|
|
|
AS TIME GOES BY IT IS GETTING HARDER TO GET PARTS AND MATERIAKL FOR THE 240 series VOLVO what have you'all been changing to now RICH
|
|
-
|
|
|
Keeping the 240 makes sense to me too. But I find it hard to answer the question asked -- what cars from the mid 1990s onwards are easy to work on, safe, durable, reliable, and comfortable? In North America there are fewer choices than here in the UK, as we can choose from a much wider range of European cars (e.g., Skoda, Renault, Fiat, etc), and can get hold of any Japanese car originally sold new in Japan, and some US cars. My wife drives a 1995 Mazda camper van that's a bit of a rip off of a VW Westfalia -- it fits my criteria above, although not as safe as a 240. For North Americans, the Subaru Outback might be a good choice?
David
'71 144DL, '88 240GL Sedan B200E AW70.
|
|
-
|
|
|
I think Rockauto may have one even cheaper, by a few dollars.
There are lots of sources for our 700 and 200 series cars. Just ask and we'll throw out ideas.
There is the ever-expensive IPD, the Insanely inexpensive FCPgroton, Vlvworld (Some prices low, some exorbidant), Tasca Volvo, (I'm forgetting another popular one). Plus Carquest, Kragen, Autozone and the like have lots of basic parts.
By far FCPGroton is the cheapest.
If you need something big or expensive, you can contact Sweden Auto Warehouse in Sacramento, CA. They're very helpful and very knowledgeable.
If all that fails, there are classified ads here and on turbobricks.com
Happy Bricking
--
1990 740 Turbo, on its way to stock specs, maybe beyond
|
|
-
|
|
|
review this thread http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=1422171&show_all=1
--
89 240 Wagon 217K, 94 940 185K
|
|
-
|
|
|
There is no part for the 240 that I have not been able to find used or new, or make myself. I predict it will only get better with time as aftermarket companies recognize the need for new interior and trim replacement parts.
There were close to 3,000,000 240s made. If even 10% of those are still on the road, then 300,000 Volvo owners need parts. That's significant.
Look at the support available for VWs. Less than 500,000 Karmann Ghias were made for the life of the car, but you can still restore one completely without much trouble. JC Whitney even has a VW-only catalog with everything to restore a beetle or Ghia from the ground-up. You think the same won't happen with the 240 when it has been out of production for 20 years?
This has already begun to happen. Companies like IPD and small guys like R-Sport International and Kaplhenke have already set the ball rolling for replacement parts. I believe the window scraper replacements were R-Sport's idea, originally, and now we don't have to search junkyards for good rubber.
It will only get better; we've seen the worst of it. If you want to keep your 240 for another 20 years, it is possible, and reasonable, to do so.
|
|
-
|
|
|
What would you need to make yourself?
|
|
-
|
|
|
Well, let's see: just this past week I made a new door for the "ski" pass-through in the trunk, and remade the ridiculous piece of faux-vinyl cardboard that covers the passenger side of the inside of the trunk.
I'm not going to make a list of all the pieces I've fabricated because they were not available or were nigh-impossible to find in good shape; it would be a long list.
|
|
-
|
|
|
I agree with the fact that replacement and reproduction parts will be available far into the future, but I question the quality of these parts. I've done a lot of work to my 240, and some of the parts that I received from IPD and FCP Groton were clearly substandard. Quality OEM parts will eventually be gone and we'll have to rely on vendors who may not care about quality. Hopefully there will be a few that do, 'cause I expect to keep my brick for a long time yet.
|
|
-
|
|
|
I agree that the quality of aftermarket parts usually sucks. Trust me; I've just been through this with several items. But at least they will be available, and I'm guessing someone who is ready to drop his 240 for a "good car" will be satisfied with aftermarket parts.
As for me, I've recently realized that I can usually make or refurbish the parts I need to be much better than aftermarket junk.
We're going to have to think outside the box in the future.
|
|
-
|
|
|
What parts and materials are you having trouble sourcing?
Randy
|
|
-
|
|
|
THE PROBLEM IS THE FUEL PUMP IN THE TANK IS BAD< I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS AT THE JUNK YARKS THEY NOW LIKE TO RIP THE FUEL TANK OUT AND NOT SAVE THEM THEY LIKE TO SQUEEZ OUT ALL THE FUEL AND THEN HIDE THE TANKS GO FIGURE RICH
|
|
-
|
|
|
I can understand trying to salvage some part in a pick-n-pull that will last forever, but I don't understand why you want to install an in-tank fuel pump from a used car with maybe a couple of hundred thousand miles on it. Considering the trouble to replace your pump ... don't you want a new pump that isn't liable to fail in a couple of weeks or months, like your original pump?
Really, would you pull off brakes pads from a pick-n-pull to put on your car when you need brakes?
Some things need to be replaced with new parts -- they're not that expensive, considering the money you're saving by keeping your 240.
|
|
-
|
|
One difference is you can see the wear on a brake pad, but the little centrifugal pump in the tank is completely immune to visual inspection.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore
(confessed sometime re-user of brake pads)
|
|
-
|
|
|
Art,
Please tell me you have never reused brake pads that were soaked in brake fluid! An old friend of mine did that on a Fiero after a brake hose popped, he now can't walk as a result of the injuries he suffered in the resulting crash.
I know you are smarter than that, but we have to consider those on the BB that don't have the experience!
--
92 245 299.3K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!
|
|
-
|
|
|
I'm truly sorry to hear about your friend. That's not how we want to "learn from experience."
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore
The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.
-Andy Rooney
|
|
|
|
|
