Volvo: 81 Volvo 260 w/4cyc -brakes & running, fuel mixture, throttle assembly

Question
I have lost the compression assistance on my brakes and the engine is running rough, had to keep running when it is first started.  Once warmed, OK but seems to reve to high on idle.  Brakes still work in "old fashioned" press hard and pray mode....  

Answer
Sounds like you have several problems here.  First, with the brakes, its probably a bad master cylinder, they usually need to be replaced after some time and will give you symptoms like you're describing.  The rough start and idle when cold probably is a faulty cold start valve, which controls fuel mixture while the car is still cold.  Finally for the idle, it is normal for it to rise higher as the car gets warm, and I wouldn't worry about it unless it goes higher than 1500 rpm when warm.  If it does, get under the hood and adjust the idle control valve near the throttle assembly.  You can adjust manually what the car idles at.