I would like to go bilstein but I have herard that I might do just as well with KYB. In shopping I have found KYB to cost $78 for boght insters, sacks advantage to cost $116, Bodge Pro gas to cost $156 and Bilstein HD to cost $230 for the set. Oh and Bilsten economy/touring for $116. I have heard good things about kyb and for price difference that does seem like a good buy. However I do know that the Bilstein HD's are wonderful. Hmm what to do. This car is my daily driver, it's old had 200k but I plan on keeping it for as long as I can keep it pristine after all it still gets 33mpg on the freeway...so it's still a very good car and I don't want to half fast anything.

Years ago I put KYBs on a Vulva...errr... I mean Volvo.

DON'T DO IT! Go back with what was intended to be on that chassis.

I just put KYBs on my 87 240 back in the summer. They seem totally fine to me (but that's compared to the original 20 year old Volvo ones). I have no complaints so far, and the price was right.

The KYBs include a new giant nut for the top of the strut tube, which is good because the old ones are usually rusted on and have micro-fine threads that are easily damaged. Apparently these nuts are expensive if you buy them on their own from Volvo.

Also, there's about 3/32" less thread on the top of the KYBs than on the Volvo struts. So, you may need to use a washer or two before you put the lock nut on, or else the nut will bottom out before the strut is in tight, and then the strut will rattle around and make a horrible sound.

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1989 250TD Wagon 5-speed, 160,000mi ::: Dark gray metallic / black cloth
1984 190D-2.2 5-speed, 287,000mi ::: Silver-blue metallic / black MB-tex ::: SOLD

Billstein HD for ultimate response, no sense in spending for BOGE, in that case get KYB.

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99 Gurkha with OM616 IDI turbo

2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT

Bilsteins if you are going to keep the car.

And a good '88 Volvo 240 is ABSOLUTELY worth keeping.

Does ipd sell them? www.ipdusa.com (They are near you, I think)

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Well I think that you have talked me into the bilstein HDs. I do enjoy a nice firm sporty ride, but I don't want it to ride like my F350 either. There must be a balace. This car was my first car and really can't ever see my self getting rid of it. I have had it for six years and 60,000 miles. It was the base model with manual windows, as you can see I did not care for the manual windows and I converted it to power. It was really not that bad of a job. Once I have all of the wear items on the suspension restored, I will probaly add IPD Bars later this year. Still looking for a perfect black leather interior for it too. Anyway, my first car love:

Handsome car ....deserves the bilsteins.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

What about Bilstein "comforts" for a good blend of handling and comfort together for the car? Why not look into that?

I absolutely love the last generation (1986 - 1993) Volvo 240 sedans. Yours has a VERY good color and interior combo. They were quite expensive cars when new, over $17,000 for even a basic 240 DL back then, but there is NO price you can put on the safety, quality, longevity, comfort and durability they gave you back. Which made them a great value even when NEW

Are those custom wheels of some kind? I can't quite make out what they are.


Yours is a good color. The only thing you need to watch out for, is clouding of the euro headlights, which for some reason seems to be a problem with these. There is still quite a number of them around in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway these days, some with the "miniature sun" anti-moose front bumper mount lights that you can't buy here.

Do I espy euro blinkers on the fenders on yours? If yes, would you consider putting euro front corner blinkers (they are split into half orange/clear) on this car?

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

The wheels are stock 15 inch wheels of a 1982-1985 240 Turbo or GLT. Thos are euro blinkers on the side. As for the front corners, I'm looking for a set of e-codes they look like the lights I have but they are made out of glass instead of plastic, in which case I would have true e-codes. My lights are in good shape, I have replaced both of mine that were fadded with nice ones I have come accross in wreaking yards. However I find that the light output still leaves a lot to be desired.

I will look into the other models of bilsteins. Are the ones that you are refering to called the conforts? I was under the impression that they only had two models, but that is just from looking at my IPD cataloge. My one complaint about IPD is that they don't have various suspesnion setups that I can test drive to find out exactly what I want to fit my ride with.

This was my second Volvo which was a Turbo. I bought it for next to nothing, but sold it a couple years latter to a party that was begging to have it and I repalced it with a 633CSI, but I still miss it.

If you look at this video, you can see an example of the split orange/clear Euro front corners that mate up nicely with your euro fender blinkers for a Euro look.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=P0XPbydQPIo&mode=related&search=

I looked into fender blinkers for my '91 740 and was told there was an easy install, the rubber "Volvo" sign on the fender could pop right out, and the Euro orange fender blinker could pop right in there, the hole is already there for a perfect fit. Was that true with yours, the 240?

I got myself a set of fender euro blinkers on vacation in Finland, but the fender on the Mercedes would need to be cut for them, and am not sure yet whether to do it or not. Should I? The idea of them appeal, they are required by law in Norway and England.

Bilstein comforts sounds like the "hot" setup for your car.

I have been without Volvo for almost 4 years now, seems like yesterday.

Does ipd still offer the free monthly catalogue? I would like to get one if they still do.......

Isn't that place near you somewhere, in Portland or Eugene?

It is good to know people here who understand well what great cars the Volvo 240/740/940/960 are.

They are wonderful cars.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I would hate to see you cut holes in the fenders for the lights. I bought mine thorugh VLVworld.com Bilstein conforts, I will have to check on them, but don't want something too soft either.

I recieve IPDs catalouge every six months. You could call them at 18004446473 and request one.

Are you going to buy that V90? Other then keeping on top of the timing belt they are supposed to be very solid cars not to meniton the fact that they are the last of the real Volvos!

I went with the Bilstein HD's on the front of my 240. Worth every penny...

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