Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

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jifflemon
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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by jifflemon » Tue May 25, 2021 8:56 pm

Stick your head (or phone) under the car and get a picture.

The same seller has many variants!

100
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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by 100 » Fri Jul 23, 2021 1:17 pm

Using Jeff's guide, rear brakes have now been fitted to match the fronts. One of the rear pistons was refusing to return into the caliper so it was definitely time for new ones:

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One caliper refusing to give up it's pads or disc:
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Wheel studs in position temporarily to hold the disc in place because I'm missing a disc retaining screw (and could do with new ones all round to be honest):
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Just the handbrake to re-fit and adjust and I'm good to go... oh apart from the ignition problem which I've narrowed down to one of the wires that goes into the coil - hopefully just a dodgy connection.

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by jifflemon » Fri Jul 23, 2021 3:53 pm

100 wrote:
Fri Jul 23, 2021 1:17 pm
Wheel studs in position temporarily to hold the disc in place because I'm missing a disc retaining screw (and could do with new ones all round to be honest):
Honestly wouldn’t bother! The wheel is gonna hold them in in place and it makes your life easier in the future!

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by 100 » Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:14 pm

jifflemon wrote:
Fri Jul 23, 2021 3:53 pm
100 wrote:
Fri Jul 23, 2021 1:17 pm
Wheel studs in position temporarily to hold the disc in place because I'm missing a disc retaining screw (and could do with new ones all round to be honest):
Honestly wouldn’t bother! The wheel is gonna hold them in in place and it makes your life easier in the future!
I thought as much! In that case, consider this a 480 'super leggera' on account of the missing screws.

The handbrake isn't perfectly adjusted but at full travel it works, I'll revisit at some point but I'm just glad to have it on four wheels again. The battery was completely dead so it needs a clean and a blast to recharge the battery etc.

If anyone has a single 'Turbo' wheel they would be willing to sell me then please let me know - I have flat spotted a front and I'd rather a round wheel than a repaired wheel if possible.

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by 100 » Mon Sep 20, 2021 8:58 am

Good news! 12 months more MOT, with an advisory for a little bit of oil on a front damper. No big deal.

Largely thanks to Jeff, it has to be said. Despite having replaced all the braking system (less pipes), due to a broken seat belt clip the car was destined to fail it's MOT.

Fortunately, a trip to the 480 haven that is Milton Keynes soon saw:

> a new starter motor fitted
> ignition barrel cleaned and re-assembled
> rear window jet reinvigorated
> seat belt clip changed
> new boot seal

A couple of days later a new MOT was had, despite some difficulties getting it through the emissions test. Incidentally my emissions 'certificate' states a Volvo 400 series 1.7 engine first used in '2001'. Which i thought was a bit strange.

So cheers Jeff! I will no doubt be darkening your doorway in the future!

Oh and...

https://imgur.com/rSviVb7

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by Martin Mc » Tue Sep 21, 2021 10:01 am

https://imgur.com/rSviVb7

I had the same issue with the Paris Blue S that I brought back from Northern Ireland a couple of years back - in the end I think it was as simple as making sure the right bulbs were in place, and wiggling the relays to overcome any furring due to it having been stood in the damp.

It is kind of cute, though, in a perverse kind of way.. https://i.imgur.com/ExyAvrr.mp4
1991 ES White / 1995 ES Red / 1995 ES Red / 1994 S Black / 1995 Celebration Red / 1994 S Paris Blue / 1995 Celebration (again!) Red - Currently free of all extramarital cars, wrench-loose and fancy free :)

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by 100 » Wed Sep 22, 2021 8:31 am

In this instance it was intentional, in order to 'liven' up the headlight motors after one failed to raise.

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by 100 » Wed Dec 15, 2021 12:14 pm

Quick update: the car ran out of electricity recently but conveniently died in a location which enabled me to coast to a stop outside our village pub.

