You may have seen my story about Olga (In Memoriam...) throwing a rod and needing a new engine. Well I decided to go with just a new car. However, I wanted to stick with Volvo and hopefully even a 740. I thought that I as long as the new car did not need a block I could use what was on Olga to improve it a little. So condition was not super important. I couldn't do some major stuff, but I could change an alternator or something.

Well, I was searching across craigslist and came across an ad for a '90 740GL the guy was asking $1095. A little more research and found the same add, same person, but he was asking $1500. So, I was kinda thinking this guy was a little desperate. The only catch to it was that it needed a battery. I said, 'I have one of those.' So I called my friend, we grabbed the battery out of Olga and we where on our way to look at the car.

We got there placed the battery in it. She started up, ran for about 2 minutes, and then died. She started again, ran for about a minute, then died. She started up, ran for about 30secs, then died. She didn't start again. The rear back tire was also totally flat. So we would not have been able to take it for a test drive anyways.

My friend and I left. Honestly, I was a little heartbroken. This car was awesome. Grey on Grey leather. Sunroof. 160k. No cracks in seats. No stains in carpet. I honestly considered just living in the trunk it was so clean. But, alas, it would not start. Well my friend convinces me to make an offer on the car. Citing the above reference, "you have a car full of parts." So after that weekend I approached the guy with an offer for $500 cash for the car as is. After (what I think was faking) disappointment with the offer and some lame excuse about not seeing/speaking with his wife till late that night, he calls me not an hour later saying that he will accept my offer.

My friend (same as before) and I go with a car trailer to pick up the car. He brings his air compressor to air up the tire. As he preps the car to be hauled, I am handling the paper work. After we loaded the car and was getting her strapped down, the people we were buying from were standing on their lawn with looks of pity on their faces. Little did they know though that twenty four hours later I would have pity for them.

We got it home. We thought just for kicks we would put the battery in her and just see what happened. Well her started. I had to keep feeding her gas, but she kept going. After taking her around the lot for a little bit, I park her where I want to decide to see if she will idle. I try and she doesn't. I start her up again and my friend notices the battery/alternator light is on and asks what that about. I tell him to look in the manual (yeah it still has the manual and all the paperwork in it) in the glove compartment.

The next day I change the alternator (I also had to change the belt because the old was too big which makes me think it might not have been the alternator at all,rather the belt size, but that has yet too be confirmed).

Long story short (I am tired of typing) I also changed the fuel relay, the original was really bad, and a couple of hoses that Olga had and Frigg did not. I have no idea what they do but at that time I really could not make the situation worse. So after a $500 for the car, 5-6 hours of working/tinkering with the car, and a tank of gas with Heet and fuel injection cleaner. I have an awesome volvo. Probably the best one that I have ever had.

My question to you all might be. What else should I do to her/What else should I look out for? I am taking the better tires off of Olga and putting them on Frigg.

I probably should also put this in the story's board, but I thought it might get more love here. I will try to post a link to some pics here soon