Refurbishment

The car went through an extensive refurbishment to bring back the paint’s luster and restore many mechanical systems. You will see photos of the condition before and after refurbishment efforts. Extensive details are below the photos. Purchase receipts will be given to the buyer.

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The car has dealer-installed Volvo brand air conditioning evaporator and blower units. An upgraded Sanden-type rotary compressor and condenser were installed by a previous owner.

Engine oil (20W50 Castrol “GTX Classic”), filter, coolant and thermostat were changed. Oil pressure sender and flexible braided line were replaced with new, upgraded pieces.

The date codes on the Vredestein Sprint Classic tires (including the spare) are 2008 and 2009 and show excellent tread depth and slight signs of wear. However, their age precludes them from serious driving use. I decided to let the next owner make the important choice of replacement tires. While test driving this car, I have kept it under 50 mph and off the highways. Should a buyer have a particular tire in mind, they can arrange for installation prior to acquisition and I will happily assist.

The exhaust system has two mufflers rather than the usual three, hence the exhaust note is a bit noisy. The rear muffler is new. There appears to be a stainless steel middle section of exhaust pipe with welded seams. The exhaust manifold outlet flange to the downpipe was resurfaced and a new gasket installed to stop exhaust leaks at that connection. Also, a new gasket for the intake/exhaust manifolds was installed.

Some suspension bushings show wear. The Panhard rod and all upper and lower control arm bushings were replaced. Bilstein shocks are in front and an unknown brand is in the rear. Age of all shocks is unknown. Motor and transmission mounts were renewed.

The original clutch cable was stretched beyond adjustment requiring replacement. The clutch fork boot was missing and also replaced.

All rubber brake hoses have been replaced and the system flushed with DOT4. Rotors and pads were not replaced and appear to have good life remaining. Stopping effectiveness is normal.

The external and in-tank fuel filters were replaced. All rubber fuel lines were replaced with fuel injection-rated hose from the tank to the motor, including correct clamps. An aftermarket fuel pressure regulator was replaced with a known-good OE unit. Fuel pressure was adjusted to spec. Fuel tank was drained, inspected, and found to be very clean. Fuel level sender unit was removed, inspected, and replaced with a new gasket after rust scale was removed from the mating surface. The fuel level gauge was calibrated electrically.

The car was purchased in a non-running condition. An extensive rejuvenation of the ignition and fuel injection systems was performed to bring the motor back to life. New components included: spark plugs and wires, rotor, cap, points, condenser, manifold pressure sensor (MPS), and coolant temperature sensor. The Bosch D-Jet ECU was replaced with a Bosch-remanufactured unit. The distributor was replaced with a known-good unit. All vacuum hoses were smoke-tested and determined to be free of leaks. Intake air filter was renewed. All D-Jet components were tested and adjusted as needed to conform to spec. All valves were adjusted. Boroscope analysis shows probable existence of hardened exhaust valve seats. There is no documented history of an engine rebuild, however. All valves were adjusted to spec.

Removal of the interior carpets revealed floor pan rust, with some perforation. Loose corrosion was ground out. POR15 rust treatment was applied together with the POR15 fiber mesh over any gaps. The fiber mesh creates a solid surface when activated by the POR15 liquid. The affected areas were repainted in a matching yellow.

All factory disintegrating jute mat was removed and replaced by ½ inch closed cell foam pad, attached with double-sided Velcro strips. Seams were sealed with black gaffer’s tape.

Wiring issues behind the dash were discovered and corrected. All fuses were replaced with their correct amperage. The fuse panel cover is in place but does not always latch in place, so it will be stored in the console box during transit.

All gauges were removed and cleaned behind the glass, and LED bulbs installed.

The original clock has a broken arm and does not run. It will require professional attention to become operational.

The car comes with three ignition keys, one key for the center console, one key for the doors, rear hatch, and fuel door. All keys have been tested and work correctly.

The rear hatch gas struts were replaced with new units. The rear hatch glass seal was replaced. The rear glass heating element is disabled due to a broken wire in the hinge, causing blown fuses. The bad wire was removed and not replaced.  

The jack and its handle are original and secured to the car body. There is a non-OE lug wrench included. There is no tool kit. Spare tire well mat is original and clean.

All exterior brightwork and bumpers were removed to facilitate a thorough three-stage paint correction and ceramic treatment. The grille surround has a scratch on the top edge. The grille itself has no broken vertical slats.

All side marker lights and taillights have new bulbs and corrected wiring. A cracked taillight lens was replaced, as well as a rusty taillight housing. All window glass panels have the Volvo watermark.

Door panels were removed and non-functioning door locks were repaired. Missing door handle end caps were replaced. Window glass scrapers were replaced as was one window guide track. Windlace on the driver’s door was replaced.

Regarding the seat belts, you will see refurbishment photos showing the original block style seat belt catch. Upon inspection, the original seat belts were deemed to be beyond repair due to serious fraying. During removal, one of the seat belt retractor springs was damaged and rendered inoperable. Therefore, front seat belts from a 1973 ES were sourced and installed. The 1973 seat belts have a different “tang” (buckle) than the early 1972 models, so the center dual-stalk catch from 1973 had to be installed to be compatible with the belt. The original 1972 “block” style catch has subsequently been repurposed into a different vehicle and not included in this sale. However, the original seat belts and retractors (one damaged) will be included in the sale if the buyer wishes. The 1973 belts on the car now show some wear, but less wear than the 1972 belts show. As with all seat belts in classic vehicles, their effectiveness in crashes maybe be severely degraded over the years. New seat belts should be installed.

The wheels have OE trim rings in good shape. The wheel outer faces were refinished with Rustoleum silver wheel paint after thorough cleaning.