New Car. 850R. with some nice Piccys.

[Niles]

its taken a while for me to get this up on this site. Anyway, for those whop don't use T5D5, here's a quick intro to my new car. I've been hunting for my ideal Volvo for 4 years now. Must be......Dark grey, be very high spec, not silly mileage & very well cared for, most important....not silly money. Lucky for me, in the end, I found it.

Quick summary.... '97 850R, manual, 142K, FULL history (80% genuine Volvo), 3 owners from new, very good condition. etc etc.
I Live in south east Kent & was prepared to travel wherever to pick it up. The search lead me too the forest of dean in Gloucestershire. Bit of a trek (245 miles each way) but 110% worth the effort. Car was an MOT failure on....rear brakes worn, 2 tired front ball joints & 1 tired steering track rod end. Easy fix so I bought it. As an MOT failure I couldn't drive it home. Spark up the trailer & rangey!!!!

Here it is. Waiting to go to its new home.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/2011_0108850R0003.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/2011_0108850R0004.jpg
Loaded up, due to the wheel size & tyres there was (no exaggeration) appx 1mm clearance on the trailer before I 'kerbed' the wheels to death. No choice, dont load it, dont take it home!!!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/2011_0108850R0006.jpg
Next day, some piccys by a mate who's a semi pro photographer. Better than me by miles.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/P850R012.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/P850R006.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/P850R009.jpg

The Volans had been powder coated with a very dull cheap looking battleship grey, so while the car is up having its turbo rebuilt (just me taking advantage of its 'sorn', i thought...do the wheels.
Nightmare!!! 2 days of paint stripper, more wirebrushing, lots of effort got me & my bud to this...
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/2011_0113850R0011.jpg

I gave up & shot off to a mates farm for some sandblasting. Leaving the wheels like this.......
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/2011_0113850R0019.jpg

Wont bore you with the full story of the wheels but here's 1 full coated with etch primer & base primer....
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/2011_0113850R0027.jpg
Followed by lashings (4 coats) of Volvo 177.3 dark silver
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/2011_0113850R0038.jpg
1 coat of clear lacquer followed by 2 coats of lacquer with 40 micron metal flake 50% midnight black & 50% steel silver. Then another 4 coats of clear lacquer. You get this....
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/2011_0114850R0014.jpg
Last picture taken in fluro light so next picture is in daylight next day.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/2011_0115850R0005.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/2011_0115850R0002.jpg

Jobs done in 6 spare time days.....

swapped exhaust manifold for an ME7
Rebuilt turbo (16T)
Drivers door checkstrap
Fitted new rear discs, pads & handbrake shoes
Front Discs & pads
Changed brake/clutch fluid to 5.1
New plugs, dizzy, rotor arm
poly top mounts
poly bottom mounts
2 new wishbones
fitted jetex exhaust.
fitted strut brace
fitted short shift kit
fitted HID's
fitted/painted headlight eyebrows
removed egg crate grille & replace original.
Replace rear wiper mechanism.
replace tailgate locking mechanism.
gearbox oil swap.
engine oils ok but will be changed very soon.

Still lots more to do before its the way I want it.

Got some H beam THS rods for it. RIP kit to go on. Lots of other bits too.
Tuesday morning (£££££££ bank holidays, hate them) will see the tyres going back on, the car is booked for its MOT @ 4pm.
Needs a good wash & polish, then I'll post some 'after my efforts' pictures.
Hope you all like.
(sorry if you've seen this all before on aforementioned Volvo site).

[Tomcat]

Nice, Should be a great car when it's finished, liking the finish on the Volans.

[Niles]

I love the wheels tom, to be honest my mate went a bit mad with the metal flake, in my minds eye there was less sparkles but in the flesh they look the nuts!!!!

[Jamest5r]

Looking very nice, the grey is the best colour after green :), think you can do better than a 16t Niles if your going for the Rods :).

Off topic i put a link to those VXR injectors in the other thread for you.

[The Flying Moose]

Really nice looking motor there Niles, very jealous indeed.

Best colour too in my opinion... I wonder why? ;)

That settles my decision ill be driving down in the Volvo to meet you when I get the seats and turbo without doubt, good photo opportunity!

[Niles]

colour code is 427. Graffite grey? Or gunmetal? By far my favourite colour.
I wanted to try to get a link to the site (DVLA??) that shows how many cars where made in what colour, how many are MOT'd & how many sorned. Just wondered if the rumours that there was only ever 6 Manual Met Grey 850R's is true. Probably not!! lol

@ James, i know what you mean about the rods. I'm saving up for a big Garrett. Cant remember where the post was re the injectors. Grrrrrr.
@ Mr Moose. Looking forward to meeting you. got a couple of T5 buddys who want us all to meet up.

[The Flying Moose]

I look forward to it mate. Will be nice to finally get the car as I want it and your expert knowledge should make fitting the seats a doddle.

Do you do refurbs for people out of interest? You could make some serious money on the side looking at that work.

[Jamest5r]

This is the thread,

http://www.vpcuk.org/forums/showthread.php?t=35708

Also ive got that dvla file if you want me to forward it to you pm me you email.

[Rnash2002]

Looks nice,love the colour of the volans.

[JelT5]

Lovely job Niles :)

[Wobbly Dave]

Wheels are fab. Lose the grill - it looks horrid. Good luck with the MOT

[Niles]

Wheels are fab. Lose the grill - it looks horrid. Good luck with the MOT

thanks. the grilles already sold & gone. The standard Volvo grille is now on & despite looking a little 'ordinary' looks much better. I want this car to look standard but go like a scalded cat off a polished shovel.

