V70 D5 aka "The Barge"

[RobbieH]

Rummaging through a bunch of photos recently made me think of chucking up a thread on how the ol'barge has changed over the years. So here we are.....



Bought the car in Jan 2007 after several years with BMW 320d estates with work although I'd had Volvos previously. But never in all those years would I have thought I'd have done something like this will detail.

Redundancy at the end of 2006, a change of career (at the time, but that's another story) plus prior history with Volvos meant a 54 plate V70 D5 appeared on the drive in early January. One previous owner, 47k on the clock, full main dealer history (oh really LOL, hindisght is such a wonderful thing).




First things were a full set of mud-flaps and a Parrot 3200LS-GPS to talk to my (then) Nokia phone and Axim PDA for sat-nav plus Snooper (all powered via multi-plug hidden inside the faux-leather pod on the side of the centre console). Also fitted was luggage net in the rear load bay.




flash makes the colour difference more than it really is.


Then bonged a rear wheel going over the Snake Pass a bit quick. Never was far of the Amalthea wheel design so cue a set of 5 Orestes (with GY Eagle F1's) via fleabay which also gave me a full size spare.



And added some moose badges (worth, oh I don't know 5hp at least, everyone counts with a diseasel)

[RobbieH]

2008
Not a lot happened this year. Previous career change plans didn't work out so pennies were a bit tight early in the year. At this point the 2nd hand car market crashed and a quick valuation showed the car had literally devalued 50% since I bought it. What to do?
And to matters worst I'd stumbled across various forums where the word "remap" was cropping up. Hmmm..........

[RobbieH]

2009
Bit of a crunch year in more ways than intended....

New job meant pennies were now available and these forums are leading me astray. Remap was on the cards so much reading done but also decision made to upgrade suspension and brakes first. No chance of selling the car, not given how much I'd already lost within 18 months of buying it.

First crunch
K*** of a coach driver meant a new front passenger wing in January. Fortunately a kind witness meant no issue for me but coach driver may have had an issue keeping his job.


March
Genuine spoiler with the high level brake light spliced into the existing one meant the rear end didn't look so naked.


June
Eibach Pro springs, Sachs Supertouring front shocks and Boge rears, IPD front drop links, std rear drop links and new front spring mounts. 30mm drop all round.

Also polybushed wishbones; turned out that the front (oil filled) bushes were totally knackered and the rears weren't far behind.

Before


After



A "tight northern type" mod to the engine stay bar helped stiffen up the front end as well.



All this retained the long distance comfort but made going round corners much better. And it sits much nicer than than up on stilts (even for a non-Nivo equipped car).



September
Set of rear passenger windows and load bay genuine blinds rather than tints took care of the undesirables being able to peer into the back.




October
On go a full set of re-built T5 calipers (shot blasted, painted, new seals), 305mm front carriers, new discs and pads all round (305mm fronts replacing the original 286mm fronts). Braided hoses all round and new fluid.


This thing now goes round corners well (proven earlier in the year in the Alps) and stops better (could have done with this in the Alps LOL). So it would be rude not to complete things as planned:

November
MTE remap

And the first "smoke-out"



191 moose and 433 torques, a useful up from the stock 163 and 340 quoted figures.

Full writeup
http://forums.t5d5.org/topic/9935-mt...s-and-writeup/
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=85661

Knackered siren module (battery leaked and corroded PCB) plus goosed brake position sensor (no cruise) added to normal maintenance costs for the year.

[RobbieH]

2010

May
Orestes looking a bit yuck, especially following fitting of new tyres last year so in for a re-furb we go. "Smoked chrome" powdercoat courtesy of "The Wheel Specialist" in Manchester.

"Smoked chrome" on the left, original Volvo "Bright Silver" on the right




Courtesy of another of Shems unfinished projects plus a trip to a very sunny and warm Coldville IPD arbs fitted. Plus a boost gauge and a knackered exhaust hanger replaced.






July
Bad move of the year - went down to Castle Combe. Tingy and Redbrick in their D5's give me bad ideas.



August
Thanks to Redbrick, black mesh grille tidys the front end up. Too much chrome on the original grille.



