Volvo 240 1980-1992 -- The Swedish B R I C K

Contributor: John H. Laughlin '81 242DL B21F M46 235K mi '84 245GL B23F AW70 226K mi

1980 - New door mirrors on all 240 series cars. 240/260 nomenclature lost. Instead the 240DL was just called the DL, the 244GL became the GL, the 264GLE became the GLE, and the 242GT became the GT. New Diesel model introduced. Very gutless as is. B27 engine bored out to 2849cc and became the B28F. The U.S. model GLís updated in looks. U.S. GLs came with the 260 headlights, grille, and taillights. The Canadian model had the '79 244GL exterior. The GLE gains 265 variant from 260GL models, but loses 4-speed+O/D manual. New 15î 5-spoke wheels with 195/60HR15 Pirelli P6 tires on GT and new front spoiler. All B21F engines had 107 hp. Speedometer became 85 mph. Some GLE sedans have B21F engines, yet are still considered 264s. GLE/Coupe gain '80 242GT front air dam. 1981 - GT model gains Turbo engine and becomes the GLT Turbo. All 240s, including 242s gained the 260 series front end of 1978. Wagons gained wrap-around taillights. New dashboard and shift knobs on manual transmission models. U.S. GL model loses alloy wheels, but adds 2-door model. GLT model added new steering wheel, velour interior (without the red stripe) or leather interior, optional automatic transmission, power mirrors, and more colors to the GT model of 1980. New GLT wagon and 4-door GLT sedan model with base B21F engine, velour or leather interior, power windows, black-out trim, and the GT wheels introduced. Coupe loses M46 transmission and vinyl roof. B23E engine (N/A U.S.A) goes to (slightly) milder "K" grind cam from early "H" grind cam. Canadian GL loses leather shift boot cover. 49 state non-turbo/GLT 240ís with B21F-MPG engine that produces 99 hp @ 5000 rpm and 114 ft.lbs of torque @ 2500 rpm. California non-turbo and all GLT non-turbo U.S. model 240s come with standard B21F engine from 1980, but with Constant Idle control System. Some 49 state/Canadian B21F's/B23Eí's did not have the CIS installed. 1982 - Coupe discontinued. GLT adds turbo engine to the 4-door and the wagon. GL gains wagon model, regains the alloy wheels, and gains the front spoiler of the GLT/GLE models. DL model gains the reflector headlight trim of all other models. New AW70 transmission with overdrive replaces the 3-speed automatic transmission of 1981, except on the GLE/Diesel models which kept the BW55 3-speed. Electronic Fuel Injection on some 240s. B21F-MPG engine replaces normal B21F and has 98 hp, instead of 107 hp. B21F-LH is used on some California 4-speed+O/D 244/245DLs and on all 242GLT non-turbo cars and has 105 hp @ 5400 rpm. GLE becomes 4-door sedan only and loses B21F engine option. Canadian GL wagons have velour as standard equipment with optional leather interior, but without leather shift boot cover of U.S. version. Turbo model gets AW71 automatic transmission. 242GLT non-turbo loses automatic transmission (becomes like '80 GT with LH-Jet, '81 style dash, and rectangular sealed beam headlights). Zenith-Stromberg 175CD 2SE carb replaces SU HIF 6 on B21A. 1983 - New bumpers on all U.S. 240's. GLE discontinued, except in Canada where it became equipped with the B23E. DL and GL models get a bored-out version of the B21F. The new engine was the B23F-LH. Similar to the B23E from Canada, except with LH-Jetronic electronic fuel injection, instead of K-Jetronic injection, and different fuel injector location. Horsepower ratings were: (late-1983 models) 114hp @ 5400 rpm (AT only) or 111hp @ 5400 rpm (manual transmission). B23F engines come with Volvo/Chrysler ignition (bad move). '83 B23Es lost power, bringing performance down to B23F levels. Acceleration still was quicker with B23E than with B23F, because of the K-Jetronic fuel injection. M46 changed to have shorter 1st gear on all transmissions, not just Turbo M46D versions 1984 - B23E discontinued. Diesel model lost leather interior, power windows, sunroof, leather shift boot cover, and air conditioning as it was turned into a DL model from a GL model. Last year of 242. 