lasercowboy
Crikey - that's handy! Berry Motor Group are 10 mins down the road. Time to start research!
A_Volvo_Driver
Depending on where you are, there are plenty of peeps here who would be willing to help you out. Their prices will be a lot cheaper than a garage too.
lasercowboy
Ok, sounds great. I'm going to call a few people/places and then I expect I'll have some questions about parts compatibility, etc. You guys are the best - confirmed my faith in the religion of Volvo!
Ex850R
A few otherson theforum will have bits , just not on here that often.
Ex850R
Nice white one on VEGA on FBook. In QLD.
iceton1975
Just sold parts to John at Voldat for a conversion he is doing , still can help, for 240 or 740 manual conversion
lasercowboy
@iceton1975 - roughly how much would I be looking at to accrue the necessary parts for a conversion? I'm assuming this is easier than finding a donor car, given how rare manuals seem to be?
Vee_Que
I can indeed do a manual conversion and it will be a fair whack cheaper than a workshop, if time is on your side, then that works quite well for me too. Being a later model car, you would need the hard to find flywheel also.
lasercowboy
@Vee_Que - Ok, awesome - thanks! I'll start doing some reading on B230F engines + flywheels, and sourcing the other bits. And of course need to find a decent auto wagon... that might be the harder part!
iceton1975
Come in and see us, 16 thornton crescent Mitcham, can do workshop price or cash price after hours and do it in a day
redkiwi
lasercowboy
@iceton1975 - Would you be able to source parts as well? Assuming that I would turn up with a late 240 with a B230F and AW70 autobox, and was aiming to plug in an M47 manual 'box.
lasercowboy
@redkiwi - thanks for the heads up! that didn't appear in my searches as for some reason it's listed in 'parts' rather than cars. Looks tatty but might be solid underneath (or rogered - who knows!)
Do you reckon it's better to convert an auto that's in good shape, or refurb a manual that's fairly rough around the edges?
egads (she/her)
Do you like lots of little jobs and never being finished or do you like to have an end point but some big jobs?
I like end points now but used to be a lots of little jobs guy.
lasercowboy
@egads - i guess i could cope with either - but I'm more inclined to a car that has a sound body and decent trim, as that has always seemed like a bigger chore. then switching out the gearbox is difficult, but as you point out, at least it's over quickly!
egads (she/her)
Sounds like getting the 90+ auto is the way to go then, sure does look nice and has all of the nice tweaks added.
lasercowboy
@egads - I think you're right. I guess at $1,500, that manual would even be ok as a parts/donor car, if it really is on its last legs. Though maybe an '86 model has the less desirable 4speed/overdrive M46 gearbox?
egads (she/her)
Spot on with the less attractive bits. Also doesn't have the lh2.4 spec flywheel so will need some fiddling. I suspect that Berrys (@iceton1975) can do the required conversion bits for cheaper than $1500 and would be less hassle.
lasercowboy
Awesome! Thanks for the info - the decision is clear to me now. I have had a great evening reading about volvo engine/gearbox combinations. most people wouldn't call that a good Saturday night... but i would!
egads (she/her)
Lol, I would too! We are a special breed :-P
