1981 244 GL High MPG - daughter's first car

[dl242gt]

That big bus steering wheel was a bit too big for me. I suggest the stock 85-88 steering wheel also used on the 240 turbo. If you do like the big bus wheel I have a GLT version you can have. Interior looks as new.

 

[Jack]

That big bus steering wheel was a bit too big for me. I suggest the stock 85-88 steering wheel also used on the 240 turbo. If you do like the big bus wheel I have a GLT version you can have. Interior looks as new.

*85 dl is the last year of this wheel. Isn’t the GLT version of this wheel the same as this one but the center says GLT?

Thank you for the offer, I will see how she feels about this one and get back to you, we’re skinny but tall people. I personally like the smaller wheels

It’s coming along, I still need to work on door panels and clean out the power window regulators. They’re a bit slow going

 

[dl242gt]

Yes, the steering wheel is the same with just the GLT badge. You got me. I don't think anyone will want it. Our GLT big bus steering wheel came from our 82 turbo 245 which we changed to the smaller wheel.

 

[240 240]

i have that bus wheel in my 79. I hate it

 

[dl242gt]

i have that bus wheel in my 79. I hate it

It's kind of a bit much but they wanted to make it easy to turn for everyone. Meaning limp wristed Americans.

 

[Toybox]

An alternative is the supreme overboost of 60s and 70s Chrysler products. One-finger steering. It felt just about right in a land barge, actually...

 

[Jack]

aesthetically I think it's one of the better stock looking 240 wheels, but we'll see what she says
Im officially old, she turned 18 this week.

started to work on the rear suspension. Before cleaning etc

gf and I pulled parts for powdercoating

first pressure washing

replaced the stock brake lines

had to shave the hold down nut because the super cheap on sale set from IPD thread area is too short to use the washer/nut in stock form.
not my hand

fuel pump wiring needs to be replaced.

original taillights are rough

bottom is the original ones. top two sets are what I have as replacement. Should I hardwire these in or leave it stock? Any guide to do this in a long lasting way? I never really had to deal with sedan taillights

 

[Toybox]

I believe all of the 240 taillights suffer from similar problems: they work fine when new, but the contact integrity between bulb socket and circuit board diminishes over time. The extra resistance melts what's left of the connection. You can prolong the inevitable with appropriate dielectric grease to keep out the elements. I prefer riveting a jumper wire to the bulb socket and hardwiring to the tail harness (I assume that's what you mean), which effectively bypasses the circuit board. (Well, it's running in parallel but the wire is a better conductor so it does most of the work.) I can't recall if was able to make a male connector that plugs into the harness, or maybe I just used insulated 1/4" spade male/female connectors in case I ever need to replace a bulb socket.

The other thing I prefer is changing a bulb socket from single to double filament, so I can double the number of brake lights on each side.

 

[philski o'flood]

template for taping off the tach and gauges

 

[240 240]

all these 3d printers and no one has made an upgrade to sedan tails?

 

[fatcatbestcat]

all these 3d printers and no one has made an upgrade to sedan tails?

Nobody cares about the sedans. Wagons always come first.

Hardwiring them is probably the move, I had plenty of issues with the taillights on my '92 244. I would sooner trust a good crimp than a cheesy circuit board in a spot of the car that can see a lot of moisture and vibration.

This thread has forced me to buy Coronas and centers for my 144.

 

[Jack]

I believe all of the 240 taillights suffer from similar problems: they work fine when new, but the contact integrity between bulb socket and circuit board diminishes over time. The extra resistance melts what's left of the connection. You can prolong the inevitable with appropriate dielectric grease to keep out the elements. I prefer riveting a jumper wire to the bulb socket and hardwiring to the tail harness (I assume that's what you mean), which effectively bypasses the circuit board. (Well, it's running in parallel but the wire is a better conductor so it does most of the work.) I can't recall if was able to make a male connector that plugs into the harness, or maybe I just used insulated 1/4" spade male/female connectors in case I ever need to replace a bulb socket.

The other thing I prefer is changing a bulb socket from single to double filament, so I can double the number of brake lights on each side.

I like your ideas

template for taping off the tach and gaugesView attachment 28393

will come in handy If she wants to add some small gauges later on!

all these 3d printers and no one has made an upgrade to sedan tails?

I think a laser cut metal board would work- kind of similar to what the wagons have

Nobody cares about the sedans. Wagons always come first.

Hardwiring them is probably the move, I had plenty of issues with the taillights on my '92 244. I would sooner trust a good crimp than a cheesy circuit board in a spot of the car that can see a lot of moisture and vibration.

This thread has forced me to buy Coronas and centers for my 144.

sedans are fine but plenty of 242 builds would benefit from some well executed solution.

coronas, paint them black like the accessory catalog showed them


rear axle bushing removal https://turbobricks.com/index.php?t...r-poly-housing-stays-need-suggestions.375458/

hated by some! I already bought it by the time I found the CONTERVORSY

in order to fit trailing arms with poly bushings you have to remove this bracket

grinder app to the rescue

installed the trailing arms

 

[dl242gt]

I never removed the bracket. I just used a jack to push the arm in there whether it liked it or not.

 

[Jack]

I never removed the bracket. I just used a jack to push the arm in there whether it liked it or not.

I didnt feel like struggling

today, weather is finally starting to normalize. High of 92 feels wonderful

only coated a few things from this weekend

replaced broken exhaust hanger

got the gasket from one of my shop clean outs, dumb place to put a sticker FCP

3:91

cover and panhard installed.

heat shields and tow hook installed

I need to pull the torque rods from the 242 to blast and install poly but my impact let the smoke out, ordered another one

sprayed some undercoating in the wheel wells and installed few of the parts

external fuel pump bracket with lubed mounts.

 

[Toybox]

Holy farq. Some parents buy a kid a new car. Some build it.

So much awesome.

 

[fatcatbestcat]

Some parents buy a kid a new car. Some build it.

Some powder coat their kids

 

[240 240]

Honey, I powdercoated the kids.

 

[Scaramanga]

I didnt feel like struggling

today, weather is finally starting to normalize. High of 92 feels wonderful

only coated a few things from this weekend

replaced broken exhaust hanger

got the gasket from one of my shop clean outs, dumb place to put a sticker FCP

3:91

cover and panhard installed.

heat shields and tow hook installed

I need to pull the torque rods from the 242 to blast and install poly but my impact let the smoke out, ordered another one

sprayed some undercoating in the wheel wells and installed few of the parts

external fuel pump bracket with lubed mounts.

Looking good! Well done

 

[Jack]

Holy farq. Some parents buy a kid a new car. Some build it.

So much awesome.

I dont like new cars (thank you)

Some powder coat their kids

Honey, I powdercoated the kids.

this is so dumb

Looking good! Well done

thank you

I didnt get a chance to coat the remaining suspension parts today but I got most of them blasted

welded in the nut for spring retainer.

replaced hoses
- power steering low side
- evap hoses going from canister to throttle body
- brake booster

original left - cracked all over, pitted, broken mounting tabs. I dont remember what low milage car I pulled grill on right from but even the emblem looks almost new.

old

new

white or black T clips?- I cant remember

adjusted the hood
before

after

I pulled a few other random clips and brackets to coat. Added coolant and pulled the passenger window trim to coat

 

[Toybox]

You haven't mentioned whether daughter is following the progress, and is suitably impressed. Hope so.