I have made an executive decision. I love my volvo so much, that I am going to restore it bit by bit, starting with getting it running again. Here is a list of things that I need to get fixed right away to get it running:

1. Water in Oil Problem (Head gasket set, upper and lower)
2. Replace the exhaust gasket and fix the rear muffler
3. Redo all of the vacuum lines in the car (trying to get the defrost working properly)
4. Get the speedometer working properly (no bouncing around)
5. Fix the transmission so that it no longer slips out of 4th gear while running on the highway.

After I do what I have to to get it running properly I am going to work on some of the inside.

1. Replace/Repair front seats with new foam/lumbar support/springs.
2. get a new steering wheel (mine is cracked)
3. Replace the carpet in the drivers side front
4. Replace little clips here and there and stuff like that

Then i will do some outside/electrical work

1. Replace the rear tailight assemly (its beggining to rust but still works)
2. Possibly repaint the car

Finally I think I will put a new cdplayer in it, and figure out how to put larger speakers into the doors (front and rear)

I am sure that I will run into little things along the way, and I may never finish what I am going to start, but I sure hope that I can.(money and time is the only restraint)

If anyone has any suggestions on ways to do any of the things above, or things I should check, please feel free to comment. I will try to keep up to date on here as to what I am doing...

Sounds like you have a good plan. Although, I remain dumbfounded about doing work on any rusted Volvo when there are rust free cars available with similar maladies and restoration requirments as your 244. Have you thought about replacing your 244 with a car with better "bones" good seats, no rust etc?? Using your existing 244 as a parts car?? It could reduce your costs somewhat.

I have not, but I have looked for other volvo's in my area, and they seem to be scarce, expecially the ones that are for sale. I will look around tho, that does seem like a good idea.

No advice, just best wishes!

Hard to let a good brick just die anit it? :)
Working on a 79 245 myself. Got a ways to go, but luckily the car was in extremly good shape to start with. Still got some learning to do on the b21f injection and electrical.