I have recently acquired a relatively rust-free 1979 242 that was brought from Washington State to Michigan by a college student. I really liked driving it, so I took it to my mechanic to get it looked at to address various deferred maintenance issues. After a couple of weeks in the shop, it has received a new clutch, various engine and transmission seals, front struts, front brake rotors and calipers, etc. The one issue that is still under consideration is the overdrive. The transmission is a M46 that appears to be newer than the car itself, and the shifter itself only indicates 4 speeds and appears to be a shifter for a M45 transmission. There is a nonfunctional toggle switch zip tied to the side of the shifter shaft that appears to be an attempt at an overdrive switch. I wanted to go for the newer click type shifter knob with the relay but my mechanic wanted to keep things simpler and more period appropriate with the sliding type knob. However, we are currently stymied as once he pulled off the current shifter knob, he looked down the shaft and saw a solid plastic plug rather than one with a hole and grommet for the OD wiring to go down. Do I have to find a shifter shaft from an M46 transmission in order to continue with this project? If so, where might I find one and how much might they be? The salvage yards around here don't have Volvos, and the online sources that I am familiar with (IPD, FCP Groton, Volvoworld) all have knobs, switches, and relays, but no shifter shafts. I'm not really wanting to buy a whole M46 transmission for this one part (and wiring harness, if available). Am I spinning my wheels for naught? Can I just drill (or have the mechanic drill) a hole through this plug? It seems a bit silly that this little item is keeping the car in the shop.

P.S. I don't have the paint code handy, but the car is a really solid minty green color (think Menthos). Does anybody have an idea of what this color is called? My wife just calls it ugly.

I have the rod shown below. Also PB and Slider switches. But I don't have a slider type knob except the one with the cracked top in the pic.

The wiring shown is for the PB switch -- end terminals won't fit the slider switch. The PB switch requires the later (white) OD relay, and maybe minor wiring changes, as Don said (I haven't checked this out yet).

If interested, email me via my profile access.

Thanks for sending the parts. I took them to the mechanic along with some other loose parts and presto!, everything needed to complete the job was present. Now I'm anxiously awaiting the phone call for when it's ready. By the way, the paint code on the car was 140-2, which I looked up to be a shade of Lexington green/mist green (as per Volvo's nomenclature). I think I'll name the car "Minty" for the color and the cost of repair.

"Solid plastic plug" is throwing me. The only thing remotely resembling a plug is grommet at the bottom of the chromed sleeve that covers the actual shifter and it's supposed to be there.

I switched the M45 in my '80 for an M46 a few years back. The "new" shifter is distinctly different and has an opening in the sleeve for the OD wiring. The opening is above the so-called "plug."

I see no reason you can't use the one you have if you create a similar opening. Make it a slot as opposed to just drilling a hole so the wiring doesn't bend abruptly. I would worry a little about the wires chafing on the rough edge though so you might want to make some provision to keep that from happening.

Since the newer type knob with the push button is readily available I would go with that and, of course, the relay. I, or someone else here, can advise you of how to wire it.

Don't presume that the overdive unit is in good working order. You may also be in for some repairs there.
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'80 DL 2 door, '89 DL Wagon