best year/options/engine of volvo 240 to start with

I have been searching and looking for the next rally car to build. Volvos have won out over all the other cars that i have been thinking of building. But not being a volvo guy i'm still in the dark about some of the better options and engines that are out there. I'm fairly sure i want a 2 door, why, no reason other then they look cool. But i have seen some sweet looking 4 doors too. Oh and power steering, power steering is a must. But that's where my preferences end. I am wanting some info about motors, which ones are better. Ideas about fuel injected and carbed. No need for a turbo this early, but maybe some thoughts on running some thing turboed in the future. My thoughts on trannys are to just forgo the volvo tranny in favor of a t5. It's all in pre planning stages right now. I get a good selection of volvos running through the tow auctions for dirt cheap, I'm just trying to figure which ones specifically i should be looking at.

thanks for any info.

---

"Rally racing makes a heroin addiction look like a vague craving for something salty"



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/11/2008 02:37AM by mellow65.

The conventional wisdom was that a 4 door shell was stronger due to the added structure under the C pillar. The 2 door shell was lighter for the same reason
(and two less doors). I think that current cage requirements make that a moot point. I find it had to believe that the body would make a difference either in weight or strength with a cage such as Ian's built. The rear door does make it easier to get things in and out behind the seats as the seats will be fixed and immovable. One owuld still have to thread it between the tubes.
A 4-door shell would be easier to find simply because they were produced in greater numbers for a longer period. Around here that also means less rust- not a problem in the West.

---

Bruce Beauvais
Too many SAABs to count



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/11/2008 09:43AM by Bruce Beauvais.

same thing with Imprezas

2 doors look cool.

4 doors are more practical...and actually lighter...and well stronger...


4 doors are eaiser to cage, easier to work on,

---

Chris

Here's the skinny.

2-doos have a slightly shorter wheelbase (get out the tape measures) the earlier ones 76-80 are a little lighter (maybe from rust?)

As for the 2-door /4-door thing, The doors on the 2-doors are nice and big. With the door bars and the a-pilar bar on my 2-door I can climb in and out pretty comfortably(I'm 6' and only slightly chubby) On a 4-door it would be more head banging, knee bonking.

As for stock engines, I really like the b230 from 1986. The LH 2.2 injection has very nice throttle response, super duper reliable, and no self-diagnostic (no damn check engine light crap) The cronies will tell you about the 1983 with the forged crank and just a touch more compression. I had one, but I liked the '86 better.

-Al

4 doors are easier to cage ( if you're a 'mature' adult ). In theory a 4 door shell is stiffer due to the 2nd frame for the rear door. 4 doors are easier to repair if the damage is behind the B pillar. 4 doors allow stuff like a spare to mounted in the car while a fuel cell resides in the trunk. 4 doors allow easy access to the rear upper shocks, wiring,battery, window replacement and stuff such as helmets, suits, lunch, fire bottles and so on.

A 2 door Volvo doesn't really look any better than a 4 door . Eets a box either way. A Coupe Gt Audi looks better than a Volvo 4 door though

Readily available spares should be a huge consideration. If you do get a 2 door you can always make the rear side windows lexan and fasten in with dzuess fasteners to help with rear access.

alkun Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> As for stock engines, I really like the b230 from
> 1986. The LH 2.2 injection has very nice throttle
> response, super duper reliable, and no
> self-diagnostic (no damn check engine light crap)
> The cronies will tell you about the 1983 with the
> forged crank and just a touch more compression. I
> had one, but I liked the '86 better.
>
> -Al


so where engines interchangeable? Assuming you took all the goodies off of one and put it on the other. If so was there better years for motors? And the LH 2.2 what years did they come in? Was there anyway of telling if the car had the LH 2.2 by looking at it?

Where there different styles of fuel injection through out the years?

Also I remember reading about how some of the earlier 240s didn't have power steering. Any one know what year that started to be a common thing.

---

"Rally racing makes a heroin addiction look like a vague craving for something salty"

Don't worry about the year, go for condition but good god get ROUND HEADLIGHTS!
And not the fucking 2 portable TVs!!!
Motors: B21 and B23 bottom ends are near unbreakable.
mid 80s B230 have very VERY WEAK ass RODS and reported crank thrust bearing problems, so why bother---if'n ya gotta go B230, then get the late 89 on.

If you've been here any you know I push Gp5 cars cause they make more than enough torque to have a lot of fun with in near stock form. Change the turbine housing on the turbo and even more fun. Swap in a 4.1 or 4.3 axle, slap some RX7 calipers on and the right T5 and you're done for the first couple of years, just get in and floor it!!!

You mentioned auctions, well the choice is sometimes limited.
I could put a nice RED 2 door (round headlight!!) one in you hands for maybe $500 but that's maybe 400 more than you can find other donors---so maybe that one should go out east.

It seems that South Seattle is becoming the 240 rally Volvo center of development for North America so maybe you should come up the the Rallysprintie-thingie in Cle Elum and meet some of us. Maybe try out Kevin's 240T.