Following a bit of investigative work:
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(How many Barbours does it take to fix a 480?)

We decided the alternator was the issue, Jeff kindly supplied me with a replacement which I spent a morning changing. Turns out that our diagnosis was wrong and it was the mega fuse... Probably should have checked there first!

Anyway, Jeff has come up with an updated fuse/battery terminal setup from a Renault Megane. It isn't pretty but does the job:

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(Yes the cables were tidied up!)

Also, previously in my diary, I protected the arches with some Dinitrol but unfortunately some stone chips had made their way through so I upped the protection using something that I can only assume was named by an American:

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Again, not the prettiest but unless you are a 480 nerd, no one will be looking here!
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It's good to have the car back on the road after a few weeks but annoyingly the steering wheel is vibrating slightly, something which is exacerbated when braking so I think some control arms and drop links are imminent. Also desperately in need of some rear shocks as, along bumpy lanes at speed, the rear end is stepping out left and right which is vaguely amusing but definitely unpleasant!

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MisterH
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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by MisterH » Wed Dec 15, 2021 12:19 pm

Raptor, never heard of that, is it worth putting on? I have been wanting to underseal my cars for a while now, but not sure which to use
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

jifflemon
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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by jifflemon » Wed Dec 15, 2021 3:15 pm

Raptor has been around for a while - Gets mostly positive reviews from folks.

It's about using the right product for the right job; Wheels arches need protecting from stone chipping, which will remove paint and leave exposed metal to slowly rust, so something like raptor / Stone guard is ideal.

Internal cavities need filling up with cavity waxes, to cover exposed metal and stop water from sitting and rusting from the inside out (as well as ensuring drain holes aren't blocked!)

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by jifflemon » Wed Dec 15, 2021 3:16 pm

100 wrote:
Wed Dec 15, 2021 12:14 pm
Anyway, Jeff has come up with an updated fuse/battery terminal setup from a Renault Megane. It isn't pretty but does the job:

Image
(Yes the cables were tidied up!)
I didn't discover it - JKM did! Oh and I think it's meant to be rotated 90 degrees to sit over the top of the battery

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by 100 » Wed Dec 15, 2021 3:25 pm

jifflemon wrote:
Wed Dec 15, 2021 3:15 pm
It's about using the right product for the right job; Wheels arches need protecting from stone chipping, which will remove paint and leave exposed metal to slowly rust, so something like raptor / Stone guard is ideal.
Yep, so this was bought with the sole purpose of coating the lip of the wheel arch that is exposed to stone chips, as well as the inside edge of said lip, where all the road shite accumulates. Hence 'protective coating' rather than underseal.

For coating the rest of the wheel arch and suspension components etc. I've used Dinitrol, as well as their cavity wax for the sills.
jifflemon wrote:
Wed Dec 15, 2021 3:15 pm
I didn't discover it - JKM did! Oh and I think it's meant to be rotated 90 degrees to sit over the top of the battery
Ohhhhhhh!

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by Jay-Kay-Em » Wed Dec 15, 2021 4:57 pm

There was me thinking it was a neater, safer solution (mega-fuse included).

Image

You can't please all of the people, all of the time, as they say.

Not mounting it on the p*ss helps.
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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by 100 » Thu Dec 16, 2021 10:04 am

Jay-Kay-Em wrote:
Wed Dec 15, 2021 4:57 pm
There was me thinking it was a neater, safer solution (mega-fuse included).

You can't please all of the people, all of the time, as they say.

Not mounting it on the p*ss helps.
That does look quite tidy! I will rectify my error immediately, consider me pleased as the car works now!

