1982 242 Turbo - Worth anything?

Ever think what it would do with a 4.6 or 5.0 ford in it? Less then $6k!

Hard to say without seeing it, I have a particular liking to 242 Turbos, such neat cars, but that one is really sounding like a parts car. Especially if it has an aftermarket moon roof, the factor sunroofs are decent but anything added after the fact always seems like a hack to me.

If someone had a nice straight 242 this thing has lots of nice stuff that could be transferred over though.

Oh yeah, there were a couple different ratios of 1st gear on the M46 trannies, but the 240 Turbos all had a fairly short rear end to compensate for the lack of low end torque before the boost comes up.

Why would anyone put $6K into the motor of a car with crappy paint and lots of dings which already has a good motor in it?

Read carefully:

Oh, by the way...300HP

But why not splurge the extra grand and get a Volvo in great physical condition? It won't attract any more attention than a beat up one, probably less.

It sounds like you are at the proverbial crossroads.

I guess it depends on whether you LIKE the car, and how handy you are with a wrench.

These cars should not be owned by people who are not competent shade tree mechanics, as they are pretty high maintenance.

I know: I have an '82 Turbo, but unlike yours, mine's been refurbished, rebuilt and impeccably maintained...by me.

When they are well-maintained, they're great.

I'll agree there, they're fantastic cars. The maintenance issue is mostly the fact that the newest ones are 22 years old, good car but there *will* be some tinkering needed unless one has been restored from the ground up.

Due to their age, and the turbo, frequent mechanical ministration / tinkering is a fact of life for Volvo turbos.

You can count on frequent issues coming up in relation to the turbo, usually oil leaks.

Intake leaks can be a constant haunt, and of course the wiring harnesses wear out due to oil contamination and heat, causing numerous issues.

There will always be the usual wear and tear and replacement of hard parts such as suspension bits, steering rack, and U-joints.

All of this can be corrected by a professional mechanic, of course, but the cost of repair and maintenance can be prohibitive, given the lack of underlying long term value or "collecibility" of the marque.

I love my Turbo, warts and all, and as a big man (6' 5", 245 pounds) it is one of the few vehicles with sporting pretensions that I can fit comfortably in.

"You pays your money, and you makes your choices."

It would be awesome to do that engine swap, and a lot of fun! I don't have the funds to do the engine swap though, or I'd jump on it...

:)

Thank you all for the polite and informative replies, methinks I'll be putting it in the paper for $400 and pass it on to someone who has more time and money than me or needs a parts car... I hate to get rid of it, I love the damn thing... but its been sitting a while and its time to move on...

The paper is OK, but the best way is probably to post it for free online on craigslist.

Post a photo with it, if possible, and the response will surprise you.

I would second that if you're in the right area, craigslist in my area is hopping, I've checked out some other places out of curiosity and fount it to be mostly dead. As you say though it's free to post there so it's worth a shot.

LOL no reason at all!

You're right on most points with one exception. The Turbos used on Volvos of that vintage are extremely robust. My '84 that I bought new...granted, it only has 139K on the clock has only had Mobil 1 since the first change and the turbo is in REALLY fine shape. There are other components that go bad even without mileage...parts that deteriorate just by "being there", namely the upper rubber mounts. I was shocked to look at the upper mounts the other day and observe that they are SEVERELY cracked and probably ready to punch through. I'll probably have it flat-bedded into my favorite independent Volvo service guy although the dealer (Volvo of Las Vegas) really wants to see it. I don't want those guys even laying a finger on my pristine, 2 door silver turbo. In

I agree that the turbos used are well made, and with regular maintenance should last over 100K before needing replacement.

The problems I was thinking of are more of the nuisance type, such as leaks in the turbo's oil lines, rotting wiring (often from oil leaks having cooked through the sheath), motor or trans mounts failing: the list goes on and on.

In part this is a credit to the car, as they can last so very long if well-maintained.

No, it's worth nothing. Shame on you for ownership. I command that you immediately deliver it to my home in Oregon at no cost to me in order to return the universe to a state of harmonious balance!

Seriously though, do you really need the $400? I vote for keeping it as a plaything. You won't regret keeping it but you'll probably regret selling it.

On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 23:19:50 -0800, the illustrious "e" favored us with the following prose:

As an owner of a PARKED 240 turbo (an '83 4-door) I can definitely sympathize with you. Mine is in better shape that what you've described but not that much better. Ontario winters have taken a toll with rust on the leading and trailing edges of the doors and my biggest hassle is vacuum rather than electrical issues (same worms, different can).

Although there are many ambitious plans being hoisted (engine swap, body work, paint or full "vehicle wrap") the car is sitting in my brother-in-law's driveway and slowly dissolving. This is its second winter undriven and, although I might regret selling it, I'm starting to feel that I might regret needlessly hoarding an opportunity and cheating a future owner of more years of enjoyment that I clearly am not working towards with this car.

Now if I can convince the wife to let it go...

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