Not a Cross Country - 245 4x4 Build-up

[boostdemon]

By: Brian Roth

Description:
I considered converting an American wagon. I did not want to use a really big car like a Custom Cruiser or an Impala and smaller wagons like Lagunas, Aspens and Falcons are hard to find. I thought what wagon made before 1976 is the most common in America ? The Volvo 245! Besides I have always liked Volvos. To quote Dudley Moore from Crazy People: They're boxy, but good. It is easy to get body and interior parts for them at local junk yards.

http://www.turbobricks.com/mods.php?content=art0023

[n xntrx volvo]

i thought it was boxy but safe? anywho, would like to see more info on attaching the front subframe. i've thought about doing this with one of mine, but with a toyota subframe. also steering pics. did he have to lengthen any of the volvo rear links? i'm assuming the panhard bar was, other wise i'd be stick out the side.

[suterman]

Ive been thinking about doing this for somtime.

my plan would be to use the chassis from a landrover series 3 (109inch wheelbase, the same as a 740)


use the original volvo engine and gearbox with a transferbox from a landrover linked up to the landrover propshafts and axles

bolt the rolling chassis onto the volvo and your'e halfway there.

[VQ]

That's sweet, I didn't even think of using a 3.8 V6 in my Volvo, would give me a 90 degree uneven fire V6 still, but an extra litre in capacity, but not as good as a turbo 2.8 or V8 n/a.

That 4x4 is sweet, though how tall does the snow get? and we have a steep driveway ourselves and low RWD cars can't get up.

[Morley]

:omg:

[Sean]

Glad to see my old wagon going.. looks like you had a very full summer! Good job Brian!
One questions when you show the engine bay pic did you repaint or is that the original paint? (I wouldn 't be surprised it was pretty mint)
Sean

[914turboford]

If I was going to keep the Volvo engine I'd use a divorced transfer case from a Nissan 720 pickup. That is how I kept the Mercedes engine/trans when I did my MB turbodiesel wagon.

Sean, I did paint the engine bay. Actually, there was some significant rust around the battery tray. I patched that.

The semi-finished product is working pretty well. With 200 hp it definitely gets out of its own way, unlike the MB.

We get accumulations of up to 3 feet of snow at times here in Pollock Pines.

All of the Volvo rear links themselves were kept intact but their chassis mounting points were dropped 10".

I have some more undercarriage pictures. I hope to get around to posing them soon.

Brian

[Dfer10]

any more pics? sweet build

[hoggen]

:omg:

i agree with my brother

:omg:

[hardie42]

Hi,
this article was realy an inspiration for me - currently i´m driving a 745 Turbo from ´88 with the front end of a `90 940 (due to an accident :-( ).

Thanks to Mr. Roth i have had some sleepless night, thinking about a way to do this conversion based on a 4 Ltr. Jeep Cherokee XJ - my idea is to swap the whole drivetrain (both axles, complete engine/trans).
I realy like the way against the mainstream - it´s unique.

I live in Hamburg, Germany and maybe you know that in Germany this kind of conversion is a little more difficult to do because of our "TÜV" (technical observation/testcenter).

So maybe there are other peolpe who would like to drive a 700 or 900 4WD and who would like to participate on a conversation about difficulties and options concerning this projekt.

Hoping this subject is somewhat interesting enough for more than me :roll:

Christian

[boosted12a]

sounds like a lot of fun. actualy may not be that hard...i think using a subaru engine and tranny would be the easyest rout, swap in some FWD steering nuckles and go to town! if you could find a svx with the n/a flat6 and boot that sucker, man wouold it fly!!!

[FlatWagon83]

I think this would be really interesting. I think I might be a little confused though, are you thinking of taking everything from a Jeep? I think it would be much easier to take it all out of a car, like mentioned above. However, I think a Subaru would be difficult to find. I am not sure what it's like in Hamburg, but I live in Berlin and never see any Subarus. Perhaps the rear end from a Syncro VW would work?

Keep us updated!

[745 TurboGreasel]

Most AWD cars have the motor ahead of the axels, which is not nice for a 740, so something with a transfer case may be easier. I have no doubt about the 4.0 Jeep being a great motor, it usualy outlives the rest of the Jeep. The good ones are around 230 HP stock.

I think the main deciding factor is how big you want to go and where you intend to drive...
The easiest would be to remove the body from a fullsise pickup or Blaser, and install your wagen body on top of it. With 4-12 inches of body lift, there will be no clearance issues.
Integratig Jeep or similar front suspension/axles under the existing unit body will be more work, but have a more refined and roadable result. Something that got my attention is the 80's Range Rover shared the ZF autobox with Volvo, and has the front driveshaft down the passenger(usa) side so you get to keep your pedals. The Toyota 88-93ish front IRS is fairly compact and unitised, and might be easier to mount than the jeep....Jeep has such tall spring towers

Going more toward car parts, throw an 850 subframe under the front , and some big aluminum spacers at the strut tops....

Are you looking to build a car that is good in snow and rain, and does amazing burnouts,
or a truck that climbs mountains, boggs through deep mud, and does amazing burnouts?