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What about Volvo's future?

240 messages,  Last post on Dec 03, 2012 at 6:21 PM

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Messages Page 21 of 24

#200 of 240 Re: 144 [stickguy] by colloquor

Sep 26, 2009 (1:49 pm)

Replying to: stickguy (Sep 26, 2009 1:20 pm)
Thanks. It's been on the road, as has the '85 SAAB, since purchase. The paint (Medium Blue) on the 144S is original. It's too bad I don't have a shot (I'll have to take one later) of the front, as it has driving lights and an IPD air dam (installed way back in 1973).
 
In fact, the car is extensively prepared with IPD parts including cam, ported and polished head, tubular header, electronic ignition, etc, as well as a larger front sway bar, rear sway bar, IPD's rally springs, Bilstein shocks, Volvo's once optional ATS aluminum wheels, and Volvo's old Competition Department's gauge cluster (see photo), and Nardi leather-covered steering wheel. I changed out the original twin Stromberg 175CDSE carbs in 1972, and switched over to twin SU HS6 carbs. Tried Weber 45DCOE's side drafts, but they were simply too much carburation for the engine.
 
The 144S is built like a tank, and yet reasonably sporty. Most of the 140-series cars in my area (central Illinois) are long gone due to poor maintenance and rust. It's a survivor, much like me (Age 62) - and, still a Volvo enthusiast!
 

#201 of 240 nice by stickguy

Sep 26, 2009 (3:38 pm)

Way more guages than ours had!
 
Brings back memories. I can even see the choke hiding behind the LS of the wheel.
 
ANd it looks like you have air. One more thing we did not have.
 
Talk about simple. No PS, PB or air.
 
I do recall the carns being a recurring problem though. I think they had to be adjusted often. That, and the mutliple mufflers rusting out.

#202 of 240 Re: nice [stickguy] by fezo

Sep 26, 2009 (3:52 pm)

Replying to: stickguy (Sep 26, 2009 3:38 pm)
My old 142 was a victim of rust and some mechanical issues that no doubt came from less than stellar maintenance of the previous owner. It was a dark blue.
 
Nice manual choke but nothing of the neat gagues you've got. Had a horizontal speedometer and was very slow. Loved it anyway.

#203 of 240 Re: nice [fezo] by steve_ HOST

Sep 26, 2009 (5:23 pm)

Replying to: fezo (Sep 26, 2009 3:52 pm)
I'm biting my tongue about the '74's I had experience with.
 
Carry on.

#204 of 240 Re: nice [steve_] by fezo

Sep 26, 2009 (8:09 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Sep 26, 2009 5:23 pm)
Oh, come on!
 
A friend had a 73. I learned from that one that you can replace a clutch cable in a parking lot if you really have a mind to.

#205 of 240 Re: nice [fezo] by steve_ HOST

Sep 26, 2009 (8:36 pm)

Replying to: fezo (Sep 26, 2009 8:09 pm)
Both '74's stranded me with bad rubber bellows (the first one was the worst, and I wasn't too unhappy that it got wrecked. I didn't have any say in the replacement).
 
The second one lost a tooth on the flywheel but I could crawl underneath with a screwdriver and move it enough to engage the starter. Then the camshaft gave way and it completely gave up the ghost.
 
Then there was the late 70's wagon that wouldn't crank about this time of the year up in Alaska after a snow shortened canoe trip. I was new to the state, new to hypothermia, and wound up nursing a thermos of hot Tang lying in a damp sleeping bag under a canoe in some nasty weather while the owner worked an hour getting it cranked so we could run shuttle.
 
20 years later, a shuttle driver just about totaled that guy's brother's Volvo wagon when he went boating with us here in Idaho. The shuttle company didn't even leave a note at the take-out and tried to denied responsibility. Not Volvo's fault, but it made me wonder....
 
On the other hand, there was an '84 240 that I borrowed occasionally from a good friend that was a tank. When she died, she left a list of six friends who were standing in line to buy it and the order in which they had first requested it. (It was a good car, but I wasn't on the list - I think I jinx them).

#206 of 240 Re: nice [fezo] by bhill2

Sep 27, 2009 (6:43 pm)

Replying to: fezo (Sep 26, 2009 3:52 pm)
Fezo, I had a '69 142S as well. Loved that car, although it was a tank. It didn't feel slow to me, largely because my dad had a '68 144S automatic. Slow doesn't begin to describe that car. The MB 190D my mother's cousin owned might have been slower, but I never drove that one so I'm not sure.

#207 of 240 Re: nice [bhill2] by fezo

Sep 27, 2009 (7:03 pm)

Replying to: bhill2 (Sep 27, 2009 6:43 pm)
Gee, when I was a kid they had this bike contest. One of the events was to see who could go the slowest while still staying upright.
 
I would imagine a race between that 144 and 190D would be like that.
 
You know doubt remember the shift on the ol' 142 seemed as long as a baseball bat!

#208 of 240 Re: nice [fezo] by colloquor

Sep 27, 2009 (9:15 pm)

Replying to: fezo (Sep 27, 2009 7:03 pm)
A stock 142/144 was slow. But, the long shifter had a great feel, as it was direct into the gearbox, instead of using rails or any linkage.
 
The 140-series can be made to be great runners, and handlers, but it does take some work. I can certainly attest to that given I'm still tweaking mine after nearly 40 years of ownership. IPD successfully raced 142's in the '70s and '80's in the SCCA series. And, thanks to them, parts are still available.
 
The biggest change on my 144S that had a substantial impact on acceleration, other than the engine block and head work, including cam change and tuned exhaust headers, was a lightened flywheel. The B20B uses a very heavy flywheel. By safely removing excess material from the OEM steel flywheel, or going to an alloy version, the car is transformed from a slug off the line to one that's quite impressive.
 
I know I'm "off topic" on this thread, but one of my friend's in the local Volvo club replaced the B20B in a 142S with Ford 289 V8. The swap was done very professionally, and it was a very nice car to drive. No problem with power with that engine...
 
Back to regular programming, and "Volvo's Future"... I hope it doesn't include the Chinese.

#209 of 240 Re: nice [colloquor] by steve_ HOST

Sep 27, 2009 (10:11 pm)

Replying to: colloquor (Sep 27, 2009 9:15 pm)
Goldman Sachs’ PE fund is buying a 15 percent stake in Geely Auto. But the money isn't near enough to buy Volvo. (Zikkir)
 
Geely is being a bit coy about what they are going to do with Goldman's 334 million.
 
"Jia Xinguang, Auto Analyst said "The money raised is limited, it's not enough for bidding Volvo at all. I think it's just for short-term financing."
 
Analysts also point to improving performance in Ford Motor and that it's not in such desperate need for money. And that Geely may have missed the best chance for a bargain buy." (CCTV)
 
It doesn't sound like the Saab deal is going very smoothly either.

Messages Page 21 of 24

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