Introduction and project update - N231PNH 480 Celebration.
Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 6:07 pm
I thought it was about time I registered on the forum. Some of you will have seen my posts on the Facebook group or my Instagram @retrokid1983.
I come from a background of Fiat X1/9s, but my Dad’s love has always been with Volvo, most importantly, the 480.
He bought his first black 480 back in 1995, a naturally aspirated 1.7 ES and thoroughly loved it. Unfortunately whilst in for a service at the local dealer, the salesman approached him with the deal of a lifetime on an ex demonstrator 440 1.8 and he went for it. Three months after the purchase, he thoroughly regretted trading in his 480.
The hunt was on to swap back to a 480 and find the best example out there. It was 1998, we had just upgraded our computer to one that was able to go on the Internet (I can still hear the sound of the 56k dial up modem) and I was determined to locate one for him, even if it meant travelling afar. We tried a GT that had been traded at a Toyota Dealership where my Sister worked, but the Master Tech (now brother-in-law) inspected it under his ramp and pointed out that there was a fair bit of work to do.
We then located N231PNH down at Lex Volvo in Reading and a deposit was placed to hold prior to the weekend. Dad and I went down to view (I was just 14 so loved the trip) and we ended up completing the deal, much to the disappointment of two other customers who had requested to buy the car if it fell through. At 3 years old and 10,000 miles, the 480 Celebration was a gleaming beauty. Dad was overjoyed!
Fast forward twenty years and 230,000 miles to 2018, Dad still owned the car and it had done him proud. We even made it to a Volvo day at Rockingham race track!
With age and miles comes wear and tear. I’d just replaced the gearbox and sub-frame and we continued to keep her on the road. Sadly whilst driving locally, Dad was coming out of a bend and confronted with a pile of bricks that had fallen off a lorry; oncoming traffic left him no option but to go over them. Two buckled wheels and a broken rear trailing arm (detached from the chassis) was what resulted. We replaced the wheels but the detached arm revealed that welding work was required. At that point I hadn’t the time to complete it so we reluctantly agreed it was time to sell. Through Facebook the car was sold and trailered down to Devon where the buyer completed the welding and put it through an MOT.
My Dad was pretty miserable about letting the 480 go and it was a decision that I regretted immensely. Dad had kept a receipt for everything since 1998 – it was one sentimental machine!
March 2020 came and the very car appeared with no reserve on Ebay for a final time with just a week’s MOT. I had to get it!
Days later I was down on the train to Devon to bring the 480 back to where she belonged. After over a year of it being absent from us, I was overjoyed to see it arrive around the corner from the station to pick me up. I drove her back to Herefordshire without a breakdown and got a few thumbs up on the motorway from admiring passers-by. Dad was very emotional to see it again. We agreed it would be a joint venture to sort it out and keep it in the family.
The work begins. Sticking brakes, rotten exhaust, soaking interior, lights not working, broken front spring and just about everything else to do service wise. It may seem a fair amount of work to do but one of the main plus points of this car is the fact that we know it. It’s never had filler in the arches!
The plan is to get it mechanically sound for springtime, get a year's use out of it and then go further with the bodywork next year.
So far I’ve replaced the exhaust (Ebay part. I’ve had to lengthen it as it is a poor fit but it still knocks upon acceleration/deceleration. I’m thinking the gas strut engine mount is worn, allowing the engine to rock back and forth).
The nuts on the manifold to the exhaust were completely stuck. I decided to remove the manifold rather than snap them. With a thin cutting disc the nuts were slit and the threads saved. I also made a heat shield for the rear silencer to save cooking the rear boot floor.
I’ve replaced the broken Volvo radio with a period correct Alpine unit. I’ve also replaced the faulty electric aerial.
I’ve stripped out the front suspension struts, dismantled, de-rusted and welded up the bottom spring perches. The dampers were replaced a few years back and showed no signs of leaks or weak resistance. New springs have been fitted with new top mounts.
I’ve dismantled the front brakes, popped the pistons out of the calipers and dismantled the carriers. All parts have been de-rusted using a bucket of oxcilic acid. They have been repainted and new pistons, seals and slides have been fitted. I’ve also made a new copper brake pipe to replace the rusted one on the n/s/f.
Loads more to do but I will keep an update on progress as I go. There are plenty of images of it on my Instagram project page.
Parts that I need at present:
Brake disc splash guards
Driver’s door side pocket (Ours has a big crack in it).
Any advice/hints/tips/leads greatly appreciated.
