Hey guys.

I'm new here, so I apologize if I'm doing this wrong or if the answers to my questions are in a common thread somewhere.

I found a very clean, rust free 1989 245 with a B230FS1 and automatic transmission near sacramento and had it shipped to me in Brooklyn last week. It's got 150K miles on it and is completely stock. Clean, well maintained, new brakes, new tires, recently serviced, etc.

I don't have a ton of wrenching experience. I've worked on my 1973 Honda CL350 motorcycle, a few things on my beater 95 Ford Ranger and inherited my grandfather's '56 Oldsmobile 88 (rebuilt the fuel pump, some carb work, put in a new radiator and a few other small things), but that's about it. I'm willing to learn though, especially because I'm told how easy these 240s are to work on.

I bought the car because my folks had two of them growing up, so I'm nostalgic about them, but also because they're bulletproof and offer a ton in terms of utility (I surf and camp whenever I can). However, I also enjoy driving. I don't plan on taking the car to the track, but I would like to enjoy driving on winding roads upstate. A little more pep, some more responsiveness and better cornering would be great.

First upgrade will be to the stereo, but then I'd like to start on a few mechanical upgrades to make it more fun to drive, without sacrificing reliability or fuel economy (the latter at least not significantly).

When the transmission inevitably eventually goes, I'd like to do a manual swap, but I don't need to waste a perfectly good automatic transmission to have a little more fun (or waste the money).

What should my plan of action for least time and money spent to have a little more fun?

VX cam and IPD anti-sway bars? Should I add a turbo?

Pls help! (layman's terms appreciated!)

Thank you!

What you bought is not and never will be a pocket rocket. Forget adding a turbo to the already good engine. 114bhp pushing 3100lbs negates any 0-60 attempts. But, compared to what you already have, cornering is already a lot of fun!! To make the suspension better, a tower brace and anti-sway bars will make a big difference, all of the camping gear in the back will roll from side to side.

The 240 is a brick and at the same time a tank. Fairly easy to work on (the Delta 88 is even easier) so invest your time and money to keep it running in top condition. Look around for some European glass headlights so night driving is made safer.

Buy some past wax and keep it shining. Remember to WAX the door bottoms and the bottom of the tail gate, or salt will do a bad thing.
--
Keeping it running is better than buying new

IPD anti-sway bars
for windy roads

best money U can spend. More power w/o this upgrade would be a waste.
there is someone here on BB selling set of Bars, I think he's in Fla

https://www.brickboard.com/CLASSADS/index.htm?id=17151

add touring frnt struts and rear shocks...Bilsteins, Koni. Some here like Bilstein HD.

do this first before you mod the engine.

Welcome!

I don't know about your car, but many Volvo radio systems have separate amplifiers - find out if yours has one as if it does, a radio swap is not straightforward.

Volvo turbo engines are quite different from non-turbos - just adding a turbo is not an option.

If you want a turbo, you may have to find an aftermarket system (if they exist) of find a motor swap including computer, all sensors and wiring at a minimum.

Your best bet might be to find an inexpensive parts car with a turbo and a stick shift. You could save a LOT of time and money having all the parts and documenting how the systems come apart. You might even satisfy your mechanical wanderlust during disassembly and leave your sweet survivor alone.

Unlike most. I had 740s and 850s with turbos and think that they are well suited to automatic trannys. Jump on the pedal, downshift, and go! I think that the automatic slippage allows the turbo to hit its sweet spot sooner.

James wrote - " I think that the automatic slippage allows the turbo to hit its sweet spot sooner." No matter what, the turbo won't help much right "off the line" but to me its (the automatic) biggest advantage is being able to keep the throttle down and the boost up when shifting. For simplicity of service I'd avoid going to a turbo (we've owned many, 240,940 and Saab models).
A bit more torque through cam, compression ratio and exhaust would probably offer the most bang for the buck.
The AW70 can be modified to get more positive shifts by eliminating the "cushion" (my term) pistons located above the valve body as they are in the AW71.
To me it makes more sense to upgrade the suspension first by going to aftermarket bars (or snagged from scrapped Turbo models) and quality performance shocks and tires. -- Dave