Portland Volvo Jackass

[Superchido]

Been lurking the forums for some time now -- soaking it all in and admiring some of the nice garages here. While my space is modest in comparison to many, I try to use my space as efficiently as possible when building my old Volvos...

I tinker on all sorts of things in my garage, but mostly it's old Volvos. My garage is 16x22 so not really that big, but plenty big for what I need currently. I am realizing now that I don't have current pics of my garage but really, it's nothing too fancy anyway. I'm finally putting some better planning into the space these days so the current and old won't matter anyway Now that I've had the space for a couple years I know much better how to design the space to suit my habits and needs if ya know what I mean.

blah blah blah that's boring so here's some Sketch-Up stuff I've been working on for my garage to actual dimensions. I've given up on this ever being a 2 car garage so I'm designing around it being a 1 car garage with a couple nice defined workspaces around it. The design so far:

Still have a lot of planning to do before I commit to it and start going nuts in there. Oh, and I still have a Volvo I'm mid-engine build on that needs to get finished before I can start the major remodel too...

I know some of you Volvo lurkers around here will recognize these, but for everyone else, here's the stuff I tinker on in the garage:

1980 Volvo 245DL --

1978 242DL that I'm mid swap on --

& the motor I'm finishing up on for it:

Looking forward to stealin' more of you guys' ideas for my garage

PS - you guys have some bitchin' smilies over here

 

[Superchido]

Re: Portland Volvo

i notice the dude posing in your garage. -- he's in deep thought & looks wise.
make him pose like this.

Next move is actually to replace him with a honey badger.

 

[Wingnut65]

Welcome to GJ, Superchido. That's it I have to learn Sketch-Up! Thanks for kicking me in gear.

Nice ideas and nice rides. As far as stealing, its more like imitation is the greatest form of flattery. And everybody's copy may be an improvement over the original. BTW, I know we have several 2-car garages that are perfect 1-car workshops. One in particular keeps popping up in magazines...

Good Luck on the build.

 

[Superchido]

Welcome to GJ, Superchido. That's it I have to learn Sketch-Up! Thanks for kicking me in gear.

Thanks! I'd been meaning to figure out SketchUp for a while and once I got over the initial learning curve it is really pretty easy. They have lots of great video tutorials to help get you started that I found very helpful

Nice ideas and nice rides. As far as stealing, its more like imitation is the greatest form of flattery. And everybody's copy may be an improvement over the original. BTW, I know we have several 2-car garages that are perfect 1-car workshops. One in particular keeps popping up in magazines...

Oh, I'm quite familiar with that one 2 car garage that is popping up everywhere. Many many good ideas in that one that I plan to incorporate into my garage in my own way

Good Luck on the build.

Thanks!

 

[Jack Olsen]

One in particular keeps popping up in magazines...

I'm just tryin' to get out the gospel on only putting one car in a two-car garage.

Welcome to the forum, Superchido.

 

[P1et]

More pictures of the Volvos please!

 

[nonhog]

More pictures of the Volvos please!

X2, have a couple Volvo's in our shop too.

 

[Strouty]

WELCOME! I may have some questions for you. I have been saving all the parts to do the same engine. Except I never envisioned one so pretty. I hope we can be of help in the garage, looks like you have the engine department under control. I am from the other Portland.

 

[Superchido]

I'm just tryin' to get out the gospel on only putting one car in a two-car garage.

Welcome to the forum, Superchido.

It's a good gospel The way my garage is positioned at the back corner of the property behind the house sorta makes it tough to maneuver a 2nd car into the left hand side of the garage anyway. Just another reason to use that side for bigger, better workspace.

More pictures of the Volvos please!

Oh, I have a million if people here are actually interested

The black wagon I built a couple years ago. Coilovers, big brakes, etc for the chassis and built an all new hybrid motor for it with twin cam head, custom built manifolds, GT32 turbo, LINK EMS, BMW Getrag 265 trans, and a whole buncha other ****. It has evoked quite a few super confused looks from BMW/Mercedes/STi drivers. They don't expect to get their doors blown off by a 30 year old Volvo station wagon.

The beige 242 I bought not running from a friend a couple months ago. I cleaned it all up, refinished some wheels for it, built coilovers for it and am now just about ready to put the new motor in it. New motor for this one is another twin cam conversion like my wagon, but this one will be non turbo. Gonna be high-ish compression (11:1) and hopefully rev to 8K. Once I get it all in and running I'll be working on building a stainless header for and rigging up some ITBs from a Honda CBR600RR on the intake side.

When I got it:

After clean up, buffing, and freshly refinished wheels:

After I pulled the old motor I cleaned up and painted the engine bay. I also tucked all the wiring for all lighting into the fenders so it's not in the bay:

That's how it sits right at the moment. Hopefully dropping the motor in it in the next couple days so it can move out of the garage. That's when I get to start the fun work on the garage itself!

 

[Strouty]

Awesome, what volvo forums do you frequent? I use turbo bricks from time to time. Keep us updated on the garage and like I said before welcome to GJ!

 

[Superchido]

Awesome, what volvo forums do you frequent? I use turbo bricks from time to time. Keep us updated on the garage and like I said before welcome to GJ!

I cruise around most the Volvo forums. Turbobricks quite a bit and also am on OVT, Volvospeed & Swedespeed.

I'll definitely post up some pics when I get into the garage redo! Thanks.

 

[flybefree]

welcome...I have never seen a cool volvo before...I like!

 

[930dreamer]

Welcome, the Volvo wagon is awesome. How would you rate an older Volvo for weekly 600 mile commuting? I don't have one but always wanted a wagon.

 

[Superchido]

welcome...I have never seen a cool volvo before...I like!

Thanks

Welcome, the Volvo wagon is awesome. How would you rate an older Volvo for weekly 600 mile commuting? I don't have one but always wanted a wagon.

Thank you!

Define older... 240s are incredible cars. Safe, reliable and surprisingly economical. Volvo made 240s from 1975-1993 so there is quite a range there. I still consider a 93 240 to be a "new" car but my perception is skewed in that regard. I have a fondness for the early 240s from about '76-'80 but I also don't leave them stock, as evidenced above.

For a long commute like that I'd say go for the latest year 240 wagon you can find. A '90-'93 would be great. Those late year ones got somewhat better, more economical engine management (LH2.4 & LH3.1), ABS/Airbags, and more creature comforts like better sound deadening, better AC, etc. Only bad thing is it's tough to find a late model like that with a stick. Unless of course you prefer an automatic

 

[GrandmaSideways]

Hey Cameron! Looking good!

 

[Goldboattail455]

Awesome wagon! I wish I saw more of them on the road.

 

[sandwood]

Superchido - are you Cameron formerly/currently of IPD? I bought a 122 from you about a decade ago and drove it across country! How funny.
Alex

 

[Superchido]

Superchido - are you Cameron formerly/currently of IPD? I bought a 122 from you about a decade ago and drove it across country! How funny.
Alex

Late reply... Yes and no. Yes, I am Cameron of IPD, but no I am not that Cameron. Confusing I know. That Cameron is Cameron L. He worked at IPD for a few years from the late 90s through about 2003/2004ish. I started at IPD in February 2006 and have been there since.