120 mph speedometer replaces 85 mph speedometer from 1983. Chrysler distributor/coil replaced with Bosch distributor/coil on B23F. Canadian GL/GLE models gain the B23F-LH engine from the U.S. 240ís. Steering wheel from 1981 GLT model used on all cars (240DL not included), except with "Volvo" printed on it. B21FT gains extra 4 horsepower. Plug for heater wiring of 3-wire 02 sensor added. B21A gains 9.3:1 compression ratio and 4 more hp. 1985 - B230F engine is introduced. New engine has lightweight pistons, black valve cover, and a different crankshaft. All Canadian 240s and U.S. 240GL/Turbo models have switchable (read: functional) driver side bun warmers. New rear wiper and arm. All cars gain rear fog lights in certain parts of the U.S.A. Diesel discontinued. Last year of Turbo model. New radios. LH-Jetronic version 2.2 introduced on B230F. Fully Galvanized sheet metal introduced. Parking brake console has cutouts for bun warmer switches, but 1985 models used a switch on the dash control panel. Temperature compensating board added to temperature gauge. Temp gauge and fuel gauge lose H/C, F/E markings. 1986 - New front end made the North American 240s look almost exactly like the European model, except for larger 5-mph bumpers. New head restraints on front seats. New door mirrors with aerodynamic design and separate glass. 240 designation returns. Third rear brakelight added. New rear hatch handle on wagons. Dual bun warmers introduced on all cars. Some late model 240s with M46 gained a "5" on the OD button. Some very early 245s still used the 1975 style head restraints (these cars may have never made it over to the U.S.A but were shown in the 1986 240 series brochure). Canada gains molded bumpers, but loses 240GL model (only 240 model available is 240DL). 240DL gains 14" steering wheel from GL. Speedometer becomes electronic. 1987 - New M47 5-speed manual transmission replaces 4-speed+OD transmission from 1986. Automatic standard on 240GL model. Front doors gain felt door seals to cut down on wind noise. Seatbelt buckles redesigned and moved from console to the outside, adding a storage box in the parking brake console. Right door mirror becomes convex. 1988 - New starter and colors. AM/FM cassette radio standard on all models. 1989 - New steering wheel. Rear head restraints standard on sedans and wagons. GL model adds head restraint covers to the 1988 model. New fuel system with integrated ignition system (LH-Jetronic version 2.4) (No more Mopar! :) and no more adjustable timing :( ). California model gains EGR system 1990 - 240GL discontinued. Base 240 model introduced. Driver-side airbag standard. Power windows become standard on DL model. Radio optional on base model. 1991 - 240DL discontinued. Radio now standard on base 240 as are power windows. 240SE model introduced (added stuff, special alloy wheels). ABS introduced. new air conditioning system introduced with simplicity of 1973-77 system. Leather interior optional on base 240. Automatic transmission gains ASL (automatic shift lock) system. Rear hatch on 245 changed over to aluminum with flush glass and relocated rear window washer. Windshield now one-piece (no brightwork), as is rear window on 244 models. Warning lights now all without white lettering. Right side rear fog light removed. 1992 - 240GL returns in sedan form only. The new GL has '86 style grille, chrome window trim, the special SE wheels, power sunroof, and heated power mirrors. All models with metallic paint gained body-color mirrors. 49 state B230F (called B230FD) engines have new fuel systems (LH-Jetronic version 3.1 instead of version 2.4). 240DL has all-black grille installed. 1993 - New 240 Classic model introduced. This new model is available in both sedan and wagon body styles, has the 1992 GL wheels, chrome grille slats, special interior badge, wood dash trim, and special emblems. Interior upholstery choices on 240 Classic were velour or leather. Base 240 continues on unchanged except for ABS being standard. Last year for the 240. Door handles now painted black. CFC-free air conditioning system introduced. Source:http://www.swedishbricks.net/ModelFAQ/140240model.html #240 #volvo #turbo #swedishbrick