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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Hello, my name is JD and I'm addicted to cheap Volvos « 1 2 »
  • Junkyard_Dog

    July 21, 2010 8:47 p.m. Junkyard_Dog HalfDork

    Craigslist is the work of the devil. I have no need for another car (#4) but for $400 I couldn't pass this up. Its a 92 244 with working windows and locks and shiny paint. No cracks in the dash, great seats, and good glass. It has brand new rear brakes but no e-brake and brand new pads and rotors for the front in the trunk. The bad news is the throwout bearing makes a little noise, the rear u-joint is about to fall out, the tires are bald, the Thule rack has a key broken off in one lock, and the A/C doesn't work. A few dents and dings and some rust in the left front door. Still, it made it the six miles home so I can't complain.

    So now what? The way I see it I have 4 options:

    -Flip it as is after a U-joint and a cleaning.

    -Fix it up a bit with my spare Hydras and good tires, fix the A/C, buff it out, maybe a clutch and tune-up and drive it this winter while I put a 5 speed in my 745t.

    -Same as above but sell it.

    -Part it out, mostly for my '70 142S. I could use the floors, interior (A/C dash?), drive shaft, rear end (?), and drivetrain. The 142 needs floors anyway and swapping in this one should let me use not only the seats but the sweet running B230F and M47 with only 182k on it. Or I could use the engine in my 745t since it has another 100k on it.

    What should I do?

  • tuna55

    July 21, 2010 8:49 p.m. tuna55 HalfDork

    That's a nice ride, assuming you don't need the cash - hang onto it. make an unlikely track star out of it.

  • Junkyard_Dog

    July 21, 2010 8:53 p.m. Junkyard_Dog HalfDork

    Its not the cash, its the space. I live in the city, and its downright comical when I want to drive the Miata or '70 to work. 10 minutes of car shuffling every morning gets old fast!

  • Luke

    July 21, 2010 8:57 p.m. Luke SuperDork

    Everything about that car looks really, really solid.

    But, as nice as it is, your 142 is cooler. I vote that it gives its life to resurrect the older car.

  • integraguy

    July 21, 2010 9:21 p.m. integraguy Dork

    You don't mention whether or not the brake lights work. There are a few of these left in my area of the country, and pretty much every one I ever see on the road has a burned out/malfunctioning? brake light when I catch up with it at a stoplight.

    BTW, I agree, use this to "update" your older Volvo.

  • mad_machine

    July 21, 2010 9:43 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

    yesyes.. makes a great donor

  • Streetwiseguy

    July 21, 2010 10:18 p.m. Streetwiseguy Reader

    Cash is good too. Fix up the small problems, make it whole and pretty, and pocket the dough.

  • speedblind

    July 21, 2010 10:25 p.m. speedblind Reader

    Sweet car! I say fix it up and flip it and/or keep it. Looks too straight to be hacked up.

  • Junkyard_Dog

    July 21, 2010 10:31 p.m. Junkyard_Dog HalfDork

    speedblind wrote:

    Looks too straight to be hacked up.

    Thats part of the problem. I think I'll replace the u-joint (I can't believe I made it home), put on the good wheels and tires, give it a good bath, and see what I have. Maybe ask a highish price for it and keep it if it doesn't sell.

  • July 22, 2010 12:10 a.m. Mikey52_1 Reader

    integraguy wrote:

    You don't mention whether or not the brake lights work. There are a few of these left in my area of the country, and pretty much every one I ever see on the road has a burned out/malfunctioning? brake light when I catch up with it at a stoplight.

    BTW, I agree, use this to "update" your older Volvo.

    At last! a gearhead that ADMITS to not having enough room! The donor plan looks good to me, unless you really can fix it simply for sale.

  • CLNSC3

    July 22, 2010 12:43 a.m. CLNSC3 Reader

    I'd do everything I can to improve it on the cheap then flip it!

  • 93celicaGT2

    July 22, 2010 7:44 a.m. 93celicaGT2 SuperDork

    I'd make a dirty drift car out of it, just to see what drifting is really all about.

  • July 22, 2010 8:22 a.m. mndsm HalfDork

    I see drift brick. Or autocross brick. But you have to leave the Thule on it.

  • Raze

    July 22, 2010 8:30 a.m. Raze HalfDork

    Wait, based on your title, are you here for support to stop your addiction? Because if you are this site is like nickle night for college students at the local bar...

  • July 22, 2010 8:45 a.m. mndsm HalfDork

    He's not look for support in quitting- he's looking for support in justification of his habit. Or something.

  • Nitroracer

    July 22, 2010 12:11 p.m. Nitroracer Dork

    I would use it as a parts car for the 142, the investment is fairly low and you reduce your number of cars in the end while finishing a project and making it usable.

  • 96DXCivic

    July 22, 2010 12:39 p.m. 96DXCivic Dork

    Something like this.

  • Travis_K

    July 22, 2010 1:09 p.m. Travis_K Dork

    I dont like it when people cut up cars that are still perfectly useful. A wrecked one would be a good parts donor also, there arent many of those with manual transmissions, and unless its really rusty underneath it still looks nice.

  • P71

    July 22, 2010 1:13 p.m. P71 SuperDork

    Fix/Flip/Sell

    Step 3: Profit!

  • Junkyard_Dog

    July 22, 2010 2:16 p.m. Junkyard_Dog HalfDork

    P71 wrote:

    Step 3: Profit!

    Aren't steps 1&2 "collect underwear" and "????"

  • oldopelguy

    July 22, 2010 7:57 p.m. oldopelguy Dork

    My vote is fix the u-joint, make it safe for a 1k mile trip, then sell it to me for a modest profit!

  • Junkyard_Dog

    July 22, 2010 8:08 p.m. Junkyard_Dog HalfDork

    oldopelguy wrote:

    My vote is fix the u-joint, make it safe for a 1k mile trip, then sell it to me for a modest profit!

    Thats totally doable. I'll keep updating here as work progresses.

  • Junkyard_Dog

    July 22, 2010 8:48 p.m. Junkyard_Dog HalfDork

    lizard wrote:

    Where's it at? I could annoy my wife by rockin' that as a DD...

    Louisville, KY.

    I'll be at MATG this weekend but once I get back I'll be replacing the u-joint to drive it onto a lift at work. Once I know what it needs I'll post here.

  • AngryCorvair

    July 22, 2010 9:39 p.m. AngryCorvair SuperDork

    i'd put a u-joint in it, soak the tires with Bleche-Wite and scrub them with a brish, scuff the rims and paint them semi-gloss black, dress all the rubber with son-of-a-gun, wheel out the paint, remove the rack completely, and get a for sale sign on it. in one weekend you can quadruple your investment.

  • CLynn85

    July 22, 2010 9:39 p.m. CLynn85 Reader

    I'm still looking for a nice one like that around here for a daily. Nice score.

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