October
The interfooler had been confirmed to be on it's last legs earlier so off we go to Coldville for a transplant and the "monster" FMIC - overkill? I don't think so to date. Given I'm planning to keep the car for a few more years I reckon I'd be replacing the stock one, if used, at least twice in the time. And this one does seem to breath so much better. Horns were relocated from behind the grille as well so hidden away better.

Full thread and pics
http://forums.t5d5.org/topic/13471-a...nt-end-part-1/
http://forums.t5d5.org/topic/13472-a...nt-end-part-2/

[RobbieH]

2011

May
Headlamps upgraded to facelift versions.


Small box of tricks plugged into the back of the HU for MP3 playback.

June
A quick trip to Coldville pronounces the barge healthy and ready for...

July
Another D5 tries to smoke out the opposition at Castle Combe. Fortunately the damp weather helps keep the air clear



October
Courtesy of Don's special offer during the earlier trackday a Ferrita cat-back goes on. The original outlet really did resemble a cut-off piece of scaffold pole.
Dad got rid of his older V70 2.4 so the tow bar got transplanted at the same time.









More pics
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?p=1030787

November
Another set of Orestes - this time for winter use with Kleber Quadraxers.

Sometime in the year HTC Desire replaced the Nokia phone so as this also fulfils sat-nav duties a Brodit powered mount was fitted in place of the Axim PDa mount.

And trip to the Marlin dyno with a few other hooligans



195 moose and 450 torques. I'm happy enough.

[RobbieH]

2012

Jan - courtesy of goosed arb bushes front drop links changed to Meyle HD units without curing the clonking. New arb bushes sorted the clonk. Oh well.

May
Facelift rear lights - bang tidy.

pre-facelift orignals


facelift


July
Another blast round Combe. Bagged a set of Thor alloys earlier in the year just for Combe days (can't get all that nasty brake dust over my shiney Orestes).






October
S60R front door cards plus HP speakers fitted to front and passenger doors.

November
Genuine sub fitted.

[RobbieH]

2013
Feb
Sponges front sub-frame bush inserts fitted. Nice little addition.

May
Another trip to Coldville for a checkover pre-Combe. Needed new pads and discs so it was rude not to upgrade. Cue a set of 320mm fronts courtesy of Mr Williams.

June
R bumper fitted. Took me time to sort it out but got there in the end and looks better for it IMHO




July
Combe agin and it was dry!





New (XC90) front rubber spring mounts/cups fitted by MRG. Old ones were totally fubar'd.

October
Facelift centre console fitted with silver mesh trim to gear surround. Neatens thngs up.
Also fitted LED bulbs (CANBUS friendly where needed) to all interior lights (front, passenger and load bay headlining plus footwells).

[RobbieH]

Next
Got a full set of door bump strips and sill trims from a black facelift car. Need colour-coding and fitting.
Now have a set of Bilstein B8 shocks. Maybe in time for Combe next year.

And IF I win the lottery then I have a few naughty ideas but for the moment that's all they are.

Thanks to various people:
Redbrick - inspiration (?)
Shem - for never finishing a P2 project
Tim - for putting up with my stoopid ideas of modding a diseasel and inane babble when I turn up on the doorstep with or to ask for yet another pile of bits to fit.
Howard (my local indy) - for looking after the barge's normal servicing needs.
Don- remap and zorst

and everyone else for putting up with me and the coal burner

[stribo]

Nice looking project mate, the car's come on leaps and bounds.

[Rnash2002]

Car does look well

[V70 Graham]

As Steve said, the car has come on in leaps and bounds.....nice project thread.

[jdavis]

Great project there!

[merc85]

Looks ace with the R front end

[andyb1375]

Looks great

[WOODY T5]

That's one nice looking v70 u have there mate keep up the good work must say looks very nice with the R front

[smithy]

Very nice car you have there and looks the tits with that r bumper on

[Harvey]

Great to see so much work done over the time you've had it,must say the 'R' front is very nice,but I am a bit biased.

[graemewelch]

cracking write up and the car looks the nuts. i need a R bumper in my life

[Biff]

Fair play on you keeping it so long & making it your own. Good selection of mods with a good power figure to show.
Car looks really well treated. A credit to you.

[Kingsford G]

Good to c a diesel modding,nice car mate.