the 240 just gets better

[scooters]

I've got a dialemma - skint and the MOT on the BX runs out in 3 weeks - can't really afford to get it through as it will need 500 quid of welding and exhaust parts. I'll be mothballing it most likely.

 

The Wife's 850 hasn't been used for a couple of months - needs a new battery and serpentine belt.

 

The Campervan project is on going

 

The one reliable constant is the 240 Torsdlanda which I have developed real affection for - it desperately neeeds a service but just keeps on going. Definately a keeper.

[Shep Shepherd]

Rear wheel drive Volvos are excellent cars

[garethj]

I have the bourgeois 740 and you do appreciate it's fine points over time - most things still work, I did 500 miles in a weekend last month without having to worry about it breaking down, it's fairly narrow compared to most new cars so you can slither through gaps in traffic, and it gets a move on when you hoof the throttle.

 

I'd quite like to sell it on, but I can't think what to replace it with yet so it stays. Being an estate with 7 seater conversion makes it very handy too.

 

MoT in a couple of weeks, we'll see how much I appreciate it when the fail sheet comes in

[nigel bickle]

£500 of welding -where the f*** did that come from? The exhaust was Ok too -has that suddenly died? Rear box only needed sleeving and a small spot of weld. 10 mins. Come on -its never that bad -surely?

[garethj]

Could this be the ideal time to learn how to weld, scoot?

[scooters]

the problem area is the rear offside doorslam/sill - the outer wheelarch has rusted through here and there is a 6" hole from halfway down the curve of the wheelarch to the sill itself - I've had a £250 quote to weld patch it - it's an awkwardly shaped patch. Whilst I doubt it is load bearing it is within 30cm of important bits so may well result in pinging at MOT time. The boot floor - whilst not a fail has 3 holes in it now and really needs sorting- £100 welding there. The exhaust hanger needs rewelded on - and some ad hoc bits here and there which push it up to the £400 mark.

 

Then I need to get a new silencer - the current one fell off and is badly dented and cracked now, so another £40 odd quid.

 

I also need a new windscreen washer motor - just a hassel to sort

 

the front offside tyre is now worn below acceptable and the nearside the same (my fault for flooring it!) - so I'll need another couple of tyres.

 

All adds up!

 

A question for you though - given that the rear door slam isn't a load bearing structure - do you think I could get away with filling it?

 

would love to start my own welding but have no workspace at the moment - all my repairs have to be carried out on the roadside

[nigel bickle]

I dont recall any issues with the slam panel . However- its not really that difficult a jobbie. Cut a pattern (in cardboard) to shape- will prob involve a lot of cuts.,slices & tape - wont be a thing of beauty. Copy that with a bit of old tin- beaten over your knee or summat. Once shaped- its a simple(ish) repair to tack in. Then fill in the gaps & cover it with paint & underseal. 3 hrs work.

 

Silencer- fell off -you talking about the rear one? Its not complicated there- just find a length of appropriate pipe and forget the silencing- any old scrap that fits. Then an accessory shop hanger with a u bolt will legalise it.

 

Tyres are £20 (round here) for 2nds -and a washer pump is a freebie from your local breakers. Any will do -just plumb inline and fit the connectors.

 

Hells teeth- that a half days work. Get it done!

[scooters]

I dont recall any issues with the slam panel . However- its not really that difficult a jobbie. Cut a pattern (in cardboard) to shape- will prob involve a lot of cuts.,slices & tape - wont be a thing of beauty. Copy that with a bit of old tin- beaten over your knee or summat. Once shaped- its a simple(ish) repair to tack in. Then fill in the gaps & cover it with paint & underseal. 3 hrs work.

 

Silencer- fell off -you talking about the rear one? Its not complicated there- just find a length of appropriate pipe and forget the silencing- any old scrap that fits. Then an accessory shop hanger with a u bolt will legalise it.

 

Tyres are £20 (round here) for 2nds -and a washer pump is a freebie from your local breakers. Any will do -just plumb inline and fit the connectors.

 

Hells teeth- that a half days work. Get it done!

 

lol!

 

 

I'll try and not to put the bean tin through my kneecap!

[Rhythm Thief]

240s are great cars. I had a black GLT estate for a while, cool as fuck and tremendous fun on wet roundabouts. I wish I'd kept it.

 

[scooters]

240s are great cars. I had a black GLT estate for a while, cool as fuck and tremendous fun on wet roundabouts. I wish I'd kept it.

