240 General: New (to me) 1980 Volvo 244

[Othen]

I got round to changing that second rear spring after dropping Dan at school this morn. I'd been soaking the nut at the bottom of the sort of captive stud in RP90 for a few days in the hope it would just unwind... and it nearly did! The nyloc nut got almost to the end of the thread before the stud started turning. Ho hum, I was ready with the reciprocating saw and the whole thing was apart in 10 minutes; the stud has been replaced with another M10 bolt and a nut.

That job didn't take long, so whilst the car was jacked up I thought I'd swap the 14" wheels for the 15" Pholus wheels I had from the RB project. I think they look pretty cool:



The 15" rims and 195/65 tyres fill the wheel arches much better than the original 14" wheels and 175/70 tyres:



The Pholus wheels have nearly new winter tyres fitted, but that doesn't really matter, I think I'll run them as all year round rubber. The winter tyres will wear a little quicker, but I'm only expecting to do around 2,000 miles/year so that will hardly make any difference. I think they suit the Barge much better than do the originals.

I took the Barge for a test run and all is good, handling and steering are fine and there are no funny noises from the rear suspension. The 15" wheels raise the gearing a little, but it was a bit low geared anyway with the 175/70 section tyres. They also make the speedometer read a little slower than previously - now the indicated speed is exactly the same at the GPS speed, so I will just have to remember there is no margin for error.

The only slight issue I have is the spare, which remains a 175/70R14, so there is a 1.3" difference in the rolling diameter. That doesn't worry me in the slightest as a get-you-home spare, but I will start looking for a 15" wheel that I can put a 195/65 tyre on. Maybe a fifth Pholus, but more likely a steel one (a cheap one!).

The 14" wheels had just been refurbished and fitted with new tyres. They came up as new after a quick wash and scrub:



My plan is to put them away in the spares shed until I sell the Barge at the end of the project (probably 2024), so they remain immaculato.

Good outcomes :-)

PS. Now here is an idea: a space saver spare tyre with a 125/85R16 tyre in as new condition for £24.95 delivered:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275471008...Bk9SR5yQtr_wYA

It would have the right PCD, but the offset would be a bit wrong - would that matter with a get-you-home spare?

[Laird Scooby]

You're more likely to come across a Pholus wheel before a 15" steel Alan although the steelies do come up from time to time.

Also, just a suggestion - while the original wheels are off, give them a good coat or three with a wax polish to protect them while they're off. I've been doing this with my alloys in recent times and it helps keep them much cleaner and reduce brake dust build up too.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

You're more likely to come across a Pholus wheel before a 15" steel Alan although the steelies do come up from time to time.

Also, just a suggestion - while the original wheels are off, give them a good coat or three with a wax polish to protect them while they're off. I've been doing this with my alloys in recent times and it helps keep them much cleaner and reduce brake dust build up too.

Good point about the wax polish Dave, I'll do that.

You may not have noticed my PS. in the above regarding a really cheap space saver:

PS. Now here is an idea: a space saver spare tyre with a 125/85R16 tyre in as new condition for £24.95 delivered:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275471008...41c8%7Ciid%3A1

It would have the right PCD, but the offset would be a bit wrong - would that matter with a get-you-home spare?

[Moomoo]

Like the Phollus wheels, yep, they’re ok, it is a pretty car.

I’ll have to smash the piggy bank in2024!!!!!🧐

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Moomoo

Like the Phollus wheels, yep, they’re ok, it is a pretty car.

I’ll have to smash the piggy bank in2024!!!!!🧐

Thank you Andrew.

I really enjoy projects like this: taking a slightly tired motor car and giving it a boost. The RB was perfect in that way, and the Barge the same.

In 2024 I may be looking for a nice 1985 740 :-).

Alan

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

Good point about the wax polish Dave, I'll do that.

