|
|
|
hi sages- wondering whether the the 940 -960 model volvos are worthy successors to the 240 and 740 which i believe are far and away superior to many later model volvos. reliability,durability, repairability , economy of operation, safety and non supercharged repair costs are my benchmarks for car selection. the 240 and 740 meet my requirements since american cars no longer meet these reqs. actually think the 740 is slightly better than the 240. if you dont think so try a blower repair in both and get back to me. have seen the later model 940 and 960, but not too many of them. appears they have the slant 4 redblock engine and are rwd. havent seen any with 3 pedals . do such ones exist? are they good successors for my requirements or fugeddaboutit. thanks tons oldduke
|
|
-
|
|
If it were me, I'd jump in an 850 and not look back.
They are just as easy to work on as a '90s era 240 and are more reliable. They provide better fuel economy, power, and are much safer than the 240. They have great heaters, great AC, and are very quiet on the inside compared to any of the RWD cars (with the exception of maybe the 940 or S/V90). Prices are rock bottom right now too. (Really nice ones are going locally for about $1500-$2000.)
I like the S/V90s that have been mentioned below but getting parts for those is becoming very difficult. Same is true of the 960. 15 years ago, I thought the S/V90 was perhaps the best car Volvo had ever made, and it would be the one to have. When they are in good condition, they are wonderful cars, but maintaining one today is challenging, and will only get more challenging going forward.
Parts availability is very good for the 850, and the cost of replacement pieces is about the same as the 240.
If RWD is an absolute requirement, than of course an 850 won't work for you. If you aren't hung up on that though, the 850 is a great choice.
--
http://dylans544.blogspot.com
|
|
-
|
|
|
I agree. I've a 240 and an 850 and the 850 is in better shape and a tad more reliable at 20 years old than the 240 was at that age. I like driving the 240 a bit more though because it has the M46 in it.
I'm saddened to have to put the '85 240, which I've owned for 29 years, up for sale but we've got 4 cars and have room for only 3.
Dukester
|
|
-
|
|
|
I also like the 850's, easy to maintain, fast, safe, and parts are reasonable. Just when the AC leaks, what a pain to fix!
But, how come I seldom see ads for FWD Volvos like this one:
http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/cto/5408823922.html
900,000 miles?
--
Keeping it running is better than buying new
|
|
-
|
|
|
interesting observation klaus. not a fan of fwd cars. basic problem is they are much less evolved/improved than the rwd design. rwd has been around for over 100 years. fwd for not nearly as long. mass production of fwd went big time only about 1980. perhaps they will eventually achieve the benefits of the longer evolution of the rwd cars( durability, reliability, ease and economy of maintenance and repair. many victims have suffered severe sticker shock when confronted with costs of repair of fwd components.if you dont think so price out a fwd clutch job or cv joint job. besides those jobs open the door to scam jobs like brake flushes, trans flushes, blinker fluid flushes and muffler bearing replacements to name a few. grab your nose and your wallet. small apologies for my bad attitude. thanks tons oldduke
|
|
-
|
|
|
Hi oldduke, Hope you're having a good day!
I once felt the same way about FWD as you do for the longest time. It wasn't until my mom bought an 850 wagon a number of years ago (and I got to work on the thing and drive it) that I reconsidered my opinion.
I'd encourage you to at least test drive one. Who knows, you might appreciate the way they feel once you actually take one for a spin!
I sell Volvo parts for a living, and I can tell you first hand that I see customers having to spend more to maintain their 240s than their 850s.
I still think the 240 is more fun to drive than the 850, but in every practical respect, the 850 is a better car.
--
http://dylans544.blogspot.com
|
|
-
|
|
|
I own several Volvos - '69 145s, '73 1800ES, '96 855T, '01 v70 (formerly many 240s)...
There are many things on the 850 that are much easier to fix than say, a 240. For instance, the heater core. On a 240, you're looking at an entire weekend. On an 850, if you know what you're doing, you're looking at a few hours. Same with the blower motor.
Some things, like transmissions, rear main seals, etc, are probably a wash. Yes, you have to drop the subframe on an 850, but that's not really a huge deal.
