Reply With QuoteThe Volvo is lovely. Thanks for posting.
Given the fact that a lot of people like this pics, here's a few I've taken this morning. A few Wednesday morning pics, so to speak.
The TR has been rolled off the ramps; there are a few decisions to make here and it's waiting for the owner so to speak. Added to the list is Paul's -Walkerwek1958- suggestion of changing the oil filter layout.
So it is time for something else: on the ramp a nice Volvo Amazon. I personally love these cars! This is an unmolested (apart from the wheels) car. The engine is simply old and tired. Surely this must be Star Fleet's finest with Starship Enterprise milage: nearly 500,000 km without an overhaul!
There's an oil leakage, a knock in the engine and there's a coolant loss. Best here is not to cut corners. Monday was 'cleaning day'. Before lifting the engine, it was time to clean the engine bay. That makes spannering a lot more pleasant! So the engine came out yesterday. A quick dismantling shows that there's wear on the cams and one cylinder wall has some pitting on the top half. The others look like they came out of the machine shop yesterday: the honing marks are still visible! Incredible!
Like all engines, we'll ship it to our preferred engine restorer 20 miles east. After all is done, it will be shipped back and the rebuilding will be done on the bench in the shop!
Finally: the Packard! Last year this American Iron stayed at the shop for a while. It was 'plain sailing' for the second part of the '17 Summer, but now it's in for electrical work; upgrading and some fault finding: it's blowing a fuse - still undetermined where it's from.
To give you an idea how big it is, it's in the pic with an Armstrong Siddeley that was in for normal service (and is now ready for the Spring and Summer!)
Menno
Last edited by thieuster; 17th January 2018 at 11:51.
The Volvo is lovely. Thanks for posting.
Yep I could happily contend with something like that, with an auto box, slightly more powerful lump and ac would likely be the only changes I’d like.
Very interesting as usual! Thanks for posting.
Living the dream there , looks a real nice setup
Thanks for this love these types of post
Lovely Volvo Menno.
The estate is pretty rare over here, seen very few.
Great cars.
Cheers,
Neil.
Love the colour of that Volvo. You don't see many cream coloured cars about any more.
The Amazon Estate is quite popular over here. And I think that 1:3 or 1:4 is an estate. Often re-imported from the US in the 80s, early 90s. Most run on LPG. Not this one. Although I must say that LPG and Volvo engines are a perfect combination! The Overdrive is the same as in the British cars of that era. What puzzles me is that Volvo recommends normal 20W50 in that box, where the British manufacturers recommend special hypoid oil without the bronze additives. Volvo's tend to runs on and on and ...
What I like about this car is the roof rack. When you look closely you can see that the wooden slaths are braided around the metal frame: over and under. I am not sure about the sort of wood. It looks like weathered garden furniture teak. And above the front windshield sits a 'gangstakappa': an outside sun visor. Inside, all is oozing the 60s. The only upgrade inside is the head rests on top of the seats. A common upgrade.
The simlicity of the engine is also its forté: there's not a lot that can go wrong! These Swedes certainly understood the KISS motto. More power is easily obtained by adding a double Weber carb system. And for a total awesome set up: http://www.v-performance.com/about.html It's relatively easy to find extra ponies under the bonnet.
Menno
Menno,
Have you seen the Guy Martin Amazon estate?
It’s a seriously fast motor, not sure I’d go as far myself but it’s a tool
https://drivetribe.com/p/guy-martin-...TaCrfxzspe-rwQ
Nice, I’ve always loved the Amazon. That one looks to be in very good nick.
Interesting point about the overdrive and g/box using 20/50 engine oil. The MGB 1.8 also used 20/50, yet the v8 version used hypoid oil! All the Triumphs used hypoid gear oil too......so why did MG specify 20/50 on the 1.8 models? As far as I’m aware all the Laycock overdrive units were very similar and I can’t see why there should be an issue with gearbox oil in one application but not another.
The British cars of the 60s have plenty of anomalies like this, where logic seemed to go out of the window. Triumph had a habit of fitting fine threads into castings, whereas similar MG/Austin Morris designs always used coarse threads. Worst one I came across on the TR6 was the rear suspension pans, made from cast aluminium; the hubs were held with six fine- threaded studs that were 5/16th diameter, I ended up having to repair one if mine with a helicoil, which is less than ideal for such a highly stressed part. From an engineering point the design just looks wrong......Triumph didn’t think so!
Paul
A lovely old beast Menno.....surprised to see a brake servo.
Great advert for the old Volvo build quality!
The Volvo engine is at the engine shop now. The owner wants a 'normal' overhaul; which will be quite easy. The cylinder head needs attention (valves etc + lead free), then on the list;
- a new camshaft + other cam-related parts;
- new timing gear; the old & original 'plastic' gears are old and tired (and also a proof that the engine was never overhauled before);
- flywheel needs to be skimmed
- checking the cylinders and pistons etc. Replace, re-hone etc.
- new clutch + components (off course! this is the best moment!)
The car is a 122S with the double SU's. Restoration of these will be an 'in-house job'.
The Volvo Amazon is a very popular classic over here. There are a lot of specialists around with nice, shiny and interesting upgrades. For now, it's 'low key'. The underside of the car is perfect, but the lower edges of the doors etc show bubbling paintwork = more work. Going all-out on an engine overhaul wouldn't be wise: in a few years time the owner will end up with a beast of an engine inside a slightly rotten body. It's best to spread your money on the complete car and a complete overhaul in the years to come.
The engine shop is very happy with the amount of work that's coming their way! The TR6 engine a few weeks back, a JAG MKII engine and this Volvo engine are on their workbench and then there's a Ford Cortina engine... they are looking/waiting for Cosworth parts.
Menno
Amazon estates are great machines. Its one of those that I'd love but I'm not entirely sure what I'd do with it. That one even has my initials on the reg plate so it must be mine. Menno if you could just convert it to rhd and then post it over!
great post lovely motors
thanks Menno
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