Who does the mods?

[Vikingxl]

After talking to a few people i am wondering who does what when it comes to their cars.When i first started on my T5 i had never done anything on a car and to be honest was a little intimidated with the idea of pulling it apart.Now I've got over that but how many people do all their own mods and how many people pay someone else to do it?

[lance]

Im the other way round , I used to speand every weekend fixing somthing on my cars intill I could afford a newer more reliable car.
Now mine goes to my local independent or VT, although the Wing Comander and myself have been known to have a few little tinkers ie upgrade brakes and plumb boost gauge in.

[Vikingxl]

Im the other way round , I used to speand every weekend fixing somthing on my cars intill I could afford a newer more reliable car.
Now mine goes to my local independent or VT, although the Wing Comander and myself have been known to have a few little tinkers ie upgrade brakes and plumb boost gauge in.
The wing commander has helped me out a few times as well

[Mrsmopp]

I have never lifted a finger to any of my cars - I was officially banned from doing anything after trying to get the light to work on my boost gauge and somehow managing to unplumb it in the process LOL

x

[mraldonnelly]

Used to do all my own work from changing bulbs to changing CV boots and general servicing.

Haven't done any mods yet but will probably do them myself when I eventually get the funds together - with the exception of the ECU of course.

Routine servicing on my V70 is done by an independent Volvo specialist to keep the service history going but other stuff, including in between oil changes (I like to change the oil twice as often as the recommended intervals) I do myself.

I want to change the gearbox oil soon - that's something I've never done before but seems very simple - with the exception of trying to squirt the oil in that little elevated hole!

Regards

Andy

[fraz13]

When you say mod do you mean boost guage, strut brace, wheels n tyres, exhaust tv dvd amps stuff like that? I do all electrical myself, strut brace and fitted my rims myself but got exhaust made, as for servicables a get that done as a aint got the tools or a would challenge that too.....

[siamblue]

Now i am fit enough to do things on my vehicles i will try anything as long as i have the correct tools and it only needs one person to do the job, Electrical work i am useless at but i love things mechanical,

Gary

[lance]

I would say one day I would love a house with a gargage and a pit and would be quite happy to tinker about doing servicing and renovation modifications on an old car maybe a T5.
My V70 is my everyday car and I would rather pay a Volvo trained mechanic to look after it than me getting my hands dirty and having to pay more money to the tax man at the end of every year.
Last year my Motoring Bill was £9k I bet £2-3K speant on essential mods and servicing, I would much rather speand money here than trying to save a few quid and ending up with a bigger tax bill scaped knuckles and oily jeans.
If i didnt use my car for work and had loads of time on my hands, it would be a different matter though.

[Wobbly Dave]

I'll have a pop at most things. Big stuff I like to leave to the experts however I have overhauled a couple of cylinder heads (1 Volvo and 1 Rover T series). It is as much about confidence and having the right tools as anything

[mraldonnelly]

It is as much about confidence and having the right tools as anything

You hit the nail on the head there Dave. Confidence helps but the right tools make a world of difference.

There's nothing worse than being halfway through a job only to find that you've not got the right tool (well, OK, there is - being halfway through a job and finding you've not got the right part is more annoying). I was changing a CV boot once. I'd got as far as getting the driveshaft off and fitting the new boot only to find that the massive socket that you need to loosen and tighten the massive driveshaft nut (33mm I think) had broken when I removed the nut (I was jumping up and down on a 2 foot breaker bar to remove it).

The socket was good for doing the nut up loosely but just came apart when I came to torque the nut up. I was well peeved and had to walk about four miles to Halfrauds (and four miles back) to get a replacement socket.

Regards

Andy

[spesh]

You name it I've dont it!! I think I've got a part from every T5 made from 1994 to 2005 on my car at the mo.

[jross]

I usually turn routine maintenance over to a professional (time constraints),but I do all the mods myself and typically also do larger maintenace items when they arise (radiators, heater cores, rebuilding and replacing the engine, etc).

I will say this - every time I'm forced to second-guess why Volvo did something, I have to fight the urge to grab a welding torch and some "supplies" and make the car truely my own.

[Wobbly Dave]

You hit the nail on the head there Dave. Confidence helps but the right tools make a world of difference.

There's nothing worse than being halfway through a job only to find that you've not got the right tool (well, OK, there is - being halfway through a job and finding you've not got the right part is more annoying). I was changing a CV boot once. I'd got as far as getting the driveshaft off and fitting the new boot only to find that the massive socket that you need to loosen and tighten the massive driveshaft nut (33mm I think) had broken when I removed the nut (I was jumping up and down on a 2 foot breaker bar to remove it).

The socket was good for doing the nut up loosely but just came apart when I came to torque the nut up. I was well peeved and had to walk about four miles to Halfrauds (and four miles back) to get a replacement socket.

Regards

Andy
Sadly I have been there before - broken tools and shattered bolts :slap: