A Simple Way to Transform an Old Car

Refreshing the black plastic and rubber trim on my classic cars with cheap products that are easy to use and last long term! Also repainting the sills to give them a cleaner look.
No links as I'm not sponsored, but here is what I use;
Owatrol Polytrol colour restorer
Sonax Plastic Restorer
Brantho Korrux 3 in 1
If you want to support the channel (and get some perks, ie early access to videos, behind the scenes pictures etc, here's a link;
www.patreon.com/Involvod
Merch' can be found here;
www.etsy.com/shop/involvod/

[@shepshepherd]

Owatrol certainly did the trick on my 740's bumpers and rubbing strips. They are still looking good many months after I treated them with it, making the car look far less derelict than it actually is.

[@DaveBenson]

Agree you transformed my 945 wagon with that recommendation!

[@martij30]

00:04 that "click" when you pull it out of reverse... Iconic sound

[@wezerd]

I've recently gotten myself an almost rust free Volvo 240 and your videos have been of huge help getting the thing into better shape! Thank you so much for making these, I'm looking forward to more.

[@Involvod]

Thanks I appreciate it! Congrats on the purchase!

[@brianklamer3328]

That's a really good looking 240. Wife and I had a 1984 240 GL decades ago and loved it.

[@AndreasLarsson95]

That 745 is really nice :)

[@Involvod]

Thanks!

[@SimpsonsClassics]

True words the black trim work on a car really lets them down but they look oem again with some love. Nice video

[@Involvod]

Thanks mate 👍

[@ched999uk]

Nice, both do look better.

[@Involvod]

Cheers 👍

[@bartverhaagen]

And now a good clean for the paving !

[@bobjohnson205]

I've been using 'Kiwi Scuff Magic/Scuff Cover' for over 30 years on the bumpers, mirrors, trim, windshield wiper arms, etc. of all my Volvos It comes in a 73 ml bottle with the same foam applicator as the 'Sonax' Plastic Restorer'. It's meant for covering scuffs and restoring the black finish on shoes, but it works great on all of those black exterior parts. Each treatment usually last a few years and each bottle is good for several treatments. I last did the bumpers and mid-belt trim on my 740 3 years ago and they all still look great. The bottle used to cost me $3.99 but now with the recent price increases it's more like $6 or $7! Yikes! lol

[@Involvod]

Oh nice! Someone did mention how this stuff looks suspiciously like shoe polish! Kiwi is great stuff I used to use the stuff out of the tin all the time on my boots but struggle to find it here in Germany

[@gro9465]

Wow what a transformation to both motors! Your 240 is looking awesome, I really really want one 😊

[@Involvod]

Thanks 🙂 Fingers crossed a good deal comes your way 🤞

[@lifelong5425]

240 is such a great looking car....got my Owitrol.....going to do my old Thule box first...Best you U 3

[@Involvod]

Nice, hope it goes well!

[@mayflowerlash11]

Lowering No. This is an elegant sedan, not a sports car. Camshaft upgrade Yes. It will drive better and you will enjoy it more. Love the improvement to the black bits. I'm inspired to treat the faded plastic on my cars. Cheers Sledge.

[@Involvod]

Cheers 👍

[@georgebutlers4945]

Thoughts about lowering the chassis: There are so many times that I have thanked my lucky stars for the great ground clearance that these old Volvos have. If you live where the roads are not absolutely smooth, have potholes, speed bumps, road repair transitions with a step off or debris in the road and have to travel dirt roads then having a low slung vehicle is asking for trouble. My first Volvo that I had purchased new in 1984 met an early demise in 2006 when I hit an almost filled excavation with a strategically placed sharp angled corner of pavement that connected with my oil pan and front axle. The excavation was not visible due to sharp shadows in late August sunlight. That was one time where a little more clearance would have saved me but there are so many other times where if I had had less clearance some major damage could have occurred. I now own three Volvos: a 1988 740 GLE sedan (saloon), 1992 740 Turbo wagon (Estate) and a 1993 240 wagon (Estate). The 2000 V70 purchased in 2006 met an early demise in late 2017 when I T-boned someone backing off the turnpike at night. I walked away totally unbruised even though the driver air bag did not deploy. The passenger air bag did deploy but there was no passenger. The car was totaled. So much for the dependability of airbags. I think I would have at a minimum been bruised if the driver air bag had deployed. As a former physician and surgeon I have seen many a time where the Volvo driver and passengers come out of a major accident with minimal or no injuries if belted in. I have seen where air bags have caused injuries but probably prevented major injury in other vehicles. My personal opinion is that the structure of the car and seat belts are far more important than air bags. In my mind Mercedes come in as second best, when it comes to safety. Love your videos even when you work on second best vehicles.

[@Involvod]

Thanks for sharing! And nice collection 👍 😉

[@nilslorenz6554]

Now Elsa and Lily look like brand new! (at least from distance 😉) Love the light blue metallic on Elsa. In my eyes the best looking color on the 740s. Your videos always make my Sunday!

[@Involvod]

Agreed! Thanks that's nice to hear 😊

[@ianchalklen1047]

Given the state of the UK roads and the proliferation of speed bumps (been a while since I last visited Germany) I would keep standard ride height and avoid low profile tyres. Looking great 😊

[@Involvod]

Thanks! German roads are a little nicer, after a stint in the UK my 740 needed a tie rod and wheel bearing on the nearside, so many pot holes and surface damage!

[@aeoteroa818]

shes looking good man

[@Involvod]

Thanks 👍

[@einfeldt777]

Nice job, great way too improve the overall looks, please do not lower it 🙏, I did only to get it back stock 6 months later. No video will be completed without the bells of doom. 🔔🤗👍😆🤣😎

[@sputnik4216]

LUV them wheels, have same on my 245 from factory, really sets it apart. As for dashboard just get a nice carpet custom cover, nobody will ever see the cracks and carpet stops all glare too.

[@GentilsGarage]

Very nice. I need to look into these products to revive the bumper rubbers and side door trims on mine.

[@noaharonson1385]

Do a video on painting the window frames!

[@Involvod]

Definitely 👍

[@iridiumvalkyrie9017]

I typically use Back to Black but I do have to routinely put it on. I don't mind doing it though it's like grooming my horses lol

[@Involvod]

Haha yeah I thought that when I used to use a bumper gel that needed redoing every few months, really quite therapeutic!

[@SorrowPolaris]

they look amazing man :) great tips

[@Involvod]

Thanks a ton!

[@fannycraddock99]

Nice job Sledge. They are both looking very smart.

[@Involvod]

Thanks 👍

[@rustino666]

Both cars look great. Nice trickery!

[@Involvod]

Thanks!

[@adamlittle4267]

Heat gun is allso a fantastic on faded plastic

[@GamingAsLance]

I absolutely LOVE your channel and your videos came in clutch (badum-tss) right before I started working on my own 244. It’s my first car ever which I bought 1 month ago and it needs good entry level cosmetic fixes. I really want to keep it original and as good looking as possible to save this iconic masterpiece of a car. Keep it up!

[@Involvod]

Thanks I appreciate it! Congrats on the purchase 🎉

[@villejussila1599]

I used a product called Gtechnic Q4 or something like that on the black plastics of my daily driven Renault Clio mk2 like 4 or so years ago and the trim is still black. Only the door handles don't seem to hold. They have to be done every year. One would imagine the cowl to be the worst but no! That thing shines like it's nobody's business just cause I took it out back then and cleaned properly and applied the stuff... Does make a huge difference though. That 740 especially that looks like a new car at least on camera! The 240 always looks good whether it's clean or not. ;D

[@Involvod]

Oh nice! Thanks, it's always good to be recommended good products. True about the 240, she always looks amazing even when absolutely filthy 😂

[@villejussila1599]

@@Involvod Oh oh oh.. It's Gtechniq C4! I suppose it's pretty much a ceramic coating for plastics. Works a treat.

[@sthildas4857]

Solution Finish, I detail cars.

[@sthildas4857]

IPA wipedown initially.

[@SevenFortyMotorsports]

I prefer a good polish for lenses and a heat-gun for trim n bumpers. Longest lasting method in my opinion. Lookin good though!

[@Involvod]

Thanks 👍

[@mortimergladbreath]

Looking good!

[@Involvod]

Thanks!

[@sarah20025]

It's like scuff kote for black shoes.

[@sonofliam8601]

I think a cam swap along with the Simons sport exhaust would make it more peppy, unless you already have something other than the M cam in the motor.

[@Involvod]

It's just an M unless someone changed it, it was a bit more peppy before I corrected the timing so it would be nice to get that back without having it too advanced again 😄

[@sonofliam8601]

@@Involvod is the simons sport exhaust a 2” system as opposed to the 2.25” system from IPD? Maybe the difference is that the Simons has a straight through muffler vs The chambered one from IPD.

[@Involvod]

@@sonofliam8601 yeah it's the 2" 👍

[@peterscotney1]

I must get hold of some owatrol for my 940 estate,,great vid by the way HERR volvo ...lol

[@ElfinAce37]

Great video! Definitely gonna try this on my 240. Just have to wait until the paycheck arrives lol. Keep up the great content! Greetings from the Netherlands

[@Involvod]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@jamesliddy7564]

keep the videos coming mate hope you get over to the uk soon

[@Involvod]

Hopefully soon! Cheers 👍

[@Copesthetic-Aesthetic]

89 240 I used a propane torch on the bumpers, and side mirrors. Back to black easy & nice. It doesn't work for the door trim unfornunatly. It seems to melt rather than refurbish.

[@Involvod]

Haha 😅 Did it last long term? I heard something about it going brittle afterwards

[@Copesthetic-Aesthetic]

@@Involvod Just did it this spring. Guess time will tell. Seems to last along time when I do it the snowmobiles though. As far as brittle goes, it doesn't require much heat to do the trick. Plus it's 35 year old plastic, it's already brittle. If anything the torch probably softens it back up a little.

