VOLVO 240 HOODS |
Updated: June 18, 2024 CONTACT |
D O
M A I N S |
|||
|
||||
For those who don't know, the BLACK flat hood I used on the above 242 is the same hood used for
the rare 1983 242 Turbo "Flathood" model (pictured below). I actually
pulled it off of a salvage yard 1983 242 Turbo "Flathood." This limited 1983 242 Turbo model (500 produced for the U.S. market) is outlined in the following resources. turbobricks.com/1983-242-turbo-flatnose-theory.66501/ http://flathood.saliv8.com/ silodrome.com/group-a-homologation-flathood/ hemmings.com/1983-volvo-240-turbo-flat-hood This flat hood above is almost the SAME as those used on 1975-1977 U.S. 242, 244 and 245 models and on 1978-1980 U.S. 242 DL and 242 GT. Some very early flat hood 240s received hoods with thin metal trim attached to the front leading edge (above), which matched the thin metal trim around the turn signals. One year only (1976, which is shown above) had a single windshield washer squirter instead of two squirters on all other years. The hood latch on the flat hood is unique to accommodate the shorter front. The latch release handle, latch pin and spring are all shorter than the raised "hump" hood latch. Also the hood hinge springs have less tension for a flat hood (but the hinges are otherwise the same). Flat hoods used lighter springs because the flat hood is lighter. So if you were find a salvage yard flat hood on a car, it's a good idea to take the latch and springs. From 1975 to 1980, the 240s in Europe and in the U.S. shared the same body sheet metal. This changed in 1981, when certain pieces changed ONLY for European 240s (fenders, grill, etc). More Flat Hood Trivia This is how to tell the difference between an early flat hood and later one. An early flat hood (1975-80) will have ONE dip on the inner brace. A later flat hood (1983) will have TWO dips on the brace as shown above. The flat hood used on on all European 240 Turbos (beginning in 1981 for the Euro market) is also the same hood used on the limited edition U.S. 1983 242 Turbo. Otherwise, there were some notable differences for all U.S. 240s during certain years when compared to European versions. The European 240 front end for 1981-85 (ABOVE) came with different headlights, fenders and turn signals compared to USA cars. These fenders shown above are actually the same fenders that would later appear on U.S. versions for 1986 to 1993. A different grill was used in Europe for the Turbo model also (shown above). And the slightly different sheet-metal directly BELOW the grill and headlights (part #13 in below diagram) was used to accommodate the different European headlights, turn signals and grill parts. For that #13 part below, I have added a couple more detailed images so you can see just how different the two parts are. That #13 part would later be a standard part on U.S. 240s beginning in 1986. And I have more info on headlight changes in my 240 Headlight Page, CLICK HERE. Late 240 shown above (1981 and later for Europe, 1986 and later for U.S.) Another view BELOW of the different sheet metal piece directly below the headlights and grill. The difference looks small, but there is a difference. |
There was a styling change in the way Volvo made the cowl area just forward of the windshield. This change happened in 1986 for all 240s.
The early 1975-85 recessed cowl grill can be seen in the first image below.
The second image showing the raised cowl grill is found on 1986-93 cars. In this photo of an early 240, we can see how the recessed cowl matches the same recess in the early hood design. This cowl and hood were made to be a matched set. Yes it was. However, when the early RAISED hood was designed, they had a problem to overcome. It wouldn't match the cowl unless they created a short recess at the back of the raised hood to match the cowl. . The flat hood is popular and there have been some conversions where an early FLATHOOD is placed on a late 240. If the 240 was made after 1985, the usual result is shown below, where there is an unfortunate mismatch between the cowl and hood. But when OBSESSION takes over, then a great deal of work can match up an early hood on a later 240. These images below come from the below discussion forum where the writer cut out the later cowl and installed an early one. forum.retro-rides.org/volvo-245 |