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Dec 15, 2013 23:39:31 GMT
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Right then, not too much progress this weekend, but hey, it progress Stonechipped those rear arches. Did a lot of cleaning on the door hinges and shuts, still plenty to do but getting there. They need to be primered soon. Also got the filler sanded to shape on the drivers side rear door shut where the inner wheel arch is welded on the back of it. Flatted down the bulkhead panels (i primered them ages ago) and painted with halfords gloss black followed by a decent coat of 2k lacquer, which seems to work well. Cant quite get my head around how close it is to being painted! steve
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Thor: 1980 - 244DL - B21A - M45. CLICK ON THE PICTURE BANNER FOR MY PROJECT THREAD!
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Dec 20, 2013 12:53:41 GMT
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Car is looking great, can't wait to see it painted. As per the Monza post, I found this pic of Ken McKinstry driving a 240 turbo in the 1987 Circuit of Ireland and thought of this thread..
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Lots of Alfas and, errrr, a Marina Coupe...
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Dec 22, 2013 23:05:24 GMT
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Haha, thats cool I have various photos on my other computer of volvos going round corners with stupid amounts of opposite lock on and ridiculous roll angles. Ill try and remember to post them up...
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Thor: 1980 - 244DL - B21A - M45. CLICK ON THE PICTURE BANNER FOR MY PROJECT THREAD!
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Dec 22, 2013 23:05:34 GMT
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Update... The wheels I have been and bought. They come on a base model ford focus mk2 except on those, they have ugly wheel trims over them. On Thor they are going to be banded and beautifully painted They need to be machined very slightly to make the centre bore correct for a volvo, and because there is a rough edge around the centre bore which would be difficult to make a centre cap fit nicely to. Here is one just mocked up with some crappy silver paint thown at it. I saw this picture which made me research what they were... Now, I don't like a lot of aspects about that car and its wheels. Its too low, the black bonnet looks ridiculous, and the wheels are a sickly colour scheme and far, far too wide. I'm not going for the "stanced" look as it seems to be called these days (stupid low, stupid wide wheels, and stupid camber), I just want a sporty, slightly low and period kind of "stance" if you like. The wheels on that car are 16x9.5 on the front and 16x11's on the rear. I'm thinking something along the lines of 16x8 (volvo polaris wheels like on johns car are 8" wide AFAIK). I may do it so the rear wheels have a different offset to make the wheels fill the arches better and make the rear wheels appear to be slightly wider/more dished. Aside from that I have been just carrying on with more and more corrections and sanding... I got to a point where i realised i was making things difficult for myself because i was working mainly on the front end of the car with it tucked into the corner of the garage. Time for a mega tidy up, let Johns 164 see some daylight, and admire Thor a bit from a distance and look at panel gaps and stuff. Love the saloon back end! Some superDTM p0rn Aside from that I have also fitted the bulkhead panels. Please excuse the stupidly long bolts on places. They are only there for the sealant to set and i have an order of £130 of stainless M5/M6/M8 nuts bolts and washers arriving soon to keep in stock for when I'm fitting various things to the car. Soooooooo loving that orange!!! And then I spent the rest of the evening getting the left front wing profiling done, and ready for that, the last bit, to get some 2k primer. Its almost done and I might go and finish it off and primer it tomorrow night. Once thats done, its careful flatting and guidecoating, and very very soon, some orange! Steve
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Thor: 1980 - 244DL - B21A - M45. CLICK ON THE PICTURE BANNER FOR MY PROJECT THREAD!
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Looking great, love the wheels
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Dec 23, 2013 10:30:32 GMT
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I've just spent a good part of this morning reading through this thread when I really ought to have been out in the garage.
That is a very nice build, and it has to be said, also a very mature and well thought out attitude to it from someone of your age.
I do like the choice of new colour for what you want to achieve with this car, but I think the original blue would also have been nice and perhaps a bit more subtle. Nothing wrong with putting your own mark on it.
Great work, I'm sure your grandad would have been proud of what you are doing.
