Ok,

I want to swap my '90 front end to quad headlights.

I know for a complete swap I would need:
-Headlight assemblies (bezels, brackets, and lenses)
-Corner Markers
-Hood
-Fenders

I know the cowl is different as well and I'll have to get one cut from a parts car and weld it in.

Is there anything I'm missing?

This thread about the fondness for the quad headlights makes me glad I've got an '85 244.
Dukester
'85 244 M46 248K Finally running again, thanks to a new ECU, after sitting 14 months.

Dukester wrote--"This thread about the fondness for the quad headlights makes me glad I've got an '85 244."
The "square" quads are better than the later headlamps---but the round quads are better still. If the V8 project (Olds 215 all aluminum-'93 245 body) ever gets on the road--and if the '80 245DL ever gets retired (now running better than ever with some cleaned up injectors--290k miles) its headlamps are going on. -- Dave

the olds 215 is intriguing. is it a factory turbo? always thought the rover 4.6 would be more fun as it's twice the b230's size. just thinking, no plans, chuc.

porkface wrote--"the olds 215 is intriguing". I was originally going to put the V8 into a nice rust free '74 MGB-GT (ala Costello and factory built Rover powered GT V8's) but instead repaired the MG motor and drove the OD equipped car for a couple of years. As repairing 240 series cars was a main part of my work it was a natural to look to one as a home for the engine (base 2bbl 155hp-210ft-lbs torque). A '76 265 came along with the usual V6 maladies--cams, rockers and timing chain. In went the 215 and Olds Roto-Hydramatic--way lighter than the V6 and BW55. We put about 150k miles on that version. One of the things I love about my conversion is that when you look underneath you see a B18/20 oil pan (relocated the oil pickup and welded the bottom half of the Volvo pan to the Olds flange) to fit in the engine bay with the V8 set way back. It drove real nice too--handling and brakes totally Volvo like (215 weighs less than the B21/23/230 as well). The new version is hooked to a Camaro T5 gearbox---all the fiddly things need to be finished out now--project's been stalled for quite some time.
The larger Rover versions have some problems pulling head studs out but I think the 3.9 would be reliable. I love the motor--great racing history, likes to rev, very smooth. I could go on and on--but wont -- Dave

I did this exact project with my '86 about 5yrs ago and it came out sweet. I even used my original hood. I took it to a bodyshop and had him cut the nose off and move it back the reattach it so it looked like a seamless flathood with just a hint more of an arch.....worked great.. Try it, you'll like it.

I did that also to a 90. I used fenders ,radiator support,headlights and signals(obviously).I kept original 90 hood and chopped a 81 grill instead
to fit.Seemed and was a simpler solution.Like the look and yes the lighting is so much better. Will post picture when i get back to stored data.
--
Rene

I'd like to see the picture. I'm gonna do the same.

Dear DogsRGood -- yes they certainly are. Sorry, I put this car back together some time ago for a young couple who just wanted to keep it on the road. They called me from my usual "volvo parts-private collection" ad on NY metro Craigslist and had me install my straight parts. It worked but wasn't real pretty and I did not take photos. -- Dave

Nice, thats an option too, would be easier than swapping out the cowl.

I'd like to see how it looks.

I saw a thread on the 240 Fan Page on Facebook where a guy posted pictures of doing a swap to single rounds. Looks like you need to do the entire rad support, not just the top piece.

"Looks like you need to do the entire rad support, not just the top piece." that's correct---the radiator support consists of the upper panel, the headlight mounting panels and the lower splash pan. I did a similar swap using an '83 front into an '86 body. In my case I wanted to keep the original lower pan so I separated the upper and headlight panels (drilled out spot welds) and mounted them to the later lower panel (pop rivets).
To my eye the less protruding nose of the later hood looks better than the earlier one--a modified grille would be the way I'd go -- but in my case the newer hood was bent and the grille smashed. -- Dave

the part you call the "cowl" should be referred to as "radiator support" -- and yes it does need to be installed from a quad headlight car--it sits in a different position than the large headlight radiator support and has the receptacles to mount the headlight assemblies. -- Dave

I should mention also---the hood from an earlier car will not match up with the actual "cowl" -- that area directly in front of the windshield with the fresh air vents -- or, is that what you actually meant? In that case--just find a four headlight car to drive. -- Dave

Yeah, by cowl I meant the vent below the windshield.

I'm not worried about the fabrication work, I've seen a build thread with it done and dont fear doing it.

I'm partial to this car and feel the 2.4LH system is superior to earlier ones, I just like the look of quad headlights better.

So add a rad support to the list.

I have access to an '85 being parted out so I want to grab everything I can.

Any chance you can find that build thread again?

I'm thinking of just hacking it and building adapter plates so I can put the quads in place of my one-lens lamps on my 90 740.

I've always understood that the body panel between the windshield and the hood was indeed called the cowl. And AFAIK, the panel at the front where the hood latches is called the "slam panel". Maybe "radiator support" in Volvo-speak. It carries the little bolt-on brackets that support the top of the radiator, (and intercooler on cars so equipped).
--
Bob: Son's XC70, my 83 240, 89 745 (V8) and XC60. Also '77 MGB and some old motorcycles