240 fading, considering an 850?

[Sender]

My '85 Volvo 240 wagon has about 360K miles (or about 500,000 Km) and
the engine is making some very scary sounds. My mechanic is having a
look, but I fear the worst.

If replacing the car, I might consider an 850, since I might barely be
able to afford one. I've done most of the work on the (3) 240's we own.

My question:How are the 850's for do-it-yourself maintenance??

I've done oil changes, cleaned and re-routed the flame traps, changed
out alternators, brake master cylinders, brake rotors and pads, some
exhaust work and more.

We'd be getting an automatic (most likely), since in the Northeast US we
seem to get about 80-90% automatic transmissions and very few standards.

Thanks!

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[James Sweet]

My '85 Volvo 240 wagon has about 360K miles (or about 500,000 Km) and
the engine is making some very scary sounds. My mechanic is having a
look, but I fear the worst.

If replacing the car, I might consider an 850, since I might barely be
able to afford one. I've done most of the work on the (3) 240's we own.

My question:How are the 850's for do-it-yourself maintenance??

I've done oil changes, cleaned and re-routed the flame traps, changed
out alternators, brake master cylinders, brake rotors and pads, some
exhaust work and more.

We'd be getting an automatic (most likely), since in the Northeast US we
seem to get about 80-90% automatic transmissions and very few standards.

Thanks!

The 850 is more complex but you can still maintain it yourself, some things
though like the timing belt, water pump, clutch, etc I'd much rather do on a
240. If yours is in nice shape you may want to look into a good used engine,
the B230's are plentiful and relatively cheap as there's very little market
for used ones, usually the car falls apart first.

 

[Sender]

There are lots of 240's on the road in my area, and word is that
replacing the motor runs about $1500. We did that on two nonm-Volvos
with poor results, and are reluctant to do it again.

But Thanks! for your other notes.
Bruce
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[James Sweet]

There are lots of 240's on the road in my area, and word is that
replacing the motor runs about $1500. We did that on two nonm-Volvos
with poor results, and are reluctant to do it again.

But Thanks! for your other notes.
Bruce

Where are you? The local yard around here has loads of Volvo motors for $150
each, you have to pull them yourself though of course. Last swap I
participated in took most of a day and the results were good. I'm not sure
how you could spend $1500 on the job unless you had the engine rebuilt.

 

[Sender]

We're in Connecticut. I'm not ready to swap a motor - I'll let a shop
do that. I'd be surprised to see it do-able for under $1500 or so. The
body is nearly 20 years old, has its own problems. I'm looking at other
options.
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[Stephen M. Henning]

Where are you? The local yard around here has loads of Volvo motors for $150
each, you have to pull them yourself though of course. Last swap I
participated in took most of a day and the results were good. I'm not sure
how you could spend $1500 on the job unless you had the engine rebuilt.

I am not sure why you would put in a junk engine of questionable worth
rather than one that was rebuilt and had a warranty.

 

[James Sweet]

I am not sure why you would put in a junk engine of questionable worth
rather than one that was rebuilt and had a warranty.

Because you can get a good cheap motor that has been tested to run well and
not smoke for a tenth the cost of rebuilding. If it's an old car in mediocre
condition it's not worth spending $1400 to rebuild when you can get a good
used one and have it back on the road for a few hundred and a weekend of
work, of course I enjoy tinkering around.