This is my progress thread- as much to share with the community as it is for me to keep track of all the changes.
In 2009 I purchased A V70 T5 from a couple in Connecticut, with no prior knowledge of Volvos. All I knew is that I wanted a turbo wagon with a manual trans. After looking for about a year I found one and brought it back to NYC with me where I drove it stock until 2011. I enjoyed beating the hell out of it and generally not caring about it. I lucked into a 1998 model, having no ideas of the differences between the 98 and later models.
Here I am in Brooklyn loading it with live chickens (in the various boxes and bins) which were leftover from an art installation called The Waterpod. Needless to say, the Volvo was used as a hauler- surfboards, furniture, small trees, livestock, etc. etc.
In 2011 I came to LA for grad school and brought the T5 west. In 2012 I noticed that some wagons had cool looking Pegasus wheels, so I went ahead with my first car mod EVER and bought a set. Fortuitously enough, they were considerably wider than my stock Perfos, and the balancing weights on the Pegs were hitting my struts. After a shop investigated the noise and quoted me $900 to replace my struts (which wouldn’t have cured the problem) I found VS and requested some recommendations for mechanics in LA. Per the recommendations, I contacted Trius at Volvo Five-O, who helped me find and fix the balancing weight issue in about 5 minutes. Ultimately he helped me replace my shocks and struts, which turned out to be shot anyway. In one day he fixed about 20 other issues ranging from imminent problems (fuel pump relay) to minor annoyances (tailgate rattle, sticky hood release, fuses, safety lights in doors, etc.) He really helped me fall back in love with the car, but I had no idea what was in store…
Two things then happened within a few weeks of each other that further bolstered interest in reviving the car. At one of the regular Portillos meetings I met Aequitas_Veritas who quickly sank his Volvo fangs in and got to work. And, while parked at USC one night, the car was badly keyed by some jerkoff. Doors, hood, and roof. Not wanting to loose momentum, I decided to tackle the problem instead of scrapping the car. Aequitas helped me source some replacement panels, along with a dual exhaust bumper from Yangotang.
Keyed:
R dual exhaust before install:
Stock dyno:
With a factory dual exhaust from a 2000 R, and new doors and hood, I felt pretty good about the car. But Aequitas was only getting started. He initiated the purchase of an R that was being scrapped in San Jose, and we drove up and towed back the motherload. Full R interior, 19T, rear foil, interior switches, tailgate struts, etc.
Parting out R:
Parting out R:
The interior was swapped for the R’s, fogs were added, rear foil, boost gauge, blue gauge faces, 302mm brackets, etc. LEDs were added throughout the interior, HIDs were installed in the fogs and headlights, IPD sways, Forge CBV, IPD TCV, cabin air filter, subframe bushings, trans torque mount, clear turn signals, cold air intake, Meyle endlinks, shifter bushings, XC70 grille, Snaab short throw kit, Snaab turbo pipe, R grilles, ARD Green, full sound deadening in the rear half of the car, Alpine SPS-610s all around, new rotors and calipers all around, Blitz iPod adapter, and a full stage zero were done with Aequitas. I’m sure there’s a bunch of stuff I’m missing but you get the point.
Stock brakes were rusted tight to the rotor:
Omori boost gauge, LEDs, Blue faces:
R interior, installed:
HIDs:
Sound deadening:
Forge CBV:
ARD Green Dyno:
I’ve since swapped the Pegs for some Saab wheels which I much prefer. And, this past week at Volvo Five-O we installed an 18T, IPD springs, R-manifold, OBX DP, new cat, new clutch and associated parts, new hubs, axles, rear main, axles seals, SAS delete, etc. etc.
IPD springs:
18T, R mani:
Rusted axle:
18T in:
Resurfaced:
'Custom' 3" cat:
Stripped gearbox fluid threads:
Note rusted axle, ground down, required a press to remove:
Setup:
The corresponding ARD Blue tune is in the mail and, while the major modding is done for a while, the following changes are in the works: wheel spacers, C70 amp and 901 head unit with corresponding amber LEDs, climate control amber LEDs, window switch LEDs, new PCV with NA throttle body and intake mani, possible Plastidipping Pearl White, microsuede at headliner and interior pillars. After the NA intake mani and ARD Blue are in, I’ll re-dyno and update the thread. The car feels amazing- handling, fit and finish, accelerations, etc. are all far superior to stock and, with the help of the VS community, ensure that I’ll keep the car for years to come. It’s been a long and rewarding year!
Thanks for reading- if I can answer any questions about the process and the many headaches involved, let me know!
Currently:
