Carolina Horsepower - '81 Volvo 245

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I am over by the Stadium. 4th floor, Hosting Support AKA Phone Jockey.

My new favorite. Nicely done.

Did you have a rx7 you were gonna put that engine in?

That thing is sweet.

toslow - I did have a FC RX7, decided the Volvo would be a fun daily with more power. I sold off the turbo parts and what I didn't need for the swap and put that money into swapping the Volvo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Status (Post 240716)

I am over by the Stadium. 4th floor, Hosting Support AKA Phone Jockey.

Nice, I go over there every once in a while for the food trucks, I'll have to keep an eye out for the car!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Status (Post 240692)

Whaler - I work @ Blackbaud, so that is the daily commute. Much easier to navigate the non-drivers with 3X the original torque.

No tach still, going to get that sorted out soon as I am tired of not having a speedo, tach or other gauges. 205/45r16 Street tires @ 35psi proved to be the issue. Was so close to breaking into the 8's just couldn't get it to hook well enough to shave that last little bit off. The suspension doesn't help either, that will get sorted out soon enough. Car feels plenty fast on the street and is ton's of fun to drive. Looking forward to modifying this engine and watching the time drop and trap speed go up.

9.0056 @ 78mph

1981 Volvo station wagon burnout! 5.3 V8 rogue status! - YouTube

Was acting a bit odd this morning cut off twice while dropping back to idle with the clutch in. Going to scan it before my ride home and see if there are any codes. I think fuel pressure might be the culprit or a dirty MAF, and I still need to replace the fuel filter, not sure when it was done last. I am sure the tune isn't ideal either, it is a bench tune from PSI. I can't fault them in the least bit, the car has gotten me to work and makes plenty of power so far. I am sure there is more in it though.

I work at Hall Marine and get off at the first Clements Ferry Exit. You were rolling on by on the highway. I run ~ 10mph over and you made me look like I was sitting still. I drive a silver 4 Runner. I never really liked Volvos, but I like that car a lot. Most of my cars growing up were always something different than most. My last 2 hot rods were a Lightning and a Fox Coupe.

Who is your neighbor that might be into cars. Someone was telling me about you the other day? this is racking my brain.

Car looked good and sounded good going down 526 thismorning.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toslow (Post 240810)

Who is your neighbor that might be into cars. Someone was telling me about you the other day? this is racking my brain.

My neighbor across the street is a Sales Manager at Hudson Nissan in North Charleston. Not too many other car folks in Carolina Bay.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilpanther (Post 240877)

Car looked good and sounded good going down 526 thismorning.

Thanks! What were you driving?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Status (Post 240881)

Thanks! What were you driving?

The white Mustang that was behind you most of the way down 526.

Very cool, I have a complete 5.3 in the garage and have been considering a 142 to swap it into. Did you fab everything yourself or is that a Converse kit?

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Driver (Post 240899)

Very cool, I have a complete 5.3 in the garage and have been considering a 142 to swap it into. Did you fab everything yourself or is that a Converse kit?

Fabricated everything myself. All of the heavy work was done in 3 days. I don't think Converse or anyone for that matter makes a bolt-in kit or swap kit for the LS engines. You can purchase a bolt-in kit for 7XX and 9XX series cars.

Right on, Jeff is 1 of our sales managers. I'm in service and just couldnt remember who was telling me about it. Great project, look forward to seeing this in person.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toslow (Post 241014)

Right on, Jeff is 1 of our sales managers. I'm in service and just couldnt remember who was telling me about it. Great project, look forward to seeing this in person.

Missing yours????

Have been busy working on the wagon lately. After destroying 2 Volvo diffs, it was time to upgrade the rear axle. I snagged an 8.8 out of an Explorer from LKQ on a half off weekend. The driver's side has been shortened ~3" to accept a factory pass. side axle and center the diff housing. Transferred all the Volvo suspension brackets over to the Ford unit, then finish welded everything. Cleaned it all up and threw on a coat of paint.

Now that the rear bolt pattern is 5x114.3 and not the stupid 5x108, the GTA wheels had to go. Got some knock-off BBS RS's for cheap, 17x8.5 F and 17x10 R with 215/45 and 245/40 respectively. Finally, traction might be attainable in 1st and 2nd gear.

The suspension was is poor condition when I originally got the car, have since replaced all of the bushings, but the stock spring rates were far from ideal and made driving on 526 not only unbearable but dangerous. WAY too much droop travel in the front + blown struts and a poorly sprung rear was far from confidence inspiring. The front spindles have been upgraded to the '83 and up units with larger stub axles and bearings. Shortened them 2.75" and squeezed in (literally had to almost press the bastards in there) struts from a '96 Buick Regal. Should be damped fairly well considering the Buick's additional weight. Coilover sleeves and 2.5" 400 lb. springs were added to the front as well so I can play with ride height and spring rates to dial it all in.

Out back the rear springs were just WAY too soft. Added 5" spring adjusters and 5" 250 lb. springs in the rear with a higher spring rate. Adjustable and OTS springs can swap in to dial in the rear suspension.

Lastly, I have had a slight driveshaft vibration and it had a tendency to rub under acceleration if the rear compressed or if I had a passenger in the car. The stock torque arms had the stock axle pitched up due to the lowered ride height and with all of the compliance in the rubber bushings I was forcing the driveshaft even higher in the tunnel under load. This weekend I am fabricating adjustable torque arms with rod ends on the axle side and stock bushes on the chassis side. Hopefully with the pinion angle set correctly I won't have to cringe when going WOT, listening to the driveshaft rub the tunnel.

Overall the car should not only look better, but actually be a much more complete vehicle. Still need to get the car tuned, but the suspension and traction I have added should let me use the power I have to it's fullest. The LSD in the Explorer rear will help with the 2.0 60ft at the track, and get me well into the 8's in the 1/8th. Not too terrible on a mostly stock 5.3 in a station wagon.

Front Coilovers

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7375/1...8f26461d_b.jpg

Rear Axle

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2112/1...fcf2ee53_b.jpg

Little teaser of the new wheels.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3746/1...3a3408a1_b.jpg

dang it i wanna put it in front of my camera!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadconeTuning (Post 248539)

dang it i wanna put it in front of my camera!

Gonna get the paint all cleaned up prior to the trip to Atlanta at the end of the month. After that she should be living in the garage so it should keep clean. Anytime you want to I am up for it. Still want to make an early morning trip up to C&C up your way. Do you ever go to the Columbia meets?

nope, i've been told the cola stuff is just a bunch of donks and ricers.