AcidicDavey's 98 V70 AWD - The not an R or T5 thread! [Archive]

AcidicDavey

Thursday 7th November 2013, 21:37

Hello all.

Well here we are, having traded the lovely C70 after just 3 months of ownership the other week for a 205 I miss driving a Volvo....again!

This, for those that don't know, is my late Father's car. He bought it in April 2007 completely standard and died in the December that year having hardly driven it. I was 15 when I took charge of the car, a long time to wait until I could drive it I tell you!

I started a thread for the car on volvoforums.org.uk in 2009 so the full story is there if you're interested. I'll have a quick round up below.

Once I passed my test in November 2009 at 17 I obviously couldn't afford to insure this so I bought a 00 BMW 316i Compact. I sold that one year later (to the day) as I had a years no claims and insurance was a bit more realistic, £4500 @ 17 down to £1800 @ 18 with 1 years no claims. In November 2010 it was ready to get the car on the road for the first time in over 3 years. I spent a month gathering parts and had a slot free in a half term break to take the car down to college to work on the car with no ££££s about!

In that couple of days we fully serviced the car, fitted a Jetex exhaust, and sorted a couple of other little things ready for it's MOT. It passed after having it's front brakes cleaned up a bit. There, legally on the road for the first time in over 3 years, driving a huge Volvo estate at 18, my Dad's Volvo estate. ;)

It must have looked weird, a scruffy young git running around in an old Volvo.

In December '10 I nearly totalled the car in the extreme snow we had. I was going down a hill laughing at the 2wd morons failing to get up it and forgot about the crossroads just ahead! I was hurtling along at 40 or so and went straight into the high verge dead ahead! Thankfully there were no cars passing on the road or the car, well...you get the picture! My passengers were pissing themselves as I reversed off the verge, leaving bits of Volvo behind. A quick check saw that there were no leaks so on we went! It turned out that I'd bent the bumper, fog light brackets, dented the subframe and intercooler and even smashed both radiator mounts, it was hanging by just it's hoses! A new one was obviously ordered and fitted. It was a good lesson that AWD doesn't help you come to a stop. Thankfully I hadn't had the bumpers resprayed until after the incident!

So January 2011 saw the front and rear bumpers resprayed professionally along with a rare as hens teeth Heico splitter fitted. A good eBay find that ;).

I went on to fit a horrid silver rear bumper guard which is still on the car now, tried to remove it and the excellent tape used has ruined the paint! I'll either get a black guard or wrap it in something jazzy :D!

Feb saw some 302s fitted on the front and that meant different wheels as the Pureus (or whatever they're called) don't fit over them, I didn't know that until after I fitted the brakes over! Quick swap over to 280s then and I got some Tethys S60 wheels. Nice. The first swap of many I'm sure!

In March 2011 though I thought it was it. Got home from Asda and the gearbox was slipping, got out of the car and found a nice trail of red fluid. Took the car off the road as I thought a seal had failed or something. Bought a lovely 480 but it turned out the atf leak was from one of the cooler lines that worked loose, that was it, I bought a different car for nothing!

Due to the 480's lack of working correctly I had to get the V70 back on the road in June as we were going on a little holiday in a couple of days time. The car was perfect after it's 3 month rest. Here's a photo of it as it was then.
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww227/AcidicDavey/98%20V70%20AWD/Amroth001.jpg (http://s722.photobucket.com/user/AcidicDavey/media/98%20V70%20AWD/Amroth001.jpg.html)

During the 'holiday' the car developed a knock. It turned out to be the rubber mount halfway down, I removed it and it's been on the garage floor ever since. I also fitted a BOV for some reason lol, you barely hear it being an auto of course.

October 2011 saw genuine rear spoiler and a black mesh grill.

December I belatedly fitted a little tribute to my old man on the tailgate.

March 2012 I sourced some C70 Comets and had them resprayed in a dark colour, looked ace on it!

Removed the roof rails for a cleaner look and that was pretty much the last thing I did to the car as I took it off the road in June 2012 for a fling with a Golf and it hasn't been on the road since as I've been driving other tat. Golf went in October and I got that 480 back on the road and then sold that in July 2013 and got the C70 T5, just traded that for the 205 GTi and we're up to date!

This is what the car looks like now having given it's wheels to the C70.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3760/10730099443_b0dfe3556f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/10730099443/)
05-11-13 001 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/10730099443/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2880/10729910344_101fe4c61d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/10729910344/)
05-11-13 002 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/10729910344/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

It's filthy and running way too high. I'm thinking that I will be selling the 205 (Yes, I haven't even had it 2 weeks!) and getting this beast back out there.

So there it is, not much will happen for a while but this is out there now.

V70 Graham

Thursday 7th November 2013, 21:46

I see what you mean about that rear bumper protector !

The rest of the car does look very nice, especially that front splitter.....should be a no brainer getting shot of the 205 to have this back to her former glory.

Biff

Thursday 7th November 2013, 21:58

It looks well mate! Do you plan on tuning it?
It's good it has sentimental value &sure your dad would be proud. :)

AcidicDavey

Saturday 9th November 2013, 19:32

Cheers chaps ;)

I realised after writing this thread on Thursday it would have actually been my Father's birthday on the 7th, how weird is that!?

I do like driving the little 205 but I do seriously think it's time to get this back out there now hence me starting this here.

Mind, I do wish I didn't have emotional attachment to the car, it was for sale in 2008 and someone made an offer and left a deposit and then later pulled out of the deal and we took it off the market. It could have been very different now couldn't it?

My plans for the car are nothing drastic right now, just to get it safe again. Then I will look into getting it ride right as this monster truck ride height is quite comical too!

The engine bay is probably the dirtiest one on the forums at the moment, I'll upload a few more photos soon.

Biff

Saturday 9th November 2013, 22:30

AcidicDavey

Monday 11th November 2013, 23:30

M-R-P

Monday 11th November 2013, 23:32

Biff

Monday 11th November 2013, 23:50

Ok, I'm going to say it, I absolutely hate the 205, it is going when the V5 arrives! ;(

Yes it's fun and handles a dream but it's bloody annoying! When it's cold it stalls unless you give it a little rev so you have to sit there holding it at 1.5k before driving off or else it'll cut out when you come to a stop again. Ok, I know it's not a huge issue, probably just needs a good clean through of the breather pipes etc but I'm so lacking the enthusiasm for it right now. I've only had it 2 weeks but I feel like I've had it ages, not a good sign...

I still don't quite know if I want to get this back on the road or buy something else, I guess once I have the money in my hands and see what's on the market then I'll be able to make a decision.

If I didn't have any sentimental attachment to this car it would have been broken a long time ago...

The car does have a few issues...
It hasn't been started once since last November as there's no battery, borrowed it for a different car.
One front wheel bearing has failed,
No handbrake and one rear wheel is difficult to turn,
Cambelt change is due as it was last done 8 years ago (but only 35000 miles ago!,
There were various suspension noises when the car was on the road.

Bloody cars, maybe it's me actually!

Mate sort it out! Are you kidding me? Those problems can be sorted quite easily & instead of wasting money on old French cars spend it on your sweed. You liked the c70 but seems such a waste you not using your v70. It still has the potential to beat any "gti" on the driver stakes & I bet if you put a battery on it & a fluid change it will start.
I love my big v70. I've spent many a late night working on it on fiddly little jobs like that. Mines getting to a stage now where it feels a different car. Especially when it performs like it did tonight. :)
Mot Friday, if it passes it's been well worth it & I don't have to sit on the accelerator to warm it up which I will as my mate with the pugs as he has had trouble with them idling.

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 12th November 2013, 00:23

Biff

Tuesday 12th November 2013, 00:35

I must say I am a twit. Regularly make brash decisions and then suffer afterwards :(

I do struggle to find motivation sometimes and I am a dirty poor child so little issues can sometimes be difficult to fund.

I need to sort my whole life out nevermind just the cars...

Good luck with the Mot on Friday... ;)
Thanks mate, I need it.
Needs to be said mate as it's a tidy looking car & to be an enthusiast you need enthusiasm.
If I were rich I wouldn't be driving an r reg Volvo mate, I'd be driving a polestar!

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 12th November 2013, 22:02

Right, I tried to do a couple of things to this old thing today, let me explain...

I've been noticing some dripping in the boot on the blind, I thought that maybe it was from one of the holes from the roof rails left behind when I removed them last year. Since I decided to have a look it was also a good time to fit some replacement boot struts that I bought in 2010 I think!

When I removed the trim this is what I was faced with...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7317/10826623223_4e697b1bdd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/10826623223/)
Damp Hinge (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/10826623223/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

I have no idea where it's got in or if it's just there due to the fact the sun literally never shines on that part of the car due to it's positioning, I've dried it all out so I'll keep checking back to see if any water is getting in.

I removed the one old strut with difficulty but couldn't get my replacement ScanTech ones on! I could get each ball on separately but I couldn't get both ends in place at the same time as the strut is slightly too long and I can't compress it even slightly to help with fitting.

How useless am I eh?

So I just left the boot in bits and I'll tackle it another time.

I did find the time to detail the 205 a little, it does look great all things considered. And yeah, the wheels got refurbed...

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5479/10825909603_4bef6ce063_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/10825909603/)
12-11-13 001 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/10825909603/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2816/10825726674_0c87735bdc_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/10825726674/)
12-11-13 003 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/10825726674/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Still going mind.

AcidicDavey

Thursday 2nd January 2014, 23:27

Hey all,

Thought I'd update this. I sold the 205 on 11/12/13 (for a good amount, boy did I nearly get my fingers burnt with that one!) and bought this later that week...

These photos were taken a couple of days ago after a thorough 2 day cleaning session!

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3823/11627297713_042814ddb0_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3804/11626937875_93a84b3594_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5483/11627675236_6ef48d9b83_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2891/11627197044_b72fb36503_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2848/11627479396_1f61fcc426_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3764/11627438186_d1efee6b33_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3736/11626603195_9d3dc579d0_b.jpg

Link to full album... (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/sets/72157639158575694/)

When I got it had the teardrop alloys on it but a week later I put those GTA wheels on it.

I love it, yes, I'm driving a car I love again! :D

I think I prefer it to the 480 Celeb I had that I sold in July and damn I loved that car!

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3689/9268848901_a8ede084e8_b.jpg

I do keep thinking about this V70 but I don't bloody know....:(

merc85

Thursday 2nd January 2014, 23:37

Id love a GTV but just not brave enough to own one, :( does everything work on it? what does it drive like?

AcidicDavey

Thursday 2nd January 2014, 23:48

Id love a GTV but just not brave enough to own one, :( does everything work on it? what does it drive like?

It drives, well, fantastically! These have a slight bit of passive rear steering so the turn in is amazing, even compared to the 205! The steering is very quick too, just under one full turn off centre to full lock.

You really shouldn't be scared of these modern Alfas, the only persistent issue these have are the electric windows sticking, this one however is perfect, even the AC works.

One thing to be aware of though is that the TS engined Alfas are known to snap their belts so have a regular interval for a of swap every 3 years.

The twin spark unit is a great engine. This model is a 2.0 with 155bhp which makes it quick enough. No, it's not going to set the world alight but the impressive thing is just how darn smooth it is! Sounds great too, kind of barks which gets more aggressive the higher the revs get.

All in all, if you can find one that's had it's belts recently changed and live with the terrible practicality then go for it.

Buy wise and you won't regret it ;)

Gold 'N' Brown

Thursday 2nd January 2014, 23:54

Id love a GTV but just not brave enough to own one, :( does everything work on it? what does it drive like?

Why do you feel you aren't brave enough? Is it because all Alfas are so terribly unreliable? :blahblah: Just like how all Volvos are driven by old men in flat caps who always drive sensibly? :wink:

@AcideDavey - how much did you get for the GTI? Surprised you didn't gel with it, but they can be a pretty frustrating experience when they don't run right. My first 1.6 going back 11 years ago was an asshat for stalling too. I was forever making adjustments to the idle speed but it would always idle too high when cold, or stall if set at the correct speed. Back then I didn't know enough about them to sort it out. They're pretty simple to set up in theory but most owners do seem to struggle getting it right, and of course these days the main parts are always worn and new parts like the airflow sensor can't be bought new.

Anyway, hope you enjoy the GTV. I'll have a black V6 with red leather and a Wizardovoz exhaust please :pimp2:

merc85

Thursday 2nd January 2014, 23:55

Beautiful car mate, and nice write up :)

AcidicDavey

Thursday 2nd January 2014, 23:55

Or just get a V6, same insurance, no different on fuel to a T5... But they sound the biz!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laAh-rdgpPA

AcidicDavey

Friday 3rd January 2014, 00:06

Well I had to jump start a friends Mazda MX5 the other day so what does that say? And yes, before that he was taking the piss out of me for getting a car that will never work lol

TBH, I hated the 205, it didn't do traffic nicely, the steering tried to self centre too much and there was too much lock and as the steering was heavier the more you turned it didn't make for a great drive imo. I admit I never drove it on a proper road but in my world it didn't work well :(

I was desperate to get rid of it, I kept finding too many issues (there was a hole in the inner wing big enough to stick your hand through). Me being me I wrote a detailed and honest ad, listed it on eBay and the first viewer a couple of days later it was bought out for £1250. Not bad considering I paid £1000 for the C70 and swapped it straight for the 205. Still got some bits from it to sell too ;)

Gold 'N' Brown

Friday 3rd January 2014, 00:16

TBH, I hated the 205, it didn't do traffic nicely, the steering tried to self centre too much and there was too much lock and as the steering was heavier the more you turned it didn't make for a great drive imo. I admit I never drove it on a proper road but in my world it didn't work well :(

I was desperate to get rid of it, I kept finding too many issues (there was a hole in the inner wing big enough to stick your hand through).

205 values are on the up at last so not surprised you did well with the sale. And it looked to scrub up well in the pics. The problems you described are not normal for a 205 GTI (I'm sure you probably know that though) so your opinion has been tainted by a bad experience. You probably could have sorted it quite easily and for little money, but equally it could have turned in to a never ending project, to be SORNed for ever more (seems to be the norm these days, and I speak from my own experience too). If your heart wasn't in it, then you made the right move.

Here's some more GTV porn. The aforementioned "Wizard" exhaust for the higher pitched "mini-Ferrari" sound (also pure coincidence that it just happens to be a black GTV with red leather. Lucky swine:hail:

http://youtu.be/qZNneQDo9SA

AcidicDavey

Friday 3rd January 2014, 00:26

I guess you've got to remember that 205s are getting on a bit now and they've all been abused. I think the one I had probably was in a crash at some point in it's life. The buyer knew the story and was happy with it so everyone's cool :). 'Restored' examples are advertised for stupid figures.

I do wish I didn't buy a Silver GTV but I bought this one due to it's great history, custom exhaust and those lovely innards! It's a Lusso 'Red Style' which gives it the Red dash and Black carpet ;). It really is a lovely place to be.

I also wish I could have got a V6, the little difference in insurance is a real surprise. Just a £13 difference for myself @ 21 between this TS and a 99 V6 but they make twice as much money and more so I couldn't afford it.

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 11th February 2014, 18:50

Parts are on the way!

This car, if you couldn't guess, is most definitely going on the road shortly. The Alfa will be prepared for sale (just waiting on some wheels...), there is nothing wrong with it but I just really need to get this car out there again now.

When the car was on the road last back in June 2012 I think there was a failing wheel bearing so I've ordered a new genuine one, passenger front I think (...and hope!). The cambelt was changed about 28k miles ago but that was 10 years ago now so that needs changing.

I've ordered a couple of little rechargeable dehumidifiers and I'll get a big bag of table salt to help dry out the car. A pic below showing all the steamed up windows, dripping trim and mold growing everywhere. I've wiped away all the mold from everywhere and I'm regularly propping open the boot to air it out.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3817/12463069164_c899f3ed71_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/12463069164/)
Damp V70 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/12463069164/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

In the next few days I'm going to try and clean up under here, it is a bloody mess!
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2820/12463084604_1835be9b89_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/12463084604/)
11-02-14 001 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/12463084604/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

I think I'll get rid of the silly chav valve!

I removed that mank silver rear bumper cover today too, the paint was worse than I was expecting... There is still some of the tape crap left but that doesn't matter at the moment, I'll just use a heat gun to help get that off. I was shocked to find that there are tonnes of little bubbles/pimples to the paint, don't know whether that is solely because of the cover stuck over it or because of a ££££ paintjob. Oh well, I'm not bothered about it, when I had the bumper painted in January 2011 there was a scuff on the corner anyway. I'm not going to repaint it but I'm going to cover the top of the bumper with a funky vinyl instead. I will warn you though, most won't like what I've planned ;).

Here's a pic after a wipe down and a quick sanding to level off all the bubbles...
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7348/12463093594_44af0443f6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/12463093594/)
11-02-14 002 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/12463093594/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Really doesn't look like a cared for car does it?

The fun stuff will start after the car is safe, serviced and MOT'd ;)

AcidicDavey

Sunday 2nd March 2014, 20:55

The car is almost certainly getting sorted........promise ;)

The Alfa is currently for sale, see here. (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251462648094?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649)

It's doing well but I've agreed a sale so should be gone Wednesday hopefully.

All bits have been bought for this car now; genuine wheel bearing, front drop links, battery and a few other little odds and sods.

I bought a Simota Carbon Filter thingy off Jamest5r so I'll be bunging that on once I've finished cleaning up the bay.

Also bought some more Comets off T5frankie (they'll be the 3rd set on this car!), they need painting and I'll have a go at painting them myself since I have some paint knocking about, Ford Graphite Grey. Seen them in that colour before and they look great!

Tinted the fog lights to boost enthusiasm!

https://v4s1.yimg.com/sj/2893/12839607285_8aa92da43f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/12839607285/)
Yellow Tinted Fogs 001 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/12839607285/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://v4s2.yimg.com/sk/3686/12840040874_637a6c1ec1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/12840040874/)
Yellow Tinted Fogs 002 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/12840040874/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

MOT maybe in a week or so?

