New here from NC

I thought I would jump in here and introduce myself.
I'm Arthur but I go by my initials A.W. I live in Concord NC.

I have been wrenching on cars for the past 29 years as a hobby. Everything from NA cars, Turbo cars, FF, FR, MR from carbureted to FI. I am no expert by any means or even pretend to be but I can turn and wrench and consider myself a competent shade tree mechanic.

I am in the market for an old school Volvo Wagon. Preferably factory turboed. Looking at 2000 model year and older.

I remember back in the late 90s when I did car audio professionally, working on Volvos and loving them. Even back then. But for some reason they always took a back seat to whatever other car I had my sites on.

Well, anyway, I thought I would join here to take a look in the classified section and to learn more about the various models out there. Already enjoying what I am learning and the inspirations have me jonesing even more to finally get my hands on one.

Thanks,
A.W.

C1ph3r said:

I am in the market for an old school Volvo Wagon. Preferably factory turboed.

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Hi A.W, welcome to TurboBricks!

You'll need to browse through the projects & restorations section, and other sites, to help decide if you want an original 240 wagon (getting more rare), a 740 (much hated here), or a somewhat more recent 940.

The factory turbo 240s ended in '85, and used a Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection system. K-Jet uses a a big pie plate in the air stream that moves up and down as engine air flow changes. This in turn controls the rate that fuel is continuously sprayed into the intake. Primitive but elegant depending on your viewpoint.

The later non-turbo 240s, and all the 740s/940s, use more modern electronic fuel injection. Fortunately, it's relatively easy to swap a later Turbo 740/940 engine, turbo, and ECU into a 240. Lots of folks start with a non-turbo 240 and just swap the Turbo and ECU parts from a 740/940 turbo car. This is called a +T here. The NA 2.3l redblock engines are B230; the Turbo version with lower compression dished pistons is a B230FT.

Swapping in an LS engine to an original 240/940 is also fairly common, with a few different specialist companies offering adapter kits/parts to help with the conversion.

I forget who here posted it here originally, but for browsing facebook brick listings nationwide this link is great:
https://www.reddit.com/r/turbobricks/comments/j3a2gq/i_made_a_list_of_every_turbo_brick_i_could_find/

Depending on your bodywork abilities, it may be best to buy a good condition wagon from OR or WA and have it shipped to you. I'm not sure who on here is nearby in NC, but maybe you can find a couple local folks to show you their rides.

-Bob

bobxyz said:

Hi A.W, welcome to TurboBricks!


-Bob

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Wow Bob. Thank you for the welcome. I have to say this may be the most welcoming greeting post I?ve ever received after joining a new forum. And there have been a lot of the past couple decades. I will certainly look into all of that. Heck you have already doubled my knowledge and curiosity from your one response. I look forward to learning more. I?m finding myself torn between the exterior of the pre-850 cars and the interior of the 850. And I like the tail light layout on the 850 wagon also. But I?d like to say I?m in no rush and will hold out for one that speaks to me. But let?s face it, I want it so bad. I?m really hoping I can hold out for the right one for me.

As for LS swap, nah. That?s planned for my C10 and I?ve been wavering on that for the past 4 years to do it or not.

Nice to hear there is some relatively easy swap options for later model 240s and the like. I also like the idea of taking a non turbo car and swapping in a turbo from a different turboed model. I like tinkering and putting things together.

As for body, that?s actually most important to me. I cannot do body work. Replace a panel sure. But weld in panels and fix holes, nope. I mean I can do it but it will be ugly and take me forever to work up the nerve to actually do it. Ran into that with my C10. So good body and good-ish interior are high up on my list.

Anyway, now I am rambling on. Thanks again and I will keep an eye out.

Welcome, there’s quite a few of us here from NC.

propav8r said:

Welcome, there?s quite a few of us here from NC.

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Thanks. That?s good to know. Hopefully I can become a turbo brick owner sooner than later. Keeping my eyes open.