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The 2009 Pedal Pushers Pullover Rally

2009-11-14T21:26:00.000-08:00

Hanging out with some other euros behind Peet's

it's been a while...

2009-11-12T15:02:00.000-08:00

We're almost done with our remodel on the house. Looking forward to getting back to work on the 140 project.

My old 242 turbo

2009-09-29T19:25:00.001-07:00

... with a new turbo!

1968 Volvo 140

2009-09-15T14:10:00.001-07:00

maybe a bit too loud. oh well!

Wheel planning

2009-09-08T18:13:00.003-07:00

I really want the stock but strangely not stock look, so steel wheels are the obvious choice. Problem is the stock steel wheels are too damn small. I don't want it to look like a rollerskate, so 17s is as big as I want to go. It's very important that the wheels look like stamped steel and it's very important that the offset pushes them out to be as close to flush as possible with the body of the car. Stay tuned!

Startup!

2009-08-31T23:03:00.000-07:00

Last year when I was still driving the 140 around all stock I noticed that the back section of the factory exhaust system was rattling like crazy, so I chopped it off. It still had one muffler so it wasn't too loud. Then, when we had it up in the air I was tired how it was getting in the way so I chopped even more off. All there was left was a rusty ass straight pipe. Until today. I welded up a Kragen special cherry bomb. Now it sound like our

Lemons car. Better than nothing and I won't wake up the poor neighbors when I take it out for a spin tomorrow after I finally bleed the brakes.

low low

2009-08-25T00:51:00.000-07:00

Work to date on the suspension:

-All poly bushings throughout

-Bilstein HD shocks

-2" drop variable-rate springs in front

-1.5" drop lowering springs in rear

-New upper and lower ball joints

-New steering endlinks.

-All moving suspension parts were sandblasted, etched, primed and repainted.

Here's my brother demonstrating how low it actually is. The springs haven't settled yet, but should be about 2" in the front and 1.5 in the rear. I've got new motor and tranny mounts, the battery is all charged up, I've hooked up the brake lines, we've torqued everything down.

Tomorrow I'll bleed the brakes, change the oil ... and hopefully take it for a spin!

front assembly

2009-08-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

I haven't see it on the ground in months, mainly because we've been pretty busy with our house remodel. My bother came over and put the shocks on last night while I was building some stairs. I tend to take on new projects every other day, so to see one of them near completion... it's pretty exciting. This next weekend is the last free weekend I have until november so time to get 'er done!

Rear Install

2009-08-10T00:35:00.000-07:00

Now there's always more you can do. When I look at this top photo, I only see the beat-up calipers and the worn disks, not the new poly bushings, new springs, cleaned up rear end and trailing arms... I do have a red epoxy brake caliper paint somewhere. Might bust it out.

The last time I drove this car, the suspension felt like it was a combination of loose springs duct taped to a couple 2x4s. It leaned hard, and made all sorts of crazy clunks and bangs.

Volvo 140 historical video

2009-08-05T00:46:00.001-07:00

Clean parts 3

2009-07-28T20:08:00.001-07:00

This was a couple of days ago, but everything is painted now and almost all the bushings are pressed in. The large trailing arm bushings were squirrelly as hell, I couldn't have done it solo, at one point it was sure someone was gonna loose an eye. but it worked out in the end.

out with the old

2009-07-28T19:57:00.000-07:00

Pressing out old tired bushings is a great feeling. Once you figure out the right method for the right bushing, it's pretty easy... I used the big ass vice method. Thanks for the support Darren !

Once the old bushing is out, you can clean the metal up real nice and prepare it for painting.

The poly bushings fit and feel great. I can't wait to get them on the car!

Clean parts 2

2009-07-17T13:29:00.000-07:00

I thought a little bit of mineral spirits and/or acetone on the sandblasted metal parts would be good enough for some High 5 primer and gloss black paint. nope. When cleaning metal I've found that a proper degreaser like Marine Clean, followed by some Metal Ready is the way to go.

Once you've done that, the primer and paint will make sweet love to the surface. I'm not going for a show car look here, but i figured that while everything was taken apart, might as well clean it all up... sure makes the assembly more fun. Look Ma, clean hands.

which bushings go where?

2009-07-09T23:39:00.000-07:00

A. F.

B. G.

C. H.

D. I.

E. J.

UPDATE:

Darren over at Vintage Brick Helped me out with the bushing quiz... here are his answers:

A. ...Currently unsure. You could be right about them being sway bar bushings, but the shape doesn't look quite right. Also, if you are going to use IPD sways, you won't need these.