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 4th March 2014, 19:32

All back together and cleaned up. Forgot to dress the slam panel and I need to get the inlet manifold cleaner but it's a lot better than the last pic!
Got my Chav filter on, wonder how it sounds?

https://v4s2.yimg.com/so/7303/12933693034_727127ae93_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/12933693034/)
04-03-14 001 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/12933693034/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

It's strange cleaning up the engine bay on a Volvo, what's the point? On the Alfa however you need it clean as you have no idea when you're going to have to open the bonnet once you inevitably break down lol

Battery arrived this morning, got some fuel in the can today too.
I'll record the big start (as I've got nothing better to do), it'll probably be the least eventful video ever!

Can't be bothered to start it until the Alfa is gone! Got a viewing tomorrow, wish me luck ;)

jamesy12345

Wednesday 5th March 2014, 03:03

Good luck fella, I guess you are missing Poppy the 480 :)

As usual your advert (for the Alfa) is very good, full of detail............what's next though?? :) Is the V70 going to be your main car for now....?

http://www.frost.co.uk/vent-a-space-prevent-damp-air-breeds-moulds-mildrew-mini-aircon.html

For the damp......

artfulflounder

Wednesday 5th March 2014, 11:46

Looking very clean under there.....what products you using on the hosing and plastics?

AcidicDavey

Thursday 6th March 2014, 18:39

The Volvo will go on the road and stay on the road! Yes James, I really miss the 480, I flippin loved that car, boy did it shine!

Can't afford to run 2 cars and even if I could I'd only use one due to our drive lol

I bought some small little rechargeable dehumidifiers which are actually doing a bloody good job. Also, cleaning away all the filth and mold from window seals and gutter trims has stopped it steaming up. Car hasn't had a wash since April, hate washing this thing as it is huge but it does look good when done, I'll do a full detail on it eventually.

When cleaning up engine bays I simply use a damp rag to wipe away dirt and once dry dress all the plastics with Meguiars Endurance Tyre Gel on a dedicated microfibre, lasts for ages (as it's not washed off under the bonnet) and the water beads nicely on it too, I use it on exterior black trim too you see ;)

jamesy12345

Friday 7th March 2014, 02:29

artfulflounder

Friday 7th March 2014, 06:11

I'd only tried the autoglym rubber stuff and its pretty pants.
Never lasted long and always went streaky on bumpers after a shower.

I'll pick up some meguiars and give it a whirl.

cheers for the help.

V70 Graham

Friday 7th March 2014, 08:25

+1 for the Meguires Endurance tyre gel tip, it works really well.

M-R-P

Friday 7th March 2014, 08:41

Yep - megs tyre gel... I bought a bottle last year, use it on tyres, plastics, exterior trims, engine hoses, wiper arms etc. I do both my cars with it, other people's cars and you all know how often I detail the Sweed (she's long overdue for a big session, expect pics ;) ) and yet I still have half a bottle left! bloody good stuff and goes a very long way indeed.

AcidicDavey

Friday 7th March 2014, 19:50

Yes it is indeed great stuff! Only use one rag for it though, it's very messy stuff, and don't drive until it's dry or else it'll get flung off the tyres or dirt will stick to it.

It was even great at restoring the finish on faded light units...
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2855/9370736757_5d7f38f0b8_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/9370736757/)
25-07-13 004 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/9370736757/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

These are the dehumidifiers I bought (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111105806076?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649), they need recharging every week or so but then my car was seriously wet in there and now there is no sign since giving the car a scrubbing on Wednesday, there was literally stuff growing in the gutters! Haven't washed the poor thing since April, it really does need my attention!

AcidicDavey

Monday 10th March 2014, 19:25

I sold the GTV on Saturday, £1100, happy with that :)

Yesterday though I went and delayed getting the Volvo back on the road again....I bought a different Alfa!

In my defence it is a bloody nice one.

3.0 V6 166 with factory Zender Bodykit, upgraded wheels and factory sports suspension.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7444/13066353393_7e7fb0874d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13066353393/)
10-03-14 001 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13066353393/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3070/13066220465_6dbfcd317c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13066220465/)
10-03-14 002 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13066220465/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2655/13066327193_1031e1b64c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13066327193/)
10-03-14 003 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13066327193/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3556/13066314543_e9572a5f74_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13066314543/)
Engine Bay 001 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13066314543/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3439/13066513374_f3185cb355_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13066513374/)
Interior 001 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13066513374/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

I'm happy, but for how long lol

T5frankie

Monday 10th March 2014, 19:25

AcidicDavey

Monday 10th March 2014, 19:44

Only £50 more than the knackered GTV sold for and the seller even delivered it from Essex too for that price!

I'm a happy boy. Ok, lacquer peel to front bumper, side skirt hanging off, dent in wing, crap paint on rear bumper aside; it's a lovely car!

Complete history (and I really do mean complete!), original bill of sale, every MOT (even the receipts for the MOTs!) and even the build completion certificate from the factory! Everything!

artfulflounder

Monday 10th March 2014, 19:58

That is a hell of a lot of car for that.

looks like it got looked after , bet you've cleaned it already.

AcidicDavey

Monday 10th March 2014, 20:02

Of course I have ;)

Looked like this yesterday!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7360/13041223164_76c437e203_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13041223164/)
09-03-14 001 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13041223164/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

jamesy12345

Tuesday 11th March 2014, 03:58

Wow mate that looks really good already and you've only had it a very short time. Not been lowered at all? Looks low for factory

Jim S70R

Tuesday 11th March 2014, 12:49

Love the noise from that V6 lump, lush!! Looks like a lovely motor.

AcidicDavey

Wednesday 12th March 2014, 20:09

The car was supplied new with Alfa Lowering springs, it is stupidly low though so might have been lowered later?

It sounds great but it is a bit quiet :P

I finished cleaning up the car yesterday, here's my routine...

- Clear arches of muck,
- Rinse and brush wheels with an old washing up brush,
- Rinse whole car,
- Wash car using the two bucket method with Bilt Hamber Shampoo starting with the roof then windows, bonnet, front bumper, boot lid, drivers' side upper half then passenger's, rear bumper, drivers' lower half then passenger's.
- Rinse with the hose from the top of the car aiming down,
- Dry glass with micro fibre towel.
- Clay whole car one panel at a time using Bilt Hamber Soft Clay Bar and tap water as a lubricant in a water mister.
- Polish each panel one by one with Bilt Hamber Cleanser Polish on a sponge applicator and using a microfibre cloth to buff,
- Seal each panel one by one with Bilt Hamber Auto Balm on a sponge applicator and using a microfibre cloth to buff off.
- Polish wheels with the above method and then seal with Poor Boy's Wheel Sealant.
- Dress tyres and black trim with Meguiars' Endurance Tyre Gel,
- Polish exhaust tip with Brassol on an old rag.
- Step back and be amazed!

Hell of a lot of work but my goodness is she shining!

Had someone come up to me and say "Wow, she looks very good for a car of that age!" :)

Here is the car today after its' cleaning session yesterday and Monday, link to full album here. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/sets/72157642259242405/) Here are a few...

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2134/13110368435_383b24f6c3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13110368435/)
12-03-14 001 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13110368435/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7457/13110356895_b0540a4e52_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13110356895/)
12-03-14 002 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13110356895/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7437/13110375693_6c6566e2b2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13110375693/)
12-03-14 010 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13110375693/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

It's the first car I've ever owned where I have no inclination to change the wheels, love them :)

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2004/13110536374_cb75f3a16b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13110536374/)
12-03-14 012 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13110536374/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3764/13110348173_a362da6682_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13110348173/)
12-03-14 013 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13110348173/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7363/13110498884_3e2bdc652c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13110498884/)
12-03-14 018 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13110498884/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

I love this sticker in the upper corner of the windscreen, it's Alfa for "Warning! This car will stain your driveway!" :D

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3685/13110301213_a054ff4017_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13110301213/)
12-03-14 019 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13110301213/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

The details of this car are fantastic, ok I would imagine a lot of modern executive stuff features similar stuff but here you go... The interior courtesy lights fade on and off when appropriate, the radio fades too even when you change the station, the one fades out and the new option fades in. The handbrake light flashes so it is more obvious and it isn't possible to remove the key 25 seconds after switching the engine off without pulling a little hidden tab to prevent it being nicked I guess.

The gearbox is clever too, when stationary in park you can't move the gear knob unless the brake pedal is pressed. It changes down while braking when in Drive to help slow you further using engine braking, it's a very strange auto. When I first got the car I thought something was wrong with it as once you kickdown and then let off the throttle a bit it holds onto a gear, this is because the car goes into 'Sporty' mode.

I used to hate auto boxes, what I hate now is the auto box in the V70, this one is very impressive...

merc85

Wednesday 12th March 2014, 20:25

Lovely car, whats the performance like??

AcidicDavey

Wednesday 12th March 2014, 20:55

It pulls really well, not like a T5 of course, the power is always there no matter what gear you're in, so torquey :)

Apparently they all handle well but this is superb frankly, no roll, direct steering etc

More important than all that though, this car just makes you feel special.

T5frankie

Wednesday 12th March 2014, 20:57

AcidicDavey

Saturday 15th March 2014, 21:54

I'm not sure how to put this so here we go....

Just put fuel in the Alfa yesterday afternoon, about a mile later the transmission light started flashing, then the battery light came on and a huge screeching from the driver's front. Turned around and went home. Turned the car off and started it again to hear the bottom end starting to give up and then when I got out of the car there was a pool of brake fluid under the rear of the car.

Started it this morning and it's puffing out blue smoke, the gearbox is beeping like mad when you put it in gear and a warning about the air conditioning came up on the dash.

How can so many thing all go wrong at once? At least I haven't spent any money on the car so less to lose and I have no choice but to break the car. Boy it's going to hurt as I had fallen for this car so hard, oh well...

You may be able to see where this is going... The dismantling of the Alfa will mean I need the flat part of the drive free so I have no choice but to get the Volvo on the road!

I bought a battery for it the other week and I have it charging in the safety of my bedroom lol

On Wednesday the wheels arrived from Frankie, they definitely need some paint but I knew that of course, they're too bad for me to do a proper job so I'll get a pro to do them, I know someone that knows someone who knows someone who does powder coating so I might be able to get them done cheap :)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3812/13174816665_934c05bbd8_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13174816665/)
V70R Comets 001 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13174816665/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7028/13175077414_efebcf5c8a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13175077414/)
V70R Comets 002 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13175077414/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

I wasn't sure what colour I wanted to have them but once offering them up to the car I am pretty sure I want them done the same colour again.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3704/13174757365_2939d81159_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13174757365/)
V70R Comets 003 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13174757365/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Pretty sure I needed to replace the front droplinks for the MOT! The old ones were cheap eBay items, lasted for about 12 months driving. Avoid! Avoid! Avoid!
I've gone for Meyle HD links for £44 the pair delivered, they're thicker and the rubber boots feel thicker too so they should improve the dead steering feel these cars have and more importantly last!

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2848/13174775055_d1b933f939_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13174775055/)
Droplinks 001 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13174775055/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3761/13175068194_ea07cb6628_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13175068194/)
Droplinks 002 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13175068194/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

And the last shot of the Alfa on the road.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3789/13174786775_dcff1d890e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13174786775/)
14-03-14 001 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13174786775/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

artfulflounder

Saturday 15th March 2014, 22:28

Gutted for you about the alfa mate.

The alfa wheels are 5x108 I think......

V70 Graham

Saturday 15th March 2014, 22:44

Wow, so many things wrong all at once, shame as you said you were getting to quite like the car.

Hope you get the Volvo back on the road with no problems.....maybe get the battery out of the bedroom though !

AcidicDavey

Saturday 15th March 2014, 22:58

Truly gutted but on a brighter note I will get a lot more for it in bits than what I paid for it. I think that possibly the V70 was beating it up or something when I wasn't around lol! That V6 was lovely for the 120 miles it lasted :D

These 166s are 5x108 yeah (but with a smaller cb) so I'll consider trying them but they're worth good money so....

AcidicDavey

Wednesday 19th March 2014, 20:22

After much thought and deliberation I popped the tax disc off in the post from the windscreen of the Alfa. I'm not selling it and I doubt I'll be breaking it either, the more I thought about it, the more I thought the grumbling from the engine is just an idler or tensioner on its way out. For now it can go on a Sorn until I decide what to do with it.... it's the new V70!!!

This afternoon I went off with me green can and got some fresh fuel, put the new battery in this car and put the petrol in. It has lower miles on it than I thought, 117700, hasn't had a battery in it since October 2012. In prep of the big start all I've done is check the fluids, clean the plugs and cranked it over without the kinglead on the coil. After completing the ignition circuit and hopping back in it fired immediately! It started more confidently than any car I've owned! Yes, it was a little bit tapperty until it warmed up but it hasn't ran for 17 months or so you can't blame it! No smoke or warning lights.

Started the Alfa with no drama, moved it off the drive and then did the same with the V70. When I moved the Alfa again the grumbling was apparent more than ever :(. The sideskirts scraped getting to its' resting place lol! I then of course took the V70 for a little and gentle spin around the block. I dared not take it to 30mph due to the huge noise coming from the n/s/f. The wheel bearing of course (the reason I took it off the road back in June 2012), it's got a lot worse from sitting still, I've got a new genuine one but that's a job I'm having to give to my garage due to a complete lack of tools, I don't even have a breaker bar!

Oh well, the car is booked into the garage for its' wheel bearing swap and MOT on Friday, they'll chuck the new oil and filter on too since they've got it.

Here are a couple pics to PROVE it's going on the road :D

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2847/13272912394_8e6a8e64fb_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13272912394/)
V70 vs. 166 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13272912394/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Ignore the puddle under the car, that's brake fluid from the Alfa!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7421/13272589895_d188fa3a13_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13272589895/)
19-03-14 001 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/13272589895/) by AcidicDavey (http://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Well there we go, I can't see the car failing on anything (unless they test it before doing the bearing perhaps!), I'll update when I know...

jamesy12345

Thursday 20th March 2014, 02:53

Well sorry to hear about the Alpha but tbh glad it got the Volvo off the drive!!

The Comets look good, think a nice silver grill would balance it a little

V70 Graham

Thursday 20th March 2014, 08:26

Glad to see the Volvo on the road, good luck for tomorrow.

AcidicDavey

Thursday 20th March 2014, 19:03

Cheers chaps ;)

I bloody love the Alfa, don't know what I'm going to do with the beauty :(

Drove the car down to the garage this afternoon, it's horrible to drive! That failed wheel bearing is unbelievably bad, putting the car away before replacing it has obviously taken its' toll on it with it sitting still for so long. It hums at speeds over 10mph even and gets louder and the vibration stronger as speed increases, it's terrible! Nowhere near that bad when I took it off the road. Oh well, on the way home from the garage it'll be nice and smooth :D
Still sounds awesome of course even on a sub 30mph gentle-as-possible drive :)

Personally, I like the grill. Had the standard waterfall grill on it first when we got, then got an eggcrate on it, got bored of that and put this black mesh one on it with a Heico badge to tie in with the Heico front spoiler flaps (proper name believe it or not!).

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with wheels, I love comets (heck I have 2 sets :P), I want something else, would love Tritons but I've only just bought the grey comets with nearly new tyres off of here. I can see me continuing to keep swapping wheels around until I get my ultimate wheels (they're a secret ;)). For now I don't know whether I should get the grey comets repainted or remove the tyres and buy a different set of wheels. Me being as spontaneous as I am I'm already bidding on some different wheels ...... I need a smack!

jamesy12345

Friday 21st March 2014, 02:51

AcidicDavey

Friday 21st March 2014, 13:09

See James, you should have swapped the Propus with these Silver Comets when you were down :P. But you had only just collected them then right?

I call a standard grill a Waterfall aye, still got the original one off this car nailed to the wall in the garage!

Not keen on Thors on anything but P2s, they might cause issues on my AWD model too. Had Tethys (the multi spokes off S60s) and the one caught the inner rears as they more offset than these models (ET49 opposed to ET43, it seems 6mm DOES make a difference! ;)). I can only imagine the same with Thors depending on the positioning of wheel weights...

If you're this way then give us a bell, sober would be best :P

Anywayyyyyy......

The car failed its' MOT on the bottom ball joints, why oh why aren't they separate to the wishbone!?

Being an AWD shopping for new ones is confusing :(

jamesy12345

Friday 21st March 2014, 13:18

mikealder

Friday 21st March 2014, 13:19

I would expect the 98 AWD to have the five bolt front wishbones, that is one bolt through the bottom of the front strut and four bolts securing the wishbone to the subframe, these can be "fun" to undo. I only mention this as some of the V70 models have three bolt wishbones so make sure you get the right ones.

As for putting Thor alloys on it, I wouldn't as the wheel/ tyres on the rear have about 2MM clearance between them and the rear suspension arm, we tried fitting my Thor alloys to Andys AWD last year to check this and decided the clearance simply wasn't enough - Mike

AcidicDavey

Friday 21st March 2014, 13:52

It had its' rear exhaust rubbers noted too, so no, not bad since it last went for an MOT in November 2011! That was only 3000 miles though....

Yeah sorry James, I read that slightly wrong... always trying to get some Propus.... I have my eye on some currently :doh:

When I ran Tethys (17x7.5J ET49) a wheel weight caught, I had to use spacers, can't be arsed with that crap again.

Cheers for the heads up Mike, I thought as much but was hoping that possibly I could get away with some good quality aftermarket ones but as they don't seem to exist for AWDs I've just gone and ordered some Genuine ones from Rufe, should get them on Tuesday ;)

graemewelch

Friday 21st March 2014, 14:23

love the alfa you have. ive got a real soft spot for them. take the aux belt off to see if the rumble gose away. the belt idler pulley and tensioner are weak but you prob already know this

AcidicDavey

Friday 21st March 2014, 19:26

You've got an Alfa of some sort right Graeme?

I really didn't intend to buy another when I sold the GTV but I couldn't resist!

Anyone reading this, don't buy an Alfa, they get under your skin!!