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by 100 » Mon Jan 10, 2022 11:02 am

So, after talking about it since I bought the car, it was finally time to a suspension refresh:

Nothing like a large pile of fresh parts to overshadow the impending struggle of actually fitting them:
Image

As you can see, my work area is less than ideal, more on this later...
Image

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Front (sick decals bruv):
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Rear (post bolt removal):
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A knackered damper, turns out all 4 were completely dead:
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Rear spring comparison:
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Both sides fitted in the latter hours of Friday eve:
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It then rained overnight which meant the ground looked like this... luckily the standing water was to the rear so I wasn't lying in water to do the fronts:
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The biggest challenge (apart from the getting the rear springs in and out) were these castle nuts on the front hub ball joints:
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Not a particularly comprehensive photo album as it took from Friday eve through to Sunday eve (less sat morn) to complete all of it so I was pressed for time!

The final comparison:

Image

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Image

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The heights look good in the pics but the rear does look on the verge of too low, but then it takes some time for the springs to settle so I will see how they sit after some use. After all, the most important bit is how the car drives... which I have yet to do because I ran out of time!

Parts list:

KILEN springs: KILENLOWB000728
Front Dampers: 22-041067
Rear Dampers: 19-019871 (best of luck finding these as it appears Bilstein have discontinued them... again!)
Top Mounts: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273553089531 and https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272218786520
Strut bearings: SKF VKD 35001
Wishbones: Various available on Autodoc (or your chosen generic European parts supplier that all seem to be a variation of the same website)
R Drop Links: ibid
F Drop Links: ibid
Front ARB bushes: TEDGUM 00743843
Rear ARB bushes: 3432009
Trailing arm bushes: TEDGUM 00745354

Usual thanks to Jeff who assisted via Whatsapp throughout when I got stuck. Thank goodness he doesn't charge by the minute!
Last edited by 100 on Mon Jan 17, 2022 9:39 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by 100 » Mon Jan 10, 2022 2:48 pm

Bonus pics from just now.

Image

Image

Road holding is better, steering is sharper and ride is firmer with much less body roll. As you'd expect!

Track rods ends, pan hard rod, torque arms and an alignment and the steering/suspension project will be complete. I'm just wondering whether to get those gizfab adjustable torque arms.
Last edited by 100 on Mon Jan 10, 2022 4:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by dragonflyjewels » Mon Jan 10, 2022 3:36 pm

That looks really good ! How did you find the drive for comfort ? Al lowered the GT but used red springs and it was far too harsh so they came back off.
Sylvia

Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo

no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by jifflemon » Mon Jan 10, 2022 9:11 pm

100 wrote:
Mon Jan 10, 2022 2:48 pm
Track rods ends, pan hard rod, torque arms and an alignment and the steering/suspension project will be complete. I'm just wondering whether to get those gizfab adjustable torque arms.
Polar Parts has the torque arms very reasonably priced. If you do order, stick a pair on for me and I'll go halfsies on postage! (or tell Will and It'll be thirdsies!)

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by 100 » Mon Jan 10, 2022 9:34 pm

dragonflyjewels wrote:
Mon Jan 10, 2022 3:36 pm
That looks really good ! How did you find the drive for comfort ? Al lowered the GT but used red springs and it was far too harsh so they came back off.
The ride comfort is compromised but I don’t know how much of that is down to the springs or the dampers. The 480 has never felt like much of a sports car to me (all my suspension has probably been knackered from purchase), but it does now! Very direct and flat through corners, the downside is a compromised ride.

Unfortunately I think dampers that don’t damp actually result in a comfortable ride, just very little handling performance!

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Post by 100 » Mon Jan 10, 2022 9:49 pm

jifflemon wrote:
Mon Jan 10, 2022 9:11 pm
100 wrote:
Mon Jan 10, 2022 2:48 pm
Track rods ends, pan hard rod, torque arms and an alignment and the steering/suspension project will be complete. I'm just wondering whether to get those gizfab adjustable torque arms.
Polar Parts has the torque arms very reasonably priced. If you do order, stick a pair on for me and I'll go halfsies on postage! (or tell Will and It'll be thirdsies!)
They don’t seem to have a UK shipping option! Price is attractive though.

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