B. Lower front wishbones. [SAVE THE OUTER STEEL CASINGS ON THE OLD ONES, SINCE THESE DON'T COME WITH NEW CASINGS LIKE THE UPPER BUSHINGS (H)]

C. ...Currently unsure.

D. Panhard Rod (right). [Looking from rear of car].

E. Front of lower rear trailing arms.

F. Rear upper torque/trailing arms

G. ...Currently unsure.

H. Upper front wishbones.

I. Panhard Rod (left). [Looking from rear of car].

J. Axle-to-lower rear trailing arm pivot.

looks like I have a few extras :)

SLAMMED 140

2009-06-17T22:22:00.001-07:00

I found this car on turbobricks...

Apparently this thing has a 4" drop in the front...

Even though the paint and body is all f*cked up, it still looks good.

Check it out here!

Clean parts 1

2009-06-16T00:13:00.000-07:00

The parts are back from getting sand-blasted. I'm getting the bushings pressed out and then the poly bushings will get pressed in. Then we'll paint them gloss black before the install. All new parts, can't wait.

Here's a detail of the paint ready surface of the lower A-arm.

IPD 1971 Volvo 142E

2009-06-11T10:53:00.000-07:00

This exact 140 car sparked my love for these cars. I'm not super into the 70s Grille and GT mirrors but it's still super clean. The earlier grille is way nicer. More info here!

Craigslist: 1989 Volvo 780 Bertone Coupe Parts

2009-06-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

My Brother is selling off all the stock parts we removed from our racecar before the buildup. Our car had a bent frame (that's why we raced it and not restored it), but other than the frame, it was in great shape and so are the parts. Check them out! All funds go to the buildup of the 140S.

Sandblasting

2009-06-10T11:18:00.000-07:00

My brother is sandblasting all the parts. Just look at the difference, next we'll press out the old bushings, press in the new ones... paint and install.

hovercraft

2009-06-09T23:34:00.001-07:00

The rear suspension was a real pain in the ass to get out. Had to Sawzall the bolts off.

While the calipers are off, might as well use this two part red caliper paint I've had burning a hole on my self.

Can't wait to get this cleaned up!

This photo was taken before I sawed out the last trailing arm

good times

2009-06-05T00:30:00.001-07:00

Old and new front springs on the left, and old and new rear springs on the right.

Crusty rear end

The underside looks like shit. I'm looking for a brush on undercoat paint... any ideas?

UPDATE: I picked up some Rust-Oleum undercoat paint, and wow it looks like new. Stay tuned for more pics!

no more excuses...

2009-05-27T23:07:00.000-07:00

All the parts are here... time to slam this puppy.

Springs and Bushings

2009-05-08T11:31:00.000-07:00

The black coils are 1.5" lowering and the variable rate blue coils are 2" lowering springs. Plus a Full poly bushing kit. Just waiting on the Bilstein HDs...

STILL waiting for parts...

2009-05-05T17:35:00.001-07:00

waiting for parts...

2009-04-22T17:59:00.001-07:00

It's been super crazy at work, but it's not like I can work on the car much until I hear that UPS truck with the much awaited 140 bits.

Turn signal switch

2009-04-11T00:30:00.000-07:00

It's the little things that count. I can't stand it when people don't use their turn signals. I do however make exceptions for classic cars (knowing it's more likely a blown bulb or faulty wiring than lame driver). Not having working turn signals on the 140 was getting a little old, so I was pretty stoked to find this brand new turn signal switch on ebay. Funny thing is, I felt a bit guilty opening the original packaging. It's just that there are so few parts left for these cars, and now unfortunately... there are even fewer.

Custom wheels

2009-04-01T23:55:00.000-07:00

I want my 142 to sit on some custom 16 or 17" steel wheels. The 17" bmw 7 series wheel above is a pretty good starting point, but might be more trouble than it's worth. What I really would like it to achieve something like this silver 142. It has that "stock but still bad-ass" look that I'm after. I don't like the 70's grille and the racer fuel cap on this silver 140, the stock fule cap is beautiful how it lines up flush with the body trim. Also, I'm not going to put sparco seats in it for the racer look, but a cage isn't out of the question... mainly because it will do wonders for the chassis.

The reason to go custom steel is that you can specify the exact offset so the outer edge of the wheel comes flush with the fender lip. Then you run a 40 series low profile tire that's slightly smaller than the rim to tuck under the fender line. The ideal setup is for the fender to be a offset of the wheel.

It begins!

2009-03-25T21:35:00.000-07:00

I was just going to remove the battery tray to get in with the grinder to attack some rust, and the next thing I know... I've removed the wheels and I'm unbolting the front suspension.

Take a good look at this stuff now, because it's not staying this way!

The Brakes have a great little graphic... I'll bet you the G is for Girling!

1968 Volvo 140 Sales brochure

2009-03-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

Just picked this up off ebay. It will serve as a good reference as to what the interior should look like. plus it's a nice little artifact to own.

