JamesV70R Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 I've been told I have to make a thread ... so .. here goes! Since before I was learning to drive, only a few cars caught my eye ... one of them being the Volvo V70R. The ultimate "sleeper" - who ever would expect a fast Volvo?! At the end of August 2011, my dreams came true thanks to a post on the Volvo Owners Club forums - A member was selling a Laser Blue V70R AWD with 154k on the clock, and a recent gearbox rebuild. I think I must have emailed him within about 3 hours of his post going up! A few weeks later I was in Lincolnshire viewing the car where I fell in love ... and paid the deposit! 2 weeks later (after waiting for the DVLA to transfer his private plate off) I was able to collect the car ... ! The car is the 1999-2000 "end of run" model, known as the "Phase 3". It has a 2.4L, 5 cylinder/20v turbocharged engine, coupled to a 5-speed adaptive automatic. Standard power is 265bhp / 350Nm. This car has a BSR Tuning map, and is roughly 310bhp / 450Nm. 0-60 is officially 6.3s. I'll try and condense the following 2 years down to pictures ... As she was when I got her home, and after the first wash ... 2012 ... not a lot happened really. The car had a new rear wiper motor, drop links, and received a new set of aftermarket "black" projector headlights, black mesh grille, 5k HID's and a front strut brace. October 2012 was my first visit to WIM for my Vredestein Ultrac Cento's to be fitted. December 2012 the car received a BSR Optiflow intake kit - basically a metal shield and a cone filter! Lots of whooshy noises are now heard. January 2013 I knew my front suspension was on its last legs - that coupled with a slight weep from one of the shocks lead to me buying a low mileage set of Intrax RSA coilovers from a friend. April saw a T5 project being broken, which had a few interior pieces of trim that I snapped up. I'd been looking for somewhere to relocate my extra gauges (Oil Temp, Oil Pressure, Boost) and this was perfect. The double DIN slot for the radio has been converted to a single DIN, and a 3-gauge holder had been added and smoothed flush. I repainted these in body colour after a few weeks of indecisiveness. Before: During ... After ... 2 weeks later was the Southern BKV (Best kept Volvo) at the Royal Artilleries Museum in Hampshire, the car was awarded "Highly Commended" and I was invited to show the car in November at the NEC Classic Motor Show. More on that later ... A few weeks later my local VOC section were at the Enfield Pageant of Motoring where we all got very sunburned but had a great weekend. and that was followed by the Knebworth Motor Show .. and then the big one ... the National BKV at Hatton World. Didn't win anything, but its a great event anycase! September saw the Volvo 300 club holding a meet at the Brooklands circuit. They opened it up to other Volvo owners and as its only down the road .. how could I say no! They had arranged a photoshoot on the banking ... November saw the car at Refined Details for a Gold level detail - single stage machine polish + sealant, in preparation for the NEC Classic Motor Show! You can see in those last 2 where the sodium lighting was really messing with the color of the paint, vs our halogens. And thats it .. to today, where after another clean MOT (171k!) WIM fitted some Poly/Resin subframe bush inserts to stiffen the subframe up a bit, and then made sure everything was straight again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 That was a good read James, you got a great looking car there with some subtle mods I never realised the mileage was that high, how good are these engines for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesV70R Posted January 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 250 - 300k theoretically. As with all engines, it'll last as long as you keep looking after it. AFAIK these 2.4 engines had uprated internals as stock, but other than the gearbox its never had any major mechanical work done on the engine. Still on the original turbo! I missed a bit at the start too - current list of mods! VW Variable Intermittent Wipers RelayGenuine Volvo Auto Dimming Rear-view Mirror Genuine Volvo/Nokia Bluetooth Hands free kit 9451797 Has speaker and mic in/on headrest (Currently disabled)BSR OptiflowJetex Stainless Steel Rear Exhaust/SilencersGenuine Volvo Rear Bumper Protector 9204625Genuine Volvo Removable towbar with twin electrics 9192365Full size 17" Volvo Satellite Alloy Spare wheelGenuine Volvo Dolby Pro-Logic amp and centre speaker (Currently disabled)Genuine Volvo rear tray To come: Rear Intrax Coilovers to replace Nivomat load leveling suspension (+camber adjustable top mounts if I can get them!) Replace all boost hoses (Sat in the garage waiting for a good time) Refurbished rear callipers (blue) and braided hoses ready to fit James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parthiban Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Great pics! The 850/V70R was such an awesome sleeper, plus it's so ridiculously practical as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 How is the car handling after the bushes were replaced and the WIM treatment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesV70R Posted January 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Definitely tracks better! As for the bushes ... I think I'll only feel the benefit of that when I throw the car around a bit .. but there's no noticeable extra vibrations or anything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Good stuff, plenty of twisties to try it on around here - when the weather is nicer! I loved the handling on my old Mondeo with all the suspension mods but I think it will make the ride too harsh for the missus if I do it on the Accord! