Need a part for a 144

I spent almost half a day checking for a part for my 1969 Volvo 144.
The car has an automatic shift,
and a part called a 'gear shift ball socket' has disintegrated. This
part is in the steering column housing where the gear selector handle is
attached. It is
a retainer that keeps the handle locked in a single orientation which
allows it to swivel to select gears.

I talked to a Volvo dealer who told me the part (#677277) is no longer
supplied by
the manufacturer. I tried about ten parts outlets across the country,
and nobody had
it, either as a stand alone, or on a junk car. I still remember those
ads about the Volvo's with
a million miles on them still running. Sure the engines may hold up,
but
the surrounding car becomes impossible to keep up. My engine has only
50000 miles on it,
runs great, and I just spent 500 dollars to redo the floor which had
rusted
out. Now I can't drive the car because of a stupid plastic part that
probably costs
less than 5 dollars.

Sherwin Dubren

 

What are the 10 outlets you've tried. That will help the others on this
newsgroup to recommend some other obscure parts vendors that you may not
have tried. Good luck and don't give up the search.

 

Hi Pat,
It's a long list but here goes:
* RevolvStore
* Swedish Treasures
European Parts Network
VLV world
Autopartsworld
Scandcar volvo parts shop
ExpressAutoparts
Overnight Auto Parts
Swedish Classics
Swedish Parts Wholesale
European Only
Marshal Auto (Canada)
Highland Park Volvo (Illinois Volvo dealer)

* indicates place I have previously found parts for my car

 

Sherwin,

You should contact Bram Smits through his website,
http://www.buvic.com/car/index.html He has been very helpful in finding
obscure Volvo parts for me in the past.

You might also try the folks at VClassics,
http://www.vclassics.com/contents.htm

Good Luck,

 

May want to give these folks a shot:

www.voluparts.com

They are located in Atlanta.

 

[ ... ]

If you have the pieces, see if a machine shop can duplicate it in
aluminum or steel.

Convert to a floor shift.

Convert to a manual transmission and floor stick shift.

Sell me your engine, so I can get my '72 back on the road (the shop
can't seem to keep track of the list of parts to order, much less
return my calls).

Good luck,


Gary

 

Try Stéphane Lapointe
His web site is http://www.vlvworld.com/index.html (formerly
www.Volvoworld.com)

 

Hi Gary,
Unfortunately, the original plastic piece dissintegrated, and I only have
a small
remnant left. A machine shop might be able to do it, but that is a last
resort if I can't
locate the part. Your other suggestions are probably within the domain of
possibility
but not exactly what I want to undertake, at this time.

A much less serious problem is the gear indicator on the dash. The thing
works off a pully and wire which have broken, and short of tearing apart the
dash, there is
no way to get to the selector.

Sherwin Dubren

 

And you are offering how much to get me out there in my field to extract
one? And to the guy who needs an engine I have several very good long
blocks and two near new complete,also have lots of WEBERS and
manifolds Bill