AcidicDavey

Friday 28th March 2014, 19:21

Well there we are, the car is MOTed and back on the road.
Just need to tax it now.... Insurance was UNDER £300 for 12 months, not bad for a 21yo! Probably less than some of you older lot :)

My first impressions (again!) of the car is that my goodness is this thing slow! After having faster cars after having this last on the road has spoiled it a bit. The gears are just so long, it makes the car feel lazy. I think I'm just going to have to change the turbo for a 16t I have had for 2 years and work from there. Trouble is, I now have a lot of money tied up in the Alfa so I can't really afford the fun stuff like I had planned :(.

Besides the Silver C70 Comets on the car currently I also have Grey V70R Comets with nearly new Yoko Prada2 205/40R17 on them AND a set of C70 Propus rims. Plan is to put the Pradas on the BBS rims pictured below after I polish (or try to at least!) the lips and then slap them on the car.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/13472101593_bcdc5219ba_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/mwu3rF)

I'm going to have to get the motor scrubbed up, it doesn't look too bad considering it hasn't been washed since April but it's still filthy! I imagine there's a good 10 hours at least though to be spent on it so here's to a clear weekend! Still haven't smartened up the rear end yet...

Will of course update with pics when appropriate!

artfulflounder

Friday 28th March 2014, 21:31

Tis supposed to be nice weather this weekend so no excuse not to get plenty done....:)

jamesy12345

Saturday 29th March 2014, 04:36

Very very nice wheels, mate

The Volvo might be a little slower but it's quicker than the Alfa right now :hidesbehi

AcidicDavey

Saturday 29th March 2014, 20:24

Oi! Bloody love that Alfa :(

As you know James, I've wanted some Propus for a long time, got these in good nic (although they look terrible currently!) cheaply so I'll finish polishing the lips which'll take me week or months lol and put the tyres I got off Frankie on them :)

I started to make this thing shine for the first time today. Remember, I haven't washed it since last April and I have NEVER waxed or sealed it! It is terrible! The pics don't make it look too bad but you should have seen the colour of the water in the buckets!

Here it is before a wash...

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7254/13494020673_230b5fd958_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/myqodR)

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3701/13493927125_2f05ccd4fa_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/mypUpX)

And then after a wash and claying...

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3707/13493941475_633e390038_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/mypYFn)

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2819/13494063343_a1147d9c86_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/myqAUx)

As you can see I've put on some badges I painted black (about a year ago now!) using measurements provided by Thantos (thanks Andy! ;)), I'm happy but yes I really really need to do something with the bumper! I also removed the In Memory Of 'Rob' sticker for a Black one reading the same, I think I need to replace it with something brighter though.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3753/13494326344_932ef07519_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/myrX63)

About 4.5 hours work so far just to get it looking like that! Going to have to spend a lot more time on it tomorrow, at least the clocks are going forward so I'll have more afternoon shade to work in :)

I'll update with my full regime and further pics ;)

Owengsi

Sunday 30th March 2014, 07:42

Interesting read Davey and you sound a bit like me with your cars (I currently have 6 taking my lifetime total to over 120 lol) - looks cracking after a wash and clay :)

Will check on in this thread regularly from now on.

AcidicDavey

Monday 31st March 2014, 19:21

Taa ;)

In the end the car simply got too dirty to polish through the night so I'll have another wash on Friday hopefully, I might even wash the car too :P! I'll stop being such a lazy git and do it all in one day!

Got the tax, surprised the price hadn't increased (haven't had to buy any tax since July and that was only a 6 monther due to all my swapping :)). The car has done all of 7.6 miles since first started this year, it so far seems totally fine. Only warning light on is the washer fluid but that has been on for years due to a failed sensor I suppose, need to sort it :(.

Also need to do a few other things which I've been meaning to do for years.... Drivers' check strap (broken when we bought the car 7 years ago!), replace door cards with the 'luxury' extra stitched ones (again, I've had a set lying around for 2 years!), rear mudguard all snagged (bought like that). I'm doing a good job of making myself sound like a lazy git aren't I? Well, guess what? I am!

jamesy12345

Wednesday 2nd April 2014, 06:45

Is this the engine in the Alfa, Davey? Very nice

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_V6_engine

Just talking about V6s with my 960 owning pal

AcidicDavey

Wednesday 2nd April 2014, 17:33

That's the one Jamesy, the Alfa Busso. In the 166 I have 3.0 24v V6 220bhp ;)

The car has been running well until I lasted posted that, the next day (yesterday) the Lambda light came on, it's coughed once while sat in traffic, obviously need to read the codes but I'm guessing it's the MAF!

Grrrr!

jamesy12345

Wednesday 2nd April 2014, 17:49

AcidicDavey

Sunday 6th April 2014, 20:09

You know the Alfa is(WAS) a bloody nice car James, wish I could say the same for this lol

We've done about 175 miles now, Lambda light on since 25 miles but only 2 coughs in that time.

Today though there is much more vibration coming from the engine, I think the front lower transmission mount may have failed, planned to swap it anyway along with the upper firewall bushes for Poly to match the upper engine mount the car already has :)

Here are a couple of random photos from the other day...

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2856/13624727093_4d72c8ea39_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/mKYhFP)

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7082/13624744643_dc36f4c38d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/mKYnUp)

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2844/13625097774_5bc2aec6c5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/mL1bSS)

AcidicDavey

Sunday 13th April 2014, 21:28

Done about 400 miles now, it's been going well apart from the (slightly better) vibration through the car and the lambda light on. Andy (Thanatos) has sold me an MAF which may fix the issue, if not then no worries as the car is currently running a cheap eBay MAF due to the original one failing.

Anyway, after a few hundred miles and that Saharan dust the car looked a state so today was the day to sort it! Done as detailed below...

- Clear arches of muck,
- Rinse and brush wheels with an old washing up brush,
- Rinse whole car,
- Wash car using the two bucket method with Bilt Hamber Shampoo in one bucket starting with the roof then windows, bonnet, front bumper, boot lid, drivers' side upper half then passenger's, rear bumper, drivers' lower half then passenger's.
- Rinse with the hose from the top of the car aiming down,
- Dry glass with micro fibre towel.
- Clay whole car one panel at a time using Bilt Hamber Soft Clay Bar and tap water as a lubricant in a water mister.
- Polish each panel one by one with Bilt Hamber Cleanser Polish on a sponge applicator and using a microfibre cloth to buff.
- A new one for me, I used Poor Boy's Black Hole Glaze to enhance the gloss, nice stuff to use and it smells lovely :)
- Seal each panel one by one with Bilt Hamber Auto Balm on a sponge applicator and using a microfibre cloth to buff off.
- Polish wheels with the above method,
- Dress tyres and mirror surrounds with Meguiars' Endurance Tyre Gel, I used a heat gun on the gutter trims and mudguards, the other plastics won't take it!
- Polish exhaust tips with Brassol on an old rag.
- Step back and be amazed!

It's nice to see the old bitch shining, all this was done with the reluctant help of a friend, made a seriously huge job done to a 5 hour shift or so :D

It's looking great (other than the rear bumper of course!), too clean to drive it too be honest!!

Here it is...

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3705/13829444345_5da6079852_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/n54vZB)13-04-14 001 (https://flic.kr/p/n54vZB) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/13829491173_891ed5cb64_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/n54KUZ)13-04-14 002 (https://flic.kr/p/n54KUZ) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2893/13829837474_8bc13fdcd1_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/n56wRG)13-04-14 003 (https://flic.kr/p/n56wRG) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3778/13829853394_8c13ec73c9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/n56BAb)13-04-14 004 (https://flic.kr/p/n56BAb) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/13829869924_286a849b46_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/n56Gvb)13-04-14 005 (https://flic.kr/p/n56Gvb) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

She doesn't look too bad does she?

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3724/13829551003_cfd4b76e7e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/n554Gx)13-04-14 006 (https://flic.kr/p/n554Gx) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7227/13829894584_c14b149480_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/n56PQm)13-04-14 007 (https://flic.kr/p/n56PQm) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7232/13829553225_97fcfdae24_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/n555mR)13-04-14 008 (https://flic.kr/p/n555mR) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/13829593603_7e5b925920_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/n55hn2)13-04-14 009 (https://flic.kr/p/n55hn2) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7372/13829617905_f13b1a8b4c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/n55pA2)13-04-14 010 (https://flic.kr/p/n55pA2) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3805/13829693383_be27cb5685_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/n55N2n)13-04-14 011 (https://flic.kr/p/n55N2n) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2937/13829724355_9aa3dc0e65_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/n55Xen)13-04-14 012 (https://flic.kr/p/n55Xen) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2908/13829780945_d484620c76_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/n56f44)13-04-14 013 (https://flic.kr/p/n56f44) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Just needs to be lower now...

merc85

Sunday 13th April 2014, 21:33

always liked this car, lovely mate brushed up a goodin :)

AcidicDavey

Sunday 13th April 2014, 21:45

Cheers mate ;)

The years of neglect haven't done much harm it seems, although there are scratches near the rear spoiler where £££££££ cats have used the car to jump on the garage, little ££££ers!

Someone has offered to lend me their DA Polisher so I may have a go with that...

Volvostorm

Sunday 13th April 2014, 22:04

Wow! That scrubs up well!

Stunning in that blue :)

jamesy12345

Monday 14th April 2014, 06:30

I've seen that in the flesh nice motor, looks really good now. You don't arf scrub a car up well, fella. I like the photo shoot locations too

V70 Graham

Monday 14th April 2014, 08:29

Looks very nice, love the colour

M-R-P

Monday 14th April 2014, 09:05

Not a fan of yellow fogs but looks awesome otherwise!

V70 Graham

Monday 14th April 2014, 09:10

Not a fan of yellow fogs but looks awesome otherwise!

Fair point, I was too busy looking at the colour to notice.....what's your plans for the rear bumper Davey ?

M-R-P

Monday 14th April 2014, 09:12

XC bumper would look cool :)

V70 Graham

Monday 14th April 2014, 09:49

XC bumper would look cool :)

Painted bumper would be a start lol.....:hidesbehi

abdul

Tuesday 15th April 2014, 03:53

Looks stunning

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 15th April 2014, 19:53

Cheers you lot :)

I've got some plain gloss black Vinyl to cover the paint damage caused by that horrid Silver cover I had on the car previously!

T'was a lot of effort to clean this one up but it's been worth it, the next day though a bird had shat on it of course :(. The Nautic Blue is a nice colour cleaned up. Mind, isn't every colour?

What do you mean by an XC bumper? Front or rear? A fully painted front one could look cool I guess but I like my standard bumper with the rare as rocking horse poopoo Heico Lower Spoiler Flaps, it confuses people :)

Actually had someone come up to me the other day and say 'Those brakes look meaty pal!', 'They're just painted calipers lol!', made me chuckle :)

I'll get a friend to help do the bumper tomorrow, keep forgetting...

AcidicDavey

Saturday 19th April 2014, 23:54

I've had the battery off the car a couple of times now, the Lambda light doesn't come on but then after a few miles it rears it's ugly head! That engine vibration is still present too but I'm going to Polybush all possible engine mounts and also install some subframe bush inserts, a worthwhile mod I'm told...

Yesterday I had the dash apart to wrap the dash and install some LED bulbs in the dash, only did the main dial backlights as I couldn't get the trip screen bulbs out of their holders and I didn't want to break them! I used some cheap as chips bulbs for them (about £2.80 for 20), they're great, I use them in the number plate lights too.

Here's the dash before...
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2910/13941133385_9148c68ffc_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/neVXfH)Dash Trim 001 (https://flic.kr/p/neVXfH) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

And After...
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/13941139685_1b083b1e2a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/neVZ8k)Dash Trim 002 (https://flic.kr/p/neVZ8k) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Yep, just plain old Gloss Black. Did the Glovebox and centre console perfect but the radio surround is a bit of a mess as I tried to do it in situ, I might just get them dipped one day.

Here's the car the other day, she's looking great ;)
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2809/13909793755_6cf961ddf1_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ncak5g)15-04-14 006 (https://flic.kr/p/ncak5g) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/13909816235_8c41259c14_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ncarKR)15-04-14 007 (https://flic.kr/p/ncarKR) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Seriously starting to consider breaking the Alfa :(, definitely the alternator failed plus belts = £1000 or so plus brakes etc. I know it's for the best but it's just so pretty!!!!

merc85

Sunday 20th April 2014, 13:49

looking awesome mate

AcidicDavey

Monday 21st April 2014, 22:51

Ta mate, ended up peeling off the vinyl, couple of creases on the top right of heater control bugging me! Will either replace or get them dipped :D

After over 2 years of having them lying around, finally mustered up the effort to fit my 'luxury' door cards. Piece of piss of course, before and after pics below...

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7273/13961270964_7084bbd9b4_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ngHasm)Door Cards 001 (https://flic.kr/p/ngHasm) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5304/13961280534_8233720183_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ngHdim)Door Cards 002 (https://flic.kr/p/ngHdim) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

You may notice a difference with the door pins too, I was luck enough to find a second hand set of IPD Aluminium Pins and Bezels on eBay at a realistic price so I got them :), much nicer than standard but they're a bit rattly.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5135/13961287274_6ff895d77a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ngHfiy)Door Pins 001 (https://flic.kr/p/ngHfiy) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7138/13960845535_0a73ced4fe_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ngEYZn)Door Pins 002 (https://flic.kr/p/ngEYZn) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Also, while the driver's card was off it was a good time to replace the broken check strap that was present when we bought the car, I bought the new one nearly 4 years ago now (!), lazy I know... Shouldn't have bothered as the bolt that holds the end to the A pillar has a striped thread so never mind a broken strap, it doesn't have one in at all any more!

Here's the old one...

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5111/13961304464_fc48b8fa62_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ngHkpW)Check Straps 001 (https://flic.kr/p/ngHkpW) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Cambelt kit, waterpump on the way. Genuine coolant, reservoir already here. 10 years since the belts were done now :(

AcidicDavey

Thursday 24th April 2014, 22:45

Well, here we go, I've done something about the rear bumper.

I tried to put some black vinyl on it the other day but rushed it and ruined it and run out of 'sensible wrap'. So you can guess what I've gone and done.....

.....The faint hearted should not scroll down, you will feel sick/be offended/extremely annoyed/whatever!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7314/13976486326_f250a52cf2_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ni49sb)Snazzy Rear Bumper 001 (https://flic.kr/p/ni49sb) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5083/14000031554_c5853cd5d0_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nk8PCo)Snazzy Rear Bumper 002 (https://flic.kr/p/nk8PCo) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

It's better than it was yeah? OK I'm not sure either! lol
It's vinyl so only temporary...

merc85

Thursday 24th April 2014, 22:50

my kidds would love the rear bumper ;)

AcidicDavey

Thursday 24th April 2014, 23:40

I showed it to a friend, I built them up to expect a shock, they thought I done it pink or something, they actually quite liked it lol

jamesy12345

Friday 25th April 2014, 04:07

Hehe love it nice one Davey

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 6th May 2014, 22:57

I really don't know whether I love or hate the bumper fun. A lot of people I've showed it to love it (even my Mother lol), no one's hated, just been shocked! It'll stay for a while :). Those on VOC love it.......

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2935/14122151021_7d164b5de5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nvVHur)05-05-14 001 (https://flic.kr/p/nvVHur) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5273/13938805029_7d3aa20378_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/neJ27D)05-05-14 002 (https://flic.kr/p/neJ27D) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

I am happy with how the car's looking, sort of wish I had the money for the coilovers for it though :(

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7352/14102320226_a7448a6092_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nub5ub)05-05-14 003 (https://flic.kr/p/nub5ub) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7359/13938861470_942cf90d2e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/neJiTL)05-05-14 004 (https://flic.kr/p/neJiTL) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2906/13938868228_de5011435b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/neJkUh)05-05-14 005 (https://flic.kr/p/neJkUh) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Anyway, more importantly...

Finally sorted those Propus wheels. They started like this below, fairly good nic with corrosion and scuffs to the rims.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2919/14122481082_c045f185d3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nvXpB9)Propus 002 (https://flic.kr/p/nvXpB9) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Used Nitromors and a scraper to get the paint off, it's messy and slow but it does the job ;)

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2934/13938855238_30a130a675_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/neJh3j)Propus 003 (https://flic.kr/p/neJh3j) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7447/14145540563_46bd155e65_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nxZAop)Propus 004 (https://flic.kr/p/nxZAop) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Once all the paint was off I sanded them down with 60grit paper then 120, 180 then finally 400.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2927/14145536653_45d3d10f13_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nxZzdZ)Propus 005 (https://flic.kr/p/nxZzdZ) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Then, using a polishing kit (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281109507643?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649) I followed the instructions to polish them up. Took perhaps 20 hours to strip the paint off and 2 hours to polish them. Yes, I'm slow I know!

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2916/13938798867_42edc9f64b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/neHZhp)Propus 006 (https://flic.kr/p/neHZhp) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Look good although I'm still not convinced I want them lol

AndysR

Tuesday 6th May 2014, 23:02

Well it's certainly different, personally I think it would work better on a jap car but it doesn't by any means look terrible, if you have kids then you certainly have an excuse if someone were to criticise it ;)

I like those wheels a lot, not sure I'd fit them over the existing comets, best you get them fitted and see how they look :)

martybelfastt5

Tuesday 6th May 2014, 23:06

great upadate davey wheels look great bumper looks fun lol right at home on a volvo estate lol

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 6th May 2014, 23:15

I don't have kids so my excuse is the bad paint should someone ask :D, it's fun and gets a laugh, I try not to take things too seriously so hopefully the car says that too!

I love comets (hell I've got another set too!) but I've always wanted some Propus wheels, just don't like the idea of cleaning them, especially now I've polished them :)

AndysR

Tuesday 6th May 2014, 23:22

Fair play, I think cleaning them over the comets will be a bit more of a challenge :)

merc85

Tuesday 6th May 2014, 23:25

That car is looking Mint, ;)

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 6th May 2014, 23:28

In all honesty, the photos are a little flattering :( Still not too shabby mind lol. Just some marking in the lacquer.