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Superb blog James, thanks for posting and she still looks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesV70R Posted January 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 You should see her when she's clean Will there be a WIM/WIM-Forum meet this summer? Any excuse to make the car shiny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Excellent..... I look forward to that 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesV70R Posted February 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 Woohoo! https://www.dropbox.com/s/a03o2hb7nxaehzz/2014-01-30%2008.55.33.jpg James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 That's alot of miles! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 Phone it, 17 17 17 852..... Or put it on a lottery ticket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesV70R Posted February 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Dyno day! 253.1bhp, 289Ft/Lb, peaking at 3400RPM. (And a jet of water from one of the exhausts ... !) Lower than I was expecting by a little, but I've a suspicion that I'm not getting the boost I should be getting. She was getting 14psi when I bought her home, but is peaking at 11 now ... I think my wastegate actuator is starting to show its age. Trying to find a Mityvac or similar to borrow so I can test it, and if needed, adjust it so its set correctly. 222000 mile service coming up in 2 weeks, I'm having the new boost hoses I bought a few months back fitted at the same time (Just genuine Volvo rubber ones, no need really for blingy Samco) Waiting for April when I can take the sealant off, and get a few coats of wax back on. The sealant is good, don't get me wrong, its perfect right now while I can't put any time in to polishing or waxing ... but it just doesn't give the depth that a few coats of wax does. I'll be re-sealing the wheels though, its worked really well keeping them from turning black! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 That's a good amount of power considering the mileage the engine has on it. Just shows how good Volvo's are I can't really tell the difference between a sealant/wax but I'm looking forward to the dry weather so I can wash the cars, they are minging. Not much point with all this rain cos it will just get muddy again on the next drive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 I have to agree with Rich it's good given the mileage but saying that it could be better given the boost issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesV70R Posted February 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Its not a big difference, but the car just doesn't look as "bright" .... It might just be me, it might just be the weather ... but I'm gonna need to set a full weekend aside I think. Looking forward to some sun again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 I think you will need to look a long way forward to find any sun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesV70R Posted March 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 Wash day! My local Owners Club section are moving their monthly meet from South Mimms services to the Bushey Met Club, so she has to be clean for that .... I've removed and sold the black projector headlights - as much as I love them! Money to be reinvested in the car soon ... maybe involving a trip to WIM, a ramp, and rear suspension! (I'll be ringing next week to try and get a rough cost if thats ok?) Over the bank holiday weekend I'll be stripping off the remaining sealant, possibly claying, and getting some good polish and wax on there, ready for the first show in May/June time. The sealant is definitely loosing it effectivness, as even when clean its only making big uneven beads, and it doesn't run off easily at speed now. Fortunately where I park at the flat is in the shade, so I can wash/clay/wash at the parents, then drive down here to polish and wax out of the sun - no issues with panels being too hot now! Might get some weird looks though, but I'll cope lol!! Latest pic of the front end ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted March 29, 2014 Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 That's a shame I liked those headlights. What you doing to the rear then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesV70R Posted March 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 As much as I liked them too, they had terrible full beam, and even with the projectors and HID's they weren't amazing. Where there was light they were good though. I need to have the rear coilovers fitted, something I've not had the cash to do since moving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesV70R Posted April 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 An update for updates sake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Looks stunning...... Did you get those coilovers fitted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesV70R Posted April 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Still only the fronts - I really need to pull my finger out and get the rears done. I've only just had the geo done 2 months ago though - same time I had the subframe bush inserts fitted. Really does make a difference!! Pulls a little more on uneven surfaces, and on strangely cambered roads, but turns in beautifully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Pull your finger out if only to get the right balance..... That said she does look nice and i think personally the rake is perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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