The PCV system on an 850 is a little more involved, but again, not bad if you know what you're doing.
A timing belt is easier on a white block.
Aside from that, an 850 feels like a much more modern car. My 855T out-handles any RWD I've ever driven.
Also, 850s don't really rust.
|
|
-
|
|
|
hi jesse b- wouldnt agree with you on outing a trans on an 850. fwd clutch jobs look much worse than those on a rwd.have done 25 rwd clutch jobs. in fact most mechanics even the honest ones want about twice $$ to do a fwd clutch. flat rate book calls for more hours too. you may be right about rusting. later cars generally seem to to better than there than earlier ones. most falcons, valiants and beetles have morphed into rust flakes. thanks tons oldduke
|
|
-
|
|
|
Yep, Jesse is right. 850's don't normally rust. My 95 855 is 20 years old with 249k, "zero" rust even though the car has spent all of its life in Maine and Mass. All 850's have galvanized steel body panels inside and out. In comparison, My 90 240 probably has turned into a pile of rust by now. I've also seen 2002-2008 cars (not Volvo's) showing rust here in NE.
It also still has its complete factory OEM stainless steel exhaust system. Good luck finding a modern car that offers those types of features.
In fairness, the drivetrain in the 240 is one tough SOB. With proper care, the engine can almost last forever and the rest of the drivetrain is almost as tough. My 240 at 300k when I sold it had its original engine, tranny and even the driveshaft had never been out!
|
|
-
|
|
I've had and self-maintained 4 FWD vehicles - all before I discovered Volvo. The "10 speed" was even fun to drive -- a $400 Mitsu with 8 forward and 2 reverse gears owing to the manual overdrive -- but I will not be saddened if I never again have to service another Rzeppa even if I do find those overgrown sockets again.
My take is there is no successor to the 240. Make yours last.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore
"I want to establish in your mind very clearly that you must not think I deny all that I do not admit. On the contrary, I think there are many things which may be true, and which I shall receive as such hereafter, though I do not as yet receive them; but that is not because there is any proof to the contrary, but that the proof in the affirmative is not yet sufficient for me"
- Michael Faraday
|
|
-
|
|
|
hi dylan- yeh but dont want a fwd car if i can avoid it. expensive to fix and very difficult to work on . think the 850 had a 5 cyl engine . thanks oldduke
|
|
-
|
|
|
The 850 isn't hard to work on or expensive; that's a myth. It's just as easy to work on as a 1993 240 is, and the price of parts is about the same these days if not cheaper.
Don't get me wrong, I love RWD Volvos as much as anyone on this forum, but I still think the 850 is an overall better car than then any of the RWD cars Volvo made (with the exception of perhaps the S/V90s which you can't easily get parts for anymore).
--
http://dylans544.blogspot.com
|
|
-
|
|
|
yeh but dylan you cant get a 3rd pedal in an 850 and if the auto trans craps, your only option is to go to the cleaners in clip city. ever been there? oldduke
|
|
-
|
|
|
No, 850's come with 5 speed manuals as do early V70's (pre 2001) which are essentially updated 850's.
|
|
-
|
|
|
The later P2 v70s (01-07) came in manual as well. I own an '01 v70 with a manual transmission.
850s definitely came in manual as well. I converted my auto 855T to a manual using parts from an 850/v70 parts car.
|
|
-
|
|
Hi oldduke,
Yeah, like the other posters here.
The 740 normally-aspired 1989+ (I believe '89+ like 240) with the first LH-Jetronic 2.4 / EZK 116 ignition.
The 740 and 940 share foibles like the single-piston slide brake calipers and the front suspension control arm bushings failing every so often. With care and vigilance they'll go alright.
For a rear suspension, the solid rear axle is a fix it and forget about it affair.
From the 700-900-90 FAQ on rear suspensions:
The only cars with IRS in the US/Canada market are: late 760 sedans, 940SE sedans, all 960 sedans, late 960 wagons, and S and V90's.
