Guess Friday isn't over yet. I have to talk about my Volvo too.
What I have is a 1980 262C. In the 80's there were a lot of 240's.
And there were some 260, 262 and 264's. Mine is a 262C. The letter
C doesn't tell much about how special it is. It is made (or modified
and assembled) in Italy by Bertone. Two door, 6 cylinders and automatic.
You have to look at it to realize that it is a different kind of Volvo.

Unfortunately the V6 engine short lived. I mean very short lived. I purchased
it used from a Volvo dealer when it was below 50k miles. After I added
30k+ miles the engine quit. Coolant leaked into oil. Major disaster.
I had the head gaskets replaced. But the new gaskets lasted only a few
months and collant leaked into oil again. I drained the coolant and changed
the oil then put it into storage. Has been in storage for about 6 years
now. I believe I need a new engine for it. Instead of rebuilding it, putting
in a Japanese V6 engine probably makes more sense.

Believe it or not, its chassis looks like a new car still. Shiny paint all
over. Alloy wheels and square head lights. It looks really nice except the
engine reliability was rather poor. I heard that the V6 engine was actually
a French motor. It has wet cylinder liners similar to Vanagon's. I know
the engine is still pretty rebuildable. But I would rather put in a Japanese
v6 conversion. I would consider a small v8 if possible.

David

--- Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM> wrote:

> Ok, my two cents.
> Having worked on volvo's for years.
> 140's  - good tough strong car - a bit much from the carburetor era.
> 240 - they just will not die.  The OHC B21F inline 4 starts in 1976
> ....There are still countless 240's, mostly wagons, soldering around.  Made
> up to 92.....I don't' like them, but many do and they have many 100,00's of
> thousands of miles in them.
>
> 740's - expensive to own once they get older unless you do your own work.
> My personal 740 is an 88 Turbo Sedan - absolutely the best car I've ever
> owned - a factory hot rod with special suspension and brakes to go with the
> turbo - loaded with safety, performance, and luxury features.  Bought it for
> a few hundred bucks.  Had to rebuilt everything in it from engine, to trans,
> to rear end, all shocks etc.  Goes 80 like it's going down hill, steers like
> a fighter plane, and does not blow around in gusts at all.  ABS brakes,
> etc......LOVE that car, but you don't seem many of them on the roads anymore
> - due to the expense of getting them repaired professionally when they get
> old. I'm up to 217K miles.
> Reliable as could be, AFTER every thing is up to spec and refurbished as
> needed throughout.
>
> I 'wish' there was more 'volvo' in Vanagons.   Very well made cars - volvos.
> Bosch electricals and electronics.  Big focus on crashworthiness and over
> all safety.
>
>
> The newer Volvos - fwd 850's and above .....a whole other world, more
> complex, more 'modern' , not even related to traditional front engine, rear
> drive volvo's.
> And I think they 'like money' too much when they are above a hundred K  to
> 150K miles.
> Scott
> www.turbovans.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> neil N
> Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 6:23 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Volvo reliability , Bah Humbug
>
> The following is "said" with a PhriDaye kinda "bent".
>
> Ok. I'm not trying to start some kind of Swedish War here, ;)  (Oh
> yes. I am part Swede) but IMHO, almost any $1600 car bought offa CL,
> is likely going to cost the owner muchos $$ whilst doing a long,
> heated, trip. And.,.....
>
> ..... being a former Volvo 140 series owner, but I'd have to say that
> the Volvo 140 (and liekly the 240 series from what I've heard) had
> solidly built/designed engines. They were also quite comfortable.
> Plus, that wagon-o-mine was a great little hauler. At one time I
> thought I'd "have it made" if I could keep my collection of Life-Gear
> small enough to fit in that green wagon. Cha. Right! And I have truly
> digressed.......
>
> I miss my old 145S wagon. It didn't have the electric OD, but it was a
> good vehicle. I beat that thing silly, running it low on coolant,
> revving it too high etc. and it finally developed a REALLY LOUD
> intermittent "whack" in the engine. It actually ran fine. It just
> whacked a little now and then. (eh..... I'll leave that one alone ;)
>
> Not trying to start a Volvo flame, but I guess I did rekindle an "old
> flame"  Volvo memory.
>
> Neil. The PartSwede.
>
>
>
>
> On 9/7/07, Pensioner <al_knoll@pacbell.net> wrote:
> > If one googles "The Frugal Road Trip New York Times"  you can learn how to
> > spend gobs of cash herding a decrepit OvLov across the fruited plain.  Fun
> > to read.  Keep me away from vintage OvLovs.  Rather have a Vanagon.
> Wonder
> > if Chris Dixon knows this guy?
> >
> > Vanagons rule most of the time.
> >
>
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia -
> "Jaco"  (Bustorius)
>
> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
>
> Please send fav Vanagon/Westfalia links to me at:
> musomuso1963@hotmail.com
>

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