Kade's Volvo 940

[Kade]

Since the last post, I've done another 2400 miles in the car all over the country. There was a slight oil leak that was fixed by replacing the sump plug, but otherwise the car didn't let me down once. I prefer the car on steelies for now so I'll be giving away the wheel trims @BeEP gave me for free, and I picked up a roof rack from @sdkrc that's unfortunately too loud for the motorway so I'll have to see whether or not I keep it.

Did the oil, oil filter and spark plugs in late June. Resprayed the roof rails last Thursday. Went over the car with T-Cut and used restorer on the black trim last Friday. On Saturday I lost some red window trim from the rear nearside window on the motorway. Finally, yesterday (after travelling up North twice a few weeks ago only to find out the supplier sent the wrong material both times), I had matte black vinyl fitted on the side by a friend (who did a great job). Really like it.

Photos:

14 / 06 - Night drive:

24 / 06 - After being cleaned: 

10 / 07 - After spray painting the roof rails, using paint restorer, and using black trim restorer:

12 / 07 - With the vinyl applied (ft. a friend's FB RX7 project and another friend's 4th gen Civic):    

 

[GeordieInExile]

I like that it has keep fit windows but also has headlamp wipers. 

[Kade]

The day after making the last post my gearbox started making a terrible grinding noise when setting off. Turned out the clutch was down to the rivets. With a lot of help from friends I spent last Saturday to this Monday getting the gearbox off and fitting the new clutch (and a new rear crank seal while I was in there). It's by far the toughest mechanical job I've done but it went smoothly enough thanks to them. Now the car drives perfectly (enough) again. I spoke to someone who’s owned a few of these before and will get started soon on important maintenance.

 

Other little stuff I've done:

- Spray painted the steelies black

- Sorted out some very minor surface rust in one arch

- Replaced the trim I lost on the M25 with some in a different colour (for now)

- Bought another M90 gearbox because I thought mine was broken (it wasn’t)

 

I’ve also emailed Volvo UK my VIN and got the spec and list of options the car came with, as well as the price list for the 940. See the price list below:

 

 

And here are the options on my car:

 

 

I’d like to meet the guy who wanted a new car with a sunroof and a child seat, but no AC or electric windows.

 

Photos:

 

01 / 08 - Day one of the clutch job (credit @YungStaff)

 

 

02 / 08 - The old clutch: 

 

 

03 / 08 - Before putting the gearbox back on:

 

 

06 / 08 - Cleaned, and with sprayed wheels:

 

 

[Lacquer Peel]

I think the child seats are a standard item on UK cars, my old 1993 994 turbo diesel had a booster seat. Honestly Volvo specs of the early-mid 90s are baffling!

Love to see yours and any 9xx car.

 

[Madman Of The People]

On 5/29/2020 at 11:16 AM, Lankytim said:

Looks great, I think the US head lights for the 940 were these crappy plastic things that look similar to the European items anyway.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not going to do anything with my 940 so should probably sell it. 1997 turbo auto anyone? 

 

Yes, early US-spec 940 headlights mimicked the look of the European headlights...

 

The main headlights were glass and the inner fog lights were plastic.

 

For some inexplicable reason, later US-Spec 940s used the same front end as the 1990-92 740.

 

[danthecapriman]

Nice work on this, definitely got your money’s worth out of that old clutch!

[Shirley Knott]

Loving this thread!

As @Shep Shepherd once explained to me, RWD Volvo's get under your skin... I still genuinely regret selling my old 940, there's just something special/wholesome about them. Props for changing the clutch on your drive, impressive stuff.

[Kade]

In the two weeks after the last post I did a few other little things like replacing the front tyres, mostly just keeping the car on the road. Then in late August I set off on a 3-week round trip through Europe (England to Bratislava and back), living out of the car. 3000 Miles in 18 days (With a 4 day stop in the middle). The car held up very well during the trip, although there are one or two minor things I'll be looking at soon when I have the time. If I had to tackle Polish potholes in any other vehicle I'm sure I wouldn't have a spine left.

Some photos:

I met some pretty cool people including a few German 940 owners, a Czech guy with a (presumably ex-communist) 240 and the Dutch owner of the lifted 940 pictured above, who kindly gave me a blacked-out version of my grille.

Also, if you sit at 55 consistently on a flat motorway in 5th, you can just barely get 40mpg out of this car. 

And English food will never live up to Slav petrol station hot dogs.

[juular]

Love this. Looks like an amazing trip too. I always thought these would work as a sort of micro camper.

[Cord Fourteener]

Mmm lovely Volvo you have!

[Kade]

Sad news cowboys, I've sold the car.  After Europe it started developing other little problems, mostly prominently the failing exhaust system and intermittent misfires (likely as a result of the exhaust). Failed its MOT and due to various circumstances I've sold it on (to an enthusiast who will hopefully be keeping it on the road). Retiring this thread as a result. Even in its dying days it was a comfy motorway cruiser and great fun to drag around city roads.

I would regard the Volvo 940 as a very unique car, even in the process of moving it in my driveway it felt completely unlike any other car I've ever been in or driven. In 6 months of ownership I did over twice as many miles in this as I did in my Civic over 2 years. Time will tell what I replace it with but I'm hoping to buy something else old and unreliable within the next 12 months.

Just the one photo this time.