---

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.

mellow65 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> alkun Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > As for stock engines, I really like the b230
> from
> > 1986. The LH 2.2 injection has very nice
> throttle
> > response, super duper reliable, and no
> > self-diagnostic (no damn check engine light
> crap)
> > The cronies will tell you about the 1983 with
> the
> > forged crank and just a touch more
> compression. I
> > had one, but I liked the '86 better.
> >
> > -Al
>

Dude you have a LOT of questions, charge up the cell phone, get pen and paper in hand and give a call or come visit.
206 431 9696
It's a lot faster talking than typing.
>
> so where engines interchangeable? Assuming you
> took all the goodies off of one and put it on the
> other. If so was there better years for motors?
> And the LH 2.2 what years did they come in? Was
> there anyway of telling if the car had the LH 2.2
> by looking at it?
>
> Where there different styles of fuel injection
> through out the years?
>
> Also I remember reading about how some of the
> earlier 240s didn't have power steering. Any one
> know what year that started to be a common thing.

---

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.

I would love to play in Gp5 but know jack squat about turbos and how to play with them. I know you always say, get them free or damn near free, but finding a turbo in that price range maybe a little hard. So what does it take to swap a turbo into a nonturbo? It sounds like the 240 ECUs are pretty basic systems so i figure the wiring harness has to match, nothing to overly complicated.

What were the different turbo motors that are out there? Any better then the next?

And i just missed a crazy strait 2 door round light for $250 at the last tow yard. I'm still kicking myself for not getting it. But that's ok they pop up all the time here.

---

"Rally racing makes a heroin addiction look like a vague craving for something salty"

john vanlandingham Wrote:

> Dude you have a LOT of questions, charge up the
> cell phone, get pen and paper in hand and give a
> call or come visit.
> 206 431 9696
> It's a lot faster talking than typing.
> John Vanlandingham
> Sleezattle, WA, USA
>
> Vive le Prole-le-ralliat
>
> www.jvab.f4.ca


will do, don't think a visit is in the cards, i'm in portland, i have to do the damn job thing. But i'll give you a call one of these days and scribble down some info.

thanks

---

"Rally racing makes a heroin addiction look like a vague craving for something salty"

mellow65 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> john vanlandingham Wrote:
>
> > Dude you have a LOT of questions, charge up
> the
> > cell phone, get pen and paper in hand and
> give a
> > call or come visit.
> > 206 431 9696
> > It's a lot faster talking than typing.
> > John Vanlandingham
> > Sleezattle, WA, USA
> >
> > Vive le Prole-le-ralliat
> >
> > www.jvab.f4.ca
>
>
> will do, don't think a visit is in the cards, i'm
> in portland, i have to do the damn job thing. But
> i'll give you a call one of these days and
> scribble down some info.
>
> thanks




The rallycross in Cle Elum is on both Saturday and Sunday......(nudge-nudge-wink wink)

---

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.

john vanlandingham Wrote:
>
> The rallycross in Cle Elum is on both Saturday and
> Sunday......(nudge-nudge-wink wink)
>
> John Vanlandingham
> Sleezattle, WA, USA
>
> Vive le Prole-le-ralliat
>
> www.jvab.f4.ca


prepping for wild west still, no fricken time. still have 2 weeks and it feels like it's tomorrow.

---

"Rally racing makes a heroin addiction look like a vague craving for something salty"

Now that I thought about it for more than 5 seconds, get a intercooled turbo. You are going to want more pppower than a stock non-turbo, no question about it. If you are starting out/ not a lottery winner, then by far the cheapest, easiest and most realistic way is to get a decent turbo car.

My thinking is something like this: You can get a nice turbo 240 for $1500, or a non-turbo tub for $300 and plan on putting together a motor. It turns out $1200 does not to get you very far building race motors. Of course, on the turbobricks.com scene you will see that for about this much you could put together a nice turbo motor and swap it in, but that includes spending tons of time and effort (and lots of learning? oh crap). LOTS.

People told me this and I didn't listen. Now I'm going to spend my weekends at pick'n pull, and it adds months and hair-pulling to my build. I guess it depends on if you want to go race rally cars, or learn everything there is to know about volvos. Nothing wrong with either.

As John V told me a decade ago; having an OK plan is way better than planning on having the best plan in the world.
-Al

alkun Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Now that I thought about it for more than 5
> seconds, get a intercooled turbo. You are going to
> want more pppower than a stock non-turbo, no
> question about it. If you are starting out/ not
> a lottery winner, then by far the cheapest,
> easiest and most realistic way is to get a decent
> turbo car.
>
> My thinking is something like this: You can get a
> nice turbo 240 for $1500, or a non-turbo tub for
> $300 and plan on putting together a motor. It
> turns out $1200 does not to get you very far
> building race motors. Of course, on the
> turbobricks.com scene you will see that for about
> this much you could put together a nice turbo
> motor and swap it in, but that includes spending
> tons of time and effort (and lots of learning? oh
> crap). LOTS.
>
> People told me this and I didn't listen. Now
> I'm going to spend my weekends at pick'n pull, and
> it adds months and hair-pulling to my build. I
> guess it depends on if you want to go race rally
> cars, or learn everything there is to know about
> volvos. Nothing wrong with either.
>
> As John V told me a decade ago; having an OK plan
> is way better than planning on having the best
> plan in the world.
> -Al


is there anything wrong about molding two cars together. finding the body i want and then the motor i want.

i understand what you are saying though. it's like the "buy your first rally car, don't build it".

but finding what i want in a body and in a engine isn't always the easiest thing. but finding dead bodys and then wrecked cars with motors is a lot easier.

it's all a learning thing for me, i like learning about new cars.

---

"Rally racing makes a heroin addiction look like a vague craving for something salty"

right on. then there is good news, 240's are very "swappable" . I dont think they changed the body panels one bit over the decades. A 90's motor drops right into a 70's car.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/14/2008 02:57PM by alkun.