|
The differences between a 74 140 and a 93 240 are fewer than the
differences between a 86 corolla and an 88 corolla. In some ways,
the 74 140 is the ideal 140 -- it has the far simpler K-jet injection
that is found in virtually every european car made between the mid
70s and the late 80s. Anyone will know how to repair this system.
The interior is almost identical (and in many cases interchangable)
with any 240 up to the early 80s. There is also the chance that
the car has power steering, which is a nice addition.
The blower motor in particular is a problematic part on any 240
or later 140 -- it is considered to be among the most difficult
parts to replace requiring the whole interior to come apart. To
site this as a "typical repair cost" is silly. A far more reasonable
repair to examine would be to look at rebuilding a whole front
suspension or replacing every wear item in the brakes. My guess is
that parts and labor for either would be around $600-1000 if you buy
the parts online and take them to a friendly shop and pay them for
doing good work. (brakes= rotors/calipers/pads/flex lines/cylinder/booster
and front suspension=ball joints/bushings/tie-rod end/etc). While
expensive, this is a 30 year old car and these things tend to wear
out after 10-20 years. I've had to rebuild 2 front ends (one in a 122
and the other in my 164) and replace some brake stuff. Modern cars
will cost just as much in repairs if they are 10 years old or more,
and there is more to go wrong with them.
Parts, especially for the later 140s, are still trivial to find.
Repairs are going to be less expensive for this vintage 140 than
a comparable later 240 because the stuff is easier to reach and
faster to work on. Wear items are very reasonable.
I think your mechanic just doesn't want to buy SAE tools. Lots of
"volvo" mechanics don't care to work on older cars. I tend to take
my car to places that have lots of old american cars in them for
suspension stuff and places that have british cars for motor stuff
when I don't feel like doing the work myself. (my car has SU carbs
so I take it to british car places). Your car I'd take to a place
that advertises german cars and try to find someone who is excited
to work on the car (most people who know what they're doing would be)
chris
chris
|