 

 

 

now THAT is cool as fuck - lovely in bl;ack and a GLT spec as well - nice powerful engine, all mod cons - those crazy buttoned leather seats (never a good idea in shorts)

 

I drool - mine is the Torslanda - essentially as basic as they come and whilst the austerity does appeal to me the gutles 2.0l engine, high fuel consumption and lack of certain creature comforts do cheese me off a bit. Mind you - it becomes apparant why it is like this in the snow - the Torsy as you will know is a cold weather version of the 240 and I could never understand why it only had a 2.0l engine until of course I drove it in the snow and ice this winter - the relative underpower links very well with the special diff which locks at under 25mph - this can give a choppy ride if you are not gentle with the clutch and revs in the summer but in winter it is by far in the way the best rear wheel drive car I have ever driven - it inspires confidence even in the nastiest conditions...with chains on it it was unstoppable last winter. The trade off of course is in the summer it is slow and gutsy if driven with a heavy right foot.

 

I love it because depite having an engine management light blink at me for the last 3000 miles the car has been very reliable. I suspect the engine management light is being caused by a dodgey MAF. The best thing about trhe 240 though is the taxi like turning cirlce which makes town driving a doddle.

 

Obviously, the locking diff does effect the roundabout in the wet capers

[Torsten2001]

240s are great cars. I had a black GLT estate for a while, cool as fuck and tremendous fun on wet roundabouts. I wish I'd kept it.

 

 

 

now THAT is cool as fuck - lovely in bl;ack and a GLT spec as well - nice powerful engine, all mod cons - those crazy buttoned leather seats (never a good idea in shorts)

 

I drool - mine is the Torslanda - essentially as basic as they come and whilst the austerity does appeal to me the gutles 2.0l engine, high fuel consumption and lack of certain creature comforts do cheese me off a bit. Mind you - it becomes apparant why it is like this in the snow - the Torsy as you will know is a cold weather version of the 240 and I could never understand why it only had a 2.0l engine until of course I drove it in the snow and ice this winter - the relative underpower links very well with the special diff which locks at under 25mph - this can give a choppy ride if you are not gentle with the clutch and revs in the summer but in winter it is by far in the way the best rear wheel drive car I have ever driven - it inspires confidence even in the nastiest conditions...with chains on it it was unstoppable last winter. The trade off of course is in the summer it is slow and gutsy if driven with a heavy right foot.

 

I love it because depite having an engine management light blink at me for the last 3000 miles the car has been very reliable. I suspect the engine management light is being caused by a dodgey MAF. The best thing about trhe 240 though is the taxi like turning cirlce which makes town driving a doddle.

 

Obviously, the locking diff does effect the roundabout in the wet capers

 

 

I think I remember that, didn't it have a noisy diff?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Whats the economy like in yours then Scootsbury? I used to be able to get 30 in mine no worries, thats the joy of the BOSH EFI in those Torslandas.

[Rhythm Thief]

240s are great cars. I had a black GLT estate for a while, cool as fuck and tremendous fun on wet roundabouts. I wish I'd kept it.

 

 

 

now THAT is cool as fuck - lovely in bl;ack and a GLT spec as well - nice powerful engine, all mod cons - those crazy buttoned leather seats (never a good idea in shorts)

 

I drool - mine is the Torslanda - essentially as basic as they come and whilst the austerity does appeal to me the gutles 2.0l engine, high fuel consumption and lack of certain creature comforts do cheese me off a bit. Mind you - it becomes apparant why it is like this in the snow - the Torsy as you will know is a cold weather version of the 240 and I could never understand why it only had a 2.0l engine until of course I drove it in the snow and ice this winter - the relative underpower links very well with the special diff which locks at under 25mph - this can give a choppy ride if you are not gentle with the clutch and revs in the summer but in winter it is by far in the way the best rear wheel drive car I have ever driven - it inspires confidence even in the nastiest conditions...with chains on it it was unstoppable last winter. The trade off of course is in the summer it is slow and gutsy if driven with a heavy right foot.

 

I love it because depite having an engine management light blink at me for the last 3000 miles the car has been very reliable. I suspect the engine management light is being caused by a dodgey MAF. The best thing about trhe 240 though is the taxi like turning cirlce which makes town driving a doddle.

 

Obviously, the locking diff does effect the roundabout in the wet capers

 

 

I think I remember that, didn't it have a noisy diff?

