• RWD
  • Ben's blue 73 144 "Bubbles"

I thought I would start a thread to track the progress of work on the new old girl. I've attached some photos taken on Saturday afternoon, the day it officially made it home.

I thought I would take some time to slowly get to know it before doing any major works. I have a few cosmetic updates in mind first, but I may need to rethink that tact. Mechanically it was as rough as can be when I first got her. I had the break lines flushed (x2), new points, plugs, timing tweaked, oil and filter. It has made a big improvement and it now moves along more respectably with traffic.

The good:
- A few of the typical problem areas with rust, but other wise a very straight body.
- Interior is very tidy. Back seat is faded in comparison to the front seats (fronts had covers) but overall looks like a 20 year old interior. Back seat looks rarely used and the front is fantastic.
- Exhaust system and brakes are sound.
- Intermittent wiper dial (didn't know that they had this).
- AC system (no belt hooked up and surely not charged)

The not so good:
- Auto transmission.. that is all.
- Single strongberg carb.
- Idles at about 900 in drive or neutral but will idle at about 2000 in park? I've played with the idle a bit but compensating for the park idle will cause it to stall in drive.
- Unfortunately, a compression test was done and it revealed the the 4th cylinder is running at about 50%.
- Assuming related to the above; it now seams to be burning off oil which is evident at the tail pipe. In fact, when I started it this evening there was a good splatter of oil over the driveway at the exhaust tip!

The car has 317,000 km on it,has been sitting un-driven for the last 5 years and no service history was available. So what to tackle first? In spite of the 4th cylinder issue I was prepared to limp around for a while, but tonights oil blowing out the back makes me think I need to whip the head off pretty quickly. If I head down that road though, I know I am going to be tempted to do a full rebuild (with money I don't have :( )

Meaning of the name... I had a little helper join me on my inspection of my 144 last month. My 6 year old daughter Lucy was immediately taken with this "gorgeous fashion car". When I asked her what she meant by fashion car, she said that it was the sort of car movie stars would drive :) So I asked her to give my car a name... she paused for a few seconds and said "Bubbles!" Actually fitting I think.








That sucks about the compression. A replacement motor couldn't be too much that wouldn't have as many issues? But it is a straight and clean bodyshell which is always a bonus!
It might just be valve/tappet? They are designed to be readjusted pretty regularly and generally haven't been.
egads;18685 wroteIt might just be valve/tappet? They are designed to be readjusted pretty regularly and generally haven't been.
Thanks for that thought. That was checked and unfortunately that is not the case :( The oil residue blowing out the back is definitely concerning.

Bugger. Sounds like you could do with a complete driveline. I might be able to help either in rough or not rough form.
I had a chat with John at Voldat and he thinks that the oil residue out the pail pipe is purely carbon build up. The fact it was sitting here for so long and it been so rainy of late. Figures it will take some driving around to blow all the gunk out. If that is the case, that is definitely a relief! Thanks for the offer for help. I am hoping the smoke I thought I saw may have just been the cool Melbourne night playing tricks with my eyes.

I am going to put it in club permit and that still needs to get sorted. Once I've done that I can drive it around and get a feel for it. How that 144 of yours trucking along @egads ?
Sounds like it needs a combustion chamber clean and new plugs then?
I have new plugs in and I am the combustion chamber could use a clean. Since it's only running at 50% I am sure that 4th needs some specific attention. If I do it myself, it will be a real learning experience for me. Never gone inside the head before... I am pretty green when it comes to major work. Tune ups have been the extent of my experience so far. I feel like I need to buy a B20 for dummies book!
They are a dead easy motor, if you need guidance to rebuild the motor, I have some experience with engines as a diesel mechanic and know machinists etc to be able to help with a rebuild.
The greenbooks section of kjet.org has the factory manual which is pretty good..
Vee_Que;18740 wroteThey are a dead easy motor, if you need guidance to rebuild the motor, I have some experience with engines as a diesel mechanic and know machinists etc to be able to help with a rebuild.
That's awesome Vee_Qee thanks.

@egads (she/her) I will purchase a copy. I am sure it's even more in depth than the old Haynes manual.

I am now down to copies of years of cars I actually have so have no paper ones spare. Maybe get the PDF's from kjet.org and get them printed up? You can't get them from Volvo anymore.
egads;18766 wroteI am now down to copies of years of cars I actually have so have no paper ones spare. Maybe get the PDF's from kjet.org and get them printed up? You can't get them from Volvo anymore.
Thanks for the tip. I was able to download the 74 manual from kjet.org. which should be almost identical to the 73. The greenbook manuals are double the content (500 vs 255 pages) compared to the Haynes manual.