Mike Jr's 1979 Volvo 245 project

[MikeJr.]

Picked up this 79 245 last year from a friend of mine who's a former Volvo mechanic. His father in-law was the original owner of the vehicle, and he bought it new in Alabama so its been in the south it's whole life. The car was originally assembled in Nova Scotia Canada, so it's been a North America Volvo since the beginning.

I've know about the car for several years and spoke with the guy about buying it a few times, but never committed till last year when I finally decided to pull the trigger. It had been sitting in his back yard for 10 years but he would start it from time to time. Here are the pictures he originally sent me.

I put a fresh battery in it and a temporary set of wheels with good tires. It's started up and I drove it about 50 mile home in the rain. On the way the windshield was falling out of the vehicle and water was pouring in. I got it home, charged the battery (the alternator was bad), then took it to the shop to have the windshield reinstalled.

I hate coffin hoods so I immediately ran out and bought one and had it painted

I also had to go with the single rounds to complete the look

Next I got a set of Polaris to put on it. They're installed but look terrible on a non-lowered car

 

[MikeJr.]

So I'd been using the car as kind of a work horse and getting distracted with other cars, and wasn't really sure what direction I wanted to go. Early 245s are getting harder to find so I definitely want to hang onto it for a good while. One thing I've always wanted to do was an LS 245. Really any V8 240 for at least 25+ years. I know its been done over and over again, but that's a good thing because there are a lot of off the shelf parts and lots of references.
So I managed to to get my hands on a all aluminum LS3 (L94) out of a 2014 Cadillac Escalade. It's mated to a 6L80e, so a decision was made.

Ugly on the outside, clean on the inside

I took the heads to the machine shop and had them cleaned, decked, and a valve job done, and new spring installed for the new cam.

 

[doucheNozzle]

Okay this will also be sweet

 

[cosbySweater]

NICE! i want to do a 6.2 in my 242 if my 4.8 ever blows up. Cant wait to see how it turns out. Ls is the only way to go in a 240

 

[GeorgiaTechFan12]

What shop did you have the glass done at?
I need to replace the windshield on mine

 

[MikeJr.]

What shop did you have the glass done at?
I need to replace the windshield on mine

Atlanta Glass

 

[MikeJr.]

Going to change up the front end set up and go with these

 

[Harlard]

That’s a good front end setup.

 

[brendon_ak]

This project is awesome!! How's the interior? Any bad news on the underside from sitting in a grass field? Are you keeping the auto or plans to go stick?

 

[nibroc]

awesome

 

[MikeJr.]

This project is awesome!! How's the interior? Any bad news on the underside from sitting in a grass field? Are you keeping the auto or plans to go stick?

I keeping the Auto trans. This will be semi-comfortable tow vehicle that's fast and looks halfway decent. The previous owner had taken the front door belt molding off so rain water and debris had gotten into the inside of the front doors and rotted them from the inside out. Other than that there was a little rust around the windshield and that's it. Underside is solid.




The original interior was blue vinyl like this

I wanted something more comfortable so I think I'm going to go with VP Auto parts universal upholstery for a 240

 

[Stiggy Pop]

Ambivalent on the powertrain but a Mike/Mike body/chassis never disappoints!

 

[MikeJr.]

Ordered some LS swap swag from Anderson Steel and Speed (ASS)

I can't wait to get going on this swap

 

[2turbotoys]

Now I want their skidplate, just cause it says ASS on it. See a few things I want on their site, did you buy direct or is there a US reseller?

Love the car!

 

[leadermoose]

Don't understand the hate of coffin hoods, but I love how this build is going so far.

 

[MikeJr.]

Now I want their skidplate, just cause it says ASS on it. See a few things I want on their site, did you buy direct or is there a US reseller?

Love the car!

www.speedingparts.com

I ordered them from this company. Very easy and fast

 

[MikeJr.]

So I need to update this thread with content over the past year, up to present, to keep me motivated.

Last year I decided to go ahead and do the body and paint work before I proceed with the LS swap. I pulled it in the shop and started taking things apart.

I had one of my techs cut, fold, and body work the quarter and fender lips flat for future wider rims/tires.

Then I had another tech do the body repairs. Overall the car was pretty straight and only had the minor dent here and there. Both front doors had some rust at the bottoms that had rusted through the skin, so I decided to find some good used doors to replace them. That was really the only rust on the car and that was from being parked under a tree with no door seals. I stripped the replacement door and epoxy primed them before bodywork.

 

[MikeJr.]

So off and on all that took about a year to completed. It's only been worked on as time permits. A couple of weekends ago we were finally able to shoot some Super build polyester primer. My middle and youngest sons came by the shop to help prep and prime it. They both work in the industry as paint preppers so we knocked it out fast.

I'm using Evercoat Super Build polyester primer over the bodywork. It can be sprayed over bare metal, filler, and old paint. It goes on super thick and give you a lot of material to work with. It goes on pink and sands grey so the pink acts as a guide coat. Pretty cool.

The car will be painted by the end of May so we're getting close.

 

[TouzinFish]

Oh man, this is sweet! Looking forward to more updates.

 

[doucheNozzle]

I kinda like the pepto pink