AcidicDavey

Friday 9th May 2014, 22:51

Gave the car to my indie to do the overdue belt change etc (with genuine bits of course) and I asked them to look for the failed engine mount causing the vibration at idle I've mentioned before. Turns out it's the one at the crankshaft pulley end of the engine and is causing the pulley to whack the subframe!

I also got them to install some subframe bush inserts which has made the vibration unbearable now! It is quite funny though how I take the Alfa off the road because of a vibration from the engine and then a 100 odd miles into driving the Volvo (same amount as the Alfa!) and that starts too. Bloody cars.
On a positive note though, the steering feel and responsiveness has been drastically improved, it's just shown weakness elsewhere. Definitely worth fitting people if you don't mind a bit more vibration...

Also, the emissions light doesn't come on anymore, I've been running some Redex Fuel cleaner through it, light has come on since. It was on for 600 miles or so! And the washer fluid light is sorted too, the sensor was loose out of the bottle and that was it, it had been on for 6-7 years lol....I'm soooo lazy :P At least there are zero warning lights on now, and yes they all work :)

Got the tyres swapped over between the Grey Comets and Propus so they get cleaned up further and put on tomorrow.

abdul

Friday 9th May 2014, 23:18

Nice looking car

AcidicDavey

Monday 12th May 2014, 21:32

Got the tyres on the Propus on Friday and cleaned them up yesterday. Here's one...

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2919/13975701480_2856c199e8_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nhZ89m)Propus 007 (https://flic.kr/p/nhZ89m) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

They're wearing 205/40R17 Yokohama Parada Spec 2 tyres. Cleaned, polished and sealed with 3 coats of Poor Boys Wheel Sealant and Meguiar's Endurance Tyre Gel.

Put them on today but not driven much due to the failed engine mount (the rubber section of the mount has completely failed, it's not that it has just cracked and split but completely collapsed!) so it is dirty and well meh, it looks great. Maybe the tyres are a little too small though for my car's monster truck ride height!

Before...
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5581/14171859305_45d30015f0_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nAju2P)12-05-14 001 (https://flic.kr/p/nAju2P) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

After, just remember this is before driving the car so the suspension hadn't settled so the arch gap is massive, it's much better after driven around...just looks really daft in this image...
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5196/14169172232_cb2fafac1e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nA5HfY)12-05-14 002 (https://flic.kr/p/nA5HfY) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Like it but now the car is desperate for lowering, might take an angle grinder to the front springs....

c70geoff

Monday 12th May 2014, 22:21

loving the new rims fella but ditch the side bars if you putting coilovers on

AcidicDavey

Thursday 29th May 2014, 21:57

I'd consider removing the Sill Protectors once it's down, would probably regret it as they're rare as ££££, I bought them in 2010 and have never seen them anywhere else before! When I search them on Google it comes up with pictures of my car lol. The coilovers I want for this car though cost €1925 which as of today is about £1567!
Yep, Intrax RSAs, only the best ;)

Just thought today, I haven't posted any proper pics of the car since its' wheel change!

Gave it a quick wash and another coat of Poor Boy's Black Hole glaze on Tuesday, hoovered it too. Took less than 3 hours which is good going for me I think. Cleaned up under the engine a bit too ;)

Nautic Blue is a lovely colour in low light conditions, still wish it was a Saffy R though lol!

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5233/14277369236_8d560a81a8_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nKDfsy)28-05-14 001 (https://flic.kr/p/nKDfsy) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Turned the sticker around on the battery, new coolant bottle, fresh coolant etc and a new overflow hose. Took the sticker off the top of the new bottle as it was wonky, took about half an hour! What on the earth are they stuck down with!?

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3808/14113852958_3fd4119464_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nvcbLo)28-05-14 002 (https://flic.kr/p/nvcbLo) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

And some rushed photos taken today... definitely needs lowering to pull them off, but then I'd end up changing the wheels again anyway lol!

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3807/14299939224_7902aba8c8_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nMCVJh)29-05-14 001 (https://flic.kr/p/nMCVJh) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Yes, it's still on!

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5074/14113862808_a2b84ed760_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nvceGd)29-05-14 002 (https://flic.kr/p/nvceGd) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Car's running well apart from the Lambda light coming on now and again. Also, the SERVICE light has started coming on at start up, funny as I haven't seen it since 2010 lol!

AcidicDavey

Thursday 10th July 2014, 23:28

First time on here in a while, lets update you all...

Lets start by saying I was considering selling this motor, that's out of the window now you'll be pleased to hear.

Back at the end of May I bought a massive Job Lot of brand New genuine Volvo parts and I'm going to use the money raised to unraise this car! Yes, I've decided I'm going to be buying some KW Variant 2 Coilovers for this car. They are about £1140 but they'll transform the car! Although, that may be out of the window for now but I'll get to that in a bit...

Just some random pics from the other week.
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2926/14492936556_d27a857a03_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/o5G67u)26-06-14 001 (https://flic.kr/p/o5G67u) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5566/14328534588_4f193211be_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nQau8N)26-06-14 004 (https://flic.kr/p/nQau8N) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

This happened earlier that day too!
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5542/14328653297_529c9ea1cd_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nQb6qv)120,000 Miles! (https://flic.kr/p/nQb6qv) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

That's nearly 10,000 miles in over 7 years lol

The interior has been transformed from this:
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2910/13941133385_33a8fb9349_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/neVXfH)Dash Trim 001 (https://flic.kr/p/neVXfH) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

To this:
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2914/14537980486_d44e39cce6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/o9EX6Y)Alu Dash 001 (https://flic.kr/p/o9EX6Y) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr
Near mint C70 Chunky Steering Wheel found in a local scrapyard,
Grey R Floor mats and Aluminium Dash Trims from a pair of forum members.

So much better!

To apologise to the car for threatening to sell it I treated it to this...
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2914/14550855394_b8dfeaaee0_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oaNWn9)29-06-14 001 (https://flic.kr/p/oaNWn9) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr
...note the stickerbombed battery too lol

The possible delay in getting the coilovers is due to a horrific suspension knock developing last week!
By the looks of this I think it is the ARB bushes! I planned to get IPD bars eventually but it looks like I'm going to have to get them soon :(
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5565/14428245408_1d344354a9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nYYwFS)Knackered ARB Bush (https://flic.kr/p/nYYwFS) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

And finally... Today I removed these...
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3916/14436316290_f30a6e5a12_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nZFTT1)Sill Protectors 001 (https://flic.kr/p/nZFTT1) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

Yep, finally given in, looks very weird without them on...
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2907/14622466672_28100037a6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oh8XUm)10-07-14 001 (https://flic.kr/p/oh8XUm) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2940/14436364068_86c557992d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nZG95L)10-07-14 002 (https://flic.kr/p/nZG95L) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

WOODY T5

Thursday 10th July 2014, 23:42

All looks very nice mate but it needs dropping now:)

AcidicDavey

Friday 11th July 2014, 00:01

Too right! It needed dropping 16 years ago!

jamesy12345

Friday 11th July 2014, 00:05

Looking good there Davey, love those alloys

Yes looks a bit high why is that? My S70 isn't that high...maybe T5s are lower than yours? Didn't think so

25739

AcidicDavey

Friday 11th July 2014, 00:14

Cheers Jamesy ;)

I think T5s are 10mm lower than normal models and AWDs 10mm higher than that so your car is 20mm approx lower than mine...

Plus I've got real low profile tyres (205/40 17s) which makes the arch gap look even bigger!

As I've said, adjustable coilovers are on top of the list!

jamesy12345

Friday 11th July 2014, 00:26

AcidicDavey

Thursday 24th July 2014, 19:47

Well as I said last time the front anti roll bar bushes failed so it was the perfect excuse to buy the IPD uprated bars :)
I didn't want to get them yet but with the amount the car is clicking over bumps I really had to!

I ordered them from European Tuning (http://www.europeantuningshop.nl/index.php?route=product/category&path=1663), paid on the 15th and arrived this morning. Not bad considering they were on backorder ;).

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2940/14732060691_6dc0471318_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/orPEop)IPD AWD Anti Roll Bars 001 (https://flic.kr/p/orPEop) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

Can't wait to get them on the car, in normal driving the car doesn't seem to roll too much but if you throw it around at speed....yeah that's a different story! The rear of the car especially practically falls over lol. Looking forward to the first drive with them on :)

I ordered some new rear droplinks the other week, makes sense to change them. Bloody £28 something each plus 2 bushes each side at £2.60 each. I don't need those 4 bushes as the IPD kit comes with Poly versions of the droplinks bushings, woops! Anybody want the genuine ones for £10 including delivery? Sorry I can't help myself....

RollingThunder

Sunday 31st August 2014, 18:16

Any updates Dave? How are the iPD ARBs?

AcidicDavey

Thursday 11th September 2014, 23:24

Sorry Sam, not in here very often :(, keep forgetting.

So far so good. The steering is weightier and more precise. As I said on VOC it doesn't actually feel that different until you look down and see the speed you're exciting corners! The car is, simply put, much more controllable. The biggest surprise about changing to the uprated bars is the increased ride control, before the car used to feel a bit wobbly and loose over bumps but now the comfort is only let down by the rattly tailgate lock, grrrrr!!!

Only this evening I was thinking about one tricky Hereford street corner, before it felt really tight and difficult to get round with staying in lane whereas now you can boost through it easily and laugh at everyone else struggle! It does highlight how bad these cars are at getting their power down, LSD please lol

All in all a very worthwhile upgrade but my bushes on my old ones were knackered anyway sooo....
_____________________________

Hopefully in a week or so I will finally get my coilovers on order, very close now :)

Also, as I'm sure I have mentioned I have a super set of wheels planned for the car when it is down. Non Volvo and the car they are off is RWD and the rims are staggered but the rears will be way too wide for me so I'm building a set of 4 front wheels which is fun... I've got one on the way, and no I'm not going to disclose what they are until they are on the car ;). I am still very excited about getting this done :)

Still got the sexy 166, current plan is to get it on the road when the MOT for this runs out in late March. Need to be driving a V6 Alfa, after all I only managed 120 miles lol
_____________________________

Haven't done much with the car since the last time I posted here, just drive it. I have put some pressed plates on it (I did originally plan on getting a private plate but the DVLA make enough already!) R467 YEC it is then. Looking through the history of this car it would appear it has had 2 different private plates on it already.

I also changed the Simota Carbon Filter for a BSR Cone one for more wooosh! Well because I'm a chav really!

Here are a couple of pics before the pressed plates went on it...
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2926/14790278173_88e6c03dd9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/owY3q6)26-07-14 001 (https://flic.kr/p/owY3q6) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Ok, I would add more but damn Flickr says sharing of this photo and that photos is restricted! If you click the photo above you'll get into my album if you wish.

Just to finish... The other week we did the Evo Triangle as I was in the area to collect Alfa parts, despite extremely heavy fog and drizzle we suffered from heavy brake fade, good boy lol

jamesy12345

Friday 12th September 2014, 00:30

Looking good Davey, I am thinking about doing the rear ARB only. I took around Harewood hillclimb last week & found it was just about impossible to get any oversteer :). I thought the stiffer back end might help a bit with turn in, maybe get some spaces for the rear wheels also

Which coilovers are you going for? There is a group buy on here somewhere

AcidicDavey

Friday 12th September 2014, 00:37

jamesy12345

Friday 12th September 2014, 00:43

Hey Jamesy buddy, cheers!

With both bars changed you can only get oversteer with a scandi flick, not on the road of course, private driveway and all that...
For the FWD models IPD do/did make 3 diameter rear bars; 22mm, 25 and 26. Standard is about 19 or so I think.

Being an AWD model my coilover options are limited, different rear suspension set up you see. Cheapest shelf kit is KW V2s at about £1140 delivered, I can here my wallet crying already.... :(

oh of course AWD.....forgot about that. On the Hillclimb course I was understeering through just about every corner, then put the power on and it was one wheel drive all the way to the next corner :D agree with your comment about LSD!

I'll have a look & those bars, thanks for info

AcidicDavey

Friday 12th September 2014, 00:59

TBH, the single best upgrade I've fitted to this car has been poly bush inserts in the subframe bushes. If you haven't already got some I strongly recomend fitting some. They dramatically reduced body roll and steering feel. A slight loss of comfort is much outweighed by more noise, this car roars under acceleration now, just a shame the bloody gears are so tall.

Going back to the handling, tyres of course make a huge difference. With the 205/40R17s Paradas the car is currently wearing it so chuckable and predictable. This car would be such a joy to drive if it wasn't for that bloody rattling tailgate lock that I can't fix!!!! Ok, they are crap (borderline scary!) in the wet but you get used to it, first big puddle the steering wheel nearly ripped my ££££ing thumb off!

I really want to convert this car to a manual but I simply don't have the space, tools or talent :(

RollingThunder

Friday 12th September 2014, 12:38

Looking slick there Dave :) Glad to hear the iPds are as good as they were on my old 940.

I'm hoping to get some work done on mine this weekend - I've had permission to crack on as the kitchen is almost done at last! :D Hoping to finish the PCV service and do the cambelt... fingers crossed lol.

Keep up the good work!

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 7th October 2014, 00:20

Thought I'd add another little post here. :)

A few weeks ago I pulled off the line with haste (no wheelspin, it is an auto afterall!) and accelerated hard to 30mph. I looked in my rear view mirror and see blue flashing lights, great. 'Do you know why I have stopped you sir?' 'Because I pulled away quickly from the lights back there I would imagine which was both daft and a waste of fuel'.
He then looks around the car and points out the pressed plates and states they are illegal (I hold my hands up, they were) and asks if I have the originals and I state I know exactly where they are. He then say's 'I can't fine you for speeding (because they couldn't prove I was and I wasn't anyway!) so I'll fine you for your plates instead!'
Those were his exact words, the officer was an ££££££££! Fining me because my plates didn't have the manufacturer or BS marks permanently marked!
A warning would have been more than sufficient, it's not as if I'm a repeat offender or known to the police, grrrrr!
Let that be a warning for legal plates to all that read this, £100 fine for them is ridiculous, I almost wish I was speeding lol

Oh well, I'm now in a position to order coilovers for this car if I wish but while saving for them my mindset has changed somewhat.
I've turned saving into a game almost, it is quite embarrassing :(. Spending money genuinely unsettles me lol! I want the coilovers I just don't want to pay for them.

I think another thing holding me back is the task I've set myself of sourcing my dream wheels for the car once the car is down. They are not easy to find at a reasonable amount and the car they are off have a staggered set and the rears are way too wide so I need a set of 4 front wheels. ....and no, I'm not sharing what wheels they are ;)

The urge to buy another car has been high, I ask the questions, watch the ebay auction get close to the end and then chicken out of bidding.
I think the Alfa 166 has scared me out of buying cars...

I still love the Alfa and the current plan is to sort it for once the MOT runs out on this Volvo so March.
It is truly the best car I have ever driven, sat in or been around.
I'm in love :D

RollingThunder

Tuesday 7th October 2014, 08:04

Ettienne

Tuesday 7th October 2014, 09:09

Would a set of V70R AWD shocks/springs be cheaper? You'd get the R lowered stance that you're after but it might be a bit cheaper (but maybe not much lol). It is quite a firm ride though - I hope you realise that the coilovers will probably be the same, far firmer (harsher?) than the std AWD suspension which is smooth and cosseting in comparison.

I understand the appeal of the Alfa, that V6 is glorious. I nearly bought a V6 Alfa 75 many years ago but chickened out due to the difficulty of working on the engine - its unbelievably awkward to get at ancillaries etc - nearly everything needs the engine to be pulled or the manifolds to be stripped off :( I bought the 2.0 TwinSpark in the end and that was a superb engine, beautifully revvy and well balanced. It felt like far more than 150bhp :)

nobody makes lowering springs for the p1 awd's, mte used to about 10 years ago, the only place I knew that did, that's why I started the drop bolts (fooler bolts) thread on VT and VOC last year.

You can't fit a standard shock the rear without a special bracket, although I did make some up, then nobody makes the springs, although I found one that did fit (pretty sure), but then I sold the car so didn't continue with the project and just used fooler bolts.

RollingThunder

Tuesday 7th October 2014, 17:27

I know the aftermarket stuff is unobtainium Ettienne, I was suggesting the Dave look at getting genuine Volvo parts - fitting 'R AWD' spec suspension bits. I have a same year V70R AWD so could give him my chassis number, which he could give to FRF or whoever to order the correct bits - as mechanically ours cars are identical (AWD, pre ME7, auto) they should just bolt on.

Ettienne

Tuesday 7th October 2014, 17:41

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 7th October 2014, 18:45

My head is set on the KW V2s Coilovers. The cheapest I've found them for is £1133 delivered. I want the adjustability coilovers provide. Plus I have only ever heard good things about KW's Coilovers, not too uncomfy apparently...

I have considered just speccing up a set of R nivos on the back (new they are over £300 each I believe) and then a set of TME AWD lowering springs which are apparently designed for nivos. This car has now done around 123k and it appears to have all original suspension bits so no doubt going to new bits will transform it.

I first learnt of the drop/fouler bolts because of your Laser Steve. Again, this doesn't really appeal to me because the rear suspension on this car feels so incredible soft, if you change direction at speed you really notice this!

I will buy the KWs, I'm just preparing my wallet for the pounding! :P

Back to the Alfas.... You're right Sam, the V6s are really crammed in there. The 166 is quite a big car so a bit more room but is FWD unlike the 75 so the belts etc are right against the chassis leg, I need to get the alternator off mine but you can't even see it! It sits below the rear bank right at the bottom so when turning right water gets flicked up into it, very clever Alfa!

RollingThunder

Wednesday 8th October 2014, 08:09

If its any consolation Dave, I was giving my mate a hand last weekend - changing an alternator on a smart car. You'd think it'd be pretty straightforward, but no. We had to drop the rear axle to get the sod out, there just isn't any room to get it out! Wish all cars had engine bays like my old 940s :)

AcidicDavey

Sunday 12th October 2014, 21:13

Well, there we go, THE order has been placed. Yes I have been threatening to empty my wallet and today I have, I feel a bit sick lol but the coilovers are on their way :)

I feel like I'm stepping into unknown territory a bit as I'm yet to read about someone with these KW V2s on an AWD.
This will only be the second time I've even/had changed springs/shocks so it will be interesting to see the difference :).
The only time was some lowering springs on some old standard shocks and the ride was ruined on that lol, hopefully this will be a positive experience.

