So this past week I've acquired two more bricks.

One came from a deal where we swapped two unhappy cars for one fine running car. A friend traded his very nice 87 244 to another local Volvo owner in exchange for two not-so-happy wagons.

My friend took home the 94 855, and I got the 90 745 out of the deal. The total value involved makes it a pretty fair trade; both the new cars have very high miles and need a good bit of work. The 244, while older, was fully serviced, rust free, comfortable, and sorted out. He got a great commuter car; we each got a project.

The 745 is on the road now. It's teal green (blue? I dunno) with the tan leather. Not my favorite combination but I'm willing to put up with a lot because it's a 5-speed! Yep, an actual US-market non-turbo 740GL with M47. Shows 265K on the clock. Doesn't feel like it or look like it, except for appropriate wear on the driver's seat.

It came with a broken timing belt and the engine was a ball of oil. Once the belt was replaced, the car ran but exceedingly poorly. Also found about 3 extra quarts in the sump, mostly gasoline.

So far, it's gotten: plugs, cap, rotor, wires, flame trap, vacuum lines, air filter, valve cover gasket, throttle body cleaning + gasket, and timing belt. The flame trap vacuum line was solid with something like charcoal. No ventilation going on there. That caused oil to blow out the cap, the valve cover, and the distributor seals. Dist cap was a real mess, dripping with oil. Throttle completely carboned up, took the better part of an hour in the parts washer to clean that up.

Still have to do the front seals and put on a new timing belt and water pump- I threw a used T-belt on it just to see how it would run (it was a Sunday and FCP is closed!) The cam has a very slight leak but of course it got oil into the water pump seals. The whole downhill side of the engine needs extensive powerwashing. We did give the valve cover a little polish on the VOLVO logo so that already looks better.

Next up: cone bushings, sway bar links and bushings, brakes all 4 wheels, and a fuel filter.

Looking for: tan leather passenger seat to steal a seat bottom cushion to rebuild my driver's seat. Right front corner lamp. Right rear taillight (smashed at the garage that left the timing cover open and lost the bolts). Headliner, including the sunroof piece that's completely missing. Tan taillight inner cover. Tan tailgate inner panel. A set of Dracos or Hydras to replace those plain jane steel wheels and hubcaps. IPD bars and Bilsteins!

Anyone need a third seat? It's free, but I need to either keep the cargo panels or trade for a set of normal ones without the third seat. I'd rather have the storage.

All in all not a bad car. Surprisingly comfortable and quiet with that kind of miles. The trans feels very positive, though I think it's gonna need a clutch pretty soon. Got a list of electrical odds and ends to go through to really make the car right again but it should serve as a fine "extra" car.

Next installment: the 88 244 to replace my now-rusty 87 244.
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 87 244DL- 249K, B230F/M47, Turbo sways, Bilsteins, GT braces, Virgos, Turbo exhaust, Sumitomos, soon to be retired?