This might seem a little premature, given the current running state of my 245 project, but I could use some encouragement if it's going to work out. If it's not going to work, then I probably should hear it now from people with lots of experience rebuilding Volvos.

While I'm trying to get the brick through the next few months till I have full time employment again and can fix it properly, it's probably time to start thinking about what the finished project will actually be. I need to make a decision as to where i'm heading, so I don't end up rebuilding parts I'm not going to be using in the long run, or sinking money into a dead loss car.

One possibility is to part the thing out or sell it and have done with it, the experience of hauling it all over Northern NSW has been fun, and I've learned valuable skills, but it's not going to be a practical proposition unless I spend thousands more doing the job right. Now is the time to decide whether I want to go down that road, or if I should cut my losses now.

Given my attachment to the car, and thousands already spend, I'm not keen to see it go. But if that's where it's headed, then I should face up to it before I do too much more work on it. There's no sense rebuilding a gearbox, or fitting Bilsteins, on a car I'm not keeping long term.

There are a few things I'd like people's thought's on. The first is whether I should go ahead with the project at all, or whether I should spend the money on a late 80's 240 instead, which would be a much more economical. The 245L Van is a rare car now, and it's been in my family since new. I feel I have a duty to keep it on the road. I also have a limited amount of cash and time, and the labour of love thing can only stretch so far.

Over summer (in Australia that's Nov-Feb), I plan to rebuild the creaking suspension, new shocks and struts, New bridgestones on the rear (already did the fronts). Complete KJET fuel system rebuild (already done the distributor) including both fuel pumps relays, injectors etc.

I also have to face up to having done a fair bit of damage to the bottom end of my motor. I haven't done a compression test on it, but when I pulled it down after it's overheating adventure, we found damage to the bore done by overheated pistons. I get exhaust smoke out the oil filler cap when the engine's been running (although this seems to be improving) At the very least it needs honing and new rings, but I suspect it will need a proper boring out and oversize pistons fitted. I went to change the air filter the other week, and it looks like somone's actually poured a bottle of motor oil into the airbox. At least I know my PCV system works, or I'd have just blown an oil seal instead.

Now if I'm going to rebuild the engine, the question is, should I keep the B21, in the name of economy and originality. It would allow me to keep the cylinder head complete which I've spend lots rebuilding (twice grrr).

The more attractive option is to pull an early B23E (that way I could keep the KJET setup) out of the junkyard and rebuild that instead. I learned to drive on a 245 with a B23E mated to an M46 and it had all the performance I'll ever use. If I were to do this, could I simply bolt up my existing ignition and injection and go? or would I need most of the engine bay out of the donor car?

This leads me to the question of the gearbox. I love the simpicity of the 4 speed, and it's nice having the original feel of the car, but it would be nice to have overdrive on the freeway, especially if I had a torquier motor under my right foot (a B21 with fried compression rings doesn't have the worlds best bottom end, it was better before I blew it up, but not as good as the B23 in my last brick).

Now I'd love to restore the car to original specs, but I do a lot of long distance driving, and I'd like lower revs and more grunt on the highway. Is it sacreligious to interfere with the configuration of the now rare 245 Van? I mean the whole point of keeping it is to preserve a rare vehicle, and it would defeat the purpose if I changed the engine and driveline. The gearbox does need work anyway, as the reverse Detente doesn't work, it jumps out of 4th at high speeds and the synchro on second doesn't quite feel perfect.

Just a thought, I wouldn't lose any sleep over making it go better, and I'd hold on to the original motor and gearbox.

So, do I commit myself to a motor and gearbox swap and fuel system rebuild?

Should I drive it as long as I can, then junk it?

Or should I restore it to it's OEM specs

The money will be available later, I just don't have it now. I'll be a lot happier keeping the car running if I have a plan for what I'm actually going to do with it. Sometimes this car feels like a huge burden on my time, finances and emotions.

Any thoughts on restoration of old cars are apreciated.
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Drive it like you hate it