The 3 Day Swap, from '81 Volvo Wagon to Tire Slaying Daily
10-29-2013, 08:12 AM
#104
Thanks everyone for the kind words. I can't wait until this thing has a decent suspension under it and better brakes.
Not sure if I hurt something in the rear end Sunday night at the track. Drives fine and doesn't make any noise. When making tight turns from an intersection, feels like the rear looses drive for a split second then regains it. Plan on taking it easy this week and pulling the cover this weekend if I have time. I had second thoughts of putting a ford 8.8 in the rear, but I don't want to worry about the rear end holding up all the time. I have only replaced axles and bearings on a rear end, never swapped out a carrier or shortened a rear axle. Guess this will be trial by fire.
Not sure if I hurt something in the rear end Sunday night at the track. Drives fine and doesn't make any noise. When making tight turns from an intersection, feels like the rear looses drive for a split second then regains it. Plan on taking it easy this week and pulling the cover this weekend if I have time. I had second thoughts of putting a ford 8.8 in the rear, but I don't want to worry about the rear end holding up all the time. I have only replaced axles and bearings on a rear end, never swapped out a carrier or shortened a rear axle. Guess this will be trial by fire.
10-29-2013, 09:06 AM
#105
Teching In
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You will definitely be way better off upgrading to an 8.8 rear end, not only for the durability, but you will have better gearing options also.. Great build, and love to see these wagons..
12-09-2013, 08:08 AM
#111
Jenson, they are poly mounts from RevShift meant for an E30 BMW M3. I used C5 replica pedestals from Ronin Speedworks and slightly modified them. The subframe was notched and boxed.
cajundragger, bigbegum is right, all F-Body accessories. I have the P/S Pump and bracket sitting on my work bench ready to go in, just need to order a new steering rack to replace the original one that just pukes out fluid.
Bigbegum, what size slicks are you running on your Bertone? Have searched on turbobricks but couldn't find much info on what people were running.
Wagon took it's first official "road trip" last night. Drove 200+ miles to a meet in Columbia, SC. 80-85 mph the whole way with no issues, coolant temp stayed right at 194 the whole time. Fuel economy was ~20mpg but I am confident that will improve with 3.55's in the rear end and a tune. Caught tons of people off guard, they would walk by peek under the hood look back and double take, then stop and ask questions for a few minutes.
This afternoon on the way to the dump, ran across a newer M5. Ran by him at WOT in 3rd and he played chase. Through 4th and into 5th before I shut it down, he was full on it and from what I could see in my rear view wasn't gaining any ground. Best part was the look on his face when we got to the stop light, a cross between WTF and "How dare you!".
Just can't get over how fun this thing is to drive. I can't wait to put a cam in the 5.3 and the 8.8 out back. Should make for a pretty quick daily that I can beat on pretty hard and not worry about braking anything.
Some pics from the meet. Excuse the grey shift ****, need to order a Hurst ****, have just been lazy.
cajundragger, bigbegum is right, all F-Body accessories. I have the P/S Pump and bracket sitting on my work bench ready to go in, just need to order a new steering rack to replace the original one that just pukes out fluid.
Bigbegum, what size slicks are you running on your Bertone? Have searched on turbobricks but couldn't find much info on what people were running.
Wagon took it's first official "road trip" last night. Drove 200+ miles to a meet in Columbia, SC. 80-85 mph the whole way with no issues, coolant temp stayed right at 194 the whole time. Fuel economy was ~20mpg but I am confident that will improve with 3.55's in the rear end and a tune. Caught tons of people off guard, they would walk by peek under the hood look back and double take, then stop and ask questions for a few minutes.
This afternoon on the way to the dump, ran across a newer M5. Ran by him at WOT in 3rd and he played chase. Through 4th and into 5th before I shut it down, he was full on it and from what I could see in my rear view wasn't gaining any ground. Best part was the look on his face when we got to the stop light, a cross between WTF and "How dare you!".
Just can't get over how fun this thing is to drive. I can't wait to put a cam in the 5.3 and the 8.8 out back. Should make for a pretty quick daily that I can beat on pretty hard and not worry about braking anything.
Some pics from the meet. Excuse the grey shift ****, need to order a Hurst ****, have just been lazy.
12-10-2013, 06:47 AM
#117
Thanks Rogue!! Those are so cheap there's no point in making my own mounts. I love how cheap these things are. Ive got $950 in my 244, $300 LR4, and $300 NV3500, sub 3000# and its a perfect daily!! Those SSR's look so good on these cars. Did you make your own coilover setup?
12-10-2013, 08:01 AM
#118
Thanks Rogue!! Those are so cheap there's no point in making my own mounts. I love how cheap these things are. Ive got $950 in my 244, $300 LR4, and $300 NV3500, sub 3000# and its a perfect daily!! Those SSR's look so good on these cars. Did you make your own coilover setup?
12-10-2013, 04:13 PM
#119
Well you know who to PM if you want to sell those wheels
12-10-2013, 10:21 PM
#120
Teching In
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Dallas, Tx
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I ran a 255/50/16 on a 16x8 et10 and it really didn't fit with the offset I had. It stuck out a little too much. Keep in mind that is with an explorer 8.8 cut down with short axles on both sides. I think I could have made it tuck with a 25mm offset wheel. I drove it like this all the time anyways. The car hooked, consistent 1.41 60fts
I'm going ls2/t56 now and will probably run a full slick when I drag race it.
I'm going ls2/t56 now and will probably run a full slick when I drag race it.