Recaro

2009-03-22T02:40:00.001-07:00

The stock interior is so minimal and cool that I want to restore it by replacing the worn out vinyl with the same color leather... but in the meantime, my bro has lent me a Recaro SE out of his airbagged 62 econoline... It's awaiting a full electric conversion, so needless to say it doesn't need a drivers seat right now.

Ooh dang!

2009-03-22T02:26:00.000-07:00

I ain't gonna lie. This piece has some rust, but it's all good, because I've got POR 15 ready to attack. These photos show all the rust under the battery tray. I was going to use the air tools tonight and get that metal all "ttub dekan", but I decided to let my neighbors enjoy the stillness of the night... Turns out it looks worse that it is, the metal doesn't have any holes from what I can tell and I can't find any weak spots.

Oakland Parking Tax

2009-03-22T02:16:00.000-07:00

My Neighbor calls it "Oakland Parking Tax", but I call it a pain in the ass. I felt like taxing the thief's face with swaybar when I saw what he did to my mint dash! If there was one thing on the car that I was almost 100% sure wasn't going to need any work... it was the crack-free dash. The stereo face wasn't even in the car, yet he had to break in and destroy this nearly impossible to find, original dash.

Thinking about a sting operation, with a booby trap. Might as well put it in the garage...

The Volvo B18

2009-03-22T02:09:00.001-07:00

From wikipedia:

Volvo Cars began manufacturing the Volvo 140 series at Torslandaverken in the late summer of 1966 and production continued through 1974.

Beginning with the 140 series, Volvo used a tri-digit nomenclature, indicating series, number of cylinders and number of doors. Thus, the series, which followed the Volvo Amazon and preceded the 200 series, consisted of the Volvo 142 coupe, 144 sedan, and 145 (estate).
The 140 was the first Volvo to feature a more rectilinear or boxy styling. Compared to the Volvo Amazon, the 140 was a radical departure with minimal exterior and interior carryover, notably the front split grille. The car's basic shape would survive into the 1990s as the 200 series.

The first 140s used the same 85 hp (63 kW) B18 engine as the Amazon, with both cars later getting the 2-litre B20 engine. Mechanically, the car used many of the same drivetrain components as the Amazon, but also showcased many improvements, including disc brakes on all four wheels. It was named car of the year in 1966 by Swedish magazine Teknikens Värld.

16" Black wheels

2009-03-22T00:17:00.001-07:00

I picked these up for the Lemons Car but they just looked too damn good on the 140. Plus the race car is out of the garage, so it's time to get cranking on the 140 project. They're not final, but they're a good in between. By the way... I'm selling the 14" 240 GL wheels it came with, email me if you want them :)

The shop is coming together nicely, we're painting the walls bright white, the ceiling matte black and eventually laying down a nice thick glossy clear epoxy coat on the floor.

We've been driving it around on the weekends. We don't take it far because it's super sketchy on the freeway... basically within walking distance of the house.

SSPP22 is in the way!

2009-03-22T00:10:00.000-07:00

Can't start the 140 project until we move this project.

New Grille!

2009-03-21T23:59:00.000-07:00

That's better! I found a mint condition original '68 aluminum grille on craigslist!

Here are some shots of the interior.

Rust, Dents and Rips

2009-03-21T23:50:00.000-07:00

40 years of loving has taken it's toll on this thing.

First Sight

2009-03-21T23:35:00.000-07:00

One day after work while heading home on the Bay Bridge I came up on this rad little 140S. The shear fact that it was keeping up with the flow of traffic was a good sign. All the other 140s I had looked at in the past were hoopties. This one had some minor body damage, but nothing scary. I started dreaming to myself how awesome one of these would be to fix up. Maybe with a 2.3 16v turbo motor, maybe turbo diesel out of a newer VW... or maybe even a crazy all electric conversion...

As I moved around to the drivers side I noticed it had a FOR SALE sign! Holy crap, now if I could only read the phone number... I'd at least like to test drive it!

I pulled along side the driver door but still couldn't read the phone number... I started thinking about following this dude to wherever he was headed... and then I realized that I could take a high res photo of the sign in the window... well it worked!

Just then, some jackass in an X5 swerved over and got on my tail. I moved out of his way, and he sped past me only to swerve in front of the 140 and slam on his brakes! Asshole! The brake-check made the little volvo dive hard to avoid smashing into the back of the bimmer. After all, it was one of the first cars sold with full disc brakes. The X5 took off fast with the 140 in hot pursuit! And me in hot pursuit of the 140... I didn't want my future whip getting in a pointless fender bender, so I decided to play a little interference... I was pretty surprised that the X5 couldn't shake the 140 even at 90mph!

I called up the owner and had a good laugh about the X5/140/R32 chase, and that weekend I met up with him to test drive the car. And now it's mine! My brother tailed me home in his xb.