At the moment I'm in the process of buying a '79 242GT. It has 440,000kms on the clock but had a reconditioned engine installed 5 years ago. I couldn't identify the engine as either a B21E or a B23E because i could see the ID on the intake side of the engine due to oil (i'll get to that), but he swares it's a B23E.

It has a BW55 which I thought to be VERY strange (never pulled in his ownership of 15yrs), but he says its original and was specialy imported into Australia by the orginal owner (forgot to check the plate to see if it was original). Did it ever have a auto?

The next issue is that the valves are VERY noisy. I would normally assume they're way out of adjustment but the seal for the valve cover isn't properly installed, giving a huge oil slick down the side of the engine and gearbox, whichmake me think that the engine has been low on oil before and it may have damaged the valves. I looked under the oil cap and it's very clean, had oil there before I started it and plenty when it was running. the cam looked fine (smooth surface) so could it just be out of adjustment or could there still be a reasonable posibility of damage?

The next issue is that the GT was supposed to have a flat hood (according to Volvo World). I've never seen a flat hood and this car has the same hood as my '75 244DL, '81 244GL and my '83 244GLE and I doubt they all have "flat hood's" too! Is this correct? Does anyone have a pic of a flathodd they could send me?

Most of the other things are cosmetic or easilly fixed except for the disconnected heater core that he "fogot about".

Does this car sound like it's worth it?

Your thoughts please

Thanks!