85-260GLE
Hi Guys, I have just bought my first Volvo, a 1985 260 GLE, Silver paint with blue cloth interior.
Undoubtedly I will have a million stupid questions in relation to the car- it is definately not a glamour - but it seems honest, and I didn't pay a million dollars for it! so I have some room to improve it as I go.
Speaking of which, from what i read they 260's only came out in auto guise, is that correct? and can I convert to manual? what box could I use? what differential ratio would this thing have as standard?
are there interior upgrades (leather rear headrests etc) that I can make as well?
Many thanks in advance
Chewy
GingerNinja
Welcome to the forum. Where abouts are you?
Pics of said 260?
85-260GLE
Hi GingerNinja, I am just outside of Inglewood (which is just west of Bendigo) I have not picked up the wagon yet - hopefully have pictures this weekend!
Chewy
DCW242
Great find!
Some 2 series V6s were available as manual in Australia, they are very rare though.
In 1975 you could get a 5 speed manual, this was a getrag gearbox. they are 5 speed but not overdrive. they are very hard to find and not great for freeway driving as they are non overdrive.
in 1979 or 80, you could get a 264GLE with an M46, 4 speed manual plus electric over drive. these are good, but hard to find for V6s.
the pedal box, master cylinder, hydraulic hard line, shifter, and shifter boot are the same for 4cyl and V6.
I think the M46 is the same for V6 as 4 cylinder, the bellhousing is different, and the shifter linkage is longer. but they can be swapped over. the only other difference would be the input shift, I don't know if they are the same for 4cyl and V6 or not.
The diff ratio for a V6 with 3 speed auto is 3.54-1. I don't know if 4 speed auto is the same though.
There's lots of options for interior upgrades.
Rear head rests were fitted standard after 1989, and are available in blue.
paul0075
And if you want blue late 80s head rests for a wagon, I have them :)
Welcome Chewy.
The PRV engine in the 260 series cars is known to have a few issues, especially if neglected. Hopefully you've scored a good one.
85-260GLE
Thanks for the replies gentlemen,
Duncan, Manual is definately on the radar - will start keeping an eye out for the various bits and pieces for the conversion - lucky I am in no real hurry yet
Paul0075, Thanks, definately interested in the headrests - I will shoot you through a PM to discuss, the engine has apparently been rebuilt around 50,000klm ago and have full service history from new for the car, it only has around 325000 klm on the vehicle and supposedly second owner, so hopefully i have struck it lucky!!
if not I am sure there are people that can advise me on where to have stuff rebuilt! lol
Chewy
85-260GLE
A couple of images from the ad for the car - someone on here may know the vehicle?
Chewy
Vee_Que
Looks good. If a 2.8 makes it past 100,000km, they won't fail without a good reason, particularly the later ones like yours and the b280f in the 88 on 760gle.
Being rebuilt, if it have seen receipts, the only real issues are kjet related, they are a very stout bottom end, but being all alloy with wet sleeves you do need to look after it.
Manual parts are seriously rare, the bellhousing and flywheel is the hardest part to get, I have my own, and I'm not sharing it as it will end up in my 760gle one day.
paul0075
Very tidy. I've always had a soft spot for a silver 200 series and also those rims.
85-260GLE
Thanks guys, Yeah for some strange reason I have always had a soft spot for the 2 series wagons, but never owned one, this one came along and I just happened to have a couple of dollars to spare so thought why the hell not! hopefully I have bought well, if not I can always part it out LOL
Have just confirmed I am picking it up tomorrow - can't wait!
Chewy
OldnDecrepit
Welcome Chewy.
That 260 wagon is rare and had it been gold I would have snapped it up. especially with the roof rack.
I think the best gearbox option is to out the later 4speed auto in. I understand it fits easily.
85-260GLE
85-260GLE
Well picked it up on Saturday, and as usual the seller was very "optimistic" with his description - especially of how well it ran, but all in all a decent enough car for the money paid, not sure I would have paid as much if the real condition was detailed, but that is life - I BOUGHT A VOLVO!
Driving it home - well there is definately something about the way these cars drive it was great!- running as rough as guts it was still fun to drive and sat on freeway speeds all the way home
The vehicle is a two owner car - the first owner (Central Coast NSW) had it until 2014 and babied the car - very very well looked after
the second owner bought it out of the deceased estate with 320,000klm on the clock. It was his first Volvo as well and was not mechanically minded, the Volvo was transport to get to the train station (in Melbourne) and home again. The seller was worried that the front tyres were a little bald - (which he had already mentioned to me, so Friday night he went and fitted two brand new tyres for me before I picked it up! nice guy
It currently has around 335,000 klm on the clock.
There is some history with the car - receipt for complete original engine rebuild (at 243,000klm), a fair bit of work done to the air con system, and a couple of trans service and flush's. Other than that not much more to know, the interior is absolutely mint - it had to have seat covers on it - too perfect not to - dash and plastics are 100% as well only the tiniest little bit of rust (on one rear side window, bubbles in two doors and found a little under the wiper motor - that is the one I am worried about)
Mechanically it is still running like a pig, will slowly work through the running issues (and various oil leaks) once I get some manuals to learn what I am doing
I am wrapped with it and although it is not the jump in and drive car i was hoping for - I am sure I will get a lot out of getting it running right - if not I can always burn it!
sucksqueezebangblow
Being a station car, it might need the cobwebs cleared
A_Volvo_Driver
Welcome to the forum. It looks like you've picked up a nice car, enjoy.
morgan
It was $2000 ? The fact that the interior is mint condition and it ran all the way home I would say is good value . And a rwc ?and rego ?
85-260GLE
Thanks Gentlemen,
SSBB it definately needs the cobwebs cleared out lol
Scott, I think I did quite well all things considered, thanks
Morgan,Yeah he advertised it for 2000 but I paid considerably less than that for it - rego till February but I have to get the RWC and once above idle it ran very well, but terrible on low revs - still sorting that out, and degreasing some leaks LOL
As I am not sure what is good value or poor value on Volvo's I see many for sub 1,000 but seeing it has very little rust, nice interior and runs OK just a feeling I did alright on this one...............
Ex850R
Sounds good , so many need so much work...
My old 245 was case in point and i couldnt do the work on it so it cost a bomb! Great fun and ended up with a good new owner.
85-260GLE
Dropped the 260 in to Mark at Berry Motor Group to have them take a look at the rough running issues - what a great bunch, and a fantastic set up they have- they also know their stuff! Apparently there are only 761 1985 260 GLE wagons made that year! but more importantly they checked it out and fixed a few general wear and tear items it needed, and got it running right, wallet now lighter but you have to pay for quality! lol - can't wait to pick it up and enjoy it again!
Brad
My parents had an 84 260GLE Wagon in gold. Beautiful car inside and out but mechanically it was troublesome. Could never get it to idle right - often had a miss.
The auto would occasionally refuse to engage reverse when cold.
The final demise of the car was when coolant pissed out all over the garage floor. It was caused by the block corroding right through. Evidently coolant hadn't been maintained prior to my parent's ownership. They had it welded and the bloke who did the job send the metal was paper thin and thus very difficult to weld. It was finally patched up and traded in before it let go again.
Moral of the story - do the maintenance religiously.