You may not have noticed my PS. in the above regarding a really cheap space saver:

PS. Now here ia an idea: a space saver spare tyre with a 125/85R16 tyre in as new condition for £24.95 delivered:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275471008...Bk9SR5yQtr_wYA

It would have the right PCD, but the offset would be a bit wrong - would that matter with a get-you-home spare?

You'd probably be better off with :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174045052871

The offset is closer as it's designed for a RWD car, unlike the V40 wheel designed for a FWD car.

However, if i had my way, space-saver wheels would be outlawed. Too many people forget there's a 50mph limit on them and that it's unadvisable to drive more than 50 miles. My Jag came with a space-saver in a wheel bag which now resides in my shed, replaced with a proper alloy and reasonable tyre for £50 + about another tenner for a wheel bag. Presumably you won't need a wheel bag as you don't have a gas tank in your spare wheel well.

There is another important aspect to consider, that of insurance. The 240 range was never issued with a space-saver wheel so to all intents and purposes, you will have an unauthorised modification if you fit the space-saver. Granted they never came with Pholus alloys but 15" alloys were available when it was made and after al, they are a genuine Volvo 15" alloy so could be argued they were an optional retrofit.
I'm not sure if the 9xx range or even the S/V90 (first ones, a rebadged 960 essentially) came with a space-saver, that might be an option if you really want a space-saver but the actual space-saver tyres tend to be in the £Ouch teritory.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

Thank you Andrew.

I really enjoy projects like this: taking a slightly tired motor car and giving it a boost. The RB was perfect in that way, and the Barge the same.

In 2024 I may be looking for a nice 1985 740 :-).

Alan

A 1986/87 would be better Alan, many improvements then, not least the B230 engine instead of the B23.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

A 1986/87 would be better Alan, many improvements then, not least the B230 engine instead of the B23.

... Understood Dave, but that would have a huge disadvantage: not being on the cusp of qualifying for free tax :-)

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

You'd probably be better off with :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174045052871

The offset is closer as it's designed for a RWD car, unlike the V40 wheel designed for a FWD car.

However, if i had my way, space-saver wheels would be outlawed. Too many people forget there's a 50mph limit on them and that it's unadvisable to drive more than 50 miles. My Jag came with a space-saver in a wheel bag which now resides in my shed, replaced with a proper alloy and reasonable tyre for £50 + about another tenner for a wheel bag. Presumably you won't need a wheel bag as you don't have a gas tank in your spare wheel well.

There is another important aspect to consider, that of insurance. The 240 range was never issued with a space-saver wheel so to all intents and purposes, you will have an unauthorised modification if you fit the space-saver. Granted they never came with Pholus alloys but 15" alloys were available when it was made and after al, they are a genuine Volvo 15" alloy so could be argued they were an optional retrofit.
I'm not sure if the 9xx range or even the S/V90 (first ones, a rebadged 960 essentially) came with a space-saver, that might be an option if you really want a space-saver but the actual space-saver tyres tend to be in the £Ouch teritory.

Thank you Dave,

Whilst I was out walking Bob I had a think about this one, and realised I was being a bit daft looking for a space saver tyre - I'm with you, I don't like them.

The difference between the rolling diameter of the 195/65R15 and the 175/70R14 is 1.3", but that means the motor car would only sit 2/3" lower if I needed to use it - that isn't worth worrying about and would be much safer than a space saver.

I'll stick with the 14" original wheel as a spare - I was worrying about nothing and had not thought the problem through properly.

Alan

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

... Understood Dave, but that would have a huge disadvantage: not being on the cusp of qualifying for free tax :-)

The answer is simple then Alan, wait another year or two to get one that's imminently qualifying as Historic. The advantages would outweigh the disadvantages, even if you still did it in 2024.

The 740 was introduced in 1984 (unlike the 760 in 1982) so certain "niggles" were still being ironed out for the first year or two. Then they did the slight revamp and improved many things, not a facelift as such, just a collection of small improvements that together, made a vast improvement overall.