I'm just trying to work through all this stuff and thought I'd take my "problem" public. I really don't want to have this car as an alternate project car to the 122. I really just need a little truck to run around and move junk. Some guy on Tbrix has just released an LS swap cross member kit including a T56 trans adapter and I've looked...and thought "man, that with an 8.8 rear would be simply amazing." This is a very bad thought.

Ya, it's not going to get much worse over the winter...I'll probably stop it for now with a little POR-15, then fix it up in the spring. My goal is to sell it as a solid car, not something that someone would have to spend time repainting or repairing. If it rusts in another couple of years (it is a 240 after all) - not my problem. But I won't sell a cheap patch job either (because I don't need to sell the car and I like it and I'm nuts). I'll also swap the trans because it will take me less time than someone else.

I'll never get out of this car what I think it's worth and we all know you can't get money out of these things - there's thousands in paint alone, not to mention the suspension, brakes, wheels-tires, glass, interior...anyone else got a 242 that isn't rusty and doesn't rattle? New everything? Everything works?

I expect to sell it to an enthusiast (in fact I insist). If someone offers me $1000, I'll just keep it and do the LS swap when the 122's done.

I think $1K offers for your car would involve hanging up/slamming the door in someones face. Fleabay is the way to go on cars like this, I think you might be surprised where it goes as it's old enough for US import. I would even put it up on Tbroke as there are a few guys with money and maybe someone will get it on bringatrailer.com I think your fix it in the spring idea makes the most sense as that's the prime time to sell a car anyway.

Food for thought...

http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=283649

Another comparable with turbo, not sure who had the really bad idea to stick that spoiler on the trunk?

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/c ... 00782.html

1980 VOLVO 242 TURBO - CUSTOM B23FT - $5995 (Burnaby)


Up for sale is a car built with alot of love and pride, locally in Burnaby BC at ALLVO AUTOMOTIVE and OPERTUNE Autobody. Most everything is new down to the pistons.

B23FT
NEW Old Stock MAHLE pistons at 9:8 Compression
IPD springs
Turbo Sway Bars
BILSTEIN yellow shocks and Struts
New BOSCH Fuel Pump
fresh paint and body work
GT Grille and HID New H4 bosch housings
Grey interior
4 SPD manual with OD
3:93 rear axle
Drilled Zimmerman rotors up front
Solid Zimmerman rotor rear
Boost conservatively controlled at 10 PSI
Group A spoiler
Turbo Exhaust

10000KMS on rebuilt engine
175000KMS body

Open to offers but for anyone who knows these cars you couldn't build one for anywhere near the price but we don't build these for profit !! Its a passion. Not in any hurry to sell. Thanks !

Why not? That's the only car that spoler belongs on.

Really? Is it grpA thing? I think it looks rice... Maybe if it had the full ground effects package, by itself it looks like it's lost. :shrug:

ETA: NVM, I get it now...

Cool! I wonder if they did an LH swap as well?

I was thinking (I know...oh brother here we go) as I drove across the prairies that this really is a great car. Last weekend I did the same trip (Lethbridge to Brandon and back) in an XC90 and a new Jetta (rental) and then turned around and did the same trip in the 242. It struck me that the 242 felt better than the new Jetta with my recent addition of the additional door trim (a la later 240's around the top of the door) that it was almost as quiet and at 120 kph (verified with my $2 GPS) it just sings a wonderful mechanical song. Now the XC was better for sure - but that's like comparing a kite to the space shuttle.

Things that currently annoy me:

1. Idle is erratic until the idle control valve heats soaks (gotta get one that works I guess).

2. Exhaust - the header is on it's last legs and I really should either build one quickly or just return to the stock manifold.

3. Exhaust note - It's a bit too high for my taste.

4. Lack of real power.

Things that I could do include.

1. The simple - fix the idle valve and swap out that header for either a home made header or a stock unit.

2. LH swap with B230F for EFI and about nothing else that I can think of right now.

3. LH 2.2 swap with B230FT and a different exhaust.

For what I'm willing to spend and given my other projects, option 1 is probably what's going to happen with the view to moving towards option 3 if the opportunity presents itself. Of course, there is always option 1 and sell it and start over with some other car - something more modern leaving option 3 to some kid to do (why deny them the opportunity to learn, right?)