Anyway, this week I fitted some 6000K HIDs to the dipped beam. My God was it overdue! The difference is night and day (pun intended!). Before I had some Philips bulbs in there with cheap bulbs in the full beam which made no difference so put the Philips in the full and HIDs in the Projectors. I've held off getting HIDs before because of the drls, little did I know it was just the little grub screw in the corner of the switch that you turned...
Still, I'm happy with them, it was before unpleasant to drive at night.

Here are the ones I bought. (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301147610238?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&var=600234042021&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT) They are not CANBUS or whatever and no flickering or bulb blown light on dash. Good quality kit without the connectors wired on upside like I've come across before!
I obviously changed the sidelight bulbs for some 5smd LEDs, I bought them from eBay last year, about £2.40 for 20 and I run them in the number plate lights and instrument cluster all issue free too.

Today I swapped the wheels from front to back as the front tyres are 1mm down on the front, cleaned the calipers and finally fitted a new rear driver's mudguard which was damaged when we got the car 7.5 years ago!
I do like to take my time :).

I'll post some pics at some point of the lights.

AcidicDavey

Friday 24th October 2014, 18:40

The other day the invoice came for the coilovers, they will hopefully arrive in a week or so! :D

In the time being I ordered an Ultra Racing rear strut bar. Ordered it Wednesday evening and it arrived today!

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3942/15431219447_c7223c271b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pvB2VH)Ultra Racing Rear Strut 001 (https://flic.kr/p/pvB2VH) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

It wasn't quite a perfect fit so I had to bore out the fitment holes a bit, not as easy to fit as I would have hoped!

It came with the fittings and simply screws into the holes where the seatbelts for the 7 seat conversion would go.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/15617227375_8444b19161_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pN3nAX)Ultra Racing Rear Strut 002 (https://flic.kr/p/pN3nAX) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Not driven yet, can't imagine it will make much difference but oh well :)

Here's where I got it... (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321114527752?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT)

AcidicDavey

Monday 10th November 2014, 19:46

We all love retail therapy, me especially. 4 weeks have past and they've finally arrived! :D

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5614/15139438023_8e1cd17222_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/p4Pztv)KW V2 Coilovers 001 (https://flic.kr/p/p4Pztv) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Very exciting.... was worried they wouldn't be right as I've never seen a photo of this set before.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3941/15574034860_606aab71fe_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pJdZYq)KW V2 Coilovers 002 (https://flic.kr/p/pJdZYq) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3944/15758846035_0191ba24d2_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/q1ycTZ)KW V2 Coilovers 003 (https://flic.kr/p/q1ycTZ) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Pleased to say all the mounting points seem correct, phew....

Can't wait to get them on, read too many good things about KW now!

The rebound is adjustable via a hex headed slot in the top of each strut bar thankfully. There are 19 reassuring clicks between soft and hard.

Just waiting on some fitment bits from Volvo. I'll take some measurements to ensure I can get the car as low as I can but still clear getting in and out of the drive. When the front lip is at the lowest point when entering/exiting the drive there is about 75mm clearance so dropping 60mm or so sounds safe. :)

That'll do for now regarding the coilovers, this happened last week...

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5605/15709984606_5214bdede7_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pWeM6y)123456 Miles! (https://flic.kr/p/pWeM6y) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Reset the trip too early, wanted it to read 123.4 too :(.
Sad I know!

Also, I had the car on a weighbridge recently. With me in it 1740kg and I'm about 70-75kg plus 20kg or so of fuel. Heavier than I thought as I thought manufacturer kerb weights included a full tank and a 75kg driver? The book figure for a manual AWD is 1608kg so say 1640 for an auto? That's way more than 100kg under what it is but my car does have a few extras.

Anyway, geek mode off ;)

Doingitsideways

Monday 10th November 2014, 20:17

Mmmm.......

Coilovers!! :D

AcidicDavey

Monday 10th November 2014, 23:00

Doingitsideways

Monday 10th November 2014, 23:23

^^^^^
About ££££ing time really!

Can't wait :D

It'll be wheels next, although I love what's on it I need to get some more special.

Or, a manual conversion but that'll be expensive as I'm not competent to do it myself :(

Lol!

Gonna miss your sky high stance... Much like yourself really! ;)

Means I'm really gonna have to do.something about my 960 now.
It fails the shoe test quite spectacularly. Probably swallowing a bloody Wellington boot! :(
Looks even worse being on 18" Pegs.

As for the manual conversion; buy the parts, put me up and buy me enough cider to sink a ship and I'll come and do it! ;)

You gonna let me into what you're thinking for wheels then??
You've made some, erm, odd choices in the past, (Remember the Mags on the 480?!) perhaps I could gently steer you away from something bloody awful.
Again.
Pmsl!! :D

Only joking Dave, think you learnt your lesson that time!

AcidicDavey

Monday 10th November 2014, 23:57

Hey, I bought them because they were cheap (for a reason!) lol
At least their replacements were right :P

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5482/12682392285_9953217926_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/kjGznX)19-06-13 001 (https://flic.kr/p/kjGznX) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

I still miss that car a lot :(

At least your 960 has leaf springs on the rear right? That's half price lowering right there!

Manual conversion. Well, I'd probably buy a whole donor and strip it myself. The reason I wouldn't want to fit it is because I'm a demotivated sod and it would take me a month! Don't make offers like that as I'll take you up on it :P, loads of cider round these parts ;)

Doingitsideways

Tuesday 11th November 2014, 00:44

Even better Dave, it only has one leaf spring, it runs transversely and is fixed in the middle.

Actually, scrap that. It's worse. Much worse.

It's made of fibreglass and is pretty much impossible to lower, it can't be decambered ad it's not steel and as the the axle doesn't go over it like a traditional leaf, so lowering blocks are out of the question.
Even better, it has Nivos, so change them for regular shocks and it just sits on the bump stops!

Still, that seems to work my 480! ;)

Go on, get another!

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 11th November 2014, 18:51

Ah, you make something which should be rather simple sound impossible, well done Volvo ;)

I hadn't seen another 480 in months and then today I see a Flame Red Celebration, reg beginning N312 just 2 minutes from my house. It's a sign :P

As you may remember me saying in the past, I do actually know where a Black 480 Manual Turbo is being stored in a farmyard 10 miles or so away.
I would love to take it on but I can only afford to run one car at a time hence my Alfa is sat there since March. I do want to buy more cars and would love a 480 Turbo but with the way things are it just isn't going to happen.

Believe me, I have nearly bought many cars recently. Jaguar XJ, BMW Z3, BMW 325ti, Alfa Spider, Alfa GTV V6, Renault Clio 182, even a Volvo 440 in Hereford that I won on eBay that I bid on because it was in Hereford but the seller refused to sell it as it sold poorly (dick!). Many cars I've bid on but slipped through my fingers. There is actually a Silver V70 R that I know of in Hereford that I'm tempted by, it is an auto but if was a manual I'd already have it...

Doingitsideways

Thursday 13th November 2014, 21:03

Jesus Dave, you're a freaking nightmare!! ;)

Someone should probably lock you up to save you from yourself!

AcidicDavey

Saturday 22nd November 2014, 19:55

Right, I've been playing garage today and been fitting the coilovers.

Fronts on, piece of piss obviously. I reused the top mount plates but replaced the rubber spring mounts, didn't even need spring compressors, nice one Volvo ;). It's about 100mm lower at the front :D

The rears however....
Getting the old springs out, PITA! Too many bloody arms and what not!
We've managed to install one side before running out of daylight but the adjustable platform for the spring is just spinning the whole thing with the C spanner rather than just the purple part of the platform which is threaded. GRRRR!
It's no lower on the one rear side that has the new bits installed. Maybe it is still being propped up by the nivo on the otherside?

We'll continue tomorrow with happier news hopefully....bloody AWD!

AcidicDavey

Monday 24th November 2014, 21:51

Right I hadn't had chance to fit the new suspension to the remaining corner yesterday, it will have to wait until Saturday now.

As I said, the fronts are on and so is one of the rear corners.

I did want it raked down at the front but this is a bit much! pmsl
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7566/15251627283_9a8c0163d5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/peJzr6)23-11-14 001 (https://flic.kr/p/peJzr6) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

I've literally wound them down as far as I can and still get in the drive, on the strut I am one inch off the lowest point of threaded section if that makes sense...

Here is a comparison between the standard Nivo and spring vs the KWs.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7465/15871272565_36e8bb2207_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qbuqor)Rear Shocks - Old vs New (https://flic.kr/p/qbuqor) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

And surely these front springs are knackered? lol
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8567/15683946120_0e179c410b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pTWjL9)Old Front Struts (https://flic.kr/p/pTWjL9) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Even though the one rear nivo is removed and the spring adjuster wound all the way down the rear sits level? Very strange...
Just need to get the final rear corner installed :(

As you may have seen elsewhere I've got new wheels going on soon. I've mentioned many times that there is a set of wheels I wanted when the car is down and I've finally found a square set. Probably my favourite wheel of all time! They're currently in for refurb and and adaptors (because they're not 5x108) are on order. Exciting times... :D

Doingitsideways

Monday 24th November 2014, 22:18

And now my 960 reclaims it's place as VPCUK's king of ground clearance!! :(

Does look loads better... At the front!

Gonna look epic on those wheels, Dave ;)

Ettienne

Monday 24th November 2014, 22:27

I made up an adaptor bracket for the rear of my awd to use standard fwd rear shocks and found another off the shelf spring to fit.

I also fitted s60r rear calipers, as well as Porsche fronts, made a big difference.

Does look good though.

AcidicDavey

Monday 24th November 2014, 22:29

Thanks Steve! :)

I can assure you, the impact is much bigger in person, I keep accidentally kicking the front bumper lol

Edit: 2nd Steve, Porsche bbk might be quite appropriate soon ;)

Biff

Monday 24th November 2014, 23:29

Well done mate! Big bucks on the kw's.
I'm pretty sure you will always have rake, the awds don't drop much.

AcidicDavey

Monday 24th November 2014, 23:39

Cheers Biff!
I'd like to think the rear can be dropped a lot too as the new components are simply so much shorter but then I understand there may be limitations with all them bloody arms etc.
It's hard to say until the rears are fully fitted as I've never seen another AWD with this kit on. I want 'rakage' but not this much lol

Doingitsideways

Tuesday 25th November 2014, 23:26

I really am ££££ at keeping secrets, Dave.

Tick tock, tick tock... ;)

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 25th November 2014, 23:58

Don't worry Steve, you can do it!

I dropped the centre caps off at the wheel guy today, there are about 4 different designs for the cars these are off and I got the ones I wanted :)
Told him I changed my mind on the colour since dropping them on Thursday, doh! He hadn't started on actually painting them so all is good. ;)

There are a lot of ££££ talkers in this industry. When I was at the tyre fitters he asked me if I was getting them refurbed and I said yeah and he handed me a business card and said this bloke is great, £35 a wheel and does a great job. Great I though and when I got there I told him his recommendation and he said '£35!? We charge £65 +Vat per wheel.' That was just for the faces! Why the hell did the tyre fitter tell me £35?!
££££!

Adaptors are on their way, just tyres and wheel nuts to go :)

RollingThunder

Wednesday 26th November 2014, 19:02

Are they 2 piece split rims Dave? If so split them yourself and save a wedge ;) I paid £60 each for mine to be done - but I had to split them, and then reassemble and re-torque them myself afterwards. It did save almost exactly 50% v the most expensive quote I had though!

If they're single piece, then my last set cost me £40 each. No bad really.

AcidicDavey

Wednesday 26th November 2014, 19:29

Nah Sam, they're single piece, can't be dealing with cleaning splits anymore especially as I'd have to have polished lips still :P

I would have a set of Tritons, the 18 inch version of the Propus but they're so rare :(

Love the props but we need 18s now ;)

AcidicDavey

Monday 1st December 2014, 16:18

Right then folks, I got the coilovers finished on the car yesterday :)

The rears are fully wound down and the lowest point of the rear bumper is 20mm lower, that's it! The front is about 105mm lower!

...but the rear was sagging anyway. You will remember me mentioning in the past a very strange squidgy feeling from the rear end? During sudden directional changes it felt like the rear was going to fall over? Well, as it turns out the car had different nivos on the rear! One black and one blue! No wonder it handled so weirdly!

Too early to go into more detail in the handling department as I haven't fiddled with the rebound settings.
What I can say though is that I may have to consider raising the front end a touch as it is a bit too low perhaps. I went to go and collect some parts and I had great difficulty with the large speed humps, the cat catches (original), even the pavement outside my drive is scuffed lol

I'll post up some pics some time this week, needs a wash ;)

I went and collected my repainted 'mystery' wheels today, look stunning :). Can't wait to get them on, still waiting on the adaptors and I need to get tyres and wheel nuts too.

Biff

Tuesday 2nd December 2014, 08:03

As I thought mate... Only way to level it out is get some fooler boots sorted.
Doubt you'll get the 105mm drop but I've not seen many v70's on coils that sit level.
Looking forward to seeing these wheels.

RollingThunder

Tuesday 2nd December 2014, 09:13

Looking fwd to the pics Dave :)

And about these wheels... I reckon they're chromed 20inchers with spinners :D You're not posting pics cos you're too embarrassed lol

martybelfastt5

Tuesday 2nd December 2014, 18:08

looking forward to these pictures come on already:snail:

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 2nd December 2014, 20:01

Lets get to it shall we?

Side on before:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7549/15604212147_8546609cc5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pLTECt)14-11-14 001 (https://flic.kr/p/pLTECt) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Lowered:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7499/15745293770_97807a6b81_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pZmKhf)02-12-14 001 (https://flic.kr/p/pZmKhf) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Front before:
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8666/15787507721_deabd971ec_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/q4671Z)14-11-14 002 (https://flic.kr/p/q4671Z) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Lowered:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7462/15931930172_76f8b31750_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qgRiMf)02-12-14 002 (https://flic.kr/p/qgRiMf) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Rear before:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5608/15603561259_72abfb9d1d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pLQk9g)14-11-14 003 (https://flic.kr/p/pLQk9g) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Lowered:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7546/15906792116_79d351e30c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qeCt7u)02-12-14 003 (https://flic.kr/p/qeCt7u) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Clearance before:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5602/15604206057_26b2de9789_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pLTCPt)14-11-14 004 (https://flic.kr/p/pLTCPt) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Lowered:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7467/15930610881_a0f4256b0d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qgJxAR)02-12-14 004 (https://flic.kr/p/qgJxAR) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

The new issue:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7515/15746822177_f7d1075a91_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pZuzC6)02-12-14 005 (https://flic.kr/p/pZuzC6) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

The exhaust is scraping on the pavement when I turn left out of the drive:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7482/15745280100_282fe5cd02_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pZmFdy)02-12-14 006 (https://flic.kr/p/pZmFdy) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

I'm going to have to raise the front a bit realistically, the rear is fully wound down!!!!

More pics:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7467/15746568929_900c918d84_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pZthkK)02-12-14 007 (https://flic.kr/p/pZthkK) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7521/15906802546_aa44438f65_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qeCwdj)02-12-14 008 (https://flic.kr/p/qeCwdj) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8663/15906807076_a893ffdd8d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qeCxyq)02-12-14 009 (https://flic.kr/p/qeCxyq) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7580/15931952322_9793755a09_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qgRqn9)02-12-14 010 (https://flic.kr/p/qgRqn9) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Like a completely different car! Disappointed with how little the rear lowered, just 20mm as I said last time but obviously my old mismatched nivos were sagging! Don't forget (speaking to you Biff :p) the new rear shocks are already dramatically shorter than the nivos, which is the effect you have when using drop bolts, if they were any shorter or mounted lower they wouldn't reach the top mounts!

...the wheels will be revealed in due course ;)

AcidicDavey

Thursday 11th December 2014, 21:01

On Saturday I went up to Brum to buy some part worns for my new wheels. Vredestein Ultrac 215/35R18.
They seem to have better reviews than the Yoko Paradas on the car now, they aren't coping with hard driving in this colder weather shall I say, still controllable but the grip limit is a lot lower!

The hub centric adaptors arrived yesterday for them too, very happy with the service from Super Forma (http://www.superforma.co.uk/). Cracking service and great value, they were even able to supply the M12x1.75 bolts to fix them to the car although they aren't even listed on their site! Every other PCD adaptor sellers I found were more expensive and couldn't supply the right bolts!
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7572/15377528604_7fe68e56e2_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pqRRvw)Wheel Adaptors for 5x108 (https://flic.kr/p/pqRRvw) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Anyone want a broken Xbox? lol

Got the tyres fitted yesterday. Taken them to my usual fitters as they are dead careful. .....but when cleaning the wheels after fitting the tyres they managed to chip one of them somehow. He was honest enough to point it out and apologise, I really appreciate people's honesty so can't ask more than that. It is less than 1mm big on one of the spokes and I've touched it in with a cocktail stick and some old silver paint, no love lost :)

Want a pic?
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8629/15974007226_3572ba5415_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qkyXPG)Me New Wheels! (https://flic.kr/p/qkyXPG) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

That's all you're getting :P
Just need to get wheel nuts now and as per usual, the ones I need have to be expensive, M14x1.5 with a rounded seat.

I am really enjoying driving the car now with its' new found athleticism.

There are 2 major issues though. One, the rear bumper (yes, it is really letting the side down, fed up with it now!). Two, the lack of a third pedal!
Apart from the bumper getting painted in February I'm desperate for a stickshift :(
It is really holding the car back, vibrations at idle in gear, 4 long gears and also a slight transmission rattle when you first lightly apply the throttle at city speeds.

Please Santa, bring me a manual conversion :(

t5 pete

Thursday 11th December 2014, 21:26

Wow looks great yep the front needs to be a little higher as for the wheels are they the p3 ones that look like comets but dont look like comets and are 18" not 17"

AcidicDavey

Thursday 11th December 2014, 21:38

Cheers Pete.

