Here comes “Grandpa” – a 1990 Volvo 240GL. What’s interesting about this car is I wasn’t looking for another 240. I had no designs on owning more than one, but somehow, like a poor ailing rescue puppy, I couldn’t resist trying to save this one.
Having just restored “Granny” (my 1992 240 sedan), someone mentioned they knew of a white 240 sedan that had been sitting in a guy’s front yard for several years, just withering away. The car still looked salvageable, but it hadn’t moved in a long, long time. The owner had contacted our Volvo Club President and he passed on the information to me. During one of the club’s breakfast gatherings, I asked our member, Randy, who owns a Volvo repair shop and works on 240’s regularly (and has for 30+ years) if he would go with me to look at it. Randy agreed. I told Randy I had no idea what to expect, but if it was in decent shape, maybe it could be our next project. See… Randy had become a buddy of mine, performing just about all the work on my first 240, getting it road worthy. So, I knew if Randy said it could be saved, we could do it.
So, off we go. We arrive at the fellow’s house, and there it sat – looking forlorn and yet eager to be appreciated again. Previously, the fellow had stated the car wouldn’t start, so I asked Randy if it would be wise to take a fuel pump relay with us (likely cause of the problem). Randy suggested we NOT take the relay, as that would drive up the price if we got it started there. So, we didn’t take one.
The gentleman was very pleasant and told us he had purchased the car for his son to drive to and from school. His son had joined the military and hadn’t driven the car in about 4 years. The dad was saving the car, thinking his son would want it when he came back from deployment, but that didn’t happen. The son had moved onto other cars and had no interest in the 240.
The dad simply told us he had been starting it monthly for the first couple of years, but stopped doing so a couple of years ago and just wanted it gone. When asked what he wanted for the car, he said “Throw out a number!”. I didn’t want to insult the guy, but I also knew I would be investing money in the car (and a good deal of it), so I offered him $1000.00 for it. He said, “Sold!”. Immediately, I was now the owner of two identical 240’s – one running and looking beautiful, and this one, looking like it hadn’t had a bath in a decade, not running, and smelling pretty awful inside. But, one thing it did have was good bones. No rust, solid and unmolested. No teenager add-ons to take away from the heritage of the car. That’s what I look for. I want it as stock as I can get it.
I had the car transported to Randy’s shop since it wasn’t running, and there was no telling whether it would run, whether it needed brake work, etc.
Randy phoned me when the car arrived at his shop. An hour later, he phoned me again telling me the car was now running (it was the fuel pump relay), and was running great given the amount of time it had sat untouched. With all things looking hopeful, we were ready to get to work.
Aside from a complete walk-thru of the mechanics, to include a total fluid change, new timing belt and a multitude of other general maintenance items, the car was actually ready to go. However, it was far from “ready to go” in my book. The car needed much attention in the looks and comfort department. We started with pulling out the entire interior to address the worn carpet and the driver/passenger seats. Much like “Granny”, I wanted new seats. We disassembled the seats. I took the fabric home and laundered it. Randy installed new foam cushions, new bottom support and re-worked the seat heaters. New carpet was installed. All this freshened up the interior quite a bit. It still smelled, though. It was getting better, but still a pretty stout moldy smell existed. The trunk was stripped out of everything and inspected. Trunk carpet cleaned.
Here’s a look with the interior out of the car. It was actually in good rust-free shape for a 35-year old car. Randy describes the various parts and condition.
The outside plastic molding running along the bottom of the doors had long since given up the ghost. Prior owner actually took sheet metal screws to screw it to the door, creating the opportunity for rust. So, we pulled the molding off. I cleaned the areas really well, filled the screw holes with epoxy and placed new freshly painted moldings to the bottom of the doors. I then had the outside to contend with. To state this car was filthy would be an understatement. It took 3 very aggressive washes to get to the paint. I compounded, claybar’d and waxed.
The car needed work on the central locking system. With used parts from eBay, Randy was able to get that in working order. The hinge on the driver’s door had rusted and wouldn’t stay open. A new (ebay) hinge was acquired and installed. A new stereo, with bluetooth, was installed along with 4 new speakers (using the original Volvo speaker covers). We even took it from a stationary mounted antenna to a powered antenna (another original part from ebay). Even bought a new set of wheels from the Redblock Society (located nearby in Norfolk, VA). New tires, and she was road ready.
With a new (completely refurbished) cluster (with working odometer), the only things left to try and tackle were the A/C and lack of cruise control. The A/C was completely evacuated. New seals and fittings and a recharge got that up and running (240’s, prior to ’92 never had the best air conditioning to start with, but serviceable). The cruise control was a real head scratcher. Parts were purchased. Parts were “borrowed” from “Granny” and in the end, it was the cruise control module.
Now… after nearly a year in refurb mode, the car was finally ready to go anywhere!
