I have two 240 wagons. '93 and '86.

I love them both but the older is getting quite a bit of termite damage and I'm thinking about a replacement.

I've been so happy with the 240s that I'm thinking another '93 might be the ticket, but I'm curious if any of you have any thoughts about the 850.

Is it too high-tech to give the kind of simple, long lasting service that I've come to enjoy with the 240?

Thanks for your input.

I got my new 145 home last Saturday... jsut had it towed for convenience. I tried my damndest to get it to run... drained old gas, filled with new, etc.

But I can't get it to go...It'll start and idle fine on all 4 wtih the choke pulled, but has zero power to go down the road. Won't run at all unless the choke is pulled.

So, my diagnosis is that its running way way way too lean...perhaps due to a clogged jet or something...but I don't know these carbs at all.

My experience with downdraft webers is that if they work, fine. I might leave it in place. If they don't work, a shit can 'em and install SUs. I really don't feel like doing a carb swap today, so I thought someone might have some clues as to things to check first...

Any thoughts?
-Matt
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-Matt '70 145s, '65 1800s, '66 122s wagon, others inc. '53 XK120 FHC

It might be a possibility that the secondary throttle plate is opening along with the primary... My car was having issues with that as soon as i figured out that the stupid PO didn't even have it set up so i could give it 1/2 full throttle... This would cause a lean condition... Take off the filter and look and see if the secondary(larger) opens up immedieatly. (Sorry for the laymen-ness if you already know what i'm talking about...) Good luck!
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Kyle - attending Ore. State, while my lil 68 142 (74 b20, broken m40) sleeps... (check out my cardomain site,kneedsacar

Might be all gummed up if it sat a while. Take it off the manifold, take the idle jets out from the sides of the body, take the top off, take the main jets out from inside the body, give everything a good squirting out with carb cleaner.

Keep track of which jet went where, just in case the PO actually bothered to tune it.

My DCOE's had sat for years before I put them on my car, I had to pretty comprehensively disassemble and clean them before they worked even remotely well.

Various things I found in mine:

Some stuck accelerator pumps and return jets (which moderate the pump effect when the pedal is pushed in slowly)

Some plugged tiny holes in idle and main jets (very, VERY carefully clean these - if you scratch them up (with a little piece of wire, for example) you will throw off the metering. They have tiny holes and it doesn't take much to make a difference

Some plugged passageways in the carb body.

Myself, I can't stand front (wrong) wheel driven cars.

I'm on my second 245, and the wife has an 855. If I want to go fast, or enjoy creature comfort, it's the 855, hands down. With Bilsteins and sticky tires, even the base model handle better than any FWD car I've driven. However - when I want the FEEL inputs from the car, and shift gears for myself (the 855 has an automatic), or I need to carry larger stuff, the 245 is my choice.

Service-wise, I can't do too much on the 850 (I hesitate to touch the t-belt because it's a twin cam and an interference engine) beyond fluids, filters, brakes and plugs, unlike the 240 - but OTOH, the car is utterly reliable.

Pick the style you like and you'll be happy with either.

"I'm curious if any of you have any thoughts about the 850."
Supposedly the right side mirror on 850's doesn't hold up to yanking by monkeys/apes.

see http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=787139
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1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb and M46 trans

I really don't think that you would enjoy the 850 nearly as much...for several reasons. It is not as nice as a car to drive. Rear wheel drive in much more fun. All of the $60000 are still RWD...Why can't Volvo do that anymore. I have knowen several people who have traded there 240's on 850s or S70's or even s80 and have been very very sorry. I would never do this. If you want to get a turbo car a 940 turbo might be a great car or just another 93 240. Also 1988 and 1991 were also suposidly noteworthy great years.
Good luck and happy bricking!

No offense to you guys, but I would recommend the 850 over the 240 for one reason: It is much more of a driver's car than the 240. If you are one that likes a stiff ride, sporty handling, and quick, precise steering, then the 850 is your car. I myself could never drive a 240 because it's RWD, which means that the huge transmission/driveshaft hump gets in the way and I don't have much legroom while I'm driving (I prefer FWD because they don't intrude on passenger space). Also, the suspension, steering and handling of the 240 are way too soft for my tastes.

You've driven a relatively sad little 240 then. I have an 83 245 with IPD anti sway bars, neoprene track rod bushings, and Bilstein struts and shocks. The overall handling on my car is in no way soft. I too have quick, precise steering. Just for giggles, I took her around the SCCA rally race course, and she bested several cars that were set up to race (because of the anti-sways I had to race as a mod). I agree, an 850 is a nice cushy car, with all the bells and whistles, and a sporty look. However, if a person is accustomed to rear wheel drive, and the turning radius provided by a rear wheel drive Volvo, the front wheel drive 850 won't feel like a welcome change.