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200 Series General Forum for the Volvo 240 and 260 cars |
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New (to me) 1980 Volvo 244Views : 2027970 Replies : 4092Users Viewing This Thread : |
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Aug 6th, 2022, 14:50 | #3151 | ||
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It's often said about Volvo that they take a simple idea, over-engineer it and then complicate the bejesus out of it. With Saab they seem to square or even cube the last stage!
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Aug 6th, 2022, 14:52 | #3152 | |
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Once GM got involved it all went tits up. |
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Aug 6th, 2022, 15:15 | #3153 | |
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We all know how it ended up... :-(
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Aug 6th, 2022, 15:26 | #3154 | |
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Both systems were rubbish (design and execution), but the electrical one was worse. It drove through a right angle gear box which incorporated the emergency release latch for the roof. The mechanism was too flimsy, play would build up in the movable release latch and then the bevel gears would start slipping - soon reducing themselves to dust. Saab charged a fortune to fix it - mine came with a FSH and had been repaired (by replacing the whole mechanism) twice and costing thousands by previous owners. The only reasonable way to make it work in the long term was to dispense with the emergency release mechanism and bolt the bevel gears firmly in position. That worked very well indeed, except should the electric motor fail there was no way of putting the roof up or down. No more Saabs for me :-)
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Aug 6th, 2022, 17:31 | #3155 |
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I know he had two at one point Alan, think the idea was mix'n'match to get one good car out of the pair but the other was newer - it's possible (probable in fact) i've confused the registration years with the rag-top mech but the one i looked at for him was hydraulic with a power pack in the boot.
Either way, Saab did overcomplicate things even worse than Volvo :thumbs-up:
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Aug 8th, 2022, 06:23 | #3156 | ||
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Alan
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Aug 8th, 2022, 08:26 | #3157 | |
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Apropos Saab 'verts. You are right about the electromechanical hood on the late GM 900s and early 9-3s. That is why they switched to hydraulics on later cars. These were better, but the problem there was that (in 2017) reconditioned rams were £200 apiece - new ones (if you can source them) twice that - and there are five of 'em. Ask me how I know this!! Later cars still, post 2002, were a complete redesign which both functioned better and lasted much longer. These cars also featured a reworked bulkhead which much reduced the inherent and vicious torque steer of the earlier cars. They are much more pleasant cars to both own and drive. Regards, John.
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Aug 8th, 2022, 08:46 | #3158 | |
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My experience with the Saab 900 convertible was not a happy one - for much the reasons you describe. I think the Vauxhall/Opel basis was probably an okay motor car (I never owned one, I only know that anecdotally) but the Saab designed and executed changes (the hood mechanism, the 'self-adjusting' clutch cable, the terrible steering and the position of the 'computer' that controlled the hood in such a vulnerable place come to mind) were the worst engineering I have seen on a motor car. I'm pleased your (later) Saab convertible has turned out better :-). Alan
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Aug 8th, 2022, 10:54 | #3159 |
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Farewell to the Royal Barge
The time has come to bid the 'Barge 'farewell',
With many memories on which to dwell, Off to the Borders it will soon be going, With Alan doing the to-ing and fro-ing. But, the Volvo bug having deeply bitten, Leaving Alan more than a little smitten, Another project he now doth seek, Something different to fettle and tweak! What will it be? We shall have to wait and see, But not a turbo nor an estate, Because neither of those are to his taste! Someone suggested that he bought a Saab, (But only one equipped with a carb'), I don't know how far that idea will run, Although an early two-stroke could be fun. No, I think the limo; that seven-four-six, That's the one he'll buy and fix, To take apart in easy stages, About which to write in these pages ... How about it, Alan? You know that you want to ... J.
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Aug 8th, 2022, 11:03 | #3160 |
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Very eloquent John!
The "seven-four-six" prompted me into thinking it's a good job Volvo never made a 6 door, 6 cylinder, 600 series! Or did they? Look closely at the digits on the number plate! My current 760GLE has 760 as the digits on the number plate, that was my last 740 in the pic.......... *** EDIT *** PS - i won the ploughing competition!
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