Volvo 480 Club Europe

jifflemon wrote: ↑

Fri May 25, 2018 12:55 pm

Alan 480 wrote: ↑

Fri May 25, 2018 11:48 am

i'm liking the polished rear lenses . . .

literally took him 5 minutes..... He's one of those really annoying people that makes everything look simple!

What did he use ? And how did he get such a result so quickly? People have spent hours for same result. Lookin good

Polishing mop, 3 different grades of cutting compound.

You can achieve the same results by hand, it just takes a whole lot longer and your less likely to burn through the plastics!

So, today I tackled that bundle of insulation tape....



I mean.... wow....

Just wow.....

I shut the bonnet and walked by inside!

It's all coming out, I'll probably put some form of distribution block in, with proper connectors and fuses. That'll probably mean I'll be one of the few people with a fused radiator fan!

jifflemon wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 27, 2019 3:03 pm

So, today I tackled that bundle of insulation tape....



I mean.... wow....

Just wow.....

I shut the bonnet and walked by inside!

It's all coming out, I'll probably put some form of distribution block in, with proper connectors and fuses. That'll probably mean I'll be one of the few people with a fused radiator fan!

What the...?

That certainly looks, erm, "interesting", shall we say??

David

I know right? Utter fire hazard waiting to happen, give that it was just wrapped in some insulation tape and rubbing against metalwork....

More annoyed with myself for not checking it sooner.

I know what you mean - I'd be the same - but the main thing is you've got away with it so far, found it, and so can fix it. Onwards and upwards!!

parts are starting to arrive.....

jifflemon wrote: ↑

Thu May 02, 2019 8:07 am

parts are starting to arrive.....

not sure how it can be a Little MEGA fuse

but good spot!!

Alan 480 wrote: ↑

Thu May 02, 2019 11:16 am

not sure how it can be a Little MEGA fuse

but good spot!!

You mean littel mega fuse

It’s actually the same fuse that was previously fitted in line. I’m a tight northerner that’s not going to waste anything!

The plan is to feed the junction box from the battery via that 80 amp fuse. The current 3 unfused spurs will be fed by each of those 30amp fuses, whilst the alternator will hang off the back of the 80amp fuse.

So, finalised the distribution box this evening.

Got some 70amp cable for the alternator feed and some 30amp cable for the others. We need some decent tools to crimp big cable...



Which will crimp the cable like this:



Then a touch a heat shrink...



repeat a few more times and we get this



just need to find some time to fit it all now!

So had a quick peek today and very quickly worked out that there’s no space to fit all the above!

So.... have to come up with a plan B now

jifflemon wrote: ↑

Sun May 12, 2019 5:55 pm

So had a quick peek today and very quickly worked out that there’s no space to fit all the above!

So.... have to come up with a plan B now

David

Plan B has so far involved not thinking about the wiring....

Got to be in the right frame of mind for it, and as most of the time i have to work outside, weather plays a very big role too.

So, as a minor distraction, I figured I'd fit those bilsteins I got along with some wishbones - Still awaiting the rears (hopefully this month) so on we ploughed....

For anyone who's never done wishbones before, I can honestly say it's a bloody awful job.

In theory, it's 2 bolts and a nut. However, that one nut (that holds the lower balljoint on, is buried underneath the CV joint. It's also likely to be very rusty, with a nut who's sole purpose in life is to round itself off.....

Luckily, I was doing the strut first. Which also meant I got to play with my "christmas present to myself".



I have nothing but praise for this bad boy.... Wheek nuts, strut bolts even driveshaft nut all fell mercy to this battery operated demon; All on its lowest torque setting too!

Soon the car was looking like this:


and we'll have a happy shot of the old and new wishbones



Note how the replacement one (from Polarparts.de) has a reinforcing plate added?

And what about the all important lower spring seat?



So all good news?

Nope! it was about this time that I realised someone has borrowed my spring compressors and failed to return them.... I did very briefly contemplate just using the Makita to bash the strut nut off and see just how far the old shock would fly.

Stuck the wishbone in, cleaned up the ABS ring and stuck all that back together. Loan set of compressors coming next week (whilst I try and remember who's got mine!) and to sooth my rattled brain, I decide to give the subframe a bit of a tidy up.



There's an oil leak somewhere, and I'm guessing sump gasket (or lack of one) is the prime suspect.

only one of the images is visible

but it does show a nice shiney subframe

Alan 480 wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 17, 2019 11:46 am

only one of the images is visible

but it does show a nice shiney subframe

And now fixed! (took the links from the photo's, not the photos in the shared album!)

I recently did the whole front suspension as well and definitely agree that the ball joint was the worst part of the process! Almost stripped the nut and then once finally turning, it was slow going with one flat at a time.

jifflemon wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 17, 2019 3:07 pm

Alan 480 wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 17, 2019 11:46 am

only one of the images is visible

but it does show a nice shiney subframe

And now fixed! (took the links from the photo's, not the photos in the shared album!)

Yep all visible
I think that's where I'd gone wrong as well so re-loaded the phots straight to the shared album'. . . . .
I didn't find the drive shaft nut that tight , well nothing a 3/4" socket couldn't handle

those old arms don't look too bad, my problem was getting the bolt out of the ally bush, good job it was N/S rear and could attack the ally with a 4mm drill

Alan 480 wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 17, 2019 8:30 pm

those old arms don't look too bad, my problem was getting the bolt out of the ally bush, good job it was N/S rear and could attack the ally with a 4mm drill

They'll be being saved in case anyone wants to go the polybush route - Can knock the old bush out, blast em, and add some reinforcement plates. But then again, buying news for Polarparts is probably easier!

mathrock wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 17, 2019 7:31 pm

I recently did the whole front suspension as well and definitely agree that the ball joint was the worst part of the process! Almost stripped the nut and then once finally turning, it was slow going with one flat at a time.

Did you replace the droplinks? I'm considering it, but then if it ain't broke, do you replace it with finest chinesium?

jifflemon wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 17, 2019 9:15 pm

Did you replace the droplinks? I'm considering it, but then if it ain't broke, do you replace it with finest chinesium?

I did :-/ The boots were torn and the right side joint was bad.

You know that scene in the hurt locker?



That's how you feel when changing springs

Step 1: Squeeze 'em



Step 2: the evil bit - Allen Key and big spanner combo


Step 3: relax