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Dec 23, 2013 12:16:47 GMT
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Looking great, love the wheels Thanks tony, glad I have your approval!
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Thor: 1980 - 244DL - B21A - M45. CLICK ON THE PICTURE BANNER FOR MY PROJECT THREAD!
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Dec 23, 2013 12:28:10 GMT
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I've just spent a good part of this morning reading through this thread when I really ought to have been out in the garage. That is a very nice build, and it has to be said, also a very mature and well thought out attitude to it from someone of your age. I do like the choice of new colour for what you want to achieve with this car, but I think the original blue would also have been nice and perhaps a bit more subtle. Nothing wrong with putting your own mark on it. Great work, I'm sure your grandad would have been proud of what you are doing. Haha, I do that too often. I spend too much time talking about when it's finished too, rather than actually finishing it! I know what you mean about the orange, and I do really like the mist blue too, but I think the way the car will sit and generally look will fit in with the colour and make it look excellent. Remember it is a colour this car would have been available in (well, technically speaking if it was 2 years older, but who's gonna know? It's having the earlier front end and chrome trim anyway...) It'll look like something volvo might have built had they done something similar to a dolomite sprint when they were new back in the 70s. And thanks, I'm sure he would be proud. I sometimes think he would disapprove of what I'm doing, but at the end of the day this car will now live on for a very long time with maintainance and bodywork being done regardless, which he definitely would approve of. He would also approve of his grandson learning mechanics before he left school, learning to weld, paint, and ultimately get into the motor trade because of this car. I sometimes wonder if my grandad would have ever looked at me as a primary school kid (i.e. Last time I saw him) and seriously think that I might one day strip every nut and bolt off his beloved volvo off and rebuild the whole car. It was always a running joke that one day I would be given the volvo.... Steve
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Thor: 1980 - 244DL - B21A - M45. CLICK ON THE PICTURE BANNER FOR MY PROJECT THREAD!
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Jan 26, 2014 22:33:03 GMT
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Another update Not got a huge amount done recently due to catching up with some maintainance on the GLT and Christmas etc, but some things have happened. Firstly though, this was my Christmas present to myself. A new professional grade spraygun. Japanese made by Iwata, and when researching it has a lot of good reviews saying it sprays like a gun worth twice the price. It was £120. Finished off the front nearside wing, to the point of being ready for filler primer (the last panel that needed priming) Made a few corrections Flatted the bonnet, which luckily is in almost perfect shape. Just a tiny wobble at the front edge to deal with Welded two cracks in the drivers door. 240s are prone to cracking here due to stresses on the door when it is pulled shut with the interior door handle. Its amazing how much flex there is in the door when the cracks have developed. Its a bit of a bodge really on Volvos behalf because it is where the 100 series would have a quarter light window with an extra pillar that was bolted to the door frame, therefore strengthening it. Now a part that has been getting me down and a bit demotivated was the roof. There are a few wobbles in it where the panel has been sanded and the metal flexes over the strengthening bar. Given that so much work has gone into the roof swap and the fact that the roof is such a visible panel, I wont settle for anything less than perfection here. I might need to make some sort of strengthening jig to put inside the car pressed against the roof to stop the panel flexing. I have left this job for the time being though as it was demotivating me. In an attempt to bring my motivation back up I decided to restore and modify my rear lights. These are USA spec rear lights I bought off ebay last month. Its amazing how much better looking they are compared to the UK spec equivalents. The reason they are different is because UK regulations state that the brake light has to be 100mm from the fog light, but I have a plan I picked up this LED rated at the equivalent of a 21W bulb that is intended for fitment inside existing lights. Luckily the reverse light lens of the offside light was already detatched from the light So I refurbished the reflector with chrome paint and drilled the hole for the foglight. I noticed that the side of the lens was quite ugly because Volvo had oversprayed the original chrome paint when assembling the light, which can be seen through the lens. I made some black panels and attached them with badge tape to cover this, and I think it looks quite cool actually! If I decide I don't like them black, I can always take them out and paint the white or silver. Flatted the lights with 600 wet to remove some casting marks, poor shape, and the numbers and markings from the surface. Then flatted with 1200 wet and buffed them. They look lovely now! This is how they look fitted. And with the foglight on I'm also going to do some modified wiring to make the tail lights a 21/5W stop and tail light, in addition to the standard brake light for a more visible brake light. This needs to be de-activated though when the fog light is on to make it legal as it will be next to the fog light. Hopefully some more progress soon. Steve P.S: Some motivation I found on the internet Imagine it lower with bigger wheels
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Thor: 1980 - 244DL - B21A - M45. CLICK ON THE PICTURE BANNER FOR MY PROJECT THREAD!
