[DMCForum] Re: Continuing misadventures of a Volvo/B280F PRV

["therealdmcvegas" <dmcvegas@xxxxxxx>]

It can be a bit taxing when you're having to work on your primary 
transportation. But it's not impossible. For 4 years my DeLorean was 
the ONLY car I owned, and it ran like a champ, while I continued to 
work on it. It's not the ideal situation, but it is one helluva 
motivator! :)

I can understand only wanting to bring the car back to proper running 
order, rather than seeking out performance gains. The reason though 
that I percieve that to be a problem, is that if there are no 
performance parts, there may not be any other improved parts either. 
If you need to install some improved head gaskets, I want to say that 
I've heard to stay away from Volvo ones, and go with the Renault or 
Peugeot ones. They're supposed to last allot longer.

Mechanics are a sore spot with me too. Before I picked my car up, I 
was told that it was sent to 3-4 different mechanics who couldn't get 
it running after it was sitting. As a result, most of the problems 
that I encountered with my car were more results of fixing the damage 
done by incompetent mechanics, rather than addressing any inherent 
problems with the car. I suspect that the engine blew it's head 
gaskets some time in the past before I got the car. My exhaust 
manifolds are held on with two bolts on either side. On nut I even 
finger tightened back into place. As a result, my manifolds have 
shredded their gaskets. Engine runs fine, but sounds like a Baja 
Bettle with no muffler. I've suspected that my ridiculously low 
emissions were because most of the exhaust gasses never made it to 
the tailpipe. Instead they were leaking out.

If you want to find a good Volvo mechanic, then check around, and 
look for an early Volvo specialist. If they know the old stuff, 
they'll be the best choice to know the late-model engines and cars as 
well. Otherwise, stay away from a dealership for damn-near any car 
you need serviced.

Don't know anything about Hondas. And while they're impressive, 
they're really not what I'm looking for. Who needs VTEC, when you can 
have an engine that doesn't use any valves?

