The 245 GT, or: another BMWolvo

As it sits today:





It's about time I start a blog on an international forum. A few years back I started the first iteration of this project, but that got stranded and was scrapped. The car that is.... the stroked engine I kept.

Specs:
M50B25 non-vanos
M54B30 crankshaft, pistons and rods
M52B28 injectors
Decked 0,9mm
Stock camshafts (for now)
Non-turbo

Rotating assembly, making it unofficially an M50B30.


Head rebuild.




In december 2014 I bought another 245. It rolled of the line in July 1975 and it spent most of its life in the north of Sweden, until it was sold to a Dutchman some 8 years ago who brought it to the Netherlands. It had some bad spots but was still in original paint which I think makes the car honest.







Razor blades.


Solid.


Not so solid.


Out with the old.




I'd never seen this type of firewall before...




I ?stole? a straight set of Rial Imola 17" 8J ET38 wheels for 75,- euro and tested them on 20mm spacers. I've been experimenting with Brembo calipers from an Alfa Romeo.









The front cross beam was pretty rotten underneat and badly repaired in the past. In stead of spending silly money on a replacement part I decided to fabricate my own out of some 40x60x2 mm tube.

Jig.


Testing.


Mounting point.


New part.




The car had some rusty spots which needed my attention.






























More later....

Prepping for paint. Color 118.

I decided to use the M20 flywheel/clutch/starter since it's single mass. I mated the engine with a Getrag 240 because it's an OD gear box, which suits my 3.73 final drive better than a prise-direct.







Since the 240 is normally mated to M40/M42/M44 4-cyl. engines it has a small diameter guibo. The box should be plenty strong to hold the torque of the 3 liter engine, but I may be ripping through guibo's every other week. By coincidence I found that the output flange of a Volvo M47 box has the same splines as the 240. I just had to get 18 mm of using my neighbour's lathe.





Then it was time to put the engine in.







And I had to make a new mount for the gear box.

Looking good! I wish I had had the balls to take it down as far as you did when I did paint. That's quite the job! That green is nice; glad you stuck with the original color. You don't see that shade too often anymore!

Great work and love that you kept original colour. Will be watching with interest

Very nice build and great welding man.
I envy you for the workshop, must be very convenient to drop your tools and find them on exactly the same spot after returning a couple of days later

Thanks! I'm very happy with this color. I was told it was only used for little over a year on the early 240's. I love the '70-ies and the car is full of it.

More of the process....
I had to take several mm off the steering rack to make it fit under the e36 oil pan. I wanted the engine as low and far back as possible; this is the price.




I put a turn buckle in my panhard.




I decided the green car needed a dark brown interior. So I painted some black leather seats brown using Angelus leather paint. So far I'm really happy with how it sticks. Although it does make me crave for cognac, montecristo's and talk about croquet.








Hydrolic clutch pedal conversion.





In-tank pump from a 940 lpt.





I had to adapt the strut brace that I bought since it was interfering with the brake fluid reservoir and blocking the oil filler. Besides, I needed a bracket for the engine loom and I wanted GT style fire wall struts. One stone, three birds.

















I used the shifting linkage from a ZF box. I had to adjust only the 1 part of it. An old head bolt fitted perfectly inside the hollow tube, which made extending it as easy as 1,2,3.

Evertyhing about this is off the charts! Love the home made cross member!

Looking good, very good. Favorite color for 70's 240s!

Love this. I have a soft spot for turbocharged M50 swaps... and that paint!

good work!

Looks great! My favorite Volvo Volvo. My 245 is getting something very similar.

Update time!

I modified the rear window rubbers by drilling 4 holes in each and cut a U-shape. A friend notified me that new rubbers have these (for draining, obviously).






E-fan.

3mm aluminium.


Atlas Copco 1-axle cnc.


E-fan installed, alu wet sanded with K400.


In.


I had the window installed by a professional.




As the title says, I wanted a sort of 245GT. Or what it could have been if Volvo ever had made one. Or something.









Dave Barton's magic.



Wiring.

BMW connector labeled.


Soldered and ready to go.


I cut of the volvo connector at the bulk head and pulled everthing in.




New location.


Mounted the relay & fuses of the e-fan as well.


The fuse box I will eventually use instead of the stock one.
,


Steering.

I had a neighbour who makes aggricultural vehicles make me a pressure hose.


Made a bracket....




...because I wanted to use the bmw reservoir which I think is much nicer than the black volvo unit.





Prop shaft and exhaust.

I used the rear part of a m47-fitted 240 and the front part and center bearing of an m90-fitted 940. I had the front part 58mm shortened and the whole thing rebalanced.


I adjusted m50 headers, made a connection pipe including an 850T cat and used a 240 Turbo 2.5” exhaust. This is temporary to get it through RDW/MOT/DMW or whatever authority you have in your country of origin. Later on I will probably make a 3” stainless system.





I ordered some hoses and connecting tubes at ASH. Needed to shorten an L-piece which required a new bead. Found a film on youtube on how to make your own bead “roller” so I did that.




Et voila!

Bead roller diy:

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Indeed that ZF reservoir is much nicer. A good idea for when/if I switch PS pumps (now with integral reservoir).
Lots of progress! Ready for VKB?

JW240 said:

Ready for VKB?

Click to expand...

I'd like to say yes..... but I don't think I will. Still so many small but time consuming jobs to do. Plus ever possible gremlins with the engine/gear box/other mechanics. And I have to get it registered as a 6-cilinder vehicle. But Let's hope for the best

Is that gt steering wheel the one i sold you few months ago? Are you satisfied with its condition? Very nice project, indeed.

Wow, amazing work. Looking at the photos makes it look so easy and quick which it is clearly neither. thanks for posting your project.

Fantastic work - do let me know if you decide to sell it at some point in the future, I'd give it a happy home.

Arn02 said:

I'd like to say yes..... but I don't think I will. Still so many small but time consuming jobs to do. Plus ever possible gremlins with the engine/gear box/other mechanics. And I have to get it registered as a 6-cilinder vehicle. But Let's hope for the best

Click to expand...

Fingers crossed! I know the feeling