It doesn't need to be higher at the front....it needs to be lower at the back lol. I will have to raise it :(

Nah, the wheels aren't Volvos (hence the PCD adaptors), they VAG.
They are a lot like comets though which is probably why I love them as I love comets, I've had 3 sets on this one car!

martybelfastt5

Thursday 11th December 2014, 21:42

mmmm porsche twists?

RollingThunder

Friday 12th December 2014, 12:35

Spoiler alert - I've seen the wheels before they were taken off the donor...

http://www.moibibiki.com/images/porsche-wheels-1.jpg

:rotfl:

AcidicDavey

Friday 12th December 2014, 19:44

You smart buggers have got it so it would be cruel to keep it secret now so enough of the guessing games :D

Yes, Porsche 996 Turbo Twist IIs aka Hollowspokes! ...just like the ones RT has posted :P albeit a bit more sedate!

I've been trying to get a set of 4 front alloys for ages (as the rears are 11 inchers!) and was lucky enough to spot a set of 4 8J wheels on eBay a month ago and obviously I had to have them. As I've said for months, once the car is on coilovers it is time for my dream wheels, and that is exactly what I'm doing...

Some people won't 'get it', or may be even like them but I love 'em, most elegant 5 spoke design I can think of.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7542/15921441841_03ae69cb36_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qfVxXX)Porsche Turbo Twist IIs! 004 (https://flic.kr/p/qfVxXX) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

As I say, a lot like Comets (yes I have a random one...)
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8619/15953399432_1cf8242e2e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qiKkQU)Porsche Turbo Twist IIs! 008 (https://flic.kr/p/qiKkQU) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7573/16004377461_6c1213143c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qofBQr)Porsche Turbo Twist IIs! 009 (https://flic.kr/p/qofBQr) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

They are going to stick out 19mm more than the Props so we might have some 'issues', we'll deal with that if we have too.

More pics here if you like... (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/sets/72157649071390607/)

Jamest5r

Friday 12th December 2014, 20:05

Different..... Me likes :)

t5 pete

Friday 12th December 2014, 21:27

Awesome looking wheels

martybelfastt5

Friday 12th December 2014, 21:43

lovely wheel and as you say resemble comets,columbas,ixion,odysseus will look smart

AcidicDavey

Friday 12th December 2014, 21:47

Cheers you 3, can't wait to get the buggers on!

AcidicDavey

Sunday 28th December 2014, 23:24

Well as you may have seen in this post (http://www.vpcuk.org/forums/showthread.php?58475-Twists-My-new-wheels-)), I got the wheels on the car on Christmas Eve, my present to the car :)

Couple of pics or so.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8563/15475456744_18eeaa16cd_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pzvL8J)24-12-14 Propus 002 (https://flic.kr/p/pzvL8J) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7581/16097776605_104c93594a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qwvj9v)24-12-14 Twists 002 (https://flic.kr/p/qwvj9v) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Useless friend has to take useless photo...
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7527/15910340028_455bb6d5ee_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qeWDMo)24-12-14 Twists 004 (https://flic.kr/p/qeWDMo) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8640/16097796575_7f2055cba2_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qwvq5P)24-12-14 005 (https://flic.kr/p/qwvq5P) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7509/15912045367_cce59e949a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qf6oHM)24-12-14 006 (https://flic.kr/p/qf6oHM) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

I'm really pleased with the results, both the physical difference and the dynamics. The ride is honestly so much better and the car feels less twitchy on rutted roads, I guess it has something to do with the fact I've raised the front springs a bit! But lower profile tyres on 18s and I've made the rebound stiffer but it is much more comfortable?

I do have some slight rubbing issues but nothing too bad, not split the arch liners just melted them at the lip on the fronts lol

Here's a pic of the adaptors installed, front and rear. I torqued them to the spec the wheels are meant to be tightened up to, 110nm, presumed that would be the right thing to do... not lost one yet, zero wobbles or vibrations too.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7572/15946576037_177f61a0a9.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qi9nua)_MG_1983 (https://flic.kr/p/qi9nua) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8640/16106538486_df4bc93b78.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qxhdKq)_MG_1987 (https://flic.kr/p/qxhdKq) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Also, here is a pic of the splitter. On 20/12 something in the road struck it and it flexing caused a bit of the smeared filler over it to chip off!
A bit pissed off that the chap who fitted it screwed it on the smeared filler over it, surely it should have been tiger sealed on or similar and screwed on underneath only so this would never happen, as I say, pissed! Could have been worse though I guess, at least it didn't smash.
For now I'll just touch it in with a brush so it is not so in your face and get that 'flap' refinished and painted, that crack in the finish on the left has been there for years! It doesn't scrape anymore, not even getting in and out of the drive!
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7477/15944876090_efe38d0ddf_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qhZE9J)Damaged Spoiler (https://flic.kr/p/qhZE9J) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

It'll get redone with the rear bumper and a couple of other little bits in February ;).

The pot is being added to now for a manual conversion, need to do more research but thinking a Focus ST M66 gearbox and a Quaife Diff, if we're going to do it we may aswell do it properly ;). The ££££ty autobox and an open diff absolutely ruins this car and what I want it to be! The auto is handy in the snow though as I found out on Boxing Day almost getting stuck on a hill between Bridgnorth and Ludlow, passed around 10 stuck cars going up one hill, well proud :P

Also, before I go, meet Thanatos the other week as he was buying my old Sill Protector Bars.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8580/16048754676_238e1d6b01_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qsb4CQ)21-12-14 002 (https://flic.kr/p/qsb4CQ) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8626/16073861012_51a1b408dc_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/quoJSG)21-12-14 003 (https://flic.kr/p/quoJSG) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8583/16072646551_c277c7daa2_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/quhvRH)21-12-14 006 (https://flic.kr/p/quhvRH) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

stribo

Monday 29th December 2014, 07:50

Great pics, the car's a real credit to you.

AndysR

Tuesday 30th December 2014, 00:08

Looks well, credit to you. With the gritters out and about that little missing bit of filler will be the least of your worries come spring time you'll be needing to have the front of car repainted.. I hate this time of year for that :(

What's happening to the old wheels ;)

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 30th December 2014, 00:30

Cheers you two :D.
To be honest, the paint on this car is fairly poor currently, I don't mean it is all dinged up just heavily swirled and hazy. A lot of people just say I'm too critical and the car looks fine, room for improvement I say :) Plan to buy a DA polisher soon and having a go at trying to shine the old bitch up some more.

The old wheels will be sold, with or without the tyres. I will be removing the tyres in a week or so :)

Jim S70R

Tuesday 30th December 2014, 09:45

Wheels look lovely, nice upgrade!!

AcidicDavey

Wednesday 31st December 2014, 20:12

Cheers Jim, have some more piccies :D

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7571/16157573602_e563c244ca_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qBMMHd)31-12-14 001 (https://flic.kr/p/qBMMHd) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7494/16157577582_6bd3fd2403_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qBMNTQ)31-12-14 002 (https://flic.kr/p/qBMNTQ) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7520/16158330325_2db25d3709_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qBREEa)31-12-14 003 (https://flic.kr/p/qBREEa) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7500/15538585383_67878958e6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pF6j5x)31-12-14 004 (https://flic.kr/p/pF6j5x) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8561/15972266159_df8b7a756f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qkq3gi)31-12-14 006 (https://flic.kr/p/qkq3gi) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

I opened the bonnet earlier for fluid checks and was shocked, muddy splodges everywhere! That was driving through snow on Boxing Day for you, nearly got stuck with the front wheels spinning, all cleaned up now, only took 10 minutes.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7580/16157593232_711d51e8c8_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qBMTxE)31-12-14 007 (https://flic.kr/p/qBMTxE) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7581/16158347015_df373c1c5b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qBRKBV)31-12-14 008 (https://flic.kr/p/qBRKBV) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Still a bit standard under there ;). Need to remove that stupid dump valve. I want a do88.se RIP kit, purely for the bling factor if anything, full exhaust and turbo with all the trimmings etc. I have a very long shopping list but not the funds to execute my plans, which is a blessing really as if I had the money to buy it all then I'd get bored quicker wouldn't I? With it all spread out I've got more to look forward to ;).
All of that above though will have to wait, immediate future is some paint and then that all important 3rd pedal :D

AAnickmac

Monday 12th January 2015, 22:49

Lovely looking motor. Have just read whole story of this car and am amazed with what you have done. Very very impressed, and those wheels are just the best.
I Might have to have a word with my brother as he works for Porsche mid sussex. Well done.

AcidicDavey

Monday 2nd February 2015, 21:10

Cheers buddy, means a lot, here's a C70 with the same twists :)
28008

Haven't posted in here in 2015 so let's have a babble.

This weather is doing my nut in, well not the weather but bloody gritters!
Driving back 2 days in the evening last week along the A49 and the car got seriously struck, I reckon the paint on the front bumper is pretty ruined now :(.
I opened the bonnet today to try and get access to the awfully positioned sidelight bulb but was sickened to find salt everywhere! It's got under the battery tray, literally everywhere, all my hardwork... :(

I'll wash the car on Friday in prep for the bodyshop the following day :) Yes the rear bumper is finally getting painted along with that damaged front spoiler 'flap' and a couple of other little extras.
I can't wait to get it done although a few people are pretty disappointed I'm losing the bumper fun.

I've been eyeing up donors for a manual conversion although I keep losing out due to be too slow, I have an urge to buy something so it might aswell be a breaker. I'll keep what I need for mine and sell the rest, in truth I just need something to do as I am struggling a bit here! :(

Here is the car, a ****ing state! It's all rather depressing.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8605/15809997413_a0602504b3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/q65nqi)30-01-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/q65nqi) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

I love this car but it's taking a real battering lately :(

On a positive note there was a suspension noise from the rear going over bumps, it went 'boing' as the rear compressed over a speed hump etc but it has completely gone, must have been something stuck/wedged in spring like I thought, I'm calling that a win...

martybelfastt5

Monday 2nd February 2015, 21:52

that is looking superb!

Biff

Monday 2nd February 2015, 22:18

Don't lose heart, keep on!
Sell that Alfa & concentrate your efforts on the big V.
Manual & powaaaar. It deserves it. ❤️

AcidicDavey

Monday 2nd February 2015, 22:28

Don't you worry Biff, the pot is being built, just too slowly :P

The Alfa is worthless so seems silly to sell for peanuts but then I have very little interest in sorting it either :(
It's just a big pretty Italian cupboard atm!

Don't think I've ever mentioned on here but I've suffered from quite bad depression for many years and am unemployed therefore paper is rather difficult to chase with zero income.

Kick up arse needed now and again! Just this time of year, gets you down ya'know?

AcidicDavey

Friday 6th February 2015, 20:32

Well you may remember me complaining about a filthy engine bay last time I posted?
I know we're still in Winter Mode but I had to sort it out!

Example of how filthy it was... Bloody gritters!
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7407/16435751131_2aa40ae371_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r3nwcv)03-02-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/r3nwcv) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

I spent about 2 hours in the freezing cold cleaning it up and getting rid of all that damn salt, it had got everywhere!
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7316/16249856498_4d0272376e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qKWLcC)03-02-15 002 (https://flic.kr/p/qKWLcC) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7381/16251615937_5575ed403e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qL6MdM)03-02-15 003 (https://flic.kr/p/qL6MdM) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7321/16436586092_622ea1fb40_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r3rNpo)03-02-15 004 (https://flic.kr/p/r3rNpo) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7384/16251271619_c16a6d4478_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qL51Sg)03-02-15 005 (https://flic.kr/p/qL51Sg) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Much better, bet it is filthy again though :(. It wasn't running quite right after cleaning, stuttering when slowing to a standstill but a quick wriggle of everything and it is fine now!

But, as the car is going away tomorrow I simply had to clean it, just look how filthy it was! My hands were ££££ing freezing! I had only washed it just over a week ago!
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7438/16273058077_c912d91e76_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qMZFdR)06-02-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/qMZFdR) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7332/16273061487_806090d183_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qMZGeD)06-02-15 002 (https://flic.kr/p/qMZGeD) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7460/16273064557_5f0cc46b99_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qMZH9z)06-02-15 003 (https://flic.kr/p/qMZH9z) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

It is really weird, the rear wheels get much filthier than the fronts now they are spaced out? When I was running a more offset setup it was the fronts getting dirty. Maybe some of those rubber AWD flaps in front of the rear wheels will help?
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7344/16271274138_a40b0ccb9a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qMQwVh)06-02-15 004 (https://flic.kr/p/qMQwVh) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Anyway, this view will look very different soon ;)
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7335/16458024352_b72982a622_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r5kFfy)06-02-15 005 (https://flic.kr/p/r5kFfy) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

claymore

Friday 6th February 2015, 20:59

Followed the progress of this car since you started the project on VOC in 2009, and loved every minute of it, wasn't too keen on some of the early mods, but it's just got better and better, well done bud, the car is a credit to all your hard work.

AcidicDavey

Friday 6th February 2015, 21:34

Thanks mate :)

I was a bit too keen to spend money when I was a teen, now I'm actually able to save it means I've been able to go a better way with it.

How it once looked folks...
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww227/AcidicDavey/98%20V70%20AWD/13-09-11038.jpg (http://s722.photobucket.com/user/AcidicDavey/media/98%20V70%20AWD/13-09-11038.jpg.html)

Tethys, silver bumper cover etc.
WTF was I thinking lol

AcidicDavey

Saturday 14th February 2015, 19:26

Well well well, got the car back today :)

Always a worry using someone for the first time but I'm satisfied so all good. Got a bit of overspray to deal with (like on the exhaust) but no biggy. They've played with the tail pipes and well, they're quite wonky! Will have to sort asap, they've never been quite right as I rushed fitting them all those years ago but hey.

Looks a bit plain back here now :)
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8657/16343830507_6db1e01c76_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qUfppa)14-02-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/qUfppa) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Resprayed the front splitter thing again, it had a surface crack in it from years ago as well as the recent chips.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7327/15909567553_543a4eccbf_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qeSG9R)14-02-15 002 (https://flic.kr/p/qeSG9R) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Had a lock surround for free so that got painted too.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8680/16343475709_6b11b8f306_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qUdzVX)14-02-15 003 (https://flic.kr/p/qUdzVX) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

And a pair of mirror covers as well. I won't be fitting them yet as the black plastic is damaged, I'll nick the mirrors off a breaker I'll buy soon :)
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7348/16342063998_c29a615718_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qU6mh7)14-02-15 004 (https://flic.kr/p/qU6mh7) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Flap to protect the new paint ;)
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7320/16342299330_918785bcc6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qU7yey)14-02-15 005 (https://flic.kr/p/qU7yey) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Car is quite dirty, due a good clean up, polish etc and dusty inside and all so need to sort that out soon.

p.s. Anyone interested in the beige boot mat?

RollingThunder

Sunday 15th February 2015, 10:39

Paintwork looks smart Dave! Quite a transformation. Still can't get over how clean your engine bay is.

You'd have a dizzy fit if you say mine - got an oil leak from either the dipstick tube or oil pressure switch, so oil is all over the front of the engine, plus underneath it, and of course all the way under the car and over the back end too :( Haven't actually lost a lot of oil, it just goes a long way :D So, if you've got 30 mins to spare... ?

AcidicDavey

Sunday 15th February 2015, 20:58

Cheers Sam, a bit of shiny paint makes a world of difference :). If anything it is a bit too shiny bumper wise now :P

Just consider the oil spray as rust prevention ;). To get my engine bay as smart as it is has literally taken about 2-3 hours plus a 10 minute wipe down every other week or so, easy!

I'm pleased with the actual paint finish, before the paint was very dull along the rear bumper. There is however some real bad overspray over the rear passenger arch, quite how they've managed that I don't know!

Need to do something with badges too. When I painted them black last year the paint ended up cracking while they were in the house, maybe they got too near the radiator?

Anyway, with the departure of one sticker (albeit quite a big one...) comes another. I actually like this one from Deadly Decals (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190965934708?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT).
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7310/16541510505_6381235034_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rcHyLZ)Volvo Sticker 1 (https://flic.kr/p/rcHyLZ) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8579/16541506155_fa6076d0da_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rcHxtZ)Volvo Sticker 2 (https://flic.kr/p/rcHxtZ) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Random...
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7341/16355228069_fd58c9b862_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qVfPuR)15-02-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/qVfPuR) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Just condensation by the tailpipe btw...
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7284/16353808018_e6ab8b54c7_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qV8xnd)15-02-15 002 (https://flic.kr/p/qV8xnd) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7341/16353826518_f8db7e3577_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qV8CSb)15-02-15 003 (https://flic.kr/p/qV8CSb) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

foammanmark

Sunday 15th February 2015, 21:01

Great pics of a great car.

Tomcat

Sunday 15th February 2015, 22:50

Pics are making me more than a bit jealous, beautifull car bud.

RollingThunder

Monday 16th February 2015, 08:26

Me too, I love the way this car has come on. Didn't like the sill guards at all, but since they've come off the car gets better and better. Great job Dave.

AcidicDavey

Saturday 28th February 2015, 20:25

Cheers you 3 :)

Done a couple of service bits to the car over the last couple of weeks.

Fitted a new ignition coil, an MSD Blaster SS one from iPD that I found on eBay. The engine is ever so slightly noticeably smoother but more importantly that part is now future proofed. I mention this as one car I had the ignition coil 'expired' on the M1 about 120 miles from home at 1am with no breakdown cover! Bloody Golf!

Bit tricky to fit, especially when you have no metal drill bits :P.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7291/15971366184_a019a3d301_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qkkqJu)iPD Ignition Coil (https://flic.kr/p/qkkqJu) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8660/16674027132_8ecf4ce1f6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rpqKmq)22-02-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/rpqKmq) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Also given it an oil change and changed the plugs. Figures for those that care...(Yes I am this sad!)
Mileage 125,436 :)
Last oil change done 26/03/14 @ 117,703,
Last plug change done 24/11/11 @ 114,478. Even though they'd only done just over 10K the electrodes had worn down a bit, a bit of oil under the spark plug cover too, need a new oil cap seal by the look of it.