 

 

That's it. Were you on the Volvo club forum?

[Torsten2001]

Sure am, really wanted that when it was for sale!

[scooters]

Whats the economy like in yours then Scootsbury? I used to be able to get 30 in mine no worries, thats the joy of the BOSH EFI in those Torslandas.

 

 

difficult to tell old boy,

 

the problem is that my lambda sensor light has been on for the last 6 months and the consumption seems quite high. Have been putting off sorting it but need to do soon. I suspect it is the MAF sensor packed in - expensive part at £80 - but first I am going to get under the car and take the Lambda sensor out of the cat, give it a good clean and pop it back in - hopefully that will fix it!

 

My problem with the Torsy is that I replaced a 535i with it so for the first 3 mohts drove it flat out everywhere in frustration at the slowness. However, sonce I turned 40 in February and since the proce of petrol went through the roof I've been far more sedate recently and this seems to make a diffrence.

 

The Torsy badly needs a new fuel tank sender as the one in it is fooked - either reads full when full or empty - when 2/3rds full!

 

Missus just drops in £20 every 60 miles or so of round town driving and it seems to suffice.

 

The Torsy is in daily use as the main family car at the moment 'cos the 850 is playing up. What looks like a battery problem might actuallyt be a knackered alternator - not good news as it is located in a very awkward part of the engine.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

The tank sender in my Torslanda knackered up. i got a new one off eBay USA, cost about £40 I think, I think you can do it without dropping the tank as well.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Yo Scutrboi! bosh up a pic of the rot on your BX eh? I have a possible idea about welding it up.

[scooters]

cheers Mr B - I'll do it tomorrow.

 

The biggest challenge is that I don't have a welder - nor do I have access to one. I have a mate who has both a mig and a spot welder but he's moving to Oz and is over there just now sorting it all out.

 

I'm not convinced it is an MOT faliure- so a wee bit of zinc mesh and some decent filler would do the job. I'll do the same on the boot floor and drill a hole for an exhaust hanger rather than weld it.

 

Found a new old skoosher for 7 quid on the bay

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Ah well that doesnt sound like £500 of welding then so my idea is probably more botha than its worth. it was that you bring your BX to me in Crewe and i'll weld it up for you for £5 or summert. You drive home again in my Cavalier and hang onto it for a month or two till i have fettled your BX. You'd have to tax the Cav but you can cash in whats left when you hand it back, or I will, or something like that.

 

But if you can get away with a blob of Glenn* thats much simpler!!! I thought you were expecting a mega weld fest to be needed.

 

 

* = Glenn Miller

[garethj]

it was that you bring your BX to me in Crewe and i'll weld it up for you for £5 or summert. You drive home again in my Cavalier and hang onto it for a month or two till i have fettled your BX. You'd have to tax the Cav but you can cash in whats left when you hand it back, or I will, or something like that.

That sounds like a good offer

 

Scooters, it's always a good time to get yourself a welder, I've got one like this £50 gem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CLARKE-MIG-WELDER-/260752942479?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item3cb616258f

[nigel bickle]

Transporter loaded.Whats the address?

[scooters]

Ah well that doesnt sound like £500 of welding then so my idea is probably more botha than its worth. it was that you bring your BX to me in Crewe and i'll weld it up for you for £5 or summert. You drive home again in my Cavalier and hang onto it for a month or two till i have fettled your BX. You'd have to tax the Cav but you can cash in whats left when you hand it back, or I will, or something like that.

 

But if you can get away with a blob of Glenn* thats much simpler!!! I thought you were expecting a mega weld fest to be needed.

 

 

* = Glenn Miller

 

 

that's a very geneous offer Mr B - can I come back to you on it? I need to see if I've got the time to squeeze it in over the next couple of weeks.

[Torsten2001]

That offer is heartbreakingly generous and I'm of the opinion that Mr Bollox should be renamed St Bollox

[garethj]

That offer is heartbreakingly generous and I'm of the opinion that Mr Bollox should be renamed St Bollox

I agree. Paton saint of...?

 

Land Crabs?

 

Head gaskets?

 

Arc eye?

[Torsten2001]

shite

[scooters]

St Bo11ox of Shite....you have a PM your holyness

[Mr_Bo11ox]

YO, no PM's recieved at this end

[scooters]

Mr B

 

have resent as a reply - if you don't get it then there is a problem with my PM in which case I'll drop you an email if you write to [email protected]

 

cheers

R