'83 245 | B23F+T Project

[LeeH]

And so it begins..

I've been learning more and more about cars over the last few years with the aid of a buddy who eats/sleeps/breaths/****s this stuff. Recently I moved into a house with a two car garage and decided it was finally time to take on a full blown project. I'm moving across the country soon for work and figure if there's a time to do it, it's now.

The car I'm looking to build will be John's (aka 245GT-Turbo (http://forums.turbobricks.com/member.php?u=1433)) 1983 Volvo 245 turbo (currently has the B21FT and the M46 4 speed + OD manual transmission). He's currently working on getting his '85 wagon running properly so I don't have the car quite yet. But, I did find a Volvo B23F motor on Portland craigslist and had to pick it up. Around 60,000 original miles.

The goal for the car will be a fun weekend driver. We'll strip the entire thing, hopefully have a cage built, and build this motor to drop in. A lot of things haven't been decided upon yet, as I'm still researching a lot of this. Please, feel free to chime in, I'm a sponge.

Either way, I did receive the motor, and the destruction has begun without an actual vehicle. This week has been dedicated to tearing the motor apart. I've been taking it slow trying to make note of where everything sits and taking it all in. At the end of today I've got the majority of the stuff pulled from the block and got the head pulled as well. On to the pictures..

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/001.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/002.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/003.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/004.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/005.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/006.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/007.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/008.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/009.jpg

What's the cable that runs from the rear of the motor (like it mates up with the transmission - you can see in the pics) and ends with some odd connector?

Tonight I'll pull the bottom end along with the last little bits attached to the block and then begin cleaning the block up for paint. I'll probably wait for the block to get back from the machine shop before I actually paint it. Next week I'll hopefully get the chance to meet with John of JVAB (he's about a mile from my work and has generously offered to lend me a helping hand) and discuss the build of the motor to get some ideas of where I'm headed.

I'll keep the thread updated. Input is welcome boys, as I've said, my first project and input/information is key! ;)

[2fast242gt]

nice still crosshatching in the block!

[242Bleek]

Looks like a good starting point. Good to see people +Ting B23's for a change.

[242Fast]

i think that wire is somehow connected to an rpm sensor, that'd be the only thing i can think of. there's not much else you can detect off the flywheel. not sure if you'll need it depending on what engine management you use--most likely not needed

[Blue245Ti]

The sensor is for the Volvo Monotester. Is used to set timing and, I think, for use as a tachometer.

-J

A pic of said car is attached, btw...

[LeeH]

Pulled the oil pan and cleaned it up. How would I go about cleaning the innards? Or should I even bother?

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/016.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/017.jpg

Dropped the pistons. Still need to pull the crank but it's Friday and time to get faded.

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/010.jpg


http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/011.jpg


http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/012.jpg


http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/013.jpg


http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/014.jpg

Thanks for the input guys. John, good luck tonight with the '85, can't wait to get a hold of that thing! :)

[rclark]

So, what are you going to do to run it engine management wise? MSnS?

[LeeH]

So, what are you going to do to run it engine management wise? MSnS?

Yes I'll be running MS in some form. I don't know the details yet as I just haven't done the research in that department yet.

[LeeH]

Got the rest of the goods pulled from the block. This is before my light cleaning..

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/018.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/019.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/020.jpg

Off to the John's place in the trusty ol' Escort..

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/021.jpg

Dropped it all off at JVAB. Block gets hot tanked and fitted for JVAB pistons. John will drill for oil feed/return and the BMW oil squirters. Crank gets cleaned up as well.

Just finished cleaning up the oil pan and will probably paint tomorrow just to give me something to do. I'll post pictures once that's complete.

[norcal505]

u shoud throw on the ecode turns on it from your your 83.
would look nice

[LeeH]

The car was originally supposed to be a 245 Wagon but that never came to light as the owner of it never got his project running right. I found a nice 242 on craigslist for $400 towed to my place.

The car has arrived and the majority of the interior has already been stripped. The car was painted ~3 years ago. It blew up on the original owner a year ago and sat since. I washed it, pulled it into the garage, and got to work.

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/022.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/023.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/024.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/025.jpg

If anyone wants a B21 in the Seattle area let me know..

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/026.jpg

And of course the random piles of interior and miscellaneous pieces..

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/027.jpg

The pistons just got in this week. My crank is ready. My block is clean. Next week it goes in to be bored for the pistons. The head work has yet to be finalized but I'm supposed to be figuring that out next week as well.

More to come as things progress..

[LeeH]

Well there's been a bit of a delay as my DD's ('93 Escort) transmission took a complete **** on me two weeks ago. I've been looking for a new DD, bought it, and have been getting that into shape for daily driving. That's all finished up now so I finally am able to devote more time to the project.

Pulled the headliner and the remaining little interior pieces that surrounded the windows...

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/028.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/029.jpg

The interior is pretty much complete stripped at this point. Now I just need to figure out what I'm doing with the dash.

The rear of the car needs the most work. Before I could begin anything there I had to drop the fuel tank..

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/030.jpg

Siphoning the gas from the tank while we enjoy the simple pleasures that life has to offer (in this case Tilt and Busch Light haha)..

