The Quest to Stance a Volvo

[DC95]

Hmmmmm. Was a big fan of this, but this last post would probably even make baby jesus cry. Chromies, burnouts, underglow.... What happened dude?...

[OrangeBlue]

I dig it, a lot.

Underglow, chromies, it's 2000 all over again...

[JVC]

Hmmmmm. Was a big fan of this, but this last post would probably even make baby jesus cry. Chromies, burnouts, underglow.... What happened dude?...

A coworker did some donuts in his Porsche so I figured I'd give it a go and rip a good ol burnout if I could. Turns out old all seasons smoke quite a bit.

As far as the under glow and chrome wheels go, I've always wanted to try something different and did. The under glow isn't on all the time (is off 99% of the time) and the chrome wheels are in place of winter mode because I refuse to give up early and go into winter mode in August. Also since those wheels would never sell, I might as well try em on for fun!

I dig it, a lot.

Underglow, chromies, it's 2000 all over again...

Thanks! There's something nostalgic that I feel about this car with those two things. Just makes me wish that I was around in the scene when NOPI and HIN were in full swing back in the early 2000's!


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[NeedingAnAudi]

Look at you, updating your build thread and stuff. Congrats on 2001 bro

[Suburuuh]

Now everything is clear, IG is such a pain in the @ss on information. Lol.

That engine/exhaust upgrade sounds good!

[JVC]

Well, here goes a long overdue update.It'll come in over a few posts.

Earlier this spring, we bought a house, so I cleaned out my tiny little leaking dirty garage at our apartment and got the hell into the new garage.





Had to protect the floor somehow, so I went with some Exelia Tile from Garage Flooring LLC which I am really happy with. Took only about an hour and a half to put it all down.



then I started moving stuff in...



Boom, right at home!



It seemed like I was going to have tons of room in this garage to work. At least it seemed that way until I realized how many wheels and parts I had been hoarding over the years without knowing it.



Then I made an adult decision, I realized that the only reason I didn't drive the Volvo in the summer was because it hadn't had AC since shortly after I bought it. So I called up a friend who parts out these cars on the reg, and he threw me a price I couldn't beat on a full AC setup from a parts car of his with working AC, even drove it up from Lexington and helped install. (also featured in the background, part of a black interior which is in the works)



Condenser, lines, orings, compressor later and add a little refrigerant (and dye of course) and VOILA! Ice cold AC, colder than my daily driver Accord.



Also, somewhere around that time I had a 3" downpipe, Japanifold (upgraded exhaust manifold from another Volvo) and a Blow off valve/blocking plate installed for full ricer status. Here's a little video.



After all of that was done, I planned to take the Volvo to EuEx in Savannah, but ultimately a long drive alone (not cruising with friends) and I decided to take ol reliable. Left early in the morning with the Volvo still in the garage...



Made it to Helen and met up with friends for a 2 day pit stop on our way to Savannah.



ate some of these



did some of this



took a picture like this, then left



and Made it to EuEx.



Like any car show, hanging out with friends is important and around that time I got to talking with a few buddies and realized it was time to come up with something different for the Volvo and I started looking at cars and trying to figure out what the next mod would be. Endless talks with many stupid ideas, some good ideas that I certainly don't have the budget for (or shall I say, that aren't worth spending on a car like this) and I had settled on my next plan. Air Suspension.

[JVC]

So I took some measurements, did some research and landed on Airlift Fabricator front struts, 3P management, and bought some rear bags from a guy who was parting out his 850 Wagon.

Unboxing!



I started to run some wiring


Cut a piece of MDF for some things to sit on (will be redone and cleaned up in the future)



Kept myself cool (sucked all the cold air from the basement into the garage, air conditoned garage!



And about that time, i ran into my first snag. I wanted to use my camber plates from my coilovers, but clearly that wasn't going to work...





There simply isn't enough threads to mount the camber plates with these bags...



So I spent the next month or so trying to figure out what to do and at the same time starting to think I had just waisted a bunch of money on some struts I might not be able to use as I had hoped. At one point I was just going to install it all as Airlift wanted me to with a big plate that you cut up and press studs into and use some plastic bushings as a bearing. Needless to say, I wasn't thrilled about having NO camber adjustment up top.

a bunch of research later led me to these...



Airlift Bag 58480 designed for use with a camber plate.



Bada-bing-bada-boom! But I still had to get those two spacers machined out since the Airlift strut shaft bigger than the shaft from the D2 coilovers the camber plates came from.



found a machine shop to put them on a lathe and turn them down and voila! success!



One mostly completed strut (still needs finish welding once I determine the ride height to be correct)



5 years through Chicago and Ohio winters but these seized bad boys have treated me well.



and Victory! They fit!



Tested it out by jacking up the wheel while the car is in the air, disregard the haggard fender, I have a replacement but waiting to totally finish this one off before I swap it.






then slipped the rear bags in (had to remove an exhaust clamp that was a bit too close for comfort.



ran some lines



THEN AIRED THE FUCK OUT (video below)

Videos by John Van Cleave, on Flickr




Even did a wheelie in my driveway!



Turned my underglow on and Stunted in my driveway for about half an hour watching it go up and down.





VIDEO BELOW

Bagging the Volvo by John Van Cleave, on Flickr

If you don't follow me on IG it's @JVC8790, slid into my DM's with any questions if you're looking to work on a Volvo. 10/10 would bag again.

[OrangeBlue]

Still one of the best Volvos out there!

[lamsv]

Turned on the glows and stunted in the driveway. Damn straight. I'da done the same thing!

Looks fantastic!

[JVC]

Still one of the best Volvos out there!

Thanks man! Glad to hear people like it as much as I do!

Turned on the glows and stunted in the driveway. Damn straight. I'da done the same thing!

Looks fantastic!

It was pretty fun, no lie. I just cant wait to do the same but out in public somewhere!

Little Update!

Took the front struts back off yesterday and dropped them off at my fabricator buddy to get finished up. Hoping to have the car out later on this week once I get the struts back. I will still need to make a stop at his place to have him weld the endlink tabs with the car loaded down to get the right height but that is later on.

Jacked it up and took the Dubs off, in preparation to put the Carlssons back on once the struts are done.

Untitled by John Van Cleave, on Flickr

Also tok the Labor Day weekend to buy a much needed tool box and organize the garage. First pic is right after I moved stuff out of the way to put the box where I wanted it, and second picture is all moved in and organized. Still some stuff I need to move to our shed, but that will come next.

Untitled by John Van Cleave, on Flickr

Untitled by John Van Cleave, on Flickr

Also, since the garage is connected the the basement I can "air condition" it and makes it MUCH nicer to work in!

Untitled by John Van Cleave, on Flickr

[JVC]

Got everything put back together, did a quick oil change since my last one was 2,500 miles ago back in January of 2015, then took it out for some proper pics.

Aired Out AF by John Van Cleave, on Flickr

Dat Ass by John Van Cleave, on Flickr

Tucking 18's by John Van Cleave, on Flickr

Wheel Tuck by John Van Cleave, on Flickr

[Matt]

pimp boizzzz


take it out tonight and do some with the red lightssssss

[JVC]

I've done some casual driving around the area and its definitely improved over the coilovers. Still gotta get the front swaybar brackets welded and reinstalled before twisties but its been fun to air out everywhere and watch people get mind fucked.



Took some more pictures too!

Sunset Lifestyle by John Van Cleave, on Flickr

Dat Booty by John Van Cleave, on Flickr

Volvo Sunset by John Van Cleave, on Flickr

[fackinsteve]

This is so cool

[EuroJDM]

Magic !