Small world. Our very first Volvo was also a 1983 240 Turbo purchased
6 years ago.
Is this the post-deer Volvo mentioned elsewhere in this group? Mine
has 325000 kms and is supposed to be getting body work this spring.
When you had the turbo redone did you opt for the water-cooled variety
or is it still the oil-cooled turbo? Did you replace any suspension
components or are they original?
Thanks,
blurp
Yup, this is the same one that hit the deer. I still have my
'before/after' polaroids around somewhere - which I needed for the
Insurance company. I was pickin' deer fur outa the hood-cloth for
months! ;)
I now always say under my breath when a cyclist or pedestrian
unwittingly steps out in front of me, "Don't do it! I've taken out
BIGGER without a scratch!" ;)
As for the turbo ... you know, I recall a discussion at the time about
water vs. oil . . . but I cannot remember which this has. It didn't
change, though. Whatever the stock turbo is in this model, is what it
has. And no other modifications to the suspension ... all stock stuff
... and nice and *firm* for the Turbo/high-speed (heh heh), etc...
Interestingly ... my brother once had a Cadillac STS and it had to get
some work done over a period of a week. I lent him my 240 for that week
and we was totally blown-away! He was expecting it to sound and feel
like an old clunker ... but it's so well kept and the ride is so tight
(cornering, etc...) ... he just couldn't believe it. OK, ok - maybe not
AS peppy as his STS - but it still surprised him. He suddenly realized
why I love it so!
I just LOVE the sound it makes as it 'whirs' up. I tell ya ... I'm
gonna miss this car. We're only selling it because we don't have the
room to park it. If we had a 2-car garage it would be staying in the
family (sniffle).
Allan
... and blurp spake, saying:
> Small world. Our very first Volvo was also a 1983 240 Turbo purchased
> 6 years ago.
[quoted text clipped - 47 lines]
>>
>>Email Allan Shearer at: allanATshearerDOTca
James Sweet - 24 Mar 2005 08:31 GMT
> As for the turbo ... you know, I recall a discussion at the time about
> water vs. oil . . . but I cannot remember which this has. It didn't
> change, though. Whatever the stock turbo is in this model, is what it
> has. And no other modifications to the suspension ... all stock stuff
> ... and nice and *firm* for the Turbo/high-speed (heh heh), etc...
Stock is oil cooled, replacements are almost always oil + water cooled,
there's no reason to do otherwise unless you *really* need to do it cheap
and don't care if the turbo life is halved.
blurp - 24 Mar 2005 19:56 GMT
Having the exact same car I can honestly say "I know what you mean"
when you talk about the thrill of the 240 turbo. Unfortunately i live
in the city (Toronto) and don't even have a driveway, I rely on street
parking. That's why I picked up an old 760 when the opportunity arose
and sent the 240 away for body work...I'll have to store it over the
winter to protect it from the salt trucks that drive down my street
and fling their corrosive payload hither and thither.
I don't know exactly where I would store a third volvo but I'm working
on it!
As forthe turbo it was probably a rebuild (as I had done with mine) so
it'll still be oil cooled. The water-cooled setup (at the time I was
calling around) meant throwing $1400 at the issue (roughly double the
cost of a rebuild and install).
Cheers!
blurp
ps. if I find $2400 and a garage I'll come running!
>Yup, this is the same one that hit the deer. I still have my
>'before/after' polaroids around somewhere - which I needed for the
[quoted text clipped - 78 lines]
>>>
>>>Email Allan Shearer at: allanATshearerDOTca
Allan Shearer - 24 Mar 2005 21:06 GMT
Hi'ya Blurp
This all rings a bell ... and now I can say with much more confidence
that it IS oil-cooled. I remember the discussion with my Volvo mechanic
who was explaining to me the advantages of oil vs. water (but to be
honest, I wouldn't have been able to recall WHICH was better ...
although, it seems to make sense that oil would be better since it would
have a lower boiling point). Indeed, my turbo was 're-built' or
refurbished. He kept my car the whole time (well, it had a LOT more
work to be done on it!) while the turbo was sent off to Montreal for the
re-build. I was told it would be 'like new' ... and sure enough, it's
'whirrin' like a kitten (... that's the sound when you swing a cat over
your head, I guess).
I even have a 2nd Turbo gauge somewhere in my parts bin. The one on my
car is the original, but my mechanic says that the needle is resting
(home position) a little off the mark. Of course, this means nothing -
other than esthetics ... but the 2nd Turbo gauge is supposed to line-up
properly ... I've just never installed it (I know, I know ... a 2-second
job, I'm sure!).
Well . . . if your 240 comes out nicer than mine, you could always swap
out the 760 and have 2x 240's ... a 'winter' one and a 'summer' one.
heh heh :)
Yours,
Allan
... and blurp spake, saying:
> Having the exact same car I can honestly say "I know what you mean"
> when you talk about the thrill of the 240 turbo. Unfortunately i live
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> blurp
> ps. if I find $2400 and a garage I'll come running!
James Sweet - 25 Mar 2005 04:41 GMT
> Hi'ya Blurp
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> although, it seems to make sense that oil would be better since it would
> have a lower boiling point).
A little more info is needed here for this to make sense. Oil cooled turbos
are just that, they rely solely on the lubricating oil to cool them. "water
cooled" turbos are an oil cooled turbo with an *additional* cooling jacket
which circulates water/antifreeze through the engine's cooling system. You
still need the oil for lubrication, the water jacket just drastically
reduces the operating temperature of the turbo bearing housing virtually
eliminating oil coking. I have an oil cooled turbo on my 240 because the
previous owner had it done and it's scary to see that thing glowing orange
hot. It may cost twice as much, but it will literally last twice (or more)
as long in most cases so as I said before, given the choice it's more
economical to go with water cooled if you plan to keep the car for a while.