Intriguing..., or maybe not?

480s partner · Post by **480s partner** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 11:51 pm

Hello to all.

I have looked carefully at some pictures in the 480's catalogues and brochures and almost every car looks kind of lowered, mostly at the back. Is this just a "trick" used for the publicity shots or were there actually some specific year models sold in some markets with different heights, as a result of using shorter springs?
Mine isn't definetly lowered as the ones in the pictures, quite on the opposite as the rear axle is concerned, it almost looks like its a 4x4... I am exaggerating a bit but it seems volvo thought people buying 480's here on my country would carry an elephant in the boot! It gives better clearance on bumpy roads, but the body rolls quite a bit.
Could have been this what they were thinking of: bad roads?

Furthermore, the underbody space between the wheels (which in my case has a coat of color coded PVC) appears black in all cars up to the bottom of the doors. In some pics it looks like more of a side skirt but its hard to make out what really is. Was this another "trick" or were there cars sold like that? What could be their intention for doing that?

Anybody tryed to lower their 480's successfully, or just the back wheels to match the look in the official pictures?

JRT

hjkort · Post by **hjkort** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:04 am

I noticed it too, but the cars I own now don't look like 4x4's. My old one did, but I lowered the entire car.
You could check my site for pics.
The underbody is often resprayed after purchase. The black coating runs up to the underside of the door. Mostly the bodyspray isn't resprayed in the color of the body of the car. Mine is though..

piper1st · Post by **piper1st** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:38 pm

Are the cars turbo by any chance? All the turbo came standard with slightly lower suspension (-15mm).

There are loads of companies who make after market lowering kits for the 480, but i think it was groomus who posted about the colour codes of different volvo springs set-ups.

owen080808 · Post by **owen080808** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:44 pm

towing grade springs on the rear perhaps? apparently they were an option - i guess thats volvo for you, even though it was the black sheep of the family they tried to volvo-ise it and make it suitable for the caravan brigade

catgroom · Post by **catgroom** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:23 pm

Yep,it was me that posted this info guys

Fronts
Colour Code Black ie No Markings-:Spring Stiffness-:17nM Length-:372mm
Blue 20 360
Green 17 362
Yellow 20 350
Grey 12 457
Red 22 355

Rears
Colour Code Black ie No Markings-:Spring Stiffness-:19.7nM Length-:322mm
Yellow 17.2 310
Green 14.7 350
Red 21 289.5

I believe that yellows were the ones used on the Volvo Tow Pack.

Groomington-Smythe

Drazyl · Post by **Drazyl** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:00 am

owen080808 wrote:towing grade springs on the rear perhaps? apparently they were an option - i guess thats volvo for you, even though it was the black sheep of the family they tried to volvo-ise it and make it suitable for the caravan brigade

Hey, I like my towbar! Ok, it had to be removed for the MOT and is currently in the shed, but a Volvo without a towbar just aint right!

owen080808 · Post by **owen080808** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 11:49 am

then surely a volvo with pop up lights aint right either? there hasnt been one before or since.

i like the 480 because it sort of sticks its fingers up to the classic 3 box recipe for volvo design (although i do still have an appreciation of these too)

to each his own i guess

Drazyl · Post by **Drazyl** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 11:28 pm

owen080808 wrote:then surely a volvo with pop up lights aint right either? there hasnt been one before or since. i like the 480 because it sort of sticks its fingers up to the classic 3 box recipe for volvo design (although i do still have an appreciation of these too)

to each his own i guess

Of course a Volvo with pop-ups aint right. Thats the whole point. But it has to have a tow-bar!

98kellrs · Post by **98kellrs** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:49 am

I think I could do with a set of those red coded rears. Since the stripping the back end has been a bit high, i could do with a shorter spring I think to get it back level...

rpruen · Post by **rpruen** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 7:39 pm

98kellrs wrote:I think I could do with a set of those red coded rears. Since the stripping the back end has been a bit high, i could do with a shorter spring I think to get it back level...

They are shorter, but much stiffer... Those are the towing springs. They compress less for the same weight. The overall effect is that the rear of the car is higher than normal.

Richard