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/031.jpg

Tomorrow I need to make a run to Sears and then I can begin the work at the rear of the car. Rust in the spare tire well and begin making templates for all the spots I need to patch so I can run by the sheet metal shop and make em' up.

To be continued....

[RvolvoR]

.....

Dropped it all off at JVAB. Block gets hot tanked and fitted for JVAB pistons. John will drill for oil feed/return and the BMW oil squirters. Crank gets cleaned up as well.
...

hope you dont have any plans for that engine going in within...um..oohhh...the next 6-10 months

[LeeH]

Made a run to Sears today and ended up spending $230 bucks without even flinching. Picked up a bunch of necessities though so I guess it's alright.

Got my sockets all organized.

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/032.jpg

Dropped the bumper so I can clean it and the molding up, along with the underlying body..

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/033.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/034.jpg

Then I took the grinder to the trunk and cleaned up the rust spots. The majority of it was surface except for the right side shown in the pictures. I'll have to make up some aluminum pieces to replace that side along with the fuel sending unit & fuel filling neck holes.

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/035.jpg


http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/037.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/036.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/038.jpg

Pretty much ready for primer & paint in the rear.

Tomorrow I'll be doing a **** load of cleaning in the cabin. I don't think there's any rust there to clean up but if there is that will be taken care of then as well.

As I mentioned earlier I will be making up pieces of aluminum to fill the holes and replace that right side with. I will be riveting the pieces in place. I imagine though, in order to seal the pieces, and to help with the rattling/noise, that I should use some sort of goop in between. Does anyone have a recommendation as to what I should use? Any form of caulking -- or something more specific?

[spruill242]

what are you plans for the car? looks like a good start to a good project. and it looks like your starting out with a fairly solid shell.

[LeeH]

what are you plans for the car? looks like a good start to a good project. and it looks like your starting out with a fairly solid shell.

Built motor, cage, suspension, and that's about it hah. This is my first real project car so I'm just kind of attacking the car and taking it all in. The interior will pretty much be left as it's shown right now (+ seats, new wheel, and some modification of the dash).

The car is very solid. The only place rust has really taken over is in the trunk on that right side. There is some surface stuff on random parts that I'll fix up and just primer (after all I'm not trying to win any beauty contests here). My biggest goal with starting this project was keeping body work to a minimum as I wanted to focus on the mechanics and most of all just didn't want to spend the money on the "looking good" stuff.

[stylngle2003]

repaint it that green color....it's AWESOME!

[spruill242]

Built motor, cage, suspension, and that's about it hah. This is my first real project car so I'm just kind of attacking the car and taking it all in. The interior will pretty much be left as it's shown right now (+ seats, new wheel, and some modification of the dash).

The car is very solid. The only place rust has really taken over is in the trunk on that right side. There is some surface stuff on random parts that I'll fix up and just primer (after all I'm not trying to win any beauty contests here). My biggest goal with starting this project was keeping body work to a minimum as I wanted to focus on the mechanics and most of all just didn't want to spend the money on the "looking good" stuff.

hey sounds good man. welcome to it all. but i was really asking what the car was going to be used for. street driving, auto x, streight line, etc etc. if you can get a basic idea of what you want to use it for ome of use have probably already done it and can throw som ideas at yo if needed. keep up the good work.

[LeeH]

hey sounds good man. welcome to it all. but i was really asking what the car was going to be used for. street driving, auto x, streight line, etc etc. if you can get a basic idea of what you want to use it for ome of use have probably already done it and can throw som ideas at yo if needed. keep up the good work.

Street & Auto X

[spruill242]

cool. what are you planning suspension wise?

[242teeI]

repaint it that green color....it's AWESOME!

+1 I wish my 242 was that color:-(

[LeeH]

cool. what are you planning suspension wise?

ipd springs w/ konis, sways, and poly bushings. Nothing too crazy.

I would love to go coilovers but I think that may break the bank.

[spruill242]

i think for what your going to do thats going to be fine. id say go coilover only if its going to be a track dedicated car. i ran the same setup on my 242 for a while. a little rough on th street but bearable. very preditable on track.

[LeeH]

My camera gets in today so I will have more pictures later this evening.

Engine and transmission have been pulled and almost the entire interior is now out. I need to completely pull the dash so I can begin to digest all the wiring back there. I will probably end up pulling it all and replacing everything with a painless kit.

Pictures to come..

[LeeH]

The engine and transmission have been removed. I've been getting hung up on removing the dash. I wish there was an easy way to just remove everything that surrounded the core of it but I guess I have to pull everything? Any insight into this would be helpful.

As the car sits..

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/039.jpg

The engine bay that needs a good cleaning..

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/040.jpg

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/041.jpg

The interior..

http://www.thehuffman.com/pictures/volvo/042.jpg

I'm still waiting on my motor. Haven't heard anything for at least a month now. I know the machine shop's turn around can't be a month so it's a little discouraging. I want to get that motor back and assembled so I can see at least something take shape (especially considering the money I've dumped into it so far).

[Alex_Volvo]

Good project, nice pictures :)