I'd avoid the Nivomat self-leveling rear suspension. Though fixes do exist using some sort of regular dampener with a coil over spring. Or use air shocks. Or replace the Nivomats? Expen$ive.
The 940s up to 1998 have solid rear axles on base models with the same Dayna or a newer Dayna differential. I forget the Dayna model numbers 1040/1041? Or is it tax time again?
Yeah, replacing the HVAC blower is way easier in both. Yet the wire harness in 700-900-90 is, well, gots much more miles of wire harness. You have that Relay Fuse box affair at the center of the dash. And in probably all 700-900-90s now operating today, folks should pull that sucker out, inspect the relays, sockets, wiring terminations and treat with DeoxIT (www.caig.com) dielectric dressing. Treat the relays to either reflow solder or replace. Replace wire ends with proper terminals. Carry spares.
You know the engine control on your 1993 240, so, it is not so different on the 740 / 940. You are aware the distributor placement on the rear of the upper cam. The normally aspired stock four cylinder redblock engines seem more sprightly over the similarly equipped and configured 240 model year counter parts. Take a close look at the fuel pressure regulators on the normally aspired 740s. I'm probably wrong, yet it appears these 740s / 940s will put more fuel into the engine under acceleration (lower vacuum - higher fuel pressure at injector fuel rail - unless I have that reserved again ...)
I'm no fan of the electric control seats on later 740 and seemingly all 940. Again, rebuild the switches that are carbon-pitted at the contacts like with the power window toggle switches on 240+. The 740+ seats are plush, larger, though they can fail as the foam and webbing.
I'd avoid Turbo models, unless excellent care and if you want the additional aggravation. 1995 is the final year for 940 in North America. They went to 1998 in Europa.
Rare to find a 940 after 1991-92 in North America with a factory installed manual transmission. It would be the same M47 II you well know and love on normally aspired and M46 in 700-900 turbo models. The 960/90 received the mighty and powerful Getrag M90 manual gearbox, if so.
If 960/90, later is better. Competent records and inspection before purchase helps. (Compression or leakdown test of a t-belt broke and kissed them B6304 white block piston crowns, without proper repair.) All 960/90 have IRS and self-leveling. I would say no. Yet with excellent care and an uptune like that you find factory tune in Europa is an awesome ride. Like a 5-7 series BMW, maybe. Yet uniquely Volvo. So a 90 series model. Yet, for the same reasons as everyone else here, no.
Else, the Jeep Cherokee is an idea I'm futzing with should I abandon my three rotting Volvo 240s. No garage, and them 240s suffer. Can't leave them up on chassis braces for a few weeks on a rental parking lot where I have to bang on a thing with my little 3-pound Mjølner hammer to get of them seized on rear brake rotors.
A Jeep Cherokee with four cylinder, rear wheel drive, and manual transmission? Maybe a Ford F-150 or Ranger RWD pickup similarity equipped, with camper shell? I dunno.
Though the used car market really sucks now after, certainly here in the middle of middle west, after the eminently stupid Keynesian-Milton Friedman, give all your tax payer value (again) to Wall Street, corrupt "Cash for Klunkers". Many good RWD and earlier FWD Volvos died in "Cash for Klunkers".
I think that does it.
Hope alls well motoring away from Tobacco Road and Stinking Creek!
I gotta layoff the adult beverages.
Hope that helps.
Bruce.
--
Jonathan Harshman Winters III: The Mightiest, Greatest, & Most Powerful North American Comedian & Comedic Actor in Perpetuity
|
|
-
|
|
|
hi kitty grey- wow as usual a lot of info. read your whole writeup. thanks very interesting. heard by the way (uncle moe ) that stinking creek up in md was frozen solid in this weather. lucky to be here in se fla but cold here last week 40s in the am. 240s and 245s here have almost disappeared. 740s and 745s seem even more rare. all of them ive seen only have 2 pedals. would love to get either one with the m47. very few mechanics left who can take apart and rebuild these trans. poste r here did say dealer has new ones for $1k but havent checked yet. 92 245 running fine for now. would you say its rpms are limited? keep up the good work. oldduke
|
|
-
|
|
|
Hiya Uncle oldduke,
Thank you. Sorry to go on so. I very much like the later 740s and the 940s.
