Project Custom 122 (updated 9-23-04)

[BLOWN240]

I feel that I should start off with a little history on this car.....

Up until about 5 years ago it was the daily driver of a lady who lived in Arizona. On a trip to Southern California the poor car blew its head gasket. The car was then parked in a "yard" with other Volvo's. It sat there for 5 years with the windows down and the motor removed.

This is what it looked like when I found it........
http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/my%20car%20small/DSC01559.jpg
http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/my%20car%20small/DSC01561.jpg

I am not going to say what I got it for, but lets say it was very inexpensive....One of those deals you cant turn down. :D

So the plan for this car is to buld it into a custom lead sled. I hope to have it look like a small 49 Merc.

I will post the progress as it happens. It will probably take a few years to finish and I hope to not spend more than $10k.

[BLOWN240]

Please post here if you would like to reply to the Project Volvo 122 thread.

Thanks

[TestShoot]

'Lead sled' to look like a 'Merc' you mean like this guy? I'd do it if I had the energy.

http://www.volvonet.org/tpc/vall2003/images/vallakra2003_156.JPG

[IainS]

I'm deffinately interested to see where you go with this car. What are your plans for the drivetrain? Do you plan on sticking with a B18/B20? Or is a B230FT in it's future? V-8?

Currently I'm waiting for a relative to start his project from a similar point with a 1966 122 with a 740 turbo as his donor car.

[BLOWN240]

There is so much work to on this car its hard to figure out where to start.

So I figured the first thing to do was ditch the old nasty interior. I have an extra set of seats that are good, so I no longer needed the seats that were in there.

Here's a pic of what it look like now.....

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/interior%20stipped3.jpg
http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/interior%20stipped2.jpg

There is a tiny bit of rust in the floor, but its really minor. I am not sure on how the interior will be done, but it most likely will be black.

[BLOWN240]

I started wroking on the body a bit. The fist thing I want to do is convert the grille so it has the look of Destoto teeth. The real teeth are about $1600 a set. I was able to come up with a cheap alternative. VW bug euro style bumper guards will be the "teeth".

Here are a couple of pics of the progress so far:

BEFORE

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/frontbefore1.jpg


DURING

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/grilleopening2.jpg

NOW

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/grille%204.jpg

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/grille%203.jpg

I still have to finish the metal work arround the grille, but its coming along.

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/grilleopening1.jpg

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/nose%20welded.jpg


I still have alot of work to finish off the metal arroung the grille. I hope to get that done this week. Then I am going to shave the turn signals.

[dmcgee]

What happened to the old 244?

[BLOWN240]

Well I have a big decision to make. What drivetrain is the car gonna have.

I can get a B20 for free and rebuild it. then use the drivetrain that is in the car now.

Or, I can put in a 283 Chevy and a th350 trans. I can get the tranny for $200 and the motor for free. BUT, the trans tunnel/unibody will require so much modification that I am afraid that the car will be unsafe.


Decisions decisions........

[IainS]

How about a compromise .. instead of the b20 or the teeny v8, how about a b21ft or b230ft? I'm sure Doug wouldn't miss his....

[Volv-a-Ratti Man]

This is a great project car. It really has the potential to be a super show car.
Have you ever had a chance to see Lee Cordner's (pres VCOA)122S street rod? I saw it at the West Coast Meet in Ca a few yrs ago.
It's pretty awsome, completely race modified B20B. I think there's a bio on the car on swedespeed.com or the VCOA website.

I would go for the B20 overbore to 2.2 with an aftermarket FI system, OR a late B230FT from a 780 Bertone or 940T. If you really had the cash and could get it to fit, a S80 T6 would be nice. I saw a motor on E-Bay for 2k a while back.
I just don't have a liking for Anerican muscle in a Volvo.

[BLOWN240]

Thanks for the nice comments.

I have not seen Lee's car but I have heard of it.

Tomorrow I am supposed to be getting a B20 for this car. And next Saturday I am picking up a 283 chevy.

I am about 75% sure the Volvo motor will end up going in. I hear that the hot combo is a b20 block with a b18 head, dual Webbers and a cam.

Hopefully that is what I will end up with.

[BLOWN240]

Well I got the first turn signal shaved. IT took me a while to get it perfect but I am pretty happy with it. There are still a few small imperfectios, but I will get back to those later in the build.

Here are some pics

Here is the hole I started with:

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/shave%20pics/starting%20hole.jpg

The piece to fill it:

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/shave%20pics/insert%20shapped.jpg

Ad it set in place:

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/shave%20pics/set%20in.jpg

Some tack welds:

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/shave%20pics/finished%20weld.jpg

After some grinding and filling and sanding:

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/shave%20pics/sanded.jpg

And Finally primmed:

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/shave%20pics/pirmmed.jpg

I know it isnt perfect, but its good enough for now.

[BLOWN240]

Yesterday, I picked up the 283 Chevy motor. I got it for free so I fugure I did pretty good.

The motor only has 10 hours on it, but they were 8 years ago. So I am gonna clean it up some and see how it looks.

Here are some pics:

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/sbc/front.jpg
http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/sbc/oil%20pan.jpg
http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/sbc/above.jpg
http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/sbc/above%202.jpg
http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/sbc/side%201.jpg
http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/sbc/side%202.jpg

[BLOWN240]

Well after much thought and consideration, I have decided that the V8 is going to be twin turboed. I am going to use a pair of 13c turbos and I hope to get arround 500hp.

Lately I have been working on the air bag suspension. I have the front ready to go back together, but there has been so much rain that I havent had a chance to work on it.

