Good Rally-type parts supplier?

[brianmichaels1]

I have an '86 740 GLE with 312,000 Miles on it. I am restoring it, but it's also my daily driver. I would like to upgrade to Rally parts on everything I replace just about. Is this possible?

[BB-Q]

Yep. There's several people here who can help you.

John V is a rally guy and engine builder and fabricator. Makes some very nice stuff.

Blkaplan is a designer and fabricator- usually involving triangles.

Stereophile 33 does gaskets, poly mounts, headers, etc.

245gti does some cool stuff including some very nice pulleys and an awesome brake conversion.

Have I forgotton anyone?

[Mueller]

I have an '86 740 GLE with 312,000 Miles on it. I am restoring it, but it's also my daily driver. I would like to upgrade to Rally parts on everything I replace just about. Is this possible?

what is your definition of "rally" parts???

are you talking about replacing the wear items (bushings, springs, shocks)

or hard parts such as struts, suspension components??

[DurableSwedish]

what exactly are you looking for and we can direct you to a source? are you looking for like a "bolt-on" rally kit?

[brianmichaels1]

Well I know the 740 was a fairly popular Swedish Rally car...I think the next thing I may be needing to replace will be front end bushings. As I replace parts I'd like the parts to be upgrades and I don't exactly know what kind of parts are used on the Rally cars in the professional races and all... but all the suspension could use work. Any parts like that? I'm just kind of curious about where those 740 rally race cars get their parts from. Sorry for the pretty vague or uneducated questions and thanks for the help.

[DurableSwedish]

those guys probably make their own things or get things from s.a.m. your best bet for suspension would be from ben (http://www.kaplhenke.com/index.php?pg=products). for starters you have a GLE 740? if its non-turbo hopefully you have a manual transmission. if you have an auto n/a car, your best bet is to buy at the very least a turbo car. n/a+auto is the worst possible combo you can have :-(

[hpeschl]

I am rally racing an 83 240 turbo in group 5 (fully modified) - and have performed many many uprgades to this beast - so ask away and maybe i can help.

[brianmichaels1]

I kind of considered on making this one a turbo and putting in a 5 speed manual transmission and making all other necessary upgrades...

[DurableSwedish]

eek. for all the trouble that's going to cause you, you should start looking for a turbo manual. much better platform. Check craigslist nearest you. you can probably find a 740t with m46 for the price of a decent suspension system for your n/a.

/edit: check it out: http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/362561731.html 85760 turbo 5-speed for $700.

thats about as much as springs/shocks would cost you. way better starting out point to modify. sell off your GLE and use that money to get suspension for this. it might even have a b23ft in it...

[John V, outside agitator]

Well I know the 740 was a fairly popular Swedish Rally car...I think the next thing I may be needing to replace will be front end bushings. As I replace parts I'd like the parts to be upgrades and I don't exactly know what kind of parts are used on the Rally cars in the professional races and all... but all the suspension could use work. Any parts like that? I'm just kind of curious about where those 740 rally race cars get their parts from. Sorry for the pretty vague or uneducated questions and thanks for the help.

Hi.
740s are still popular cars in Sweden, as are 240s, and a few 940s.
The better ones,but don't imagine they are professionals,use things like this which a neat clean simple designs and readily available:
http://www.rallyrace.net/jvab/spgm/gal/Volvo/1%5B1%5D.jpg

They use suspension that is what's called "upside down" struts like these I'm in the middle of making more:
http://www.rallyrace.net/jvab/spgm/gal/Volvo/Volvo_JVAB_struts_and_knuckles.JPG


If they're lucky enough tobe in a 240 the can easily upgrade to Second Generation RX7 calipers and save 14-18 lbs:
http://www.rallyrace.net/jvab/spgm/gal/Volvo/Volvobigdics09.JPG

If they want to save more weight and get a thicker rotor they use aluminum hats like these and choose a caliper the right size like this particular Willwood:
http://www.rallyrace.net/jvab/spgm/gal/Xratty_Big_Brakes/JVAB_283mm_discs_done.JPG


Of course that's just a start. You can see more by just wandering around at www.jvab.f4.ca


or find memeber "Kevin Hawkinson" and click on his link to his car build project.

You're thinking right, I should point out.
If you build a street car like a rally car, it will be a Soooper bitchin street car which will also do a number of other things pretty darn good including playing at road race,drag,even kill cones pretty darn good, but if you get misled into making your car good all compromised for any of those other things, its useless for anything but that one thing.

And in the end sideways is way more fun than those other things, so get sideways!

[Lord Tentacle]

John can you get your hands on the fabricated 940 controll arms you have pictured in your post?

[brianmichaels1]

Awesome, thanks John! To DurableSwedish: I have just kind of gotten attached to my own 740 over the past 312,000 miles. I don't really want to part with it, but your are right...and I might likely find a parts car 740 Turbo from craigslist and use it to make mine Turbo...but I just don't want to part with mine...silly I know ;)

[DurableSwedish]

in that case, that craigslist one i posted would be an excellent donor for you. cant go wrong with a complete manual and turbo engine swap for $700...

[John V, outside agitator]

John can you get your hands on the fabricated 940 controll arms you have pictured in your post?

No problem, but I thinkyou would sheet the bed at the price.
There's plans afoot to work together with a talented, intelligent comrade out in the East for doing up some simplified things like these, but like me he's currently busier than hell with current projects and Upping the Revolucion.

Best I can say is "stay tuned".

[Lord Tentacle]

No problem, but I thinkyou would sheet the bed at the price.
There's plans afoot to work together with a talented, intelligent comrade out in the East for doing up some simplified things like these, but like me he's currently busier than hell with current projects and Upping the Revolucion.

Best I can say is "stay tuned".

it still probobly costs less than a single Titanium connecting rod for Buzz's 962c
What sorta $$$ are we talking?
I was going to guess between $1000-2000 for the pair

The last time I talked to BNE, he said he was over a year away from having the time to get a prototype out for the 740/940

[brianmichaels1]

Hmm...so how about the front end bushings? I found them on IPDUSA but...any better ones out there I should consider?

[SteveMD]

If I was building up a 740 for uber-use, I would consider changing the early front hubs for the later sealed ones. Start in '88, I think.

[Biesey]

Hmm...so how about the front end bushings? I found them on IPDUSA but...any better ones out there I should consider?

Dale a.k.a. 245gti sells them shoot him a pm