Tc's 960 Thread

**Tomcat** · Tuesday 12th October 2010, 07:24

Well after driving it to work and back yesterday (50miles) it's definatley a lot lower, however I've noticed the softer spring. The car drives ok on flat roads but once on the twisty stuff it's way to spongy. I'm trying to get a quote for some uprated dampers but being as no one stocks them for this I'll have to get the custom made. Also emailed a leaf spring manufacturer yesterday about getting a steel leaf made up as well, this would help stiffen the car as well as lower it but I can see it being hard work.

May have to put the nivo's back on temporarily as I'm not over keen on it the way it is now.

**t5 pete** · Tuesday 12th October 2010, 09:16

Hey tc have you thought about what i reccomended to you it wouldnt be expensive and if you took the flat bar to a engineer shop the wouldnt charge much to heat it up and bend it to what you want other than that if you can wait till garage is done i will make you one.

**mk3phill** · Tuesday 12th October 2010, 13:42

looking a lot better tc! im still to do this on mine though i have those coilover units waiting. any problems to look out for on removing the rear bracework/leaf?

**Tomcat** · Tuesday 12th October 2010, 19:58

Originally Posted by t5 pete

Hey tc have you thought about what i reccomended to you it wouldnt be expensive and if you took the flat bar to a engineer shop the wouldnt charge much to heat it up and bend it to what you want other than that if you can wait till garage is done i will make you one.

Cheers Pete but it would have to be Spring steel otherwise it would just bend.

**Tomcat** · Saturday 16th October 2010, 17:14

Finally got sick of hearing the back end rattling it's head off (been doing it all week), had a look round it today and decided to temporarily swap the shocks out for the nivomats. Although the back of the is back up in the air (although not quite as high) it's stopped rattling, the old shocks where well and truly knackered. I'm now in the middle of getting a quote from Spax for some adjustable rear shocks, failing that it's back on with the coilovers.

Also noticed a slight rattle from the front, looks like the front shocks are knackered as well so they'll have to be swapped out at some point for the T5 struts I have lying around.

**daveforber** · Thursday 28th October 2010, 18:59

Originally Posted by Tomcat

Mmmm after having a quick look it would seem that the T6 out of an S80 is a lot cheaper, even a road going car can be had for less than 2k, so a damaged one should be really cheap.

Just stumbled over this on the 'bay; don't know if it's of interest... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/volvo-s80-t6-e.../300483902532?

**sebasteeno** · Thursday 28th October 2010, 19:18

Just thought id pop in a see how your motors going TC and its looking well mate. Nice one!

**Tomcat** · Thursday 28th October 2010, 19:35

Originally Posted by daveforber

Just stumbled over this on the 'bay; don't know if it's of interest... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/volvo-s80-t6-e.../300483902532?

Thanks for the tip off but I've no money at the moment.

**T4_Al** · Tuesday 9th November 2010, 00:01

Really loving how this car is progressing. Keep the pics coming in

**cherry1809** · Wednesday 10th November 2010, 20:16

Couldn't you get some sort of lowering block made up, Like on the Mk2 Escorts? Or is it a totally different set up?

**Tomcat** · Wednesday 10th November 2010, 21:22

No, the way the spring sits theres no chance of using anything like lowering blocks. I'm going to try and get a new leaf made up at some point, I tried contacting one manufacturer but they never got back to me.

**Tomcat** · Tuesday 11th January 2011, 18:46

No real updates to talk of, other than the fact the MOT is up next week, gonna try and get it in this weekend incase it fails on something...

**mk3phill** · Sunday 16th January 2011, 23:55

hey tc, just wondering how if you managed to fit the T5 shocks? ive heard it can be done but there is some difference to them and ours?

**Tomcat** · Monday 17th January 2011, 06:55

No mate, there still sat in the shed waiting to go on, apparently they do fit but they need a spacer to go on top of the shaft..(apparently).. Once the weather improves I'll have a play with fitting them, need to stiffen this suspension up a lot as it's like driving a boat at the moment.

**mk3phill** · Thursday 20th January 2011, 17:22

fair enough dude, haha i know that boaty feeling... great isnt it! lets hope for some sunny weather then, always lookin forward to progress on this beast

**Tomcat** · Monday 24th January 2011, 17:28

Managed to get a diagram for the spacers so I can fit the T5 struts, just got to find an engineering firm to make them for me now, anyone know one?.

As the car is eating petrol lately I thought I'd give it a once over at the weekend, bearing in mind it's just past it's mot...I found that both back brakes where binding and the front o/s tyre was only at 10psi. Found out too late to get the tyre fixed as it has a slow leak but the brakes are fine after removing the pads and cleaning them up. Hope for slightly better fuel consumption but I'll wait and see, not convinced it'll be that much better.

**AndysR** · Monday 24th January 2011, 23:32

Is the fuel consumption on this 960 better or worse than the 850?

**Tomcat** · Tuesday 25th January 2011, 07:00

Hard to say to be honest, I've not actualy sat down and calculated how much it's using,also the cost of petrol has rocketed recently so that's not helping, certainly feels like it's worse than the 850...