79' Volvo 245 Wagon

[Z33_Taxi]

That it is. It's the first auto I've ever owned...I don't dislike it as much as I thought. It's nice just being able to cruise

[Z33_Taxi]

My goal was and I'd like it to continue to be to drop this wagon...Low. A nice tuck, but not forfeit a lot of drive ability. Being new to the whole suspension set up scene I still have a lot to learn. I know what I'd like the end result to be, but need a bit of guidance to get there. I'm not into cutting corners or be unsafe

So this is the suspension setup I am thinking of running after some research on here. I would love to be able to just cut the stock housing shorter and do it that way. However, I do not have the room, tools, a shop that'll do it or a secondary vehicle.

So here's the route I'd like to take
1)Kaplhenke front/rear coilovers



Mate those to shorter struts IE: Bilstien or Konis

I'm sure that would be the best and most reliable way, but then again this is just my DD and will remain so. I want it to look and handle well, but I also don't want to draw to much from my 911 fund.

My other options are:

(2)an IPD springs, cut them, and mate those to appropriate struts/shocks.

(3)cut the stock springs and let it ride


If there are any other solutions or suggestions I'd be open to hearing them

[volvo_dave]

I used stock strut tubes, bilstein HDs all round. 5" adjustable sleeves from coleman racing, kalplhenke hats, summit springs: 7" 325/inch. some cutting and welding were required, also I had to get an adjustable panhard bar and adjustable torque rod tubes for the rear, which has been lowered with cut springs and shorter billy's from a suburban. I also machined some spacers to go between the ball joint and bottom of the strut tube, because your control arm angle will get all out of whack when you lower it. Ill get some pics soon so you can see how low that will get you--its pretty low. Kaplhenke has the best stuff, very high quality. I just couldn't afford to go 100% that route so I modge-podged a setup myself. check this out it was a big help to me: http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=85793


ok got some pix. heres what my fronts looked like



The front settled about another .375-.5" after the pic was taken.
Could go about an inch lower in the front, but I would be bottoming out on my HDs pretty much.

[cus]

i see a lot of potential here

[Z33_Taxi]

check this out it was a big help to me: http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=85793

http://imageshack.us/a/img689/7631/rb8b.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img845/7830/xrqt.jpg

That looks so good. So essentially my idea of getting the full kelphenke kit and running bilstien HDs or a comparable shorter strut/shock would work?

Edit: Although it looks like it could be done without upgrading the struts

[volvo_dave]

Thanks. If I had the $ I would have bought it all from ben. So yes if you buy everything from him you will be set and not have to fab anything yourself. It also depends on how low you really want to go. I have maybe 2 inches of shock travel up front, which isn't much. If you get the fab'd shorter struts, you will have to get shorter inserts and have nice shock travel and you wont have to worry about bottoming out your shock as much, with the ability to go basically as low as you want to. Don't forget you'll most likely need the adjustable torqure rods and panhard bar as your pinion-to-driveshaft angle will change when you lower it (ipd)--also the control arm spacers are good. Couldn't find any of those for under $230.oo a pair so I made my some...being a cnc programmer has it perks every once in a while haha...other than the spacers and adjustable crap I don't think you need anything other than the actual suspension components...may be worth giving the suspension bushings/balljoints/tierod ends/brakes a refresh while your in there. here's what the spacers look like...

[j3wman]

This is a beautiful machine

[Z33_Taxi]

This is a beautiful machine

Someone put in the wrench time

[kittenpuncher]

this. is. bolts.

[Z33_Taxi]

Awwww yissss

[Z33_Taxi]

Put in a lot of time in money into the wagon today. Iphone decided it doesn't want to take pics anymore and a friend is using my camera on vacation, but here's all that was done today

Front and rear brakes
-Lines
-Calipers, rebuild
-Pads
-Master brake cylinder

All new suspension bushings

Rack and pinion

Steering pump

Had someone weld in new battery tray and supports

Fuel filter

[volvo_dave]

nice....cant wait to see how it ends up

[Z33_Taxi]

I'm having the toughest time deciding on a set of wheels.

Diamond racing wheels are a huge consideration.

Along with BBSs(Im liking the BMW style 5s), Benz wagon wheels...decisions decisions

[volvo_dave]

I say ixnay the diamonds....benz wheels would be sweet....then again so would the beamers...and the bbs's....

[keeton]

I like widened stock steel wheels on Volvos. It just works for some reason.