Volvo Weight
Savings and Gains
240
By Anthony
Hyde
Weight -
A 240 cabin floor has two separate layers of steel, then a glued
down sheet of bituminous tar, then foam backed sound deadener mats,
then carpet. The 'foam backed sound deadener' mats are the very
heavy, being easy to remove (or to refit). The bituminous tar, being
glued down, is hard yakka to remove - Method - hot air gun and paint
scraper. 1kg =
2.2 lbs OR 1 lb = 0.454 kg
- Foam backed sound deadener mat on
upper 240 engine bay firewall = 2kg. Now you can hear the injector
soleniods clicking away.
- Foam backed sound deadener mats -
rear floors, front floors and transmission hump = 10.74 kg (23.6
lbs)
- Bituminous tar - rear floors,
front floors and hump = 9.75 kg (21.45 lbs)
- Bituminous tar - boot and under
rear seat areas = 4 kg (8.8 lbs)
- Bituminous tar - total of inside
front and rear doors = 2.32 kg (5.1 lbs). Doors sound tinny with
tar sheet removed.
- SUMMARY - All insulation removed
from around the 240 chassis = 30 kg
- Door panels - cardboard moulded =
1.5 to 2 kg each
- Door 244 rear = 24 kg with door
panel. In parts Intrusion bar = 1.7 kg, Glass = 2.8
kg, therefore glass is only 12.4 % of door weight, Remaining
weight is steel. Glass alternative is Lexan polycarbonate,
the difference is only a few hundred grams for a lot of fittment
effort and cost.
- Front bonnet 244 flat hood =
27kg
- Radio & wiring (save up to
3.5kg depending upon model), Speakers are heavy too.
- Windscreen water container and
pump - water is heavy, 1 litre = 1 kg or 2.2 lbs
- Rear Seat upper = 9 kg / Rear
Seat lower = 6kg. Total rear seats = 15 kg (33 lbs)
- Heater / circulation fan assembly
9 kg The heater core with water = 2.4 kg
Studies have shown a weight
increase in the order of 100 lb or 45 kg increases the
1/4 mile acceleration rate by about 1/10th of a second. (Quote by
someone). Presume this applies to a weight decrease also, the aim of
this discussion.
Depending on your determination, and what model 240 you start with,
you can save the first 30 kg relatively easily, but the next 30 kg
gets harder with either a comfort compromise, or increased $ expense
as you try to save weight by using alternate lighter parts. For
example, Volvo front seats are not light, but if you spend $500-700
each for two light race seats you'll save around 25 kg.
Weight removed by fitting newer model parts
or modifying existing parts

Lighter weight water pump
pulley
(one pulley machined off)
- LINK
Bumper
bar upgrades - 'Commando'
type vs lighter 1981-on
- K-Jet injection replaced by EFI
parts, save 6 kg
- Steering rack - newer all-alloy
cased 'Camgear' 6 kg vs 8.5 kg aluminium alloy/steel case. Huge
weight saving again if replacing early cast steel version with
Al.Alloy.
- Late model F&R bumpers - see
article
- Starter motor - save 50% with
newer slim (Volvo/Bosch) compared to old style starter. #
VO-5003564
- Radiator - Plastic tanks /
Al.Alloy core - save 50% over old copper type
- Gearbox - M45 instead of
M46+Overdrive / alloy M47 or Supra perhaps
- Race style seat or seats (FIA or
SFI approved), 2 light seats save approx 25kg
- Late model front apron (vertical)
support save 0.5 kg or more (sits under bonnet catch and supports
horns), Remove one of the two horns
- Water pump and alternator pulleys
are dual in a Volvo - machining off one of each can save 40%, plus
reduce belt friction losses.
Weight added by Improvements
- Swaybars larger diameter 26mm IPD
(measure them, the steel bar is bigger than 25mm). Comment, a lot
heavier than say 21 mm bars.
- 2" diameter tailshaft (standard
on an auto), smaller diameter on a manual.
- 3" Exhaust system - 3" tube or
pipe is noticeably heavier than 2 1/4" dia. tube.
- Rims - larger diameter and wider
rims means more metal and more weight.
- Tires - bigger and/or wider sizes
are usually heavier (to fit your big rims!)
General
- Radiator cooling Fan -
Viscous (mechanical) VS Thermofan (electric)
A Volvo plastic/metal combo viscous fan weighs 1.9 kg. A 16"
electric thermofan with brackets weighs 2.5 kg, so a big thermo is
heavier. However, when fitting the thermofan you remove the Volvo
fan shroud and that weighs approx 530g. So in the end the net
weight gain of the thermofan is very little, around 100 grams.
Balanced by reduced drag on the engine, the thermo fan would come
out ahead in the efficiency stakes.
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