Besides engine versions and headlight and taillight configurations and some wire harness issues with 1983 and 1984 DLs, are there any substantial differences between the 1970s and 1980s 240s? Are some years more reliable than others? I had a 1975 which was a mess, but that might be only because it wasn't taken care of by the previous owner. I'm a little gun-shy about earlier year models.

I think one of my volvo mechanics told me that the air mass meter was installed halfway thru 1981.
that was about the same time when the flame trap got moved from the easy access top (above the valve cover) to below (in back of the distributor).

I don't know when the the lamda sond (oxygen sensor) started in the 200.
there used to be a site that had a list of the minor changes, but I am unable to find it now.

My very first Volvo was a used (40K) 1975 245DL. Memory fades, but I think it was a B20 pushrod engine. Another owner, who had bought one new, had replaced the fiber timing gears, as had my PO.

It had the darndest FI system I think Volvo ever had. Air flow measured by a big plate in the air pathway. Also had a BAD habit of going out on strike at BAD places.

Do you nkow where Van Horn, Texas is? 120 miles on I-10 east from El Paso. No, we weren't in I-10, we were on US 90 50 miles south from Van Horn. The thing just quit. Clear weather, and silence enough to hear the deer visible on a nearby hillside. Sat there 30 mins, then tried again - ran fine to Houston.

Then in 1979 they modified the body a bit, changed the fuel injection system, had the B21 SOHC engine and a far better car. Again in 1983 they did some changes; changed engine to the B23, and the fuel injection system to the Bosch LH. In 1985 they went to the B230 engine, though the turbo still had the B21FT. Since 1985, and the body changes in 1986, the B230 and the fuel injection system have had some changes, including improved engine bottom end, body rustproofing, and fuel injection system.

Feel comfortable in any but the 1975. The primary factor is maintenance done by previouis owners.

Regards,

Bob

:>)

In '79 it was still K-Jetronic FI (same as the FI'd B-20, just a different configuration for the OHC engine). K-Jet was used at various times by just about every European car maker.
The B-21 was introduced in '76.
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'80 DL 2-door

Not claiming to be an expert, though I-ve has some 140's and 240's during the years; -73, -82, -88 and 2x-90. My personal favourite based on experience is the years -90 to the last ones in -93. These seem to have reached a level of very consistent quality of a car where mostly all bugs have been systematically eradicated throughout the years. They are also adequatly equipped with power steering and a some other options which were only for extras by the late seventies or early eighties. Not to mention rust, which seemed to have an easy game around 1980 for some reason.

When it comes to engines and general mechanical reliability, I have found that there are no major differences. I was for a long time a sceptic to modern electronics in cars, but Volvo seem to have followed the path of choosing high quality bits to do this job when it became mandatory.

In the end, as for most other cars, it's the history of care and maintenance that counts if you are looking for a reliable car. For two cars of the same standard, comfort is better for the newer ones. Simple...?