so my neighbor across the street is trying to sell her old Volvo 240 sedan. I think its prolly a 1989 or so, dont know the mileage but its a 5spd and (i believe they are rwd). Im thinking its prolly worth around a grand, maybe a little less since i help her out a lot (shes elderly).
So i figure this might be an opportunity for me to pick up a nice project car or something i can take and throw around a track since i am too scared to take my daily cars to the track.
I figure i could fab my own exhaust, slap a turbo on, and get a nice set of coilovers, match it with a nice set of track day tires, and id have a sweet little car.
Anyone have any input on these old Volvos? Anything i should look for before/if i take it off her hands?

looks like this, only black

Lots of guys like these Volvos around here and they seem to be a good choice. They're kinda tanks compared to other potential track car starting points, but you can strip it out and get its weight pretty well in check, and there is a decent selection of affordable and strong volvo turbo engines that will fit into these and I know there are several people who have put chevy small blocks and ford 302s into these as well. For a grand in decent running shape, I'd say that sounds like a lot of fun (you're not gonna do any better for that money IMO).

holy fuck thats mint.

do a 240 turbo engine swap

haha, well, i dont know if its great shape, but looking out my window, the paint looks nice
ill get a good look at it soon.

see i thought the one pictured was it.

You will have more fun with your mini as a track car and this as a daily driver.

Good deal, they are not too heavy ~3000 lbs. They also have some racing heritage to them already.

240 coupes are where its at.

i know
but i guess im the kinda person that likes to keep their nice and new things "nice and new" for as long as i can.
Plus i want something that i can work on without worrying about warranty shenanigans.

A track day now and again in a new car is OK, but if I were to have a track car I'd definitely want something older, out of warranty, and cheaper.

check out www.jagsthatrun.com, they sell V8 conversion kits for the old RWD Volvos. I'd say a 302 and a T-5 is the way to go if you want some power/make people surprised on the track.

Tough cars but don't expect it to ever handle like an Elise.

If you have a half way decent track car then i totally agree. Trying to make that car into a track worthy car is going to end up costing about the same as a used mini. Now if its a project car and you are up for the challenge then go for it! I do love me some sleeper bricks.

If you have any q's about anything volvo and track/power set-ups i can get you in contact with my best friend. We're building a turbo 4cyl in his garage right now that's he dropping in and he's pretty much the equivelevnt of me and modular mustang knowledge.

cool, il def shoot you a pm if i need anything.

Cool! Do it!

so if i was to do a v8 swap, what are the opinions on gm vs ford blocks(im pretty sure either will fit)? Id prolly go with a 302 or 305. Im kind of on a tight budget.

I've seen a big block 454 in one at the super chevy show. SBC is far more popular and thus parts seem to be less expensive. But as a Ford guy I'd do a 5.0

id do a 1uzfe and supra 6speed and rev that bitch to 9300rpm, but thats just me

Your cheapest option will probably be a Ford 302 if you want to make any respectable power and pay absolute bottom-dollar for it. Chevy 350s and LT1s are available and LS1 prices are really dropping if you're looking for a bit more.

It's not cheap, but it would be epic

haha, would be nice, if i had the $$$

alright, so i am trying to do a little figuring, for possible costs to get this car to make some power.
Would you guys say it would be better to buy a pre-built, turn key engine and install it myself, or to buy a block and build it up myself?
I know that building it myself will be much more rewarding, but i really dont know what kind of $$ figures id be looking at with all the parts.

I'd run it with what it's got for awhile, supposing it's in OK shape. There are always gonna be cheap ways to make a few horses and get a little response that you can tinker with (volvo forums will be the place to learn about those). Once you've had your fun with the stock motor, then you can look at buying a turbo motor or a V8 or something like that.

/\ true true. I should prolly deal with the suspension/brakes first if its gonna be a track car.