Retro 1990’s Volvo 740 Brick
Discussion
Welcome to my new project a non-running 1990 Volvo 740 2.3 GLE Estate. I saw the car yesterday and bought it there and then. Honest seller, good advert and seems a solid car in good shape. Like any 30 year old car there is going to be some good and bad things.
Bad:
No history at all. Previous owner bought it cheap, never worried about the history.
Has had some previous work done on some rust areas, but underneath all looks solid.
Car doesn’t start. Will crank over and almost catch, but I suspect it’s the battery or spark plugs
No MOT as it ran out in December and sat in his field since.
Sunroof and 1 window is sticky on closing
Headlining sagging a little
Good bits
Bodywork looks clean and no accident damage
Underneath the car looks good, no rust from what I can see on the sills etc
Full leather interior, with only the drivers seat needing some stitching done
Brand new exhaust system
4 brand new tyres
2.3 engine so more power and auto box which is supposed to be pretty good
Hopefully getting it collected next week, then I can get it home and try and get it fixed up and on the road.
The OH said that any project needs to go in the garage as we don’t have room on the drive. Let’s hope the land yacht fits in ok.
My dad always had Volvos when we where kids 240, 740, 940 and my mum had a 340. Spent hours sat with him fixing them up or doing the servicing. He past down all his tools and knowledge to me, so hopefully it will bring back some good memories of him and I working on cars.
These are the pics from when i bought the car, will get more on its arrival.
Bad:
No history at all. Previous owner bought it cheap, never worried about the history.
Has had some previous work done on some rust areas, but underneath all looks solid.
Car doesn’t start. Will crank over and almost catch, but I suspect it’s the battery or spark plugs
No MOT as it ran out in December and sat in his field since.
Sunroof and 1 window is sticky on closing
Headlining sagging a little
Good bits
Bodywork looks clean and no accident damage
Underneath the car looks good, no rust from what I can see on the sills etc
Full leather interior, with only the drivers seat needing some stitching done
Brand new exhaust system
4 brand new tyres
2.3 engine so more power and auto box which is supposed to be pretty good
Hopefully getting it collected next week, then I can get it home and try and get it fixed up and on the road.
The OH said that any project needs to go in the garage as we don’t have room on the drive. Let’s hope the land yacht fits in ok.
My dad always had Volvos when we where kids 240, 740, 940 and my mum had a 340. Spent hours sat with him fixing them up or doing the servicing. He past down all his tools and knowledge to me, so hopefully it will bring back some good memories of him and I working on cars.
These are the pics from when i bought the car, will get more on its arrival.
Edited by Challo on Saturday 13th February 09:30
Excellent choice !
I look forward to seeing your progress.
Check out 'furious driving' on Youtube .
https://www.youtube.com/c/furiousdriving/playlists
He's rumbling about in a saloon, and fixing it as he goes.
Also 'Robert DIY' for a few easy watch fixes.
https://www.youtube.com/user/RSpi007
I look forward to seeing your progress.
Check out 'furious driving' on Youtube .
https://www.youtube.com/c/furiousdriving/playlists
He's rumbling about in a saloon, and fixing it as he goes.
Also 'Robert DIY' for a few easy watch fixes.
https://www.youtube.com/user/RSpi007
My over riding memory of theses (may have been a 960)
One of our directors had one, I borrowed it one day to run some errands. Pulling out of work onto a service road I put my foot down, disappointed because I thought theses were supposed to 'go a bit' looked down at the speedo and realised I was doing 80 with no sense of speed or drama!
One of our directors had one, I borrowed it one day to run some errands. Pulling out of work onto a service road I put my foot down, disappointed because I thought theses were supposed to 'go a bit' looked down at the speedo and realised I was doing 80 with no sense of speed or drama!
Hi from a fellow Volvoist.
These are superb motors and there's a lot of knowledge and support for them.
I too have a 740 and dailyed it for a long while - cheeky link to thread:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It's currently in hibernation in my mate's barn, but she passed her 29th MOT at the end of November, and I'm hoping to get her back soon!
Look forward to seeing updates on this.
Nick
These are superb motors and there's a lot of knowledge and support for them.
I too have a 740 and dailyed it for a long while - cheeky link to thread:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It's currently in hibernation in my mate's barn, but she passed her 29th MOT at the end of November, and I'm hoping to get her back soon!
Look forward to seeing updates on this.
Nick
boxy but good said:
Excellent choice !
I look forward to seeing your progress.
