I'm thinking of taking the plunge and buying myself a 200 series Volvo. I've moved to Canada about a year ago and while I love my 09 F150 I would like a Volvo as a weekened driver.

Ideally I'm looking for a 264GLE 78/79 or early 80's but there doesn't seem to be too many in Manitoba! A nice 242 or 262 would be nice too.

I had a 1977 244dl European spec some years ago in Ireland and would like to get back in a Volvo.

I have limited time so I'm after something in reasonable running order.

I can find 88-93 240's but I'm not too keen on the headlights/grill.

Does anyone know if the older quad-rectangular headlights and grill with off-centre Volvo badge be swited out directly? Are the fenders/front-wings different between these models?

Coming from Europe, we did not have the quad-rectangular or circular headlamps and have always admired them on TV and in movies.

Any guidance on this would be appreciated. If it cannot be done I will try to be patient and hold out for an original.

I'd ask you to reconsider the conversion to rectangular quads, even assuming that it could be done with little fuss. There's a reason that automakers got away from them many years ago, and it has less to do with design constraints, and more to do with the simple fact that the lights themselves aren't worth a crap as far as concerns light output. The automakers generally took the perfectly good round duals and quads that were in place for so many years, and changed the design to the rectangular quads, in order to make their vehicles' hoodlines a bit more swoopy. Why Volvo jumped on that bandwagon remains a mystery. It soon became apparent that these square-ish bulbs changed the light beam so much as to be more hindrance than not. Got rid of them quickly enough. Volvo was smart enough to go back to it's "safety first" roots and incorporate the euro beams in an Americanized format with the block-style big beams. There's a reason for it.

Short answer: You won't be happy with the limitations that you place on your lighting if you go back to the dinosaur rectangle quads. (Are they still even available at reasonable cost?)

B

Thank you all for your comments and shared knowledge. Glad I threw the question out there.

I'm more style over substance unfortunately, and am likely to be only doing day-time driving for the most or within city limits so I might not let poor lighting performance deter me.

I think my real problem is patience (lack-of). If I can I'll try and hold out for an original 77-85 GL/GLE. I'm lured by shiney things so will (hopefully) wait it out for the chrome window surrounds the early maga-bumpers and underperforming(?) quads.

To answer the OP's question. It can be done but would require mounting the entire radiator support (or just the welded vertical panel) because the panel holding the headlights is not to the same depth between the 4 headlight system (both round and rectangle) and the later system. As noted by Dan the fender at the parking light will not match up properly. Additionally the the rear edge of the respective hoods will not match the cowl - one high, one low.
I would take issue with some of Bradley's statements. Yes the round 4 light system is superior to the 4 rectangular lamps (I have an '80 245DL and an '84 245TI-so I know) but I haven't yet driven a later car that matched either of the 4 headlights. I've never experienced the e-code type - I'm sure they are better. -- Dave

They will bolt on I believe but the fenders at least where the turn signals fit is different between those years. So the fenders would have to be replaced and maybe the hood.

You might just consider getting e codes it would be a much easier fix.

Dan