Project Volvo #7: Salamat

'Thank you' (for everyone else) for the memories. Well the time has come after almost a year of ownership fermentation. I had to let go the Swedish red velvet. The car that was to be a 24 hours of lemons contender is no longer. Due to the suffering economy, the boss bugging me for a car cover, and everyone busy with other things it was decided that the car had to move on. It has provided great memories of what could have been. But rather than have it face the government 'death panel'. It's been graciously been taken in by my mexican co worker at the shop. Since both his Hondas recently broke down. Before I surrendered the keys to him, I reminded him that he cannot install 13in reverse daytons. He just grinned.

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If Rambo needed to get away...

he'd drive a Volbo Volvo 740 built by these guys. Though he'll need to get a turbo put installed for that extra oomph. I tell ya Volvo Wagons are getting cooler every day.

To read more about this wagon visit jalopnik

And its for sale, if you're man enough for it visit here.

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Project 740 #7: Ja mata ne?

See you later? Didn't know how to say it in Swedish, so I threw out some Japanese. But what is this you're wondering, is this the end for our Swedish hero. Not quite internet trolls, for now i'll have to put it on hiatus to make room for something else. So it's at top secret facility awaiting for it's marching orders.


After many months of negotiation. It has finally arrive at the lion's den. The new AE86 chassis butt naked and ready for a transplant. This time it's a coupe, and most people who know me, know I'm not much of a coupe fan. But people change and so do I. Though I'm having second thoughts about this car. Since I first negotiated for the car, the purple yam was busted up. Now that it's fixed and running pretty good right now, what do I do with this? I'll figure it out later.

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Project Volvo #6: Valentine's Day Plunder

A beautiful day to work on cars, at least get some stuff done before the rain storm decides to hamper the weekend. Even Naoki K. agreed, delaying Valentine's day to swing by and work on the Doom Wagon. I myself haven't really worked on the Volvo much after I got it running but it seems to be falling apart on it's own. So let's begin the plunder of Swedish engineering.

When the car first arrived I didn't find any cool guns or drug paraphenalia, but then again I never really dug deep inside the car. This time there was bunch of interesting crap that was found here and there. Let's look at what the former owner was like.

We know the previous owner loved Sam Adams and Bass. I hope not while driving, that's not very safe. It's also illegal.

He also loved french fries and

horse racing. Maybe at the same time but who knows. Though there is a note with a pin number. Maybe to a million dollar account?

He was even an audiophile, equipping the vehicle with some Pioneer speakers. I decided to excercise the finders keepers rule. More on these babies later.

One thing I liked about the car is how quiet and solid car feels. I guess the 3 layers of sound deadening will do it.

Image by thezeras via Flickr

He also was a great believer of good personal hygiene.

In the end about .53 cents was recovered. Sounds like it's time for some 39 cent taco at Taco Bell. mmm delicious.

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Project 740 #5: Great idea... not.

With Grip Day coming up this weekend, I wasn't sure if I wanted to run the stocker since the forecast that weekend was rain. Then I had a great idea. Why not run this Volvo that's taking up a parking spot and pissin' oil all over the street. It would be a great shake down of the car


So I began with constructing a battery hold down. Not too shabby for about 10 minutes of work and some spare parts in the garage.


Unfortunately, the next thing I did put a halt on that idea. Since the car is still shod with one bald donut, it needed to be changed. There was a 14in spare located in the boot with a good tire. I guess 14in rims are a no no on these cars cause it's rubbing on the brake caliper. FYI these cars are equipped with 16in wheels.

Well scratch that idea and now we revert back to the original plan of running the ol' stocker.

Project 740 #4: What?!

Noticed this yesterday, don't know exactly when it happened or even why anyone would do such an evil thing. Or maybe it's just a sign of things to come.

Project 740 #3 Junkyard hopping

Well it's been a while since i've actually been to the yard, mostly because I'm too lazy to grab parts. I'd rather have someone else do it for me. Anyways just looking for stuff for Hell Boy's Wagon, when I came across these two beasts of burden.



Jaguars both equipped with Chevy v8 engines. I normally don't come across these at the yard, but I thought it quite the coincidence that there was two of them. I assume they came from the same place. Both in different states of disrepair, one looking worse than the other. Unfortunately, as many Volvos I did find at the yard they didn't have anything I wanted.