I'd like to hear more about Uncle Moe! Stinking Creek is frozen solid?
Hope you are keeping warm in SE Florida. I'll bet you home is no so well insulated. Here in the middle of middle west (so middle) with the gateway arches thing, I have seven blankets on.
This rental I'm in is like something out of the Honeymooners tee vee show with Ralph Kramden. Some tenement building made of brick, concrete, and flimsy, rattly windows with no garage for the 240. Someone like Ed Norton may come of the fire escape and ask me for a beer (no booze here).
RPMs limited on the 240 with the LH-Jet / EZK ignition you have on your 1992 240? Like a RPM governor? To my knowledge, no. Though rarely do I run the engine near or over say 3500-4000 RPM on any of them. But I drive like a slow doddard. Always have. (Save on the mighty I-5 in the 1990s in NorCally to Wackington State.)
Well, you can check the craigslist for a city to see if any rear wheel drive Volvos. So, as you are in SE Florida state, keeping warm and catching some fresh fish and fresh fruits and veggies (Swedish Baklava writes about seafood salad), I hope. So, with this broadband we have here (even see the brickboard ads now!), let's take a look ...
Here in St. Louis, we have:
https://stlouis.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=volvo&srchType=T
A few 240s, one 940, all auto.
Well, you can go to the Miami craigslist: https://miami.craigslist.org/
What I found in the For Sale section using Volvo 240 and such in the search field ....
1989 240 with 900,000 miles and M47 II.
https://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/cto/5408823922.html
I've found more 240s and the like in Atlanta, GA. Not too far from you if you commute between Maryland and Florida.
120,000 and automatic at $6500.
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/eat/cto/5409287091.html
1991, 121,000 and also automatic (Wife says he has too many toys.)
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/5403406923.html
Nearby cities also show up. Yeah, the pickings are slim, even for 740 and 940.
In Jacksonville, FL. Auto, again.
https://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/5391264181.html
In the same results, a 1992 240 wagon with M47 II and 205,000 miles in Ocala, FL, with a dog as co-star.
https://ocala.craigslist.org/cto/5425347713.html
Birmingham, AL. 1990 240 Wagon with, again, auto. 300,000+ miles.
https://bham.craigslist.org/cto/5425799938.html
I found some in the major cities and nearby areas in the south east (the deep south?) and into the bigger Texas Cities and so forth. Yet that is getting father away. Finding a 240 requires persistence and effort using different search methods. But they are used, have varying wear and neglect from prior owners. And the fact that Americans seem to hate manual transmissions as well as automaker and dealerships limiting the number of manual transmission equipped cars in the states.
eBay Motors has some 240s and other RWDs, yet mostly autos. Some expensive.
So, you may more likely find a lower miles auto transmission equipped RWD. Yet then how is the auto transmission?
What do you have to do to make it a fix it and forget about it Volvo automobile? I sort of get a feeling some major repair may crop up.
You have to keep searching. There may be in your back yard in Florida state or adjacent states a 240 or 740 and maybe a very rare 940 with manual transmission. Since you go back and forth between SE Florida state and Maryland (near Stinking Creek - I'm looking at Google Maps), you may want to keep an eye out.
Maybe the honorable Secretary of State and General Colin Powell would have an early 1990s Volvo for sale. He likes manual transmissions, so say the web articles. He had a 1979 242 GT he'd commute to the Pentagon and the White House and elsewhere. (Wish he'd run for president. Someone honorable.)
There's the brickboard classifieds, the iPd free classifieds, and maybe auctions. Like we know, cities like Seattle and Portland may have more of what you want, yet the distance and cost to ship, and in spite of through documentation your best efforts to inspect the Volvo before committing to a purchase ... well, what crops up? Maybe an AAA inspection? It was overheated a few times, yet ran fine, yet six months later the cylinder head gasket blew from a warped head. (An easy repair, comparatively. I don't enjoy pulling the 240 transmission. Easier on a 740/940 - more room. And if you have a garage to do the work in ...)