Hard to think the car has been back on the road for nearly a year now in one go, about to break my record for using one car in a row lol.
MOT due soon so booked it in, insurance too and the TAX! *sigh.
Insurance is going up, my cheapest quote I've got is £338 fully comp which is great for a 22yo I guess ;) but still £40 more than last year :(.

It's booked in for Monday, it doesn't expire until 26th I think but may as well submit it as soon as I can. Pretty sure it isn't going to pass but I've already got the bits I need just need to fit them, at least if the car fails it means I'll kick my arse into actually fitting them :D

I've stupidly agreed to take a friend (as I'm just that nice) to Heathrow in the night/morning. It's going to be 400 miles and I'm leaving @ 2am.

Random photo!
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7363/15971368224_52c4e4395d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qkkrkE)20-02-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/qkkrkE) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

foammanmark

Saturday 28th February 2015, 20:52

Great update and I like how you slipped a random pic in at the end of your awesome looking motor. Any random pics of that beautiful Alfa that you also slip in? Insurance sounds very reasonable to me, even with the increase.

AcidicDavey

Saturday 28th February 2015, 21:03

Cheers Mark, don't get me started on the Alfa again lol

Click this link for my Flickr account, got all my photos for my cars since my 480 in 2013 :( (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/sets)

foammanmark

Saturday 28th February 2015, 21:10

Cheers Mark, don't get me started on the Alfa again lol

Click this link for my Flickr account, got all my photos for my cars since my 480 in 2013 :( (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/sets)

Do you go one Alfaowners.com joi?

foammanmark

Saturday 28th February 2015, 21:23

Cheers for the linky, and you have had some cracking motors.

AcidicDavey

Saturday 28th February 2015, 21:24

Yeah but haven't been on in months.

Last year I said come March (so soon) I'd sort the 166 and get it back on the road as it'll be a year since I bought it, I've barely touched it :P

Getting a bit bored of the Volvo again now (it seems 12 months is my limit), I might swap them around in the summer.

hemihusky

Saturday 28th February 2015, 21:25

so that ipd kit does make the engine a lil smoother? may invest in one myself then and also how did you do it with no drill bits then?

foammanmark

Saturday 28th February 2015, 21:26

AcidicDavey

Saturday 28th February 2015, 21:39

Yeah, definitely a little smoother Husky but I was mainly changing it simply because of fear that the original may possibly fail.
I was told after buying the kit that the coil was available for demon tweaks for £55.56, if you can make a bracket it will be cheaper. (http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/ignition-coils/msd-ignition-blaster-ss-ignition-coil)
What I meant in my post about fitting it was that I didn't have any drill bits suitable for the job so took the coil out of the car and separated it from the original bracket with some cheapo bits and hammer and chisel, not recommend :D

Thing is Mark, I do both want to sell the Alfa but then I want to drive it too as I only managed 120 miles in it!
Plus, I know I'd regret selling it for the pittance it is currently worth :(

hemihusky

Saturday 28th February 2015, 22:09

ahhh fair enough i see. will put this on my list of wanting then if it does actualy make a differance and i know what you mean. my original part failed n was coughing like hell i got a "used" one on atm but scaired thats soon gonna die with my luck

RollingThunder

Saturday 28th February 2015, 22:33

I've been looking at the MSD coils myself - have you seen the MSD video on YouTube? Huge improvement in spark intensity. I wasn't looking at the SS though, I saw the MSD6 digital and though it looked pretty good... way too expensive for me though lol

Are you happy with the SS?

AcidicDavey

Saturday 28th February 2015, 22:41

I only specifically got the Blaster SS because it came with a direct fitting kit for these cars put together by iPD.

As said, it was definitely a little smoother when accelerating. Can't really comment on MPG yet as I haven't taken it on a proper good run but that will change tonight as I'll be leaving in 3 hours for a 400 mile drive. Oh the fun :)

Before, it used to take the same amount of cranking to start whether hot or cold, now it starts much quicker when the engine is warm.

AcidicDavey

Monday 2nd March 2015, 18:52

So left 2am on Sunday to go and put a foreigner on a plane :)
405 trouble free miles - Hereford to Wolverhampton via Worcester then from Wolvie to Heathrow then route in reverse. 32mpg including a spanking from Worcester to Hereford, never enjoyed a road so much after 300+ Motorway miles :D

MOT today and the run must have done her good as surprisingly she passed only with insignificant advisories! Happy days!

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8601/16695600662_f53f62a330_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rrkjpQ)2015 MOT! (https://flic.kr/p/rrkjpQ) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

I thought it was going to fail on the rear brakes you see but she still pulls up silently and well ;). Handbrake cables and shoes were fitted in 2011 and just need adjusting, hadn't done it yet as I anticipated a rear disc and pad change, still need to fit them asap mind. And the wheels protruding from the arches? Just no lol, they rub the arch lips ever so slightly in certain conditions but they don't stick out. :P

jamesy12345

Monday 2nd March 2015, 19:34

Good to hear, well done matey

AcidicDavey

Monday 9th March 2015, 21:44

Had a puncture today :( It was the driver's rear that I have to park right next to a drain cover on the drive, I did mention in one last post that I had noticed a slit in the sidewall but it was nothing I thought but it had deflated slightly so had to go. Just put a ****e thing on it! Grr!

Now I love these cars, so much that I .....

Bought a 98 V70 R the other day which I will be breaking sadly, it has way too much wrong with it to save it! It's an auto FWD with a none fluid tight tapping engine and a slipping box! Been neglected and abused. A bit rough round the edges you could say. But, it has loads of usable bits for my car and others....

I will be swapping out some the interior for mine as some bits are better on this than mine. I wanted the SC-900 stereo etc but as per usual it turns out it doesn't work! It looks for a disc in the cartridge but then when it finds one it fails to read it and then cycles through looking for another disc and does it again!

Still, I'll take the injectors, throttle body cover, load cover blind, blue suede document folder, blue dials, centre console (as my hinge is snapped), heated rear window relay, boot floor and first aid kit. I'll swap the radio console trim, door cards and whatever else.

Anyway, I have little to do with myself due to blah blah blah so having this to pull apart might be good for me although I feel a bit guilty gutting it :(

Any profits will be ploughed into my car games so that has to be good ;)

Pictures!!! (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/sets/72157651229114745/)

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7596/16766265172_36cb2086fc_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rxzuvs)09-03-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/rxzuvs) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8626/16581185839_a0859bd565_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rgdUSt)09-03-15 002 (https://flic.kr/p/rgdUSt) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8676/16741443056_3b9674db87_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rvogKW)09-03-15 003 (https://flic.kr/p/rvogKW) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7635/16147395013_9579e6a9db_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qATBYi)09-03-15 005 (https://flic.kr/p/qATBYi) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Poor thing :(

Shinsplintz 101

Monday 9th March 2015, 21:51

At least it will live on......in spirit of not in body! Once they've gone too far it's just not feasible to pump time & money into a car that will still not attain a decent resale. Such a shame. But keeping the good ones going strong is a worthy endeavour. All the best, Morgan

AcidicDavey

Monday 9th March 2015, 22:35

Exactly. I'm an emotional soppy sort of £££££££ and never broken a car before so why my first is a car I really like I do not know :D

Still, something to do and it'll be a good learning curve for me, biggest job I've done on my own is probably a radiator so looking forward to getting that turbo off (no idea what turbo it has as it has been replaced, it felt bloody quick (to me) so who knows.). Leaving the engine in as it's ££££ed!

jamesy12345

Tuesday 10th March 2015, 07:38

Davey at least the parts will be going to forum members, keeping their cars rolling. Sometimes too much work to return these back to running order...can't save them all!

Biff

Tuesday 10th March 2015, 07:51

jamesy12345

Tuesday 10th March 2015, 07:54

If it's an auto R pre me7 it should have a 16t turbo Davey. Your V70 is definitely one of the cars of 2015 for me, it's coming on a treat & more power is what it needs! Don't fall out with it, I'd do anything to be driving around in mine at the mo.

it is a phase 1 R, Biff - you can see the 3 buttons near the shifter & black badge on grill. So as you say 16T

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 10th March 2015, 19:49

Cheers Biff, you are absolutely right, this car does need more boost, but promise that will come after the 6 speed conversion :) This needs more power but I can't save for everything at once.

As said, profits from parts sales will go straight back into the project ;)

I've been finding more and more wrong with the R as I strip it, rust to the inner wings, knackered starter motor and a broken headlight etc

And yes, as both of you say it should have a 16t, whether it does or not is another matter! Last owner had the turbo changed but couldn't tell me what for then had it remapped (without knowing what turbo it had) then the engine started tapping, woops...

Doingitsideways

Tuesday 10th March 2015, 20:06

Maybe interested in the front legs with calipers and wishbones, Dave ;)

volvomad

Tuesday 10th March 2015, 20:13

Can I buy the dash clocks please! What mileage on them thanks....

volvomad

Tuesday 10th March 2015, 20:21

Just realised your keeping them sorry......

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 10th March 2015, 20:21

Can I buy the dash clocks please! What mileage on them thanks....

Nope, they're one of the parts I'm keeping sorry.

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 10th March 2015, 20:24

Maybe interested in the front legs with calipers and wishbones, Dave ;)

We'll have to see, for your diesel? If so they won't fit (wishbones anyway).

volvomad

Tuesday 10th March 2015, 20:27

No probs! What turbo is it a 16t?

MoleT-5R

Tuesday 10th March 2015, 21:08

Just realised your keeping them sorry......

keep searching or put some wanted ads on the various forums and faceache pages, you'll find some I'm sure, advertise the fact and let them come to you

Doingitsideways

Tuesday 10th March 2015, 21:09

We'll have to see, for your diesel? If so they won't fit (wishbones anyway).

No, the S70. Jamesy's old T5.

Think the R springs are slightly lower?

Also the caliper carriers, for obvious reasons. Knocking on for 300bhp on standard brakes.
Scary!

volvomad

Tuesday 10th March 2015, 21:12

Yeah I. M gonna do some adverts on some places..or just buy the v70r that's on flebay lol....

AcidicDavey

Saturday 21st March 2015, 00:57

Not too much going on but lets have a little update anyway :)

Bought a DA polisher finally as a few weeks ago I made the decision to attend the big Gaydon VT event in April, it'll be my first ever meet/show whatever so might as well get the old bitch pretty.
Looking forward to it chaps :D

Been stripping that R some. It's good pulling a different car apart, when it's your own car you hold back with the fear that you may break something whereas on a breaker it matters less. Nevertheless I haven't broken anything anyway! More confidence gained, well done R ;)

Anyway, the other day I deemed it time to fit the R blue dials. I wanted to keep my mileage so just swapped the dial faces over, dead easy!
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7647/16257482483_be84a2970e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qLBR98)P80 R Dials Apart (https://flic.kr/p/qLBR98) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

I still used my old surround as I previously installed some chrome rings.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8742/16255100014_1383dda08a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qLpCV5)P80 V70 R Dials Installed (https://flic.kr/p/qLpCV5) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

I've managed somehow to dislodge one of the lights for the bottom display so it has to come out again! I'm running cheap chinese LEDs for the gauge back lighting.

Anyway, here are some pics I haven't uploaded in here...

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8617/16727932795_a36d6660a6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ruc2Cp)05-03-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/ruc2Cp) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8681/16105619284_af82668457_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qxcvv7)05-03-15 003 (https://flic.kr/p/qxcvv7) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

And a random from today, shows how the wheels fill the arches properly (too much?).
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8697/16691345499_73774ffa60_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rqXvuX)20-03-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/rqXvuX) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

MoleT-5R

Saturday 21st March 2015, 01:06

Nice work, and your right about hanging back on jobs, I do it all the time till I feel confident on giving something new a go, next is the six manual into our v70r awd an easter project I'm feeling and confident too...:)

jamesy12345

Saturday 21st March 2015, 01:27

No, the S70. Jamesy's old T5.

Think the R springs are slightly lower?

Also the caliper carriers, for obvious reasons. Knocking on for 300bhp on standard brakes.
Scary!

Steve AFAIK the brakes are 302s

Doingitsideways

Saturday 21st March 2015, 09:48

Steve AFAIK the brakes are 302s

Pmsl!

Must be something to do with my driving then! ;)

jamesy12345

Saturday 21st March 2015, 11:18

Pmsl!

Must be something to do with my driving then! ;)

could be)) fluid might be getting hot due to missing heat shield - it has an Me7 manifold so needs a heat shield from later car. Or just change the fluid for something decent

//edit

sorry for thread hijack, Davey...I already posted those wheels look really good

AcidicDavey

Saturday 21st March 2015, 20:09

Doingitsideways

Saturday 21st March 2015, 22:10

could be)) fluid might be getting hot due to missing heat shield - it has an Me7 manifold so needs a heat shield from later car. Or just change the fluid for something decent

//edit

sorry for thread hijack, Davey...I already posted those wheels look really good

Ok, I never knew it had an ME7 manifold. Every day's a school day I suppose!

So does that mean it's an angled flange 16t?

Just would help with turbo shopping if/when the time comes ;)

Edit:
Dave, I think they fill the arches perfectly Matey :)

jamesy12345

Saturday 21st March 2015, 22:23

Ok, I never knew it had an ME7 manifold. Every day's a school day I suppose!

So does that mean it's an angled flange 16t?

Just would help with turbo shopping if/when the time comes ;)

Edit:
Dave, I think they fill the arches perfectly Matey :)

Yes mate, ME7 manifold....but is a straight flange turbo. If you put an angled 16T on there you'd need to mod the downpipe

MoleT-5R

Saturday 21st March 2015, 22:27

Haha, don't worry chaps, that's saved Steve some ££ ;)

Just Adrian, when you do eventually get your act together and 6 speed your R don't rub it in how much of an improvement it is, Dave'll be jealous enough already :P
With this nicer weather arriving driving this knackered auto with the windows down slowly is painful. Being slow and gentle at town speeds and the 'box/torque converter/angle gear rattle, press the throttle harder and it's silent, that's my excuse officer and I'm sticking to it :D

Got an awd 4 speed auto out of the v70r awd that tomcat broke sat on the shelf if your in need all it requires is a torque convertor as it was accidentally left on the engine when it was scrapped, but the box is good

AcidicDavey

Saturday 21st March 2015, 23:10

Got an awd 4 speed auto out of the v70r awd that tomcat broke sat on the shelf if your in need all it requires is a torque convertor as it was accidentally left on the engine when it was scrapped, but the box is good

Cheers buddy but I'll just drive it until it spits cogs out :P
Just gonna go manual 6spd like yourself, fixing/changing the auto is a waste of time and money for me ;)

stribo

Saturday 21st March 2015, 23:47

AcidicDavey

Friday 27th March 2015, 23:53

Cheers Steve, it would have been rude not to fit them ;)

Another non update incoming...

Random pic from last week.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8740/16279585143_017ba6b497_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qNz8ut)22-03-15 003 (https://flic.kr/p/qNz8ut) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Well today I've been very busy fitting stuff off the R onto this.

I fitted the SC900 and amp. To do this I had to remove the seat and carpet etc.
Whole list of bits I ripped off the other car for this and fitted today...

-SC900 and amp,
-Aluminium dash radio surround (as mine had some scratches were as this is mint!),
-Driver's A and B pillar trims as mine had stains on,
-Driver's carpet and sill trim as again they're better in the R,
-Centre console but with my old trim and and armrest etc.

Took about 6 hours just to fit the above somehow today, changing those dash trim panels suck!
Had the binnacle out again to replace left trip bulb, it was fine until I changed to the R faces then as soon as I turned the lights on it blew, typical!

Anyway, we don't care about all that, I'm being boring again :), have a couple of pics.

Stripped ready to start reinstalling the new bits...
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7585/16762120670_1d154e75a1_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rxdfuw)27-03-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/rxdfuw) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Here's the amp required to run the SC900 with the 3cd changer. Annoyingly, the R doesn't appear to have the Dolby processor thing, but there is a wire that goes directly from the radio area to the fusebox area, it gets lost behind the dash, isn't the Dolby processor meant to be behind the radio near the heater box etc? Also, what is that thing at the bottom of the pic? An aerial booster? I ask as this was connected to the rear driver's side window and connected under the boot floor, my car has a bare terminal on the glass where this was connected on the R?

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8741/16742230367_6d6f399620_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rvsiNg)SC900 Amp 1 (https://flic.kr/p/rvsiNg) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Amp installed... Makes my rear carpets look dirty but it is just the lighting!
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8728/16763370269_3b9f94c160_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rxjDXk)SC900 Amp 2 (https://flic.kr/p/rxjDXk) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

That's it, was too dark for any completed photos but we all know what it looks like ;)

In the future I plan on buying a late C70 for the centre speaker dash, SC901 and dolby processor if my R indeed doesn't have it.

Was definitely worth swapping over from the SC805 though, I'm no audiophile or anything (if I was I wouldn't be installing this crap lol) but it definitely produces are much richer and slightly bassier sound. I'm happy :)

MoleT-5R

Saturday 28th March 2015, 01:36

Interesting I never expected the stereo amp to be under the drivers seat..!!

stribo

Saturday 28th March 2015, 06:32

stribo

Saturday 28th March 2015, 06:33

Interesting I never expected the stereo amp to be under the drivers seat..!!

Shows how well you hoover your V70R if you've never looked under your drivers seat. :P

jamesy12345

Saturday 28th March 2015, 17:58

...
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3944/15758846035_0191ba24d2_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/q1ycTZ)KW V2 Coilovers 003 (https://flic.kr/p/q1ycTZ) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Bit of a slow reply but came to me due to Graham's thread on the same subject..

Davey, are the threads exposed on the front strut bodies? Looks like they are covered by something.

MoleT-5R

Saturday 28th March 2015, 19:23

Shows how well you hoover your V70R if you've never looked under your drivers seat. :P

Yes there is something under the drivers seat, but I've never bothered finding out what it was, why isn't it behind the centre console like in the superior 850 range???.....;)

AcidicDavey

Sunday 29th March 2015, 22:17

If you've a SC 900, I wouldn't both with a SC901, we've got both in our collection of cars, and the only difference I've found is that the 3 channel setting can be used on FM on the 901, whereas it can only be used on the CD on the 900.