OPTION 3, OPTION 3!!!

Oh and a working parking brake.

Option 1 now, review again in the spring. This could go on forever, which isn't a bad thing b/c it means you still have the car...

The B21FT uses a really simple, easily standalone, idle controller. When I knew about these things I could tell you exactly what you needed to install it, but I don't. You can figure it out in about 15 minutes though. Seriously, get rid of that bimetallic garbage!

Your car doesn't make the power it should. I don't know if it's the k-jets or what, but something's wrong. The head and the exhaust aren't the problem with the power, it's more like combustion quality. An LH2.2 swap wouldn't be too bad, and would solve your idle problem too.

The exhaust is the big issue. A stock manifold will help quiet it down and bring back some refinement, so would a nice 2.25" exhaust with reasonable muffling. Heck, even a free-flow 2" would be sufficient for that engine. The 2.5" does nothing but make noise. What's physically wrong with the header, is it just falling apart?

Otherwise, that car is awesome.

Did you ever get around to spending 5 minutes with the fuel distributor and a 3mm long allen key? I bet a quarter turn one direction or the other will make alot of difference...

Ya, I even have witnesses. We used Matt's allen key and a wide band O2 sensor to get it dialled in - still runs goofy at idle. I've cleaned the back of the air flow plate before you ask.

I've spent a lot of time driving the car lately and I'm working on hatching a plan.

Here's the start point (drum roll please):

There's a great parts car at the JY right now with LH 3.1.
1. Pull all the harnesses, computers, and associated LH stuff off the car and take all the upper engine stuff (I already have the alternator - old habit) like injectors, knock sensors, CPS, etc. It's missing the AMM (went to another car) and the Idle control valve (I can get new or used ones) and whatever else I think is worth while.
2. Pull the exhaust manifold to use temporarily while I either rebuild the Stahl or replace it with a try-y of my own design.
3. Track down a flat flywheel with the 60-2 pattern or order one from TTV Racing.
4. The head on my B23E has been rebuilt - so leave it alone and tackle the bottom end with the view to creating a smooth powerful NA engine. The existing engine is not well balanced and doesn't make the power it should. All internals will be balanced. New bearings/gaskets/oil pump etc.
5. Probably order a cam from Sweden - no hero stuff, just looking for say 160 crank hp.
6. Rebuild my spare T5 transmission. Get another nice shifter and kiss the OD nonsense goodbye. I also have a good M46, but why?
7. Weld a bung on the oil pan for the oil temp sender - why would you put a sender on the oil pan drain bolt...that's stupid.
8. Fix the panhard rod so that the rear end isn't off kilter. This was a lazy mistake.
9. Drive, enjoy and probably still think about a big a$$ turbo.

Hmmmmm....okay, I see what's going on here now. Soooo, here's my thoughts: option 3 is the way to go.

You're wasting your time rebuilding your N/A engine if you're already doing the LH swap. B230ft's are basically free. Or, if you're going to the bother of rebuilding your long block, and you're already swapping in LH, why not just do the turbo swap at the same time? A b23e+T would be sweet. The N/A motor isn't going to be that much stronger than what you have (okay, maybe a bit), but the turbo motor will be so much more rewarding. For the amount of extra effort you're making to get a turbo in there, its worth it. An LH swap without the turbo isn't enough reward to justify the effort in my humble opinion. And if down the road you decide you want a turbo, then you start over again. If you say you're dreaming about a big turbo, do what you want now, and don't make more work for yourself.

If you're staying N/A, I say forget about the header. What a racket and a pain that thing is. You're not gaining enough power to make it worth it. Use the stock manifold, and a smaller exhaust like Matt says. Too much noise. Toss that thing.

I figured you would already be thinking about the T5 swap. You've got it already, so that makes (a bit of) sense. Your M46 with that short shifter thingy is horrible.

Whatever you decide though, I'm game. I'm craving some JY runs.