Though I also found this little gem

50's era Desoto at the front of the yard. I don't know if it was for sale or not, but it really looked to be in pretty good shape. Something I wouldn't mind picking up and making into a nice little cruiser.

Project Volvo #2 In shorts and slippers.

The past few days was really strange weather at least for the southern california natives. From lots of rain to freezing cold temps. Today was just perfect, i'm definitely glad I don't live the on the east coast anymore. What better way to spend it, than with the Volvo. Yeah I always prefer to work on cars in shorts and slippers, to the dismay of my neighbor. After about a 2 days of finding and reading wire diagrams and running a bunch of tests. i've finally come to the conclusion...




That it finally runs. Took it out for a spin to see if there's any issues. There's a bunch of little things like annoying leaks, etc. But so far everything seems to be sound. Soon the wagon will be carrying and bunch of boost and laying the smack down to all who may oppose.

This week...

Elections are over and we have spoken. Congratulations President- Elect Obama for a well fought campaign. In other news, just been doing alot of work on the car. Little by little it's all coming together.

Fitted the dash

Some trimming was required to coerce the pieces in place.

Some new changes in management was in order

Out: HKS F-Con unit, it's probably older than some of you. But it still works as long as you keep around 10 PSI. But it's so difficult to resist the dark side of boost.

In: AEM stand alone, it's what I install as a part time job. Why did it take me 3 years to finally do my own car?

New seating arrangements

Old: Cobra Kevlar Sebring seat. Yes this seat is pretty old too. Unfortunately, it doesn't comform to current FIA standards so it must be sent out to pasture. It's served me well for the past 8 years and will be missed.

In: Cobra Suzuka seat that complies with FIA regulations. Besides Recaro, I consider Cobra having seats that best fit me. When choosing your seat don't let your choices come down to brand name, cause who cares what kind of seat you have, if you're the one that's uncomfortable.

Added this cool battery box.

We now have life!

A couple of keystrokes we made fire!

All it takes is a leaky water pump to bring back down. Really dumb but these things happen when I reuse parts.

One thing really useful about a non running Volvo Wagon is that it makes for great storage when rebuilding the other car.

Learning more about Project 740

It's been a tad busy lately, but I took some time to actually look the new project. But now let's take the grand tour of our Project 740.

Right now it doesn't start so a charge of the battery was in order. Let's make it a quicky.


During the battery charge stage let's look at our engine bay.


Unfortunately, I didn't do that great of a job cleaning the engine bay, it's still dirty. Looks like there's maybe quite a few leaks that'll be fun to hunt around the source.

Here's the mighty turbo, all bow down to the sacred snail.

Enough let's finally look what's inside the car.


It's very roomy inside. Almost cavernous from this view.


Beautiful black leather adorn these seats, they spared no expense here. You may see in the above picture. These are spiders webs that are all over the place. It might be time for a bug bomb.


Ahh yes, heated seats that's luxury. Never had a car with heated seats before.



Going back to the reason why this thing didn't start. Upon furthur investigation, I didnt' get a spark so it will come down to possibly bad sensor or maybe coil, let's pray that it's not an ecu. That will have to be checked out at another time.

I need some more time to complete the other project.

Check my flickr site for more photos of the brick.

The 740 considered the home away from home.

The cool guys at Jalopnik have compiled a list of cars you can live in if your home gets possessed, or you get the boot. Oddly enough they also chose the vehicle I picked up to go racing with, Volvo 740 wagon , it's even in the same color, just not as clean. I hope it's not a sign of things to come. To view the list click here.

[Source: Jalopnik]

Project:740 #1 This is only the beginning pain will soon follow

Yesterday, I was tricked into buying this brick. A 1990 Volvo 740 wagon, with turbo and intercooler.

It's a non running pile, but it was purchased with very little moola.

I decided to bring the car in for a pressure was cause it's a massed quite a follow of friends of the 8 legged variety yuck.

There are quite a few things going thru my head on the possiblities of this car. Should I join the lemon heads in the 24 Hours of LeMons again? Maybe try out for the Grassrootsmotorsport $200x challenge? I'll be posting it's progress, whenever I get off my lazy ass to work on it. But for now let me dig a hole for Pro Am and 4AG time attack.