[Niles]

I look forward to it mate. Will be nice to finally get the car as I want it and your expert knowledge should make fitting the seats a doddle.

Do you do refurbs for people out of interest? You could make some serious money on the side looking at that work.

Fitting the seats wont take long mate. As for refurbs for others, I would BUT doing it this way would cost more than your local wheel refurb place (however, would a standard refurb shop do all that with the metal flake etc for their regular costs?, Doubt it). The paint alone was £112, money for sandblasting, plus the effort. To be honest it was a pain but I would do it again after finding the right places to go for service & paint etc. Takes a good few days to get them like that. Very much worth it in my opinion.
Thanks for all the kind comments.

[martybelfastt5]

looks fantastic mate wheels look perfect,love a good 850 write up!

[MIKESC70T5]

That is a real beauty. I really feel sorry for Tomcat . Niles motor was only £900 for a manual R in great condition from the start.

[Tomcat]

That is a real beauty. I really feel sorry for Tomcat . Niles motor was only £900 for a manual R in great condition from the start.

Me too, although either way the damn thing would still be sat on the drive doing nothing.

[Niles]

Couple more jobs done today & forgot my camera!! D'oh!!!!

[shrekblackR]

Very cool looking motor pal

[AndysR]

Love it, looks like the car has definately gone to a good home.

Oh and it would be rude of me not to mention that, naturally, it's in the best colour. :)

[Jim S70R]

Nice looking car bud, you've deffinty been working hard to get it back up to scratch, fingers crossed it's all good for the mot tomorrow.

[Niles]

quick update. Euro car parts said they will deliver the bits at 11.30, went out to get the tyres fitted & returned with bob at 11.15. Delivery lady had come & then went without leaving the parts with my workshop neighbours. GRRRRRR. mot was booked at 4, delivery lady said she'd be back ASAP, asap = 3.45. Rebooked the MOT for 10.45am on Wednesday morning.

[AndysR]

Always the best laid plans which go to pot... Still at least the end of the tunnel is still well and truly in your sights..

[Niles]

all the failure parts on the previous MOT were done. Passed on all those issues & even got a comment from the tester saying 'that's in fantastic condition for a 15 year old car mate!! Lovely car!!' Failed today on the front drivers side brake hose!! When will MOT stations ever have a standard??!! It passed in the last MOT & now it failed on that. The nut on the copper pipe end is buggered & I cant get it off. No choice but to cut it off & flare a new fitting. Trouble is....I don't have a flaring tool. Morning mission = scrounge a flaring tool or nip to a mate & get him to do it. Bloody annoying!!!!!!!

[AndysR]

Ah that's a shame, but if there was a slight question on the brakes doing the repair is for the best. How did the morning mission go?

[Niles]

Ah that's a shame, but if there was a slight question on the brakes doing the repair is for the best. How did the morning mission go?

passed!!! :partysmil

[Niles]

couple of piccys taken by me last night, few more from my pro photo mate later. (In comparison?...these aren't so good & I'm sure his will be much better).

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/Rnice2.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/Rnice1.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/2011_0120850R0034.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/Rnice3.jpg

[Murphy]

Very nice example :)

[Niles]

More bits done today. Sorted the failed dash/switch bulbs, fitted my Jetex 2.5" pipe & fitted the decatted down pipe. Sounds like a monster now!! Very responsive & honestly....bit scarred to floor it!! lol. More stuff to do over the weekend including fit my RIP kit.

[james]

couple of piccys taken by me last night, few more from my pro photo mate later. (In comparison?...these aren't so good & I'm sure his will be much better).

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/Rnice2.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/Rnice1.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/2011_0120850R0034.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/Rnice3.jpg


looking lovley sir

the only thing thats lets it down is the front bumper top

hope u dont mind me saying that

[The Flying Moose]

Looking very nice indeed Niles, glad to hear you are all above board and legal now! The alloys really do look like the business fitted.

Mine is in for MOT on Monday fingers crossed too, it gets pampered so should be ok.

[Jamest5r]

Looking very nice mate, fancy coming to Avon on the 10th to show it off :)

[Niles]

looking lovley sir

the only thing thats lets it down is the front bumper top

hope u dont mind me saying that

I dont mind mate. The bumper top is in very good condition. Mrs Niles wants to treat the plastic trim bits with bumper dye over the weekend. thats her job not mine. lol.

[Niles]

Looking very nice mate, fancy coming to Avon on the 10th to show it off :)

Avon? do you mean Combe? Whats at Avon? (other than lipstick & vast assortment of quality but affordable cosmetics? lol)

[rikcougar]

Nice Niles, the more of these I see the more I want one.

[The Flying Moose]

Avon? do you mean Combe? Whats at Avon? (other than lipstick & vast assortment of quality but affordable cosmetics? lol)

Your wife doesnt work for Avon does she? That advertisement almost fooled me!

I believe he means Stratford Upon Avon, more specifically Shakespeare Raceway.

[Niles]

Your wife doesnt work for Avon does she? That advertisement almost fooled me!

I believe he means Stratford Upon Avon, more specifically Shakespeare Raceway.

I was kidding mate. No she doesn't work for them. I checked the route & its 188 miles each way journey. Looks fun but it'll cost me plenty pennies for a 'day out'.

[The Flying Moose]

I was kidding mate. No she doesn't work for them. I checked the route & its 188 miles each way journey. Looks fun but it'll cost me plenty pennies for a 'day out'.

Yeah its a fair old distance from you then, I thought my 250 mile round trip was bad enough, usually costs around £140 for the day... so by no means cheap but a rare treat ;)