I just put a factory hitch on my car. I haven't put the valance back on yet since I'll need to cut it up. Does anyone have any pics of how this was installed from the factory? Any pics of other nice looking installations? I'd like my car to good when done, so I'm hoping for some ideas before I start cutting.

Measure twice and cut once.My 89 came with a hitch and a hacked up rear valance.When I had the car repainted I sold the hitch and needed to find a new valance in good condition.I goy lucky and someone from FL.sent me one.If you have the metal valance then really measure well.

Kevin,

Bob Haire was kind enough to send me an 8-1/2 x 11 showing the cutout dimensions. If you'd like, I can scan it and send it to you internet e-mail. This worked pretty well for my 93 wagon.

I can also copy any others that are interested. Keep in mind that the BB e-mail feature doesn't seem to work.

I can be reached at wolfson at nycap dot rr dot com.

Good luck,

Martin Wolfson

Proud member of the 300K club

I could not access tb per Art's link. Google search;
http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?p=4310429

BB-http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/1128376/220/240/260/280/instructionstemplate_factory_trailer_hitch_install.html

"I could not access tb per Art's link. Google search"

Sorry. It appears to have been a temporary link. The search yielded 4 results and used the terms hitch+valance under the maintenance and non-performance forum.

If someone does actually get the factory template, I'll host it, instead of needing all the email requests proffered.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

A thief broke into the local police station and stole all the
toilets and urinals, leaving no clues. A spokesperson was quoted as
saying, "We have absolutely nothing to go on."

Sorry all, for some reason I wasn't getting emails telling me there were replies on the thread.

The good news is that I managed to get a hold of the actual instructions for the hitch installation (PDF), which include the template. I'll host it online, but Art, if you also could that would be great. I have free webspace through work, but it's not permanent, so since it seems like these instructions are often sought and rarely found, the more available they are the beter.

The PDF is just shy of 20 megs, you can find it here: http://itconfuses.me/misc/240TowHitchInstallation.pdf

I have yet to actually cut mine, but if I get a chance I'll post pics once it's done.

That's a better idea.

If you are not making two and ONLY two 6 inch oval cuts in the plastic valence to accomodate the hitch, you are mangling the job.

I know it is called the "factory hitch" but were any really installed at the factory? If so, there would have been a separate part number for the sliced valance, and brickers would be clamoring for them in our efforts to keep time standing still.

I think these were all installed by the dealers, and the dealers had "factory-provided" (official Volvo) templates and instructions.

Making a dummy version from cardboard is an idea I wish I had used. The hitch install on my daughter's 91 really does look sub-par with the muffler hanging there for all to see.

Good idea to include the year of your car as the valance changed in 86. I saw some pics on TB for the later cars:

TB search
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

You got to be careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there. -- Yogi Berra

Thread hi-jack here...my understanding is that on the very early 2-series (say until '81'ish) the AC was not factory installed. The in-cabin bits and pieces were all there but the compressor and all other bits and bobs were dealer installed. I have always been curious about this. Any truth?

The original car that created my 2-series disease was a '76 244 DL. No power steering (did NOT need it) but it had a rotatory compressor and hoses with a Volvo part number stamped on them. Granted, like the '75, the '76 is a kind of an odd duck. I doubt the compressor was a Volvo part unless it cam from a later model.

Heck, that car had the cool horsehair seat stuffing that actually held up better than the foam but was infested with vermin. First car I had to use bug bombs on... repeatably.

I don't know. Thought the bracket for such didn't arrive until '85. Most of you have been around these cars longer than I have, and while it doesn't make sense to me from a manufacturing perspective, I've been surprised at least once a day by things I've considered unrealistic.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Subj: How To Diaper A Baby

"Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. Then fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher's mound. Put first base and third together, bring up home plate and pin the three together.
Of course, in case of rain, you gotta call the game and start all over again." -- Jimmy Piersal, on how to diaper a baby, 1968

Art
Correct my 85 had a rotary compressor.
Dan

Like I said, the compressor was probably aftermarket, or someone's ingenious bracket modification, the hoses were marked Volvo with their typical numbering but I cannot remember much about it.

AC never worked on that car in my tenure and I sent it off to the crusher after stripping it of anything usable.

Thought I might be able to help as I have a hitch on my '84 245T. Not sure if it is factory but looks like it may be. I do not have a valance below my bumper. It could be that your model year has one. Does it look that bad with it off? If you want to use yours perhaps you can make a dummy one out of cardboard and try a successive series of cuts to determine how big of an opening you will need Good luck.