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Mar 30, 2014 22:54:25 GMT
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So, bit of an update, and a bit of a moan. We'll start with the update. I sorted out all my wiring loom, removed some dodgy previous connections and inspected and repaired a couple of previous scotchlok joints (the work of the devil). I also removed any engine related stuff (not that there was much, being originally a B21A carburettor engine) because I wanted to keep the engine wiring loom seperate and so that its easily removed as and when Thor phase 3 happens I also properly deep cleaned my dashboard with a scrubbing brush and vector soap. In doing this I also removed some overspray from when i painted the engine bay. Also pressure tested (with air, though someone told me off for this on facebook, but hey i like to live life on the edge ) the heater matrix, which is fine and I have refitted in the heater box and also oiled the fan bearings with some ATF as has been recommended Dashboard partly fitted Fitted the centre console and found a full row of switches. I love those early style multicoloured clunky switches! One thing that had been annoying me was the roof - I was still struggling to get the shape right with the roof moving around about the strengthening beam. We decided we needed to either strengthen the roof panel, or build somesort of temporary structure to support it while it was flatted. We decided on strenthening the panel with fibreglass. At first I was a bit dubious about this idea as I always think of fibreglass as a bit of a bodging material. After some thinking though it was decided that this would actually be a good idea, because fibreglass is very strong, and would if anything only add extra sound proofing to the roof panel. No photos, but this has definitely worked. I re-primered the roof and put some stopper in some wobbles, and ive got it much much better now. Still a little bit more work to do, but it has almost certainly solved the problem. A bit of humour - the volvo gearbox removal tool coming in to use yet again to do kirans clutch upgrade. He is mega impressed with the upgrade to a solid dogdish flywheel and diesel clutch Vs his standard clutch and dual mass flywheel. I will definitely be doing this on Thor. And a few little corrections and filling pin holes I fitted my R-sport cluster temporarily for some inspiration. They look absolutely brilliant. Cant wait to see that rev counter spin up for the first time! Now the complaint - I'm at a point now where I really want to see Thor in paint. I'm bored of having a car and a half now (i.e. the GLT and a shell in various states of paint prep and no engine). I keep having little bursts of motivation and getting a little bit done here and there, but then it feels like 2 months passes in between, and at that rate its going to be 5 years before it even sees paint. I need my mojo back! Give me some motivation! Tell me how awesome it is going to be, post some pictures! In the meantime, what I'm going to do is try and prep a rear door and 6 inches of surrounding paint, just so i can do a test patch of painted orange that i can look at for motivation. I know its a waste of paint and materials, but if its costs me £40 in materials, but it gets me my mojo back, its well worth it. GO! Steve
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Thor: 1980 - 244DL - B21A - M45. CLICK ON THE PICTURE BANNER FOR MY PROJECT THREAD!
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Been following this for a while now and I have to say, I'm really impressed. Some serious work has clearly gone in to get everything perfect which I'm sure will really show when it's finally done. What are those gauges you've got? They're spot on. Now get on with it because I want to see it done!
