Hi there.
As I am now getting to the stage where I am going to need advice and help with all things 854 T5, i thought I would start a thread to chart the progress of what I assure you, will be a slow burn race car preparation thread.
If I can get the car in some sort of order, and out for the last race of next season I will be extatic!!!
So, where do I start?
Having competed in sprints and hillclimbs for around 5 seasons in a Clio 172 Cup, I had to give up due to the recession and a distinct lack of funds. Jump forwards 2 years and I was attending the end of season sprint event held by NSCC at Thoresby, just outside Ollerton, Notts.
I was talking to some of my old friends while watching the action, and talk turned to whether I would do any motorsport again?
I said yes, but this time I would like to do something a little different!!!!
At the time I had a picture on my phone of an 850 estate touring car rep, which I showed to my friends. There were a few raised eyebrows, but the general consensus was that it would be a good idea.
So, on returning home, I fired up the lap top and behold, an 854 T5 in white on Ebay for £600!!
A deal was struck and the Volvo made its way straight into the workshop, where it is going to spend the next few months undergoing its transformation into a 1995 BTCC replica.
The first job was to remove around 200kgs of interior trim etc.
I then started to remove chunks of the wiring loom that was no longer going to be required.
As per the works cars, we also removed the various cross members from the floor pan which we would not be needing.
The hand brake tower has now been modified and will be re welded at the rear of the tunnel out of the way. The gear lever platform has also been removed and will be re made to allow the gear lever to be mounted further back and a little higher than standard. These mods are all a result of me being 6’ 3” and sitting quite far back in the car!
All the sound deadening pads have also been removed from the floor pan to help reduce weight further.
We then borrowed a seat from another competitor so we could weld in some 30mm box section for the seat rails in the right position. While adjusting the seating position, it became clear that the steering wheel was going to have to move. The adjustment bracket has been modified to allow more of a drop and slightly longer reach, and with the new steering wheel and boss in place is just right.
At the moment the car just keeps getting taller and taller as we remove more and more weight!
Compared with it its original condition:
This weeks tinkering has resulted in:
Bonnet pins fitted to bonnet and boot lid.
The boot lids inner skin has been cut down.
Door inner skins have been trimmed back.
Switch panel has been fabricated for battery cut off and starter button etc.
All battery wiring has been re-directed into the car. The battery will sit in a box in the passenger footwell.
I have also sent some rollcage specs off to a pipe bender to get a quote for the main hoop and front legs of the cage I have designed. Once the quote is back and I have enough money, the cage can start to go in and the interior will then be painted and we can move on to the engine bay!
More pics and updates will follow. I now have to try and get her running again. Following advice given in another thread, I may have to reinstate the transponder ring so the car will start again.
I’m going to need lots of advice on getting the car to handle and releasing more power from the engine etc, so stay tuned!
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