• RWD
  • [sold] UltimateDaves 1991 240GLE

So I now finally feel like I can be a member on here. (I will come up for a name for it eventually)

Backstory: For most of his life my dad has been a bit of a volvo man, always liked them and always will.
Back in around 2008 we had an old white 240 DL sedan with a stromberg carby (82-84, we don't know) that was our second car. As a volvo always is, it was super reliable and took anything we threw at it. But eventually we wanted to upgrade to something with ABS and airbags (as it was our roadtrip car) and drove it down to sydney to pick up a V40. That all went down south (metaphorically) and we weren't able to get a permit for it, So the old volvo went to the scrap and we bought back a car that was for sale down there for a friend and drove it back. Luckily before we drove it down my dad had removed most of the extras on it (like the floor mats and louvres) that I will eventually put on this one. So in a way, I see this volvo as a spiritual successor to the volvo we used to have and, to this day, regret getting rid of.

Back to the car at hand.
Got it from Mackay for $250. Was put up one afternoon and because I always keep one eye on gumtree, I saw it an hour later. We called him and eventually arranged to have some of our friends up there to go there the next morning and get it. Fast Forward to now, after getting transported to our driveway.
It's got a really nice leather interior with wood trim and has an LPG tank in the boot. It runs well but will need some TLC which we will give it as time goes on. Most updates will be in this thread (but be warned, it will be SLOOOW)
We have yet to find out everything that is wrong with it bar the broken pieces of trim, the missing stereo and air con not working, but nothing major is wrong with it and most things can be easily fixed.

Future plans:
Fix the mechanical problems.
Get Registered.
Replace broken trim pieces.
Add GLE gauges.
Add Stereo
Add Louvres.
Add all season floor mats.
More down the line?






@A_Volvo_Driver And they're just as good in real life. And comfy.
@egads Considering doing a play on words using GLE for the name, but gotta ponder it.
@Philia_Bear MINE! I was gonna do a wood trim conversion down the track anyway if it didn't have it. So you aint got a chance.
Looks very solid. The rear tails look recoverable with sanding, polishing and clear coating; the headlight reflectors are goners though. And power windows too, w00t!
@Klaptrap24 Yeah I was just reading your thread a few days ago and thinking the same thing. Except I have all my trim.
@bgpzfm142 The left one may be but the right one has holes in it. I think I have a set of them around somewhere. And the boot is leaking, so need to pull them all out anyway. But all the power windows work, which is good to know.
good solid base, should come up a treat....
@Rob Hope it will, though it'll take some work because there are some small dents and stone chips that have started to have a bit of surface rust.
16 days later
Progress is slow.
We have run it up every 2 days or so and the brakes and engine are starting to work themselves out.
Gave it a good wash after we first got it and periodically wash it to keep the bird shit from sticking to it, also preparing it for the polishing we will give it.
Vacuumed out the interior and boot to remove the built up dust. Discovered more interior trim that will need to be replaced, but got a bit of a surprise when the covers over the bolts holding the handles to the roof lining disintegrated upon being touched.
Will get a Roadworthy Inspection done one we have the money and it's convenient, but I don't expect it to be ready for when I get my L's. Hopefully will be able to bring it to the meet though.
UltimateDave;81815 wrotegot a bit of a surprise when the covers over the bolts holding the handles to the roof lining disintegrated upon being touched.
I hate those things. No matter how careful I am, even with tiny thin jeweler screwdrivers - lifting only just enough to carefully unclip the edges, I still rarely get them off without crumbling.
UltimateDave;81815 wrote but got a bit of a surprise when the covers over the bolts holding the handles to the roof lining disintegrated upon being touched.
Known feature of the 'biodegradable plastics' used by Volvo unfortunately. Mine did exactly the same thing - literally crumbled to dust on the slightest touch...

Does anyone know if these are being re-cast by anyone?
@familyman @lasercowboy @egads Just checked skandix, they obviously don't sell them anymore. Which sucks. Are they ever in good condition or will I have to put up with the exposed bolts?
They're not too hard to find in good condition, I had the same problem on my car but found some good ones on a wrecked car. I may have some spares if you want me to check?
@240 Nah don't worry about it now. I'm a long way off replacing them. I'll keep in mind that you may have some though.
@lasercowboy $9.25 seems a bit steep, plus the freight charges from the US. Wonder if someone on here could could order in a large batch of them and distribute them among members for a bit of extra cost.
I thought the same thing about the price... a full set would be US$74 plus shipping. Right now, I'm not that bothered by my exposed bolt heads – there are more pressing cosmetic matters, like the lack of front door pockets, or the need to repaint the bonnet...
@lasercowboy I'm in the same boat...

Update: Got some pictures now. The interior is cleaner and the body problems are obvious to the camera in the afternoon sun. Right Guard, roof and 1/4 panels are all straight but the bonnet, boot and left guard are pretty bad. Bloody Cane Farmers!











Aye, and given the specialist nature of the part, it's not unreasonable.

But, like @UltimateDave I need to work on dents and paint before i spon any more money on interior!
@lasercowboy I'll probably not worry about them since It'll be a learner drivers daily driver, so I think it may get a bit worse, though I am confident in my non existent driving skills, so it'll probably be right.
UltimateDave;81869 wrote@lasercowboy $9.25 seems a bit steep, plus the freight charges from the US. Wonder if someone on here could could order in a large batch of them and distribute them among members for a bit of extra cost.
By the time you add Aust Post fees it may only be a couple of dollars more to each order our own - but maybe not? I wouldn't even bother with second hand ones. I had a 70s 240 and they were fine. A couple years later had to remove one again and it was powder. They are one part that I know consistently crumbles even when Volvo wasn't doing the trendy biodegradable thing. If the roof lining ever drops, I'd consider removing them, filling the holes, then putting in a new lining without them.

There are a few things I'd like to have the ability to remake. I've often wondered how difficult it is to make your own negative molds to make plastic parts. (Pretty sure 3D printers are out, because I don't think they can recreate the textured surface.)

I might be interested in a group buy. But is it just me - or can other people see an ugly 'ring' on the one in the picture? (Guess we don't have much choice.)

http://store.voluparts.com/volvo-240-grab-handle-covers/
@familyman 3d printing them wouldn't be too difficult, maybe someone on here has a 3d printer and could do them.
But no, you're not the only one who can see the ring, I guess the ring on the top of the bolt sits there.
5 days later
Starting to get ahead of myself a bit but I'm thinking of some future plans of what I can do.
I already have the US spec Quad Square headlights laying around (which would be the hardest part to acquire) and starting to seriously consider an entire front swap to a pre '81 look, since I've got a guard, grill and headlight reflectors that need replacing anyway. Now obviously people have done this before but in all of my researching, I can't find a single picture of how the Humped Bonnet lines up with the later cowl. Plenty about flathoods on later cowls though. The only thing I can find is a thread with no pictures on tubobricks. http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=303902 Because I'm thinking that with a bit of modification to the back of the bonnet (like flattening out that dip that usually lead to the earlier cowl) I could have something that could line up well and be very unique. So if anyone has some useful info, please share.
If you were careful and had a couple of goes you could probably replicate one in wood with a router (bonus points for using a <a href=" carver</a> from an original). Reinforce the handle area with some steel rod, paint and presto! (Maybe)
@Agouti You'd have to be pretty skilled, but the little clips that hold it in have to be flexible, so it may be impossible.

Also, will be needing headlight reflectors. Where is the best place to get some (keeping in mind I'm in QLD).
@Klaptrap24 , where did you get yours?
UltimateDave;82894 wrote@Agouti You'd have to be pretty skilled, but the little clips that hold it in have to be flexible, so it may be impossible.

Also, will be needing headlight reflectors. Where is the best place to get some (keeping in mind I'm in QLD).
@Klaptrap24 , where did you get yours?
Bought them for $90 each brand new from Berry Motors in Melbourne

a month later
Sadly I won't be able to make it to the meet.
However, I did get tan floor mats, black trim and a roof rack thanks to @bgpzfm142
Those floor mats will come in handy once it becomes a daily driver. No need to vacuum the carpets, just hose the mats off.
a month later
3 months later
Update. A local volvo enthusiast has bought it. He's a great guy and regrets selling his '85 240 GLE many years ago and is happy he has another 240. So it has gone to a good home.
UltimateDave;97103 wroteUpdate. A local volvo enthusiast has bought it. He's a great guy and regrets selling his '85 240 GLE many years ago and is happy he has another 240. So it has gone to a good home.
Dammit... should have sold me the wood trim :-(
@Philia_Bear Yeah was beginning to consider parting it out there towards the end but one of the reasons he bought it was because it was a GLE with wood trim and leather interior. Though I did say to anyone who looked at it that they could have it a bit cheaper if I got to keep the wood trim lol.

And what I said previously has rang true. I have bought another volvo. Will start a thread about it when I can.