I was pleasently supprised when I disassebled the front end of the car. This car was really well taken care of and has new ball joints and bushings. The wheel bearings are in excellent condition and it seems that even the pads/rotors were new when the car was parked.

[horse]

Oh man - TT'small block eh?

TIGHT!!

Im watching patiently until I can start my own 142 project.

[BLOWN240]

Thanks for the coments.......

Ya its going to be a long process, but totally worth it. I just wish I had more time to work on it.

[BLOWN240]

Time for an update:

I have been working alot on the suspension. Mostly installing the air bags. I had to modify the lower control arms to accept an air bag. It was a ton of work, but the car almost lays the frame on the ground now. The arms look like crap, but they are extrememly strong.

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/front%20lower%20arm1.JPG



On another note..... I pulled my engine apart to see what was up inside. Its pretty ugly in there, but I think that it should clean up real well. I was pretty happy when I checked the casting numbers and found that the motor came from a 57 Corvette.

I hope to have more updates soon.

[BLOWN240]

Time for another update.

I have the suspension totally done. The bags worked well and the car can lay the frame with a 22 inch tall tire. I know now that I will end up using a taller tire, but more on that later.

Here is a pic of the finished control arms:

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/controlarm24.jpg

These arms allow the air bag to sit about 2 inches lower than before, this in turn lowers the car a little over 2 inches more. I now have a total height adjustment of about 8 inches from totally lowered, to totally lifted.


The next step was to fit ithe enging and tranny in the car. I went and got an empty th350 case, to that it would be easier to work with while I ws fitting it.

Here is a pic of the th350 nest to the stock m40:

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/tranny/oldnew2.jpg

As you can see the new tranny is alot bigger than the old one. This being the case I needed to make a larger tunnel. The fist step in this is to cut out the floor/firewall to fit the new tranny.

Here is a pic of the tranny setting where it will go:

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/tranny/in%201.jpg


My next step is to get the engine and the tranny sitting in the car, then I will build the mounts for both engine and tranny.. I know that in order to get everything to fit without cutting out the structural part of the car,the engine and trans pans will have to be about 2 inches lower than the framerails. This isnt necessarily a bad thing since I want the lakepipes to be inder the edge of th car, and it will allow me to use a taller tire. I havent decided if I will go with a 24 or 26 inch tall tire or what size wheels I will use.

[BLOWN240]

Today I made the cross member that will support the sbc. I had a hard time figuring out all the angles, but it turned out great.

I made it from a single piece of 2x1 steel channel.

Pics:

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/sbc/member%201.jpg
http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/sbc/member%202.jpg

[RussellH]

Very cool project, I registered just to post this :)

My wife had a '65 122 until a few years ago.

Where are you in SoCal ? If nearby I wouldn't mind helping/checking out the progress. I'm in Corona.

[rosspod]

this thing is really interesting. i am excitedly awaiting more on it too!

[Volv-a-Ratti Man]

Being a purist would have loved to see a IL4 turbo in there, but the car and body mod's beg for a street drag V8 muscle powerplant. Maybe a supercharger?

I like the progress so far.

[BLOWN240]

Wow guys....thanks for the replies.

I live in Huntington Beach.

And the car is going to be a twin turbo. I am hoping for 5-600 hp

[BLOWN240]

I got the motor in!!!!!

its a bit tight arround where the headers need to go, but it will be find.

I also started on the headers, but that will be another post.

Pics of the engine:

Before

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/v8%20in%20122/engine%20bay%20before.jpg

Now

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/v8%20in%20122/from%20above.jpg

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/v8%20in%20122/front%20clearance.jpg

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/v8%20in%20122/front%20of%20car.jpg

more pics can be seen here:
http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/v8%20in%20122/

[BLOWN240]

Because of the small engine bay I had to make custom headers. Here is a pic of the first one:

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/headers/header%202.jpg

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/headers/header%203.jpg

And here is the first header on the car with a turbo bolted to it:

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/headers/turbo%201a.jpg

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/headers/turbo%201b.jpg

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/headers/turbo%201c.jpg

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/headers/turbo%201d.jpg

[BLOWN240]

I got the second header installed and on the car. Here are the pics:

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/headers/header%202b.jpg

http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/headers/tt1.jpg
http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/headers/tt2.jpg
http://www.hardcars.com/blown240/122%20pics/headers/tt3.jpg

[BLOWN240]

Well, its been a long time since I have been able to work on this car.


Today I got a dent pounded out of the hood. I got all the scratches out too. I gave it a quick shot of black to keep the rust off, but I still ahev to fill the holes where the hood ornament used to be.

I also got the trunk cleaned out.

I am iching to get back working on this thing big time. Hopefully I can make the time for it.

[volvorod85]

OOOOOOOO cant wait cant wait cant wait!!!!
Mark

[grebnut]

get crackin! i love watching this car progress... it's an awesome project!

[Crazychopstick]

get crackin! i love watching this car progress... it's an awesome project!

Guys...you haven't heard the bad news?

[BLOWN240]

this project is officially OVER. I was able to show that you can but bags and a twin turbo V8 in a 122 though. I am glad that I did what I did. I would still be doing it, but I got an offer that I couldn't refuse.

[Gene_GaTech]

any updates? rehost the pics?

THREAD REVIVAL!!!!!!!

[PWRPUFF]

THREAD REVIVAL!!!!!!!

More likely THREAD LOCK. Shell was scrapped sometime after; no one else was able to take it on, so.