[@damo6975]

They both came up very well indeed ,must get my hands on the Owatrol i use gumi pledge on the door rubbers and window seals. 👍Job well done

[@Involvod]

Cheers 👍

[@Augenatic]

you should be sponsored man, cause I´m gonna go out and get those products for my 240 lol - it´s a wagon, same colour as your sedan, and I like the way it makes the blue seem a bit darker.. 740 looks great too!!

[@Involvod]

Would be nice! Thanks, hope it goes well!

[@fhwolthuis]

Looking posh, Sledge 😀

[@Involvod]

Thanks! Maybe a bit too nice for me now 😄

[@fhwolthuis]

@@Involvod haha, I'm sure your neighbours will appreciate it. The squatter look is only for Berlin 😉😂

[@JustFixIt99]

Looking good. You have me pondering the black (well faded grey) trim on my cars now. Definitely don't lower it. Its so been done, and it just ruins the ride. A turbo maybe......

[@franco992]

I would lower it. If the dampers are ok, I would just put some decent lowering springs on it. If you really hate it, you can put the stock springs back on and no harm done. It looks lovely after your efforts. But just imagine her with the cam, the exhaust and the lowering springs. Mmmmm.

[@Involvod]

That's true, the 40mm lowering springs take the edge off without slamming it. Let's see what happens!

[@geoffmoore7629]

Have you ever tried a hot air gun on the plastics and a spray of black paint on the wiper arms works wonders

[@Involvod]

Agreed, touching up the wiper arms makes a massive difference! I haven't tried a heat gun, only because people say it draws the oils out of the plastic and causes it to go brittle in the long term

[@sthildas4857]

Heat will bring out the oils plus make it brittle, many trim coats have oil in them.

[@daw7563]

For a lasting effect use a heatgun to melt the plastic top layer instead. Faster, cheaper and better (unless you get it too hot). 😂

[@lawtowngirl85]

oh my god i had the same color volvo 😍😍

[@Involvod]

It's so nice!

[@sthildas4857]

Any Sonax are good products... Getting the wax off the trim is important, apc detail brush. Glass ckeaner gets wax off trim, Sonax glass cleaner can be used on paint as a cleaner.

[@Vaino_Hotti]

I wonder if Owatrol Marine can be used instead of the normal one. Can only find the marine version in Finland.

[@Danielmercw114]

Watch the the start of wolf the 1994 Jack Nicholson film !

[@patatasbravas5188]

I have a V and a T cam sat around if you want them? T isn't particularly sporty but the V is meant to be ok :)

[@Involvod]

Thanks for the offer! My email is in the about section of the channel, or perhaps we can connect over Instagram 👍

[@daw7563]

Don't bother replacing the cam with any of the standard cams, little to no difference not worth it, unless you get hold of a K-cam (check for distributor compatibilty, rear cam or in the block!) or get an aftermarket cam. Do not forget about valve springs and retainers for high lift cams, also that it may become an interference engine. 👍

[@hungryboy424]

Is there not any mat black for these types of plastic mouldings !

[@tommcl8548]

👍

[@leoademayyyne4979]

I think the height of your 240 is really good the way it is, not really a need to lower it. Maybe stupid but I see people using ceramic coating on plastics and almost everything actually 😅, do you think you could use it after using Owatrol on the bumpers, mirrors and door plastics?

[@Involvod]

Definitely! I think it's a bit expensive but worth it

[@derradune6722]

How’s the interior plastic? In my 1987 Mitsubishi it has become quite brittle and prone to cracking easily. Unfortunately finding replacement parts is proving to be next to impossible.

[@Involvod]

Sorry to hear that! Luckily in this car it's in great shape apart from the dashboard and some fading to the back of the headrests. I think it must have been garaged for a decent part of its life

[@daw7563]

I would argue that the sylls should be the cars color. 🙂

[@Involvod]

Interesting! Might have to look at that!

[@SeattleDinghyer]

What about linseed oil? Rumor is that it's amazing.

[@DaveBenson]

The plastic restorer looks suspiciously like black shoe dye... Same container and both work great on black trim. Hrm

[@Involvod]

Haha good point!

[@danthe_man2706]

Anyone know if volvo 240 has a cabin air filter. And where it is located?

[@SeattleDinghyer]

Dats nice ah, innit?

[@zarkozare6765]

Švedski tenk

[@olabondesson4902]

What is it with the church bells? Are they chiming all the freaking time? It would drive me mad!

[@Involvod]

Nearly all the time! I'm getting used to it 😅

[@newblackdog7827]

Are you guys back in Deutschland? More videos please! I’m currently restoring a 92 960 MK1 3.0 estate with the intention of selling it on to a good home, and a 93 960 MK1 3.0 saloon, which I believe is the very last RHD in its colour & trim (Tropical green with tan trim & leather)