The car only has 60K miles and has the original exhaust system so provided the PB Blaster does its job I hope to not have to do too much with a hacksaw on my back. Any tips would be appreciated from those who have installed it on their own.

If you find the sport exhaust too noisy as I do, IPD suggested that I remove that center support strap. That seems to help a bit.

I have the VX-cam too and it is fun to have a little bit of power.

-Ted

Do you find that your engine with the VX cam idles a little rough? Any other downsides to it?


Thanks,

--
Jim 90 244DL 245K

The idle might be a little rougher. Nothing real bad. I am also playing around with the cam gear.

Wow. That was a breeze. I guess I was lucky. The bolts on the old clamps just came right off and I had the old system off in about 15 mins. The only time consuming thing was about 20 mins spent after I knocked the old center muffer off and it left a bit of the pipe stuck on the pipe coming from the cat. Hacksaw got through it fairly easily. Got the old one rigged up and was mounting when it just got too dark to work. I should finish today within 30 mins. I guess it could have been a lot harder so I must have been lucky.

I just replaced the exhaust on my '93 245 with a stock set up. I used a sawsall to make two cuts in the pipes. The only clamp I took off was the one on the front of the center muffler. I then carefully hammered the center muffler off the cat pipe. All went very well.

One problem I had in the install was the large rubber center muffler support donuts that came with the kit were much harder and less flexable than the Volvo ones. I fought them to the point of going to the dealer and getting the stock ones, which went on very easily. I do not think your set up uses a center muffler, so you will not be fighting this battle!

Good luck!

Lumpy 245

I have no useful installation tips, but I thought I'd chime in.

I bought one of these a month ago. I knew this job was over my head, so I had my mechanic install mine. You're saving yourself a good $100 by doing it yourself.

You're gonna love it. You do notice the extra power, and it has a nice burble to it. Don't be afraid to punch it in the lower gears; my mechanic said--this was news to me--that you can't redline these engines, even revving up past 20 mph in first gear (though it burns up gas).

Few things are as satisfying as blowing past a newish Mercedes on the freeway at 80 mph, as I did yesterday.
--
John--'88 244DL, M47, 102K, white/blue, 'Hilda'

So you went for the IPD exhaust, eh! I've had mine for almost 2 years and, for the most part, am happy with it. Are you going to do the VX cam too?

I'd still like to add a little more power to my car. I'm concerned about the expense and rough idle of adding the VX cam. I'm thinking about adding Magnicor wires and iridium spark plugs to see if that makes any difference. I need new spark plug wires anyway and the plugs are only about $40.


--
Jim 90 244DL 245K

Yes.. Please let us know how the iridium plugs etc work out. I was considering those myself.

Matt
--
'82 DL - 158k, '93 945 - 116k

I asked my mecanic about the VX cam, but he advised me that it's a big ($$) job and advised against it. (He's super-honest.) I also read that it mainly improves high-end performance at the expense of the low end, and what I was concerned about was getting up to speed from red lights and merging onto the freeway. I have enough power for now; when the engine is shot in 200K miles, I'll drop in Mustang V8 (assuming the body is still good and I don't mind paying someone else 6 grand to do it).

Let us know if the plug wires/iridium plugs make a difference!
--
John--'88 244DL, M47, 102K, white/blue, 'Hilda'

Um, I wouldn't say the VX cam is a BIG $$ job...at least it shouldn't be. I changed from a K cam to M cam for emissions in an hour....and that included re-setting the timing after I dropped the belt and screwed it up. The transfer back to K took all of 35 minutes. However, the near $200 IPD gets for a VX is prohibitive. If I were you, I'd find an A cam or something--those run nicely and expand the power a good bit for cheaper. It really isn't that hard to put a different cam in....just read the bentley or haynes manual a bit and it'll go smoothly. By the third time you do one, it'll seem like cake to you. have a good one,

Nate Gundy
--
'86 240DL sedan, 260K miles, M46, K cam, 25/23mm sways, 260 front and wagon rear springs; http://valvespringcompressor.weblogs.us/

Take care of that engine and it will go a lot more than 200k!! That is one of the beautiful things about a Volvo. In addition to safety, 240's are extremely durable cars. 300, 400 or even 500K w/o a rebuild is not unattainable. The rest of the car is pretty damn durable too.

My car has 245k on its original engine/tranny/drivetrain and still pulls strongly. Burns no oil either. Doesn't seem like its going to die anytime soon. I have a slushbox (AW-70) so I could use a little power. That is why I am considering other options in addition to my IPD exhaust.
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Jim 90 244DL 245K

Good point! I meant *another* 200K (for 300K total), but you're right; some bricks are still kicking long past that. 245K--impressive!

Yeah, I was thinking of what car built today is even close to the 240 in durability; I don't think there is one. I would've thought the Toyota Corolla, but I'm told those start falling apart sometime betwen 100K and 200K. (And besides, how much panache is there to an old Corolla?) Mercedes is now churning out garbage, Volvo is owned by Ford, even Bentley is just a VW--our bricks are the last great cars.

Have you thought about installing a used M46 or M47 tranny? I hear it's a big job, but the stick has really grown on me (despite the torture I endure in stop/go traffic).
--
John--'88 244DL, M47, 102K, white/blue, IPD sport exhaust--'Hilda'

I like it, 240 and panache kind of go together! The 240 has a classic look.

I'm really a manual tranny guy. Before I bought my 240 I'd been driving manuals and only manuals for over 25 years. I was ready for a change...Although I miss shifting sometimes....Next car will probably be a manual.

You're right, the cost to switch trannies is prohibitive. Plus my car has more pressing needs like brakework and new struts....
--
Jim 90 244DL 245K

Yes. VX cam is next (gonna change timing belt, tensioner and seals while I'm at it).

If I remember correctly....

A PITA, but not a bad job overall.

Make sure you have some extra clamps before starting. Big hammer too. Lots of patience and beer helps too...

To save some work:
Trying cutting it off at the front first - where it attaches to the cat - and remove it intact.

Put the IPD exhaust together loosely - ie. so the parts still move and pivot - then try and mount it intact as well. Move the parts around until it fits correctly. Don't tighten until you're satisfied it's mounted correctly.

Use protective glasses and be prepared for bashed knuckles and unexpected issues....


Good luck,
Jim

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Jim 90 244DL 245K

I was planning on some cold Corona to help me forget I smashed my thumb and lost a fingernail during my last adventure under the car.