orange on
Thursday, 19 March 1998, at 11:54 a.m.
I have been shopping for a 240 for four months and have looked at a lot of cars. Based on my limited experience, I would say do not trust the odometer!
An extraordinary number of volvos from 1980 to 1984 have had broken odometer gears. (See the many posts on this subject.) The odometer may be disconnected. (See the post from Lucia.) It may have been reconnected after 150,000 miles had passed. It may have been deliberately set back. It may have been replaced with a speedo from a low mileage car. It may have been reconnected just to make the sale. I have seen or suspected all of these.
I would pay maybe $300 for the car you describe, and I would NEVER pay a premium for supposedly low mileage unless documented by many years of regular service records showing consistent low annual mileage readings. And I also would want a believeable explanation of why it was only driven 7600 miles per year. Without these, I would assume it really has 250,000 miles or more and price it accordingly.
Re: Is this 1983 244DL a good deal?[850/1995] posted by irv klein on
Thursday, 19 March 1998, at 12:39 p.m.
In the original setup the speedometer to speedometer cable connection has a plastic seal ring around it. If that seal ring is still intact when you get car you can be sure speedo is reading correctly - assuming the odometer works. If the seal ring is missing you know speedo or cable has been worked on, replaced, etc.
Re: Is this 1983 244DL a good deal?[850/1995] posted by Steve in Orange on
Thursday, 19 March 1998, at 2:13 p.m.
Thanks, Irv.
That is a really useful piece of information which could save me a whole lot of headaches when I finally do buy a 240. I will look for that seal.
Steve in Orange
Re: Is this 1983 244DL a good deal?[850/1995] posted by Ted Y. on
Friday, 20 March 1998, at 12:47 a.m.
In my limited experience (medium repair ability on 4 Volvo's I've owned), I DO feel that a leaking rack is bad news unless you figure a new one into your budget.
Side note: I had a 1969 BMW 1600 I only paid $700 for, so when I accidentally broke one of the valve adjusting lobes, and later found out that the car had a cracked head ($500-750 for a "bolt on" head), I didn't feel too bad rolling the car down the street and "walking away".
One thing Volvo's are really great at; you can drive one in piss-poor condition for a long time, and they won't complain much....
My 2 cents,
Ted (Bundy) Y.
Re: Is this 1983 244DL a good deal?[850/1995] posted by Mark Neal on
Sunday, 22 March 1998, at 7:15 p.m.
I have an 82' 240 and I don't recommend the Chrysler Ignition. I have had trouble with mine and parts are scarce used and expensive new! 306.00 for ignition computer, 275.00 for wiring harness. From what I have gathered, these Chrysler ignitions are inferior and troublesome!
Good luck!