-Robert



--- In DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "cartermartin" <cartermartin@xxxx> 
wrote:
> Robert, 
> 
> I could not agree more. In the case of the b280 it's a 3rd 
generation 
> motor. All the kinks worked out. It suffered from the reputation 
from 
> the early b27s and b28s. There is always someone on the 
> brickboard.com who has gotten ahold of a pre '87 760 thinking it's 
a 
> indestrictable tank only to find out that the cams are gone or 
heads 
> warped. For my 2ton 760 it's great engine and the LH Jetronic 
system 
> has been flawless. 
> 
> But sadly there are, as you point out, no performance options. But 
> that's not what I'm after. At least for my car. The 760 is not at 
all 
> stylish but for room and comfort and high speed freeway driving its 
> hard to beat. AND more importantly after 18 years it's still a 
great 
> driver. Of course there has been a lot of maintenance. These cars 
> were designed to, with the proper maintenance, last an awful long 
> time. I'm not sure anyone is building cars like that these days.
> 
> I am a fan of the 780 as well (never have liked the earlier 262s 
> though). I've been looking at a few but I don't have the time or 
$$$ 
> to sink into a project like that right now. I need to get a regular 
> driver.  Plus when I get my new driver (245 wagon or Miata LOL) 
i'll 
> have 4 cars and need to trim that # down. Sigh...
> 
> And don't get me started about Volvo mechanics. That's why i'm 
> lurking around here. I know there are good knowledgable and 
> trustworthy mechanics out there but i can't find them. I think my 
> current problem might be a result of the last ham fisted, pea 
brained 
> neanderthal (who came highly recommended btw). That's a long story 
> for another time... 
> 
> I'm pretty good mechanic when I need to be but having to work on 
ones 
> primary mode of transportation is not my idea of fun. I don't think 
> an engine swap is in my future. That's too much work for a family 
> sedan (A 780 sure but not my car). I think my engine is in pretty 
> good shape other than the leaky head gasket but at 18years and 250k 
> miles I might should just walk away. But like you said it's too 
> damned comfortable...
> 
> I do want to get to the bottom of the problem at this point. If 
just 
> to satisfy my curiousity. I want to pull the heads to see if I 
> recieved any 'help' with the head gasket. But not right now. 
> 
> A 3-rotor engine for your Delorean would be a real performer. And 
> would probably not throw the balance off much. It's interesting how 
> classic cars can suffer from their power plants. I once had a 
> Studebaker Silver Hawk (BIG FINS!). Had a 260ci v8 that apparently 
> had been manufactured by Ford. However it was not the same engine 
as 
> the 'normal' Ford 260. My grandfather told me that Studebaker went 
to 
> GM and Ford for power plants. They agreed to sell them engines but 
> they were entirely different and not compatible.
> 
> Good luck with your engine swap project. Have you considered maybe 
a 
> honda or acura v6 in the delorean? 
> 
> Carter
> 
> --- In DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "therealdmcvegas" <dmcvegas@xxxx> 
> wrote:
> > I like the PRV. I think it's a damn fine engine. However, I think 
> that
> > it has the worst luck in getting put into vehicles that put it 
into 
> a
> > bad light. Volvos and Eagle Premiers are ALWAYS ending up on 
junky 
> car
> > lots, where they get sold to poor people that run these cars into 
> the
> > ground. And with DeLoreans, they always get parked, and then 
started
> > up before their cooling and fuel systems are properly repaired. 
> Hence
> > in both cases, they sufffer premature death.
> > 
> > I like the PRV. However, we don't have the kind of resources here 
in
> > the U.S. that make it a proper engine to hotrod, let alone 
properly
> > maintain. DeLorean is like the last hold out that still stocks 
parts
> > for these engines. Modern Volvo dealerships don't stock anything 
for
> > them on hand, and their shop mechanics do not have the proper 
> working
> > knowlege for these motors, let alone the K-Jetronic fuel injection
> > systems. In many cases, you'll find out that you are your own best
> > mechanic when it comes to these engines. And save for tuning and
> > adjusting the fuel mixture, I've never needed another mechanic to 
> work
> > on my engine. But with the lack of available performance parts, 
it's
> > damn-near futile to rebuild these engines. All you'll get is 
working
> > order, and no performance.
> > 
> > It's not that I have animosity against the PRV. I'm walking away 
> from
> > it with a positive opinion. It's just not what I want any longer. 
So
> > why put the time, effort, and money into trying to restore it.
> > Especially on a motor that is now a quarter century old, and 
NEEDS a
> > complete tear down and rebuild. And besides, the DeLorean is too 
> damn
> > comfortable for me to want to give up. But as for the B280F, nah. 
I
> > know that their reliable, but that isn't the primary concern.
> > Especially with a classic car! :) Plain and simple, I just want a
> > ground-pounder DeLorean to smack a few other egos upside their 
> heads...
> > 
> > 760's ain't bad looking cars. Myself, I prefer the 2-door, 
chopped-
> top
> > Bertone coupes that Volvo produced. Especially the modern looking 
> 780
> > Bertone. If you're looking for an engine swap in that one, there 
> are a
> > few options available, as you can see here:
> > http://www.converseengineering.com/
> > http://www.jagsthatrun.com/
> > http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/309927
> > 
> > The DeLorean is most likely at this point going to be swapped out 
> for
> > a 3-Rotor engine. With the exception of the Rover, most V8 
engines 
> are
> > way too heavy to put into the DeLorean. I don't care for the idea 
of
> > throwing off the balance of my car any more. And while the Rover 
is 
> a
> > great Choice, I'd still be in the same boat of parts and 
performance
> > availability. Yeah, they can be reworked and massaged, but the
> > components are damned expensive, and rare, as they no longer build
> > this engine. And Chevy is out of the question for me. So, that 
> leaves
> > the Rotary.
> > 
> > As for the Volvo, I've never done a swap, and I've only rode in 
one 
> a
> > couple of times. But personally, restoring an older Volvo, and 
> doing a
> > motor swap is still cheaper than buying a new luxury car. And it's
> > nicer too. Late model European cars have far superior coachbuilt
> > interiors that are crafted, rather than the snap-tite model 
> interiors
> > that are cranked out now worldwide.
> > 
> > -Robert
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- In DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "cartermartin" 
<cartermartin@xxxx> 
> wrote:
> > > Robert,
> > > 
> > > Yeah we shared the same 'pleasures' with those O-Rings. I 
> appreciated 
> > > the tips you gave me a few weeks ago.
> > > 
> > > I think I am heading down the same path you are. I've garaged 
the 
> 760 
> > > until I can dig into this thing (as if i have not been dug in 
so 
> > > far). I don't want to risk warping the heads (if they are not 
> warped 
> > > already). I was driving my '71 145 'rusty green'. I'm having to 
> look 
> > > for a better 'beater' since i'm going to be driving it for  a 
few 
> > > months. So far the 'short list' includes a Volvo 245 station 
> wagon 
> > > and a '90 miata. 
> > > 
> > > Have you considered finding a B280F for the swap? Up until  
march 
> > > it's been solid as a rock. 252k miles and runs like new. Seems 
> like 
> > > they fixed a lot of things in that edition. Cept the 'O-Rings'.
> > > 
> > > As usual thanks for the tips sorry we seem to be in the same 
boat.
> > > 
> > > Carter

---

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