A Cult Car

This is a blog on refurbishing a Volvo 240 Wagon-- a cult car that is legendary for its durability. The 5 speeds manual transmission in particular gets great fuel economy, 32.5 mpg is attainable at speeds of 60 mph. Both the sedan and the wagon have plenty of rear leg and head room, even for tall people. Additionally, a tall person can sleep in the back--it is 77" long if the rear seat bottom is removed.

Thick sheet metal make it durable--so is the motor. Volvo took a V8 truck engine cut in half, to make this 4 cylinder engine. It has bearings and rods are designed for much heavy loads and this makes the engine nearly impossible to kill. People can get literally a million miles between rebuilds with regular oil changes and normal preventative maintenance.

The 5 speeds cars are fun to drive. Their durability means it is a smart economic choice to put money into them--they will last indefinitely if maintained. Parts are cheap. They are easy and simple to work on. Police just don't ever pull them over. It is because they like to stay at legal freeway speeds and purr along at 60 mph--so police expect them to be driven slowly. Finally, they are safe--built around a full roll cage. These are the reasons why there are so many are still on the road today.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Instrument Cluster and Wiring issues.

I have had a few wiring issues.  I'm pleased to report replacing my instrument cluster was causing some problems.  Replacing it fixed that.  Another problem was the front turn signal was damaged when I steam cleaned my new engine.  So I will fiddle with that some and if that doesn't work, I'll replace it. 

The next issue is to fix the turn signal stalk and cruise control.

I also discovered there is a problem with the mass flow sensor which explains my high fuel consumption.  I dropped it at the shop for that.  I may ask them to take a look at the cruise control--just to wrap all that up.

My next projects will be to install an arm rest, and repairing the drivers seat lumbar support.
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