The original wheels on the Volvo are four inches wide with 165/70/15 tires. Anything over 60 MPH on the highway and things got really squirrely .
Last year while scrounging behind dad's tool-shed I found some old Ford Ranger rims with 185/60/15 tires that needed new stems . So I brought them home and stashed them in the barn . I just replaced the valve stems and put them on the car and it makes all the difference. Now 75, even 80 mph is possible without inducing too much pucker factor . The Ford ranger wheels just barely clear the lower ball joint by about a half inch , but they work and the car drives so much better .
Added some
DaveBarton.com bling too . Seems Volvo got their nose all bent out of shape over the prancing moose Ferrari parody , and sued Dave so he can't use the Volvo name anymore. But they are available on E-bay if you search .
Got an old grill badge we've had for years installed .
That should throw a few for a loop at the car events .
The valve cover has been looking a bit ratty for a while as that silver crinkle paint dad used on it was not heat proof and was coming off in big flakes .
So I de-greased the engine and transmission and stripped the old silver paint off the valve cover and repainted it with some 500 F resistant engine paint . Have a new valve cover gasket on order too .
Given I had a wide selection of Marden's Discount .99 cent spray cans.
I chose the one that claimed to be Volvo green . . . .
I'm guessing Volvo Penta , hey why not? Dad would have approved of the marine engine theme .
Y despues decis que no sos habilidoso...
ReplyDeleteNada de esto requiere gran habilidad. If you can walk and chew gum at the same time you can do it too.
DeleteExcellent.
ReplyDeleteYea, it looks a bit cleaner now and even drives better.
DeleteI had a 67 Saab 96 that used the same size tires. I did not have to worry about its 3 cylinder 2 cycle producing enough speed for it to get squirrely.
ReplyDeleteI remember those, they had the three speed manual shift on the column. I always liked the looks of those.
DeleteYes, on the column, but they were in fact four speeds. Fun cars.
DeleteOh gawd I love that Ferrari rip off. And I love that engine! That car is as interesting inside as outside...
ReplyDeleteAnd it runs like a sewing machine too. It has the distinctive whir of a push-rod engine long forgotten since overhead cams and timing belts have taken over.
DeleteEstimado Silvius, hoy me encuentro observando con asombro tu blog y las maravillosas tareas que llevas a cabo. Es evidente que sos un experto en lo tuyo. Felicitaciones y voy a revisar este blog con detenimiento que creo voy a llevarme algunas ideas =)
ReplyDeleteApropósito...he considerado alguna observación tuya y he actuado en consecuencia, por lo tanto creo que te debo un agradecimiento!.
Don Pablo !!! Muchas gracias por la visita. Es un honor recibirlo en mi humilde pagina. Lo de experto, realmente no se. Como he dicho antes, no soy la luz mas brillante del arbolito, pero cada tanto, si las estrellas se alienan correctamente, y las bujías chispean cuando deben, salgo con una buena. Generalmente enseguida tenemos reverendo y muy espectacular chapuzón.
DeleteMe alegra que mis ideas le sean de ayuda. Por mi parte, como ve, me mantengo ocupado jugando con este cacharrito que me dejó mi padre. Procuro hacerlo de modo que si aun estaría vivo aprobaría de mis laburos. Es un Volvo PV544 de 1962, con motor de dos litros y trasmisión de cuatro cambios mas la sobre-marcha.
Hace rato que no visito su pagina, ya voy para alla. Espero que todo alla en Argentina con usted y los suyos vaya bien y que el Fácil modificado siga andando pa-lante.
Michael