Andy's '88 Volvo 745

[fortbrick]

O man that sucks,but it looks like it fared way better than your sedan.

It's definitely fixable. Got a new grille, headlight, and a set of corner lights that will make it look better than it did before. Core support needs replaced and both fenders will definitely need work if I want to keep them. Need to track down a hood and other small things still.

[Z33_Taxi]

O man that sucks,but it looks like it fared way better than your sedan.

[fortbrick]

My wagon was hit this morning by a deer.

So here is where the project takes a pause for a while until I can find the parts needed to get her back to being pretty. I'm hoping that it fares well with the insurance company, considering that there are honestly only a handful that were as nice as it left in the states.

The core support definitely looks pushed in to me. I'm afraid to open the hood and see what lies beneath. It did drive home just fine afterwards for a good 5 miles or so, so it can't be that bad I'm hoping. It definitely needs a new hood, grille, driver side headlight, and passenger side corner light. I'm not sure about anything else up front. Both fenders have small dents and bulges from the impact that I'm hoping can be removed. I'd like to only have to repaint a new hood.

Now, for the slightly hard to see pictures. I'll add more once disassembly begins.







And a comparison to February of 2012 when less than half a mile away a similar thing happened to my sedan, which I also fixed. This gives me hope that this time things will be easier.



That license plate will last forever, though. No doubt.

[Z33_Taxi]

OMG POLARIS WHEELS.HNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

[fortbrick]

This build may be taking a slight turn. Not too long ago a set of very rare OE wheels came up for sale (a set of wheels I have been wanting for years) and the price was so right, so I decided that I would pick them up and see what I could do with them. I know this contradicts what I had planned with the other wheels that I had been preparing to install (they still may, my decisions are rarely permanent), but for now these are the new hotness for the car.

So, without further adieu...

Volvo Polaris wheels in 17x7 with et20 offset.

*Photobucket deleted the pic that I used to have here. Will take a random pic of the wheels in the future*

Just need some wheel cleaner and they'll be ready to go on. Next update will be a mega update, so stay tuned...

[fortbrick]

Maybe I should get a 740

It's changed several people's perspective on them... and it's still almost all original.

[TheMorningAfter]

Maybe I should get a 740

[Z33_Taxi]

Maybe I should get a 740

[fortbrick]

Will be watching this closely for inspiration.

Will be watching this closely for inspiration.

Is this a common thing?

[peakesshou]

Will be watching this closely for inspiration.

[fortbrick]

Good to know, I was debating whether to buy the lower chassis brace I've been seeing on iPd and other retailers and I think you just settled that.

Mind me asking where you found the Euro code headlights, and how much you paid? Or what you did with the old light kit? I have a soft spot for the quirky quad headlight setups Volvo used on their 80's models.

The lower brace definitely does more of the work than the upper brace, and you'll pay twice as much for the upper one because they are NLA. It took me a few years to find the two that I have.

I actually got the E-Codes for free. I have some contacts in Sweden that like to trade for certain US only parts like my old headlights, which are everywhere here and pretty pricey over there. My other car has the US lights still, I just wanted something a bit different for this one. You're honestly better off finding an '89 and older model if you want the older front end. You'll pay the difference in parts alone that you would just finding a nice driver and selling your current one.

[TheMorningAfter]

I installed the front suspension in two stages. Stage one included the springs, struts, and sway bars. I forget how long I waited to finish it, but it wasn't long. I got bored of it not wanting to hook a corner and was ready to add the rest, which included everything that I listed above. The rear suspension was done about a week later after I spun out in a corner on my way to work and almost hit a guard rail. The upper and lower chassis brace along with the 960 subframe braces make it feel like a different car. I didn't notice much from the poly bushings besides the steering being a little tighter. I haven't used iPd's bushings before, mine are all from SuperPro.

Good to know, I was debating whether to buy the lower chassis brace I've been seeing on iPd and other retailers and I think you just settled that.

Mind me asking where you found the Euro code headlights, and how much you paid? Or what you did with the old light kit? I have a soft spot for the quirky quad headlight setups Volvo used on their 80's models.

[fortbrick]

Awesome 745, glad to see you got a build thread started here. Did you slap on the suspension/control upgrades all at once or in increments? Curious to hear what benefits you found from the chassis brace/poly bushings. Saw iPd has a front end bushings kit but it isn't full poly.

I installed the front suspension in two stages. Stage one included the springs, struts, and sway bars. I forget how long I waited to finish it, but it wasn't long. I got bored of it not wanting to hook a corner and was ready to add the rest, which included everything that I listed above. The rear suspension was done about a week later after I spun out in a corner on my way to work and almost hit a guard rail. The upper and lower chassis brace along with the 960 subframe braces make it feel like a different car. I didn't notice much from the poly bushings besides the steering being a little tighter. I haven't used iPd's bushings before, mine are all from SuperPro.

The intro was 50 Shades of Volvo hahahaha. Looks like new, nice work

Can't wait to see those meshies on it

Yeah, I had a little too much that night when that was written and thought it was funny... but that's pretty much how it went. The wheels will take quite a bit of work to get them looking like new again, but I'll make it happen. Hoping to have them finished and on the car by NoWo this fall.

[rice4life]

dickusfu is a spambot...

The intro was 50 Shades of Volvo hahahaha. Looks like new, nice work

Can't wait to see those meshies on it

[dickusfu]

Will be watching this closely for inspiration.