Volvo 240 or 740?
Posted by oobik
Tauno Ööbik Godlike Moderator Location: Estonia Join Date: 03/09/2014 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 3 Rally Car: 740GLT 16v |
Hello!
I got interested about stage rally few years ago. Good excuse to get break from family and kids time to time. Wife is all supportive since learning how to repair and build cars yourself is valuable skill of course, not mentioning the good mood which husband has after tinkering few hours with a car! Last year my intentions turned into reality, I snatched Volvo 740 GLT mostly because of the engine: B234f. The body is in very good shape, rust free and price was good. I've been keeping it stock to get some experience and feel of that car. Been investing time/money so that car runs and critical service is done. Brought engine and drive drain to stage 0, replaced and enhanced exhaust after manifold. Which brings me to the main point. The car is heavy and wheelbase is long. Of course it goes through anything like a tank, whatever how bad the driving conditions. It is stable on the road and one has to do something really stupid to get it off the road. But thats where it's positive factors end. Other competing cars have smaller wheelbase, which allows much better dynamical driving in small corners. Stages often have a lot of curves and getting around obstacles etc. I dislike its understeer which is always there. Once the tail starts slipping, most of the time I am fighting with the car to keep it on the road instead of enjoying the ride, it's bottom end is like a big heavy ass! Once it goes, it takes quite a lot of effort to get the weight center again. Originally my plan was to get 240 which has body in good condition and start building it up. Take the B234f engine and install it into 240. Now after some driving I am asking guidance for my plans. Looking the specs of 240, it is not that much smaller car actually, wheelbase as well is quite in the same league? Only ca 100kg less body weight. Plus I have heard that 740's design is better when considering wheel drain, suspension, breaks and steering, mainly since it is engineering comes from different era, means better road handling. So I am confused now. If to go on now with original plan, get 240, plant engine and start building it up. Or just take that 740, save some money not getting 240, start building it up instead and having fun sooner! The 740 has that IRS thing behind, which would mean trouble, or not? I also had one wild idea, which was to get 340 chassis and install B234F into that. This way weight to power ratio would be in very good league. Stop was put to that plan since it would be difficult/expensive to get that car road legal here, although not impossible. That plan would require much more work with breakes and suspension, after all, I like driving more than being under car. I mean, my idea mainly is to simply have fun. Not planning to become pro or something but it is getting tiresome watching how much better are the guys with smaller cars, of course, so far they seem to be better drivers as well 
So how to go on? Thank you! |
Robert Gobright Super Moderator Location: White Center Seattle Join Date: 04/27/2008 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 1,292 Rally Car: 91 VW GTI 8V |
Tauno Ööbik Godlike Moderator Location: Estonia Join Date: 03/09/2014 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 3 Rally Car: 740GLT 16v |
Grant Hughes Elite Moderator Location: Whitefish, MT Join Date: 01/11/2006 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 6,818 Rally Car: BMW |
edward mucklow Elite Moderator Location: charleston,wv Join Date: 05/31/2011 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 763 Rally Car: ford mustang LX 5.0, 1973 VW Beetle |
John Vanlandingham Infallible Moderator Location: Ford Asylum, Sleezattle, WA Join Date: 12/20/2005 Age: Fossilized Posts: 14,152 Rally Car: Saab 96 V4 |
Tauno Ööbik Godlike Moderator Location: Estonia Join Date: 03/09/2014 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 3 Rally Car: 740GLT 16v |
Yes, Finnish and Swedish market is pretty much flooded with those models. It takes some effort but getting ok shell for reasonable price is realistic. Finland is one hour away
Thanks! |
John Vanlandingham Infallible Moderator Location: Ford Asylum, Sleezattle, WA Join Date: 12/20/2005 Age: Fossilized Posts: 14,152 Rally Car: Saab 96 V4 |
John Vanlandingham Infallible Moderator Location: Ford Asylum, Sleezattle, WA Join Date: 12/20/2005 Age: Fossilized Posts: 14,152 Rally Car: Saab 96 V4 |
And they even speak some language you can almost understand if you both are drinking, right? John Vanlandingham Sleezattle, WA, USA Vive le Prole-le-ralliat www.rallyrace.net/jvab CALL +1 206 431-9696 Remember! Pacific Standard Time is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time. |
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