Check out 'furious driving' on Youtube .
https://www.youtube.com/c/furiousdriving/playlists
He's rumbling about in a saloon, and fixing it as he goes.
Also 'Robert DIY' for a few easy watch fixes.
https://www.youtube.com/user/RSpi007
This youngster is my latest fix for resurrecting old Ovlov's. https://youtu.be/73r5m2D1DIEI look forward to seeing your progress.
Check out 'furious driving' on Youtube .
https://www.youtube.com/c/furiousdriving/playlists
He's rumbling about in a saloon, and fixing it as he goes.
Also 'Robert DIY' for a few easy watch fixes.
https://www.youtube.com/user/RSpi007
My dad was a Volvo man, hence my interest in not only the Youtube videos but also this thread!
woodnut67 said:
This youngster is my latest fix for resurrecting old Ovlov's. https://youtu.be/73r5m2D1DIE
My dad was a Volvo man, hence my interest in not only the Youtube videos but also this thread!
Yep. Great stuff isn't it.. I've been following them from the start !My dad was a Volvo man, hence my interest in not only the Youtube videos but also this thread!
( I may watch too much Volvo stuff on the internet !!
)
Thanks for all the kind comments. Really looking forward to getting this delivered next week. Booked a car transport via Shipley for £125 which I think is cracking value. Just need to clear out the garage and make room for her.
Defo been watching too much Volvo stuff on YouTube, and been catching up on the other owners threads on here as well. It was actually the Furious Driving videos, and the recent Jonny Smith (carpervert) videos of project cars that pushed me into getting it.
While the OH is not impressed with its impending arrival, and already said she won’t go in it, she understands why I bought it. This means I will need to raid my mums garage and dig out more of the old mans tools, and see if he has a Haynes Manual for it.
It’s funny because as a kid I used to think my dad wasn’t cool for driving Volvos, wearing Barbour wax jackets or flat caps, and was actually really embarrassing. He passed away 14 years ago, and in that time I have managed to own several Barbour jackets in various guises, plus a few flat caps and now I own a boxy Volvo estate. We never admit it, but we turn into our parents eventually.
Defo been watching too much Volvo stuff on YouTube, and been catching up on the other owners threads on here as well. It was actually the Furious Driving videos, and the recent Jonny Smith (carpervert) videos of project cars that pushed me into getting it.
While the OH is not impressed with its impending arrival, and already said she won’t go in it, she understands why I bought it. This means I will need to raid my mums garage and dig out more of the old mans tools, and see if he has a Haynes Manual for it.
It’s funny because as a kid I used to think my dad wasn’t cool for driving Volvos, wearing Barbour wax jackets or flat caps, and was actually really embarrassing. He passed away 14 years ago, and in that time I have managed to own several Barbour jackets in various guises, plus a few flat caps and now I own a boxy Volvo estate. We never admit it, but we turn into our parents eventually.
I would love to build a T5 engined version of one of these . Could be a real sleeper to scare the chavs in their bean can fart boxes .
A serial Volvo owner here including a 740gl 2.3 that I sold to my bro in law who moved to the South of France with it where a horse took a shine to it and spent months trying to eat it or sit on or mount it !
I think my Volvo count stands at 7 so far .
A serial Volvo owner here including a 740gl 2.3 that I sold to my bro in law who moved to the South of France with it where a horse took a shine to it and spent months trying to eat it or sit on or mount it !
I think my Volvo count stands at 7 so far .
I commented in one of the Volvo groups when you bought this. I really miss a lot of my old 740s and 940s! Some of the best and cheapest to run cars i ever owned and the most fun.
Shame most of these are horrifically expensive now so this looks a great buy for the money. Following with huge interest
Shame most of these are horrifically expensive now so this looks a great buy for the money. Following with huge interest
Looks like a good project...
I am on my second Volvo, my first was a metallic blue 360GLS bought back in the late 80's, my current car is a C30.
A good pal had a 2.3 auto 740 way back, I drove it a few times. It was so easy to drive, and had a really good steering rack making it easy to park : much better than a 2005 Alfa 156 in comparison that had the lock to lock of a bus !!
It may be a bit thirsty though...!!
I am on my second Volvo, my first was a metallic blue 360GLS bought back in the late 80's, my current car is a C30.
A good pal had a 2.3 auto 740 way back, I drove it a few times. It was so easy to drive, and had a really good steering rack making it easy to park : much better than a 2005 Alfa 156 in comparison that had the lock to lock of a bus !!
It may be a bit thirsty though...!!
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