James
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Yeah thanks for that a lot of work is going into it because I have an eye for detail and good quality bodywork. If I cut corners an have only a 9 out of 10 standard, the car just won't do it for me. The gauges are volvo r sport items. Very rare and very expensive, but I got mine for a bargain. They are all vdo gauges but what I love about them is the yellow colour, the very 70s font they use, and the fact that all the needles start/rest at the 10 o clock position, including the speedo and rev counter Thanks for the comment Steve
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Thor: 1980 - 244DL - B21A - M45. CLICK ON THE PICTURE BANNER FOR MY PROJECT THREAD!
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Update, I'm remotivated! Part of that has been down to the comments, but also it has been down to the fact that last week, at my new job at IK classics and racing in Holmfirth, I was tasked with stripping this 164 for paint. Its actually a 9 out of 10 car, but just has very baked and burnt paint. Its been done properly with all trim stripped off - not masked around. My bosses words to me - "you can strip that, seeing as you're the volvo k***head!" haha. Only banter though - he really likes the 164 and thinks my choice of 30k mile/year daily driver and parts van, is a sensible one! Onto Thor.... Ive been working on the doors - because they are pretty good shape wise, and the aim was to prepare them 100% ready for paint, so that should I want to (or if i get on a de-motivated period again) I can put some orange on to bring my spirits back up Various corrections in progress... guide coating... Primered. This might be the doors done once this primer is flatted, but there may still be a couple of corrections to do. They are almost there though. Also while I was waiting for some stopper to dry, I flatted the center section of the bonnet where I knew there was a slight wobble. I managed to locate it and am going to put some filler primer on there as i think its too shallow for stopper. Also some flatting on the wing. More soon, because i left there eager to continue! Steve
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Thor: 1980 - 244DL - B21A - M45. CLICK ON THE PICTURE BANNER FOR MY PROJECT THREAD!
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Apr 17, 2014 22:54:00 GMT
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Some more progress! More shaping Decided that I had made good progress and was well motivated (and also had Richard - RAW round for the weekend so wanted to do something a little less tedious) so I prepped, primered, and flatted the slam panel and the front panel that I had managed to get NOS on US eBay. To flat the slam panel properly took 6 hours! You know what happens next....! The first person to put a spanner on that slam panel will die a slow and painful death! I let them harden off a few days and had a trial fit with some careful photography that shows as little grey primered outside bodywork as possible. Oh, and this is in at work at the moment. (picture taken whilst moving a Morgan plus4 out to wash off.... ) More soon Steve
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Thor: 1980 - 244DL - B21A - M45. CLICK ON THE PICTURE BANNER FOR MY PROJECT THREAD!
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Each time I catch up on this thread I'm astounded by your skills and patience. You must be itching to get in that car and cruise but still you work to the same high standards, nothing rushed. Keep at it, the end result will be well worth it.
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May 11, 2014 22:24:20 GMT
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Thor: 1980 - 244DL - B21A - M45. CLICK ON THE PICTURE BANNER FOR MY PROJECT THREAD!
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May 11, 2014 22:36:18 GMT
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So you have taken the roof back completely then? the fly was bound to happen! cant wait to see some colour going on.
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stevietuck
Posted a lot
Never argue with idiots,they drag you down to their level then beat you with their expertise!
Posts: 1,348
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May 12, 2014 20:25:56 GMT
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Orange rocks
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Ian
Part of things
Posts: 977
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Come on Steve, Keep the motivation going up. Its going to look great when its done, especailly with the orange. Good choice on the wheels, I used to have a focus with those wheels on, they looked almost like alloys (with the trims on), but were suprisingly soft to the touch!
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eurogranada
Europe
To tinker or not to tinker, that is the question...
Posts: 2,496
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May 13, 2014 14:44:34 GMT
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I like your colour choice. Like mine, it will stand out some in a crowd!
I'm also at the same stage as you are, only I haven't the skills to do this precise a job myself. I'll have to trust the experts. You're doing really well! Though I do sometimes wonder how many liters of primer you've put on only to sand of again and again... lol. Must be very satisfying to be able to get this far on your own!
Keep it up, you've got at least one admirer here!!
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