So, if you want to stay Volvo
Near Dallas TX, 1992 240 with rebuilt title and M47 II.
https://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/cto/5422571163.html
I see some near Austin, in Denver CO, and elsewhere.
The other alternative is eBay, cars.com, autotrader, and I dunno.
I did a Google search using (no quotes): "Where to find Volvo 240s for sale"
Results may be useful. Or choose 740s and 940s. Like CarGurus. These may be dealerships and not private sellers.
I did find a 1991 940 with manual transmission in 2005 in Texas. It was already sold.
Else, if you want to stay 20th-century Volvo, like our Dylan Berichon @ iPd says, try the 850. The S70 had some issues, yet concerns like a failing AC evaporator coil may have already been replaced in 2016. I find futzing with the front of the 850/S70 engine a little narrow with my clumsy hands. But like Dylan Berichon @ iPd, kept in good shape, certainly the normally aspired 850s/C70s, they are quiet, more powerful, still safe, and all the good stuff.
Or wait as within a few years or less I may sell the 240s I have now. I'll let you know.
Why I keep an eye-bulb on the aforementioned Jeep Cherokee or the like and the like or a Ford Ranger or F-150 with four-cylinder and RWD. Or bit the bullet and join the crowds in their Toyota autos. The used car market in St. Loogy, Misery really sucks. At least as craigslist reveals.
Adirondack Blues, thank you. I was merely quoting the FAQ on 960/90s and IRS.
I'd rather have a 140 or 164 with points and a carb. One has to move forward. Or get a huge garage.
Hope that helps.
Mundane MacDuff.
--
Jonathan Harshman Winters III: The Mightiest, Greatest, & Most Powerful North American Comedian & Comedic Actor in Perpetuity
|
|
-
|
|
|
hi kitty grey- thanks for the heads up. will keep my sights open. go near stinking creed in md when i motor from fla to nj on occassional trips.creek is always frozen in the winter but doesnt stink when iced.moe was an interesting character. lied about his age(16) and enlisted to fight the 3d reich in 42. had been a laborer in garage as a kid. trained as a tank mechanic and went in with invasion at omaha beach. he worked on welding scrap metal teeth on the fronts of shermans with other wrenchers so they could ram through hedgerow country during the breakout across france. most intuitive mechanic i ever knew. one day ill tell you about his 3 rules for working on cars. btw i had a 90 jeep cherokee with the big amc inline 6 and and a 5 speed od peugeot trans . can you believe that a french trans in an american jeep. even so sucked a lot of gas and leaked a lot of oil from the hydraulic clutch slave cylinder. bad boy who invented that should be horsewhipped. thanks tons oldduke
|
|
-
|
|
|
Hiya Uncle Oldduke,
Thank you for relating the story of your noble Uncle Moe. I'd rather be a part of that generation, in England. At least I feel you are from England. I'd like to hear.
A '90 Jeep Cherokee with a French gearbox transmission? I'm all not to familiar with what systems are used in what auto makes. Yeah, I do recall the Jeeps then were rather thirsty on the petrol use.
I had some grandparents that lived not far away from here. In the 1980s, I had use of Granpa's Jeep Grand Wagoneer. It was auto with 4 x 4 locking hubs and some manner of near 4.x or so V-8. I wondered whether the gas gauge or speedo moved faster. I helped them care for it. They had a Chevy Citation with V-6 that seemed to do okay. Not many miles driven in their later retirement years.
Wish I could ride to the A&P weekdays or the Shoney's Big Boy with them for dinner again. The house still stands, sort of neglected.
240s outside, wet in the middle or midwest rain. Like a type 17 or so rain from the Douglas Adams Hitchhiker's Guide books. Intermittent wipers not fast enough, slow wipers too fast. With new wiper blades on a new windshield (windscreen?).
May clean the 240 moon roof drains again for the heck of it.
Thank you,
Bruce.
