Tree
My good sirs it is the time for critical decision making which will dicate the fate of my beloved 1986 740 turbo. As some of you know I picked up the car from SA with rego but no RWC. Currently RWC work involves new windscreen ("lifting" itself from RHS bottom corner, not water tight when washing car), fixing rust on LHS passnger side floorpan and two hairline cracks on front crossmember. But there is some good - the engine reads 140psi across all cylinders only 1-2 psi variation. She's bone stock.
My plans so far were these mods spanning over a year:
Standalone EMS $500 (megasquirt or similar)
Exhaust $500ish (cat + back)
Intake $100 (pod and shield)
Turbo $500 (850 turbo or alex's eBay idea)
Wide band O2 $150
E85 $500 (pump injectors lines)
Rwc repairs $500
Suspension $1000 max
T5 gearbox conversion $1000
Misc $1000 (Saab APC, contingencies...)
I was also planning to strip the car a bit, not like a race car but only keeping the essentials for roadworthy. Following the guide from Dick Prince's article I should get it down to 1200kg and ideally 150rwkw which will be entertaining for all hehe
But at around $6500 + value of the car $1200 other attractive rwd turbo options start to pop up - skylines, silvias. Only they lack the "wow" factor which is I suppose the price I pay for.
So the million dollar question is if I should continue the project and spend money on it or get rid of it for another car. I still want "rarity" and exclusiveness on the street so perhaps find a clean chassis with dead engine? That also seems like a bit of work and more $$ spent which is do not have a lot of...
240Joe
This is the age old question.
If cost are similar I think you need to ask yourself what car you would like to have at the end of the day, and is the 'journey' of working on the car something you'll enjoy doing?
Vee_Que
The rwc stuff is the current issue. If you get help with it. You end up with a car you know is right. Not someone elses unfinished project. If you love the car itself then money spent over time is no different to putting fuel in it every week (which we do need to fix I guess :p)
Ex850R
NO!
Of course it isnt , but we plug away at the old shitboxes , spend all our money that in the end could finance two brand new better , safer , faster modern cars made of high tech steel and plastics but have no soul or any of the blood sweat and annoyance put in by YOU the one that decides how the old crapper is going to be focussed and go off blindly spending hard earned on it forever , never ending!
Yes!
Ben
Agreed, do you want to invest in it and have it your car. If it's no or short-term, pass on it. If it's a yes...
A_Volvo_Driver
We all put money Into our cars knowing that we'll never get it back, but we love the hobby.
Philia_Bear
940>740
Find a good clean and unmolested 92+ 940 and start molesting it
You will tank yourself for it time and time again
Tree
Thanks for the input gents tis always appreciated. Always good to hear everyone's opinion. Maybe the real question is how much work is involved in swapping out the front crossmember for a later model one?
Ben I checked out your story on the 240. Thanks for sharing I enjoyed reading.
PBear you've planted a seed in my brain regarding the 940. When Alex told me the later models had stronger engines perhaps I was too rash in getting the 740. I suppose thanking myself time and time again is in regards to stronger engine, better brakes and reinforced chassis, LH 2.4, what else? Also does anyone know what kerb weight for 940 is?
At the end of day I want something relatively uncommon so I guess I'm stuck with a turbo brick! And if I decide to piss it off, 24hr LeMons race would be just right if only there was a racing series like that here
Vee_Que
We have the crossmember and bigger brakes to swap in though, it is a few hour job at my factory on a weekend. I'm more than happy to help out!
Vee_Que
940 is heavier too. More steel in the body etx.
Tree
Alex without your help and resourcefulness I wouldn't have nearly as much motivation to go thru with this. So be it. Let project "Lisa" begin!
Philia_Bear
Buy the 940s that mark is selling and mod it
You will never look back
Tree
Okay I did more googling and found these gems:
http://people.physics.anu.edu.au/~amh110/volvo_b230_engine.htm
http://www.pbase.com/stealthfti/squirtsys
Coulda just sent me link if you wanted to persuade me over to the 940 save me having to trawl
Sigh why am I overthinking this. In the grand scheme it probably wouldn't even matter so long as I have fun driving it's tits off
Ex850R
Marks 940 is amazing.
Tree
Everyone talks about how good the 940 is yet it's still for sale ;-)
Unless I was married with kids, sedan> wagon yo! Personal preference
Ex850R
Not that many Volvo nuts around but that 940 is mint , not many mint volvos around either. Mark seems to find em.
Vee_Que
He sold his 740s fast so I don't quite agree on that.