Yeah, the SC901 is a more reliable unit too though.
I won't go out and buy one but buy a whole car with it in as I need/want the speaker dash and dolby processor unit which my R doesn't have.

When I tested this 900 in the R before removing it the CD didn't appear to work, it tried to read but skipped over the disc and looked for a different one. But after trying one of mine it works perfectly! Obviously the first disc I tried wasn't compatible with it, the 900 doesn't play certain formats of CD.

MoleT-5R

Sunday 29th March 2015, 22:27

Yeah, the SC901 is a more reliable unit too though.
I won't go out and buy one but buy a whole car with it in as I need/want the speaker dash and dolby processor unit which my R doesn't have.

When I tested this 900 in the R before removing it the CD didn't appear to work, it tried to read but skipped over the disc and looked for a different one. But after trying one of mine it works perfectly! Obviously the first disc I tried wasn't compatible with it, the 900 doesn't play certain formats of CD.

I would like to find a pro-logic equipped V70 to gut out for the centre speaker and dash-top etc at some point, to up-grade our V70R as this is one of the few Items not up-graded on ours

AcidicDavey

Sunday 29th March 2015, 22:50

I would like to find a pro-logic equipped V70 to gut out for the centre speaker and dash-top etc at some point, to up-grade our V70R as this is one of the few Items not up-graded on ours

I'm going to try and find a late model C70 as the set up is much more common in those.

My plan is to buy one, swap the dash top etc for mine, swap the crystal headlights and eggcrate grill for standard items then sell the car on at a local car auction :)

I missed this one the other week, should have bid higher! (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281610078415?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1435.l2649)

MoleT-5R

Monday 30th March 2015, 00:08

good plan, best of luck mate

AcidicDavey

Sunday 5th April 2015, 22:33

Right, following on from the last update about the SC900...
After fitting I noticed a weaker radio reception, as learnt it appears this radio requires 2 aerials, ££££!
I think I've figured it out, I've got the addition cable from the back of the HU to the boot on the driver's side and this cable is connected to a very small grey thing connected to the window which was pictured in my last set of photos with the amp, hopefully fit it this week and have perfect radio reception again :)

Today and yesterday I've been using the DA on the paint. Nervous at first but it is going well. 7 hours spent on the polishing so far and I have the passenger side still to do.

I've been using a DAS 6 Pro with Sonus 4 part SFX kit. A bit tiring but very satisficing.

The car was fairly shiny anyway but now it is looking great :)
I actually had a neighbour approach me and ask if I had the car resprayed, he just didn't believe me that it's just well looked after, happy with that! Had a randomer ask that before several months ago too.

I may sort some photos tomorrow.

Just have to fit my new wing mirrors and paint and fit the rear badges.

Almost ready for Gaydon then (http://www.vpcuk.org/forums/showthread.php?58567-VT200-Meet-amp-Tour-Heritage-Motor-Centre-12-4-15), really looking forward to it actually :)

AcidicDavey

Monday 6th April 2015, 23:50

Finished the polishing, spent another few hours on her today (about 10-11 hours total) but she's now shining like a diamond in a goat's ass :)

Also fitted my new door mirrors.

For those that care...

- Wash using 2 bucket method with Bilt Hamber Shampoo and 2 Kent 2in1 Noodle Microfibre wash mitts (for above and below the door moldings to keep dirt off the one).
- Clay each separate panel in prep for polish with Bilt Hamber Regular clay lubricated with tap water with a couple of drops of Fairy's finest. Dry panel with a large Microfibre waffle weave towel.
- Then using a DAS6 Pro dual action polisher start using the Sonus SFX 4 part kit.
- So, SFX-1 Restore Polish with matching pad,
- SFX-2 Enhance Polish,
- SFX-3 Final Finish Polish,
- SFX-4 Paint Sealant.

That's the paint sorted, I wasn't too furough so there is still work to be done if I can be bothered. In truth the paint on this car was really quite bad under close scrutiny. Example on the bonnet near the grill, this was from washing bird poop off unprotected paint (yes I was very bad at washing cars etc in the past!).

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7655/16414355193_ce68ee54c6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r1tRW2)04-04-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/r1tRW2) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Ok, I know I should be driving it or modifying it rather polishing it but I like shiny :)

It probably doesn't look too different from previous photos but I can assure you in person the shine is so much deeper and glossier. And it's so smooth :)

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8783/16851219247_f2d6430620_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rF5UoT)06-04-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/rF5UoT) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8785/16436205794_1f3192532b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r3pRmw)06-04-15 002 (https://flic.kr/p/r3pRmw) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

...and, as I seem to post here more than any other forum these days I'm now flying the flag for the forum :)

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7619/16438480313_63e81eedf9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r3Bvun)06-04-15 003 (https://flic.kr/p/r3Bvun) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Doingitsideways

Tuesday 7th April 2015, 01:58

Looks awesome does that, Dave.

Simply awesome :)

MoleT-5R

Tuesday 7th April 2015, 09:46

Looks like your efforts have been well rewarded..nice work

AcidicDavey

Wednesday 8th April 2015, 00:21

Cheers chaps.

Nice day and since we love photos I took the old girl to my favourite spot for some snaps... enjoy!

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8732/17070734211_1458d1f82c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/s1tYxD)07-04-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/s1tYxD) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7637/17070002552_73049003f6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/s1qe3Q)07-04-15 002 (https://flic.kr/p/s1qe3Q) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7668/17071466535_4cb5e54d64_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/s1xJeV)07-04-15 003 (https://flic.kr/p/s1xJeV) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7699/16883680848_e93b0676ba_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rHXh6E)07-04-15 004 (https://flic.kr/p/rHXh6E) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8767/17070706331_c0026c172f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/s1tQfX)07-04-15 005 (https://flic.kr/p/s1tQfX) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8715/17070700101_9671a063f5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/s1tNpx)07-04-15 006 (https://flic.kr/p/s1tNpx) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8820/16885231099_6b0386e2f9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rJ6dW8)07-04-15 007 (https://flic.kr/p/rJ6dW8) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7669/16885226209_5d3658e0d4_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rJ6ctP)07-04-15 008 (https://flic.kr/p/rJ6ctP) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7671/17069959912_ffee1f9c49_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/s1q1nE)07-04-15 009 (https://flic.kr/p/s1q1nE) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7718/16885212579_e8e9c809b3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rJ68qP)07-04-15 010 (https://flic.kr/p/rJ68qP) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8724/16448975114_e004d0ee1a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r4xied)07-04-15 011 (https://flic.kr/p/r4xied) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8787/16451258943_8501004424_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r4K18z)07-04-15 012 (https://flic.kr/p/r4K18z) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7635/16451253543_829885b3e9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r4JYwt)07-04-15 013 (https://flic.kr/p/r4JYwt) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7665/17070651201_77b4475121_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/s1txSr)07-04-15 014 (https://flic.kr/p/s1txSr) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7684/16448936234_2877d5bcec_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r4x6ES)07-04-15 018 (https://flic.kr/p/r4x6ES) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

That is all.

jamesy12345

Wednesday 8th April 2015, 07:50

That blue colour looks great, Davey....looks like the weather is starting to get better in your part of the world!

AcidicDavey

Thursday 9th April 2015, 00:33

Yes Jamesy, we're having it good here atm, around 19-20C or so highs :)

Another exciting update...

Fitted the second aerial for the SC900 (and no I didn't know they had a second aerial either!).

It connects to a terminal on the driver's rear side window on a terminal that was bare on my car, I wanted to fit whatever it was from the R to this, little did I know it was an extra aerial!

So a case of running a cable from the boot to the dash, fun!

Oh well, it's done now :)

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8750/17056808826_bd6d15ef98_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rZfB1N)08-04-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/rZfB1N) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7646/16460328454_fbe69409ce_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r5xubs)08-04-15 002 (https://flic.kr/p/r5xubs) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

At least we've got better reception now!

Orca2

Thursday 9th April 2015, 00:39

Yeeha Davey ,that is shiny with a capital SH it looks deep enough to swim in. I bet it took forever, but what a finish.

I likes shiny too!

AcidicDavey

Friday 24th April 2015, 01:12

Time for another non update :)

Went to the VT200 bash at Gaydon on the 12, I forgot to take any photos of my own car but here are photos taken by others...

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7652/17062008808_2dcabe9508_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rZHfME)Gaydon Arrival 12-04-15 (https://flic.kr/p/rZHfME) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7724/16629566813_ddc4299c5b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rkuSRc)Gaydon 1 12-04-15 (https://flic.kr/p/rkuSRc) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8767/17249213661_83db8404ef_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/shfJgx)Gaydon 2 12-04-15 (https://flic.kr/p/shfJgx) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8795/17063558569_ccfd1eb713_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rZRctF)Gaydon 3 12-04-15 (https://flic.kr/p/rZRctF) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7639/17248033952_53161c4a96_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sh9FzJ)Gaydon 4 12-04-15 (https://flic.kr/p/sh9FzJ) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8789/17042361877_0e77b776c7_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rXYyrt)Gaydon 5 12-04-15 (https://flic.kr/p/rXYyrt) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8684/17042361187_0ea60a2de6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rXYyez)Gaydon 6 12-04-15 (https://flic.kr/p/rXYyez) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Haven't done anything with the car since. just drive it. Birds decorated it though, GRRRRRR!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7658/17223819696_f784aac1b4_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sf1zwy)21-04-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/sf1zwy) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

Gave me chance to see what it beads like :)

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7656/16629593323_ebf07b6509_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rkv1Jg)21-04-15 002 (https://flic.kr/p/rkv1Jg) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7628/17063592569_eb70a3a374_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rZRnzT)21-04-15 003 (https://flic.kr/p/rZRnzT) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7691/16627343354_a08ee4e895_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rkitTG)21-04-15 004 (https://flic.kr/p/rkitTG) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7598/17249257491_5a00b15695_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/shfXie)21-04-15 005 (https://flic.kr/p/shfXie) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8773/17063607839_e56980ce1c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rZRs8a)21-04-15 006 (https://flic.kr/p/rZRs8a) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/people/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

It's lovely washing the car now, the mitt just glides effortlessly.

I have possibly bought a cheap 2005 C70 Collection Convertible. The lights, grill and wheels will be change for that off the R I have and then it will be sold at my local car auction as convertibles do well there and I get some of the bits I need. Win win!

500tie

Friday 24th April 2015, 06:42

Cars looking good Dave you just need to add some tyre shine to finish it off

MoleT-5R

Friday 24th April 2015, 08:26

My Mrs's was eying up your front splitter with envy at VT200, looks like I'm going to have to find her one....:)

AcidicDavey

Monday 11th May 2015, 22:06

Well, I've been sitting on the V70 R breaker for over 2 months. Gave the bent engine away to a member who wanted a T5 lump to rebuild, I'm pleased someone ended up having it as I couldn't remove it (lack of tools) and it would have just got crushed!

Still, came down Saturday and pulled it out and scrapped the car this morning. Photos if you care...

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5337/17468027781_0f668c692e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sBAd5M)R Scrapper 001 (https://flic.kr/p/sBAd5M) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5331/17468089501_83b09b5c2d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sBAwqV)R Scrapper 002 (https://flic.kr/p/sBAwqV) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5322/17442425506_d95fdd36c2_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/szjZqf)R Scrapper 003 (https://flic.kr/p/szjZqf) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7780/17280633748_aee2b67347_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sk2Lnb)R Scrapper 004 (https://flic.kr/p/sk2Lnb) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

I want this ride height lol

https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7761/17442427536_0b8fe60018_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/szk12f)R Scrapper 005 (https://flic.kr/p/szk12f) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8750/17280644638_0cc64f1fe8_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sk2PAW)R Scrapper 006 (https://flic.kr/p/sk2PAW) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

As you can probably tell, not much gone to waste!

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5335/16907749413_774fd0f928_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rL5CQV)R Scrapped (https://flic.kr/p/rL5CQV) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

But, getting rid of it was harder than I expected! Rang all local dealers and I either got 'Need wheels to get on tow truck' or 'Well if it's just a shell we'll charge you to take it away, low scrap prices etc etc'. The stupid thing is that there is a huge metal recyclers just around the corner that were paying £75 per tonne but 'don't collect'. Didn't have time on my hands so had to pay £10 to get it taken away! One company wanted £50 to take it, jog on!

Anyway, this is The not an R or T5 thread so have some pics of the V70 from last week...

https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7682/17183465418_46c0a47e2f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sbrKB9)04-05-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/sbrKB9) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7783/17183480928_723b7b4f76_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sbrQdy)04-05-15 004 (https://flic.kr/p/sbrQdy) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8696/17371304905_eef8a60eca_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/st3tJZ)04-05-15 006 (https://flic.kr/p/st3tJZ) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7758/17345392026_688cc78a7b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sqKEKd)04-05-15 015 (https://flic.kr/p/sqKEKd) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

JamesT5

Monday 11th May 2015, 22:12

Sad sight seeing a car getting scrapped but at least some of the parts have lived on in other cars. The two nearside doors are now happily sitting on my V70R, many thanks for those!

stutgart69

Monday 11th May 2015, 22:21

What a stunning looking car Davey.
Mine is that colour of Blue as well, but that is where the comparison ends! lol

AcidicDavey

Monday 11th May 2015, 22:49

Sad sight seeing a car getting scrapped but at least some of the parts have lived on in other cars. The two nearside doors are now happily sitting on my V70R, many thanks for those!

No problem, glad they were of use to you.

The loss of this car was only a good thing, it was way too far gone to make any sense saving. As they say it's parts have gone on to help others make their cars better, best use of yard art really, no one mention my Alfa please! :D

What a stunning looking car Davey.
Mine is that colour of Blue as well, but that is where the comparison ends! lol

Cheers! Owes me too much mind. It's a 10 grand £500 car :P

Dangerous Dave

Monday 11th May 2015, 23:02

Fabulous looking car, love how shiny it is :D

jamesy12345

Monday 11th May 2015, 23:08

Cheers! Owes me too much mind. It's a 10 grand £500 car :P

hehe there's a few of those about....

malt1977

Tuesday 12th May 2015, 07:44

Just read through the thread. Great car and story behind it. If I were in the same situation, I'd hang on to the car for life!

craigoodwood

Tuesday 12th May 2015, 07:46

is that really what i look like with long hair??? no wonder he pulled me over :uglyhamme

craigoodwood

Tuesday 12th May 2015, 18:53

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww155/craig-abby/DSC_0018_zpsnzgau4p4.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/craig-abby/media/DSC_0018_zpsnzgau4p4.jpg.html)

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww155/craig-abby/DSC_0016_zps3plqvjqz.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/craig-abby/media/DSC_0016_zps3plqvjqz.jpg.html)

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww155/craig-abby/DSC_0017_zpskkbnec5a.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/craig-abby/media/DSC_0017_zpskkbnec5a.jpg.html)

stutgart69

Tuesday 12th May 2015, 19:02

Cheers! Owes me too much mind. It's a 10 grand £500 car :P

Think if I had 10 grand I would buy your car mate :) The more I look at it, the more I like it

AcidicDavey

Tuesday 12th May 2015, 22:12

Fabulous looking car, love how shiny it is :D

Just read through the thread. Great car and story behind it. If I were in the same situation, I'd hang on to the car for life!
Cheers you two, hasn't been washed for at least a couple of weeks, bad I know, just can't be bothered atm :P

hehe there's a few of those about....

Think if I had 10 grand I would buy your car mate :) The more I look at it, the more I like it
SOLD to that man lol - Haven't done the maths (yes I'm sad enough to have it all written down!) for a while but it's probably going to be a 15 grand £500 car before the year's up :D

is that really what i look like with long hair??? no wonder he pulled me over :uglyhamme
I'm afraid so mate, the flickering bulb was just his 'PC' reason :P

jamesy12345

Tuesday 12th May 2015, 22:21

Think if I had 10 grand I would buy your car mate :) The more I look at it, the more I like it

it's very nicely done fella, looks great 'in the flesh' esp those wheels

AcidicDavey

Sunday 7th June 2015, 22:04

Not too much happening here but time for another minor update :)

Since I last posted the rough C70 Collection got sold, I bought a different C70 Cab to break and did so in a day at the owner's address with their permission ;)

Just been doing what I can to try and get the car a little smarter, mainly inside...

I've changed the handbrake handle for a leather one, the dash air vents for those from my 05 C70. They have just a bit of silver on the tab which makes a difference to the interior 'feel', a bit more modern and they tie in with the aluminium door lock pins.

Really happy with how it is inside now other than some minor marks on the dash and the fact I have the manual air con unit, would like to swap it out for the ECC but that would mean buying another whole car to swap the bits over, something for the future..

Anyway, some pics of the inners.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/330/18386324240_fb380d27e4_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/u1JHCm)Interior 07-06-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/u1JHCm) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/437/18576052431_fe883ec9fc_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/uiv8d4)Interior 07-06-15 002 (https://flic.kr/p/uiv8d4) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/443/18387841459_9a52e823d1_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/u1SuDi)Handbrake Covers (https://flic.kr/p/u1SuDi) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

At some point I will get the Sports steering wheel, handbrake handle cover both gaiters and whatever gear knob I get all retrimmed at the same same time to tie them all together.

Also, Sooty was kind enough to give me his original rear seat back when I sold him the Silver Rs seats to use for trim parts on mine as bits on mine are broken.
Needed the net flap cover and also the button that unlocks the seat back.

Sadly, the hinges on my seat back for the cover flap were cracked and the one broke off when I removed the original flap, so will need to change more bits if I can figure it out, very fiddly!

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/327/18569468602_01bb2734a4_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/uhVo4L)Net Flap Cover (https://flic.kr/p/uhVo4L) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/), on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/492/17881344074_03f1a48f7e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/tf7yBL)04-06-15 001 (https://flic.kr/p/tf7yBL) by AcidicDavey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938051@N08/), on Flickr