Ok, guys I need to get a couple heads together. I have no hair left to tear out. This one's kicking my butt.

1988 244, M47. Totally stock save for a nice GT steering wheel center I found for it and recently a set of 14" GT wheels.

This car has had an ongoing problem with loss of power when accelerating, and severe bucking until you're rolling on level ground at a good speed in 3rd gear... and it's getting worse!

I've been trying various things for months now and the owner has been committed to fixing it, driving it very little and trying to avoid hills due to the power issue. It's bad and I'm close to pushing it into the river. No, I am seriously going to fight this one out because I *HAVE* to know what's doing it.

Here's a similar post about a similar car:
http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/1085620/220/240/260/280/1986_240_bucks_taking_stick_shift.html

The items mentioned in this are exactly what I've been going after, and were primary things mentioned to me as guesses from a host of other local Volvo mechanics.

Here's what I've done to go after this problem (and it persists):

New fuel pressure regulator (old one was just about rusted out anyway)
Intake manifold gasket
Inspect intake boot from AMM to TB (no cracks)
Clean throttle body
Replace AMM with another one that ran fine on an 88 745 (neither made a difference in either car)
Replace fuel filter
Replace hoses to flame trap (the one to the breather box was spectacularly bad and the big one to intake was falling off, no change when fixed)
Tuneup: plugs/cap/rotor twice
Check timing*

Known issues still to be resolved:
Trailing arm bushings are bad. Shot, blown right out. That's some of the bucking, I know. Torque rod bushings were replaced a year ago. They were typically cracked but not failed. The car actually feels just fine riding down the highway, but I know that contributes.

Clutch is tough to get a proper adjustment but does not slip... I suspect a pressure plate going bad contributing to some drag that makes reverse crunch a bit when engaged, but getting going, the bucking is NOT from engaging the clutch. You can release it gently, get moving, and then as you give it gas, it begins to buck and jerk BADLY.

In any case, the engine seems to have NO power when trying to accelerate beyond a very moderate rate. It revs just fine, sounds strong in fact when revved in neutral.

* I am tearing down the timing covers tomorrow AM to make sure the cam has not jumped a tooth. It would be nice to find it off a tooth but I find it hard to believe, given that it starts, idles, revs so nicely. I have to verify it though.

Open to any suggestions, thanks Brickboard!

--Rob Bareiss, New London, CT:: 90 745T, 90 745GL M47, 92 244 M47, 89 244GLT Turbo