--
Jonathan Harshman Winters III: The Mightiest, Greatest, & Most Powerful North American Comedian & Comedic Actor in Perpetuity
|
|
-
|
|
|
very curious intuition kitty grey. was born in america but mother was from england. moe a funny guy, said once they welded the scrapiron dragon teeth onto the shermans they steam rolled right through the bocage and flattened the jerries(that may be politically incorrect). told me if i ever called him a hero again he would thrash me. so which of moes car repair rules do you favor? thanks tons oldduke
|
|
-
|
|
|
Hiya Uncle Old Duke,
Sure Happy it's Thursday!
I looked around for your war Uncle Moe's three repair rules. I guess I found four repair rules from your posts from your Uncle Moe? (Links here for reference.)
If I can list your description of your Uncle Moe's three (four?) rules, through dunno if these are in the correct order Uncle Moe would have us follow. Sort of contingent on the kind and urgency of the problem (or symptom) for repair, I'll guess?:
1) uncle moe reminded me of his 1st of three rules on car repair and maintenance- to wit - if it aint broke dont fix it.(link a)
2) I agree w/Uncle Moe. Keep it simple. (link a) try the simple stuff first.(link b) [To the effect the simplest solution is probably the best solution, or use the simplest solution first to repair the problem.]
3) Always two ways to learn, the easy way or the hard way. even back in the war uncle moe told me why should you have to drive in a pothole just to see what it is like- listen to what others tell you first. then avoid the pothole. (link c May be two items of i.- learn the easy way, and ii.- listen to what others tell you first [as a way to learn easily and not hard?])
4) always try to have an alternative plan ready to go if the first plan doesnt work. a great piece of advice from my uncle moe (link d)
(a) - https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=1627234
(b) - https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/1621652/220/240/260/280/jack_update_2d.html
(c) - https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/1621697/220/240/260/280/plans.html
(d) - https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/1592469/220/240/260/280/940_840_measure.html
All of your way Uncle Moe's advisory recommendations are useful. Yet I fail many times by making it too complicated and applying a more difficult approach to care for the thing that need some kind of service.
And:
- uncle moe told me the general problem with 4 cyl. engines is they wear out earlier than 6s and 8s because they are always running with their tongues hanging out. (In context whether Volvo redblock engines need head gaskets more often than other engines.)
https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=1577311
With what head gaskets I'd replaced (though none recently), the foot print between the Volvo redblock cylinder head and redblock, umm, engine block, is so hefty, it'd a prior owner neglect or abuse that may cause it.
Like Art B. says here, best to keep it running. And Klaus C.'s .sig is "Keeping it running is better than buying new." There may not be a duplicate replacement for the Volvo 240. Maybe a Volvo 140 with a single or dual carb?
I like the 940 with solid rear axle, yet you have the beginnings of the luxury add-ons, yet I can rebuild power window, electric seat, and electric heated mirror (like on my 92 240 GL, yet don't like them, and have to) switches, if they are able to be repaired.
Why I wish and want Volvo Cars AB to build the 240 again. Just with RWD and reliable as before without all the karp they now throw in there like a tv screen and satellite radio. I don't want a luxury car. I don't like leather seats. (There's a thread here I started in the last recent year.)
I want the same as you want. Another 240.
I don't like the any of the new cars since around 2000 or so. Yet I'm again limited in being able to care for these Volvo 240s I own. If I futz with the dry right rear bearing on my 1990 240 DL wagon, and it turns out to be a boon doggle of bearing seat and seal replacement, the land lord would not appreciate the li'l red wagon being up on jack stands for a week or two, should I be working.
Had I gotten a job after Chico State in the SF Bay Area, Portland, Seattle in 1994 or so, I would have been able to buy a 1990-91 240, with three pedals (as you say), coming off lease. Low miles. So, you have a used / young Volvo 240 to care for. And a few more. Maybe get lucky with a late 740 or 940 with three pedals. Keep up with all the care and could still have these today.
Probably be better at caring for them and would be practiced at:
- not repairing what is not broken (yet I do [over] anticipate repairs and service. sometimes)
- keeping it simple (yet over-analyze all, i'm a tech writer by trade)
- learn the easy way (yet have done it the hard way, like an overdrive unit on my 1979 245 cheese yellow wagon in 1989 or so)
- have another plan should the first one fail. (why i have three of these Volvo 240s?)