This must have been 1995/1996. Excuse my red jeans!
Cheers – Rob and his Dad, Rob!
I come from a background of Fiat X1/9s, but my Dad’s love has always been with Volvo, most importantly, the 480.
He bought his first black 480 back in 1995, a naturally aspirated 1.7 ES and thoroughly loved it. Unfortunately whilst in for a service at the local dealer, the salesman approached him with the deal of a lifetime on an ex demonstrator 440 1.8 and he went for it. Three months after the purchase, he thoroughly regretted trading in his 480.
The hunt was on to swap back to a 480 and find the best example out there. It was 1998, we had just upgraded our computer to one that was able to go on the Internet (I can still hear the sound of the 56k dial up modem) and I was determined to locate one for him, even if it meant travelling afar. We tried a GT that had been traded at a Toyota Dealership where my Sister worked, but the Master Tech (now brother-in-law) inspected it under his ramp and pointed out that there was a fair bit of work to do.
We then located N231PNH down at Lex Volvo in Reading and a deposit was placed to hold prior to the weekend. Dad and I went down to view (I was just 14 so loved the trip) and we ended up completing the deal, much to the disappointment of two other customers who had requested to buy the car if it fell through. At 3 years old and 10,000 miles, the 480 Celebration was a gleaming beauty. Dad was overjoyed!
Fast forward twenty years and 230,000 miles to 2018, Dad still owned the car and it had done him proud. We even made it to a Volvo day at Rockingham race track!
With age and miles comes wear and tear. I’d just replaced the gearbox and sub-frame and we continued to keep her on the road. Sadly whilst driving locally, Dad was coming out of a bend and confronted with a pile of bricks that had fallen off a lorry; oncoming traffic left him no option but to go over them. Two buckled wheels and a broken rear trailing arm (detached from the chassis) was what resulted. We replaced the wheels but the detached arm revealed that welding work was required. At that point I hadn’t the time to complete it so we reluctantly agreed it was time to sell. Through Facebook the car was sold and trailered down to Devon where the buyer completed the welding and put it through an MOT.
My Dad was pretty miserable about letting the 480 go and it was a decision that I regretted immensely. Dad had kept a receipt for everything since 1998 – it was one sentimental machine!
March 2020 came and the very car appeared with no reserve on Ebay for a final time with just a week’s MOT. I had to get it!
Days later I was down on the train to Devon to bring the 480 back to where she belonged. After over a year of it being absent from us, I was overjoyed to see it arrive around the corner from the station to pick me up. I drove her back to Herefordshire without a breakdown and got a few thumbs up on the motorway from admiring passers-by. Dad was very emotional to see it again. We agreed it would be a joint venture to sort it out and keep it in the family.
The work begins. Sticking brakes, rotten exhaust, soaking interior, lights not working, broken front spring and just about everything else to do service wise. It may seem a fair amount of work to do but one of the main plus points of this car is the fact that we know it. It’s never had filler in the arches!
The plan is to get it mechanically sound for springtime, get a year's use out of it and then go further with the bodywork next year.
So far I’ve replaced the exhaust (Ebay part. I’ve had to lengthen it as it is a poor fit but it still knocks upon acceleration/deceleration. I’m thinking the gas strut engine mount is worn, allowing the engine to rock back and forth).
The nuts on the manifold to the exhaust were completely stuck. I decided to remove the manifold rather than snap them. With a thin cutting disc the nuts were slit and the threads saved. I also made a heat shield for the rear silencer to save cooking the rear boot floor.
I’ve replaced the broken Volvo radio with a period correct Alpine unit. I’ve also replaced the faulty electric aerial.
I’ve stripped out the front suspension struts, dismantled, de-rusted and welded up the bottom spring perches. The dampers were replaced a few years back and showed no signs of leaks or weak resistance. New springs have been fitted with new top mounts.
I’ve dismantled the front brakes, popped the pistons out of the calipers and dismantled the carriers. All parts have been de-rusted using a bucket of oxcilic acid. They have been repainted and new pistons, seals and slides have been fitted. I’ve also made a new copper brake pipe to replace the rusted one on the n/s/f.
Loads more to do but I will keep an update on progress as I go. There are plenty of images of it on my Instagram project page.
Parts that I need at present:
Brake disc splash guards
Driver’s door side pocket (Ours has a big crack in it).
Any advice/hints/tips/leads greatly appreciated.
This must have been 1995/1996. Excuse my red jeans!
Cheers – Rob and his Dad, Rob!