Like Cormac said, check the body for rust. Inspect undercarriage, front
floorboards under the carpet/mat, and the trunk.
Haynes makes a good maintenance/repair manual for the 140, and also a manual
for the SU carbs if you're more serious. Lots of folks install the IPD
Weber carb kit on this engine, though I don't know if it's much better than
good condition SU's. The engine is very durable when well maintained, and
usually very re-buildable by any good machine shop, again with several
rebuild/upgrade options from IPD. Unless run dry, the tranny usually lasts
at least as long as the engine. You may look for an overdrive to add on for
an upgrade. It can use the same overdrive as found on most 1800's and
122's, with some drive shaft customizing if you can't find one all ready to
fit. The front seats on the 140 series are the best long distance seats
I've ever owned, and can be rebuilt with some parts from IPD and maybe some
other suppliers. If all of your steering and suspension components are in
good condition, the feel of the drive and the steering are very tight and
almost sporty, with a turning radius smaller than the old vw bugs. IPD
sells a stiff anti-sway bar kit to upgrade the fast cornering capabilities.
Kind of noisy, but can be improved with a hood pad and some other
strategically placed dynamat (or less expensive generic sound deadener). As
you can tell, I think IPD is a good 1-stop shopping center for classic
volvos. But, it's not the only place, so shop around if every penny
matters.
My 1st volvo was a '71 144 B20B baby-poop beige/gold. I purchased used at
top dollar in '73 and never regretted. Since '73, I've advanced quite a
bit: all the way to a '91 240. In between, I've had a 145, a 122, and 1800E
(for fun/project car), one crappy Audi and one crappy Mitsubishi. My
fondness for the 140 has endured. Most other cars (except, perhaps, BMW and
Mercedes) were built by corporations for consumers. The older volvos were
built by engineers for drivers and car owners. I'm not putting down the new
volvos, since I've rarely been in one.
If your friend's 140 is mostly rust free, go for it. Can you believe that
trunk space?
Pat Q