Also, the rust is a huge issue and an ongoing thing. I mean to use that Fertran rust treatment on the 1992 and 1991 sedans. The 1990 wagon, with the damage from the front end accident and unibody straightening, and the car port dropping on it in 2008, may make it impossible to keep it going.
I don't like the new cars. Any of them. At all.
Hope that helps.
Thanks,
Fat Tuesday MacDuff in Mardis Gras St. Louis.
--
Jonathan Harshman Winters III: The Mightiest, Greatest, & Most Powerful North American Comedian & Comedic Actor in Perpetuity
|
|
-
|
|
|
very good restatement and analysis of moes rules kittygrey. you are one of the few philosophers i know who may be smart enough to understand his observation about lessons of life to wit- the sooner you have the "big wakeup" , the better. he was talking about that moment in time which comes to most when you finally figure out how things work and what people are really like. sadly some of my friends and enemies who are north of 60 still havent gotten it. moe said that knowledge was better protection than a 45 on your hip and a beretta on your ankle. hope you have had the big w, kg. regards oldduke
|
|
-
|
|
|
I was very surprised learning that Jeep used a Peugeot standard transmission - but it was an excellent choice. I worked in Peugeot shops for many years (403, 404, 504, 505 and 604 rwd models--as well as fwd 304 and 204 models). The rwd cars had very strong, smooth as butter transmissions.
My dad was also part of "that" generation -- enlisted at 22 right after Pearl Harbor and then did a stint in Texas teaching carburetion after basic training and before being shipped to England. It wasn't till I was a teenager that he related stories. An anti-Semitic captain who thought he was "sticking" his two Jewish sargents with a crummy job actually gave them an important role in preparation for D-Day and a story they could tell for a lifetime. After the invasion he was in Holland, Belgium, France, Germany and Austria. When the war ended he learned his kid brother (my Uncle Charlie) was in Austria with his tank division and Dad hitchhiked 400 miles to see Charlie for the first time in 3 years. I've always considered Dad to be the master of the "backyard-use what you've got" fix. It wasn't surprising that the Phil Silvers Show was his favorite tv program and one of Bilko's right hand guys was a friend from the old Brooklyn neighborhood. -- Dave
|
|
-
|
|
|
For the record, all 960/V/S90 do not have self leveling shocks.
|
|
-
|
|
|
The 960 is a completely different animal with its IRS design (later models) and 24valve dohc motor. While ours has generally been reliable, it is much more complicated to work on than a 240 and parts availability is an issue. If you don't like doing your own work, a 960 will quickly put you in the poor house unless you have the money to spend at a competent shop. Also, you will need a much more well equipped home garage to do most of the work on the 960. The 960 is much less forgiving of neglected maintenance than a 240.
|
|
-
|
|
|
+1 in favor of 940s.
The 245 is still may favorite, but the 945 is a close second.
740 and 940 are almost the same car.
Same good B230 motor, plus 93 on has the squirter block. Solid AW71 tranny. A lot of parts similarities. Electric fan over mechanical.
The 940 is a little bit bigger than a 240 and the ride height a bit higher. The interior is a little bit more "modern", with electric adjust seats and such, but still basic.
A 940 responds to the usual upgrades, like IPD bars, better camshaft, etc... Replace the cushy hydrolic motor mounts with older solid ones for better idle.
Look out for the common fuel tank sender failure. But no big problem issues that I know of, like the bad early 240 wiring harness.
There are 5-speed 940s out there. The real prize is the last year (97-98?) 945 5-speed. And of course, there are turbos.
|
|
-
|
|
|
If you like the 240, you'll be very happy with 1990+ 740/940 cars. These have zinc galvanized sheet metal (which means fewer rusting problems) and the same reliable red block engine systems. I would avoid 960/90 cars because of their far more complicated aluminum block engines. That noted, parts availability for OEM bits and pieces such as sunroof gaskets, etc. is starting to become spotty while the major parts are freely available from both Volvo and aftermarket sources.
|
|
|
|
|
