If you were looking for a 242 or 244 turbo, would you look for an automatic or a stick? Or, at this point, whatever can be had with a straight and relatively rust free body?

I've heard that the automatic is actually better suited to the turbo, because with a stick boost trails off between shifts. On the other hand, the stick probably puts more power to the wheels. Big difference in fuel economy? Do the clutches last as long on the turbos w/M46, as they do on the N/A cars?

TIA...

It's entirely personal preference, but I prefer a stick shift. That being said, when I set out to find a 240 I didn't limit myself to the transmission in it, because that's fairly easy to change. And I ended up getting a '93 245 in immaculate condition, with a '93 turbo motor installed, and an automatic transmission.

I drove it like that for about 8 months, then put in an M47 5 speed. Got a complete set of parts to swap for around $400 (trans, bellhousing, LH2.4 flywheel, clutch parts, driveshaft, pedal brackets and pedals, clutch cable, etc). This made the car more fun to drive. But I kept tweaking the engine, and after about 9 months 3rd gear exploded into confetti. Probably somewhere around 225 hp level. Not a botched shift either, just full throttle in 3rd gear.


So I swapped a Mustang T5 into it. Adapter plate, mount, custom driveshaft, etc, probably cost around $1300 total to get it in. Now I don't have to worry about the trans breaking, at least at the HP levels I'm at (it's now around 300 at the wheels). Probably should have just gone straight to the T5 instead of trying the M47, the weakness of the M47 isn't exactly a well kept secret.
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'63 PV544 rat rod, '93 Classic #1141 245 (now w/16V turbo)

If you feel it is EASY to do an auto to manual trans swap, you MUST have a high pain threshold along with a lot of free time on your hands! Seriously, the opposite swap was pure agony!

jorrell

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92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!

About 2 or 3 hours doing 'clean' work inside the car putting the clutch and brake pedal in, drilling a hole for the clutch cable. Frankly, the more difficult task, and I even made a major shortcut by trimming off the outside part of the pedal brackets and bolting it in sntead of relacing the entire pedal bracket.

Then a leisurely 6 hours or so under the car pulling the trans, swapping the flex plate, installing the flywheel and trans. Another hour or so after cleaning up again to finish the inside work - looping the start interrupt, connecting the reverse lights, installig the shifter and boot. And that's lazy shade tree mechanic hours, not professional mechanic hours (which are far more productive).

I had borrowed a 'real' trnasmission jack from a real mechanic, and found it useless on a 240. the starter hump on the bellhousing has to rotate considerably to clear the firewall and allows the trans clearance to come off or go onto the motor - and even though the trans jack did allow some angling and tilting, not nearly enough. So after arguing with it for a while, i just reverted to my shade tree trick of dropping a loop of rope through the shifter hole and around the back end of the trans, and suspeding most of the weight with that. Then you jus tlift the front end up, the rope lets it rotate, go side to side, swing fore and aft.

I could see the opposite swap being harder. Putting the much heavier auto trans on the motor is tougher, and instead of just taking off oil cooler lines, you're installing them. Finicky set up of the shifter, etc.

This is the 3rd Volvo I've swapped to a manual. In the past I've put an M41 in an auto 1800E, and an M40 in an auto 145E.
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'63 PV544 rat rod, '93 Classic #1141 245 (now w/16V turbo)

Oh i second the "Tranny jack being useless on a 200 car"

I do know now I can hold the entire tranny on my torso and roll it around like a Russian Circus Bear and a huge ball.

That tranny jack is now my shop stool... go figure.

Do the conversion so you can stop being distracted by your mobile communication device! LOL

Tim
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'92 244 NOW w/ M47 (Hydra, turbo bars, bilstein, urethane bushings)

I've driven both, though the auto turbo was a 740 (though it had the same engine as the turbo 240 I drove).

They were both lots of fun to drive. Each was a different experience.

I'd lean towards the stick, but I've never been a fan of autos anyway.

I'd suggest that you try one of each to see what you like.
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http://dylans122.blogspot.com

My personal driving preferences lean toward sticks, but I live in a part of the country that I don't have to put up with very much bumper to bumper traffic or steep hills. My 242 T was a stick, and I had a lot of fun with it. I'd recommend putting in new synthetic tranny fluid if you get an automatic, as it will put up with heat a lot better, which as you are undoubtedly aware, is the number one source of auto transmission failure. The stock manual trannies are okay for uh, uninspired engines, but as at least one other poster has mentioned, aren't up to the task for much past 250 hp. I think at this stage, finding any restoration candidate that hasn't succumbed to the tin worm or some other malady will probably be challenge enough. Unfortunately, they aren't worth a ton of money on the open market even after they are massaged, so just like always, it probably pays to get the best example you can afford. Good luck!

Based on the root of the question, I'd say your intent is to drive in a spirited fashion..

So.. screw the mileage part.. if you're keeping boost up, you fuel mileage will be awful.

For driving normally, eh.. if you like automatics.. fine. If you like sticks, fine. Either will behave somewhat similarly to its normally aspirated counterpart. Probably a bit slower if anything..

For spirited driving.. yes, I agree the quicker shifts of the automatic would probably make it easier to maintain boost. But, have a manual in good shape, and learn a little footwork and some practice shifting, you can maintain boost with the stick shift car... and it will be quicker in every respect...

if you know how to drive it.

Be safe.
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-Matt I ♥ my ♂

The other question is are you going to hot rod it? The auto will not be happy if you build a 250hp motor, I know some people put in a Ford T5 manual. I am new to Volvo land and only know what I have read. I don't know how well the stock manual hold up to that kind of power.
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Plato seems wrong to me today.

Hey Dave .... it doesn't cost anything to join the brickboard ... but after you do your posts go out to all other members who are on the digest version ...

Brett

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Brett Sutherland & the 1.5 million mile 122 CANADIAN --- and has been Joined by a 1990 780 BERTONE TURBO Coupe -- WINDSOR, Nova Scotia the birthplace of HOCKEY

hmm this sounds like turbo bricks banter....

you would be right.