Around the USA in 90 days :-)

DIYEFI.org · 11-02-2009, 02:30 PM

Hi!

I bought a 1990 Volvo 740 GL cali spec map sensor NA auto wagon in San Diego a couple of months back and have been driving it all the way across America :-)

It had 198,000 miles on it when I got it, but is in perfect shape body wise minus a few small dents, NO rust and generally pretty good interior with a few small exceptions. It's now much the same, but has 11,000 more miles on it that I did over the last 9 weeks, predominantly highway miles. I'm now in South Florida and will be flying back to Auckland, New Zealand for the first time in 2.5 years in less than 2 weeks now.

Overall I like the car very much, again, with a few small exceptions that wouldn't be unsolvable if I was keeping the vehicle longer term. I've done pikes peak, bonneville salt flats, deal's gap, mulholland drive, zion national park, yellowstone national park and numerous other cool places.

In a couple of weeks I'll be leaving the car in Atlanta to be sold by a friend for me - a sad day that will mark my first car sale - I always just kept them before :-)

There are a few interesting storie to tell about the Volvo, but I'll save that for another thread. In a day or two when I have a little more information

Fred.

745 TurboGreasel · 11-02-2009, 06:07 PM

Leave us some pictures when you go. I hope you have had an epic adventure, my trip around the South Island was most excellent

DIYEFI.org · 11-02-2009, 07:58 PM

Yep, I've probably taken 5000+ pics. The journey has indeed been absolutely awesome! I've basically been doing an automotive tour of America - staying with car guys I know only from the internet through my rather fast little Mazda pickup truck :-) So many great people! :-)

thelostartof · 11-02-2009, 09:50 PM

I am a little lost, you said you bought a Volvo that is Cali Spec and has a Map sensor? That would mean it is Regina, I do not believe it as Cali spec cars should all be LH 2.4 and Federal Spec cars were Regina with the Map sensor

DIYEFI.org · 11-02-2009, 09:58 PM

I'm ready to be educated :-)

It was a cali car, Del Mar near San Diego, I think. It has a bendix fuel computer in it and a bosch abs computer (this confused us for a while when tinkering).

I don't know what you mean by regina/lh/fed etc.

Fred.

linuxman51 · 11-02-2009, 11:26 PM

rex if it's map. good running vehicle when everything is working correctly.

DIYEFI.org · 11-03-2009, 12:06 AM

Yep, it runs sweet indeed. Tomorrow it will be running even better if things go well in Wellington overnight :-)

Fred.

cosmicmonster · 11-03-2009, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIYEFI.org

I don't know what you mean by regina/lh/fed etc.

Fred.

Shouldn't you be all about EFI systems?

I'd love to be able to buy a random Volvo and do that...for no reason. Sounds like a great lifetime memory.

Kinda fail though b/c there's no pics

DIYEFI.org · 11-03-2009, 02:40 AM

I'm all about non-oem EFI

Who said the Volvo was still running on Bendix?

There are literally thousands of pics, just very few online yet

Why would I kill time I could be taking more in posting others up for randoms

As it happens one of my mates put up a few that I took that he copied. Here is one of the Volvo north of Phoenix in "cinders" :

Make that two! :

More to come, some time.

Fred.

igor · 11-03-2009, 02:50 AM

Are you coming back to NZ to live or visit?

cosmicmonster · 11-03-2009, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIYEFI.org

I'm all about non-oem EFI

Who said the Volvo was still running on Bendix?

There are literally thousands of pics, just very few online yet

Why would I kill time I could be taking more in posting others up for randoms

Touché
I underestimate

Hope you're having a blast!

thelostartof · 11-03-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIYEFI.org

I'm ready to be educated :-)

It was a cali car, Del Mar near San Diego, I think. It has a bendix fuel computer in it and a bosch abs computer (this confused us for a while when tinkering).

I don't know what you mean by regina/lh/fed etc.

Fred.

That just means you bought it in cali, When you say cali car I am thinking about what the regulations sticker on the firewall says for its emissions specs.

Regina/LH were the different injection systems that the car ran on.

wagonfetish · 11-04-2009, 11:58 AM

That's awesome, I envy your trip.
Someday I'll do the same, except keep the car when I'm done

Lets see those pics!

VolvoPunch · 11-04-2009, 11:16 PM

Excellent, I have been dreaming about doing the same sort of thing. Although it will not be as much fun in a 240 sedan. I would need to pickup a 245 for longer trips. Please post more pictures of your adventure when you can.

mikep · 11-05-2009, 12:39 PM

Very cool. Road trips are great, my next one will be long and slow. The last one was a whirlwind, dodging blizzards around the country.

The best part, as alluded to, was meeting all the online enthusiasts in person.

DIYEFI.org · 12-01-2009, 07:03 PM

Hi guys, I'm back in NZ now working on my turbo truck project and enjoying the scenery and friends and food etc, but there are some pics of the car up online, so I thought I'd link it here. The car is for sale and sitting in Atlanta GA if anyone wants it. Here is the thread on DIYEFI.org :

http://www.diyefi.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=790

If you think I should put up a post in the for sale section of this site, just say the word and I will. Unfortunately I have to manually authorise all new members on my forums at the moment, but if you are keen, email me as instructed and you'll be in the queue.

I've not forgotten this thread, there will be more posts on the car and another more interesting thread in another section of the site, too.

Fred.

11-02-2009, 02:30 PM	#1
DIYEFI.org Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009	Around the USA in 90 days :-) Hi! I bought a 1990 Volvo 740 GL cali spec map sensor NA auto wagon in San Diego a couple of months back and have been driving it all the way across America :-) It had 198,000 miles on it when I got it, but is in perfect shape body wise minus a few small dents, NO rust and generally pretty good interior with a few small exceptions. It's now much the same, but has 11,000 more miles on it that I did over the last 9 weeks, predominantly highway miles. I'm now in South Florida and will be flying back to Auckland, New Zealand for the first time in 2.5 years in less than 2 weeks now. Overall I like the car very much, again, with a few small exceptions that wouldn't be unsolvable if I was keeping the vehicle longer term. I've done pikes peak, bonneville salt flats, deal's gap, mulholland drive, zion national park, yellowstone national park and numerous other cool places. In a couple of weeks I'll be leaving the car in Atlanta to be sold by a friend for me - a sad day that will mark my first car sale - I always just kept them before :-) There are a few interesting storie to tell about the Volvo, but I'll save that for another thread. In a day or two when I have a little more information Fred.

11-02-2009, 06:07 PM	#2
745 TurboGreasel Board Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Freedom CA	Leave us some pictures when you go. I hope you have had an epic adventure, my trip around the South Island was most excellent __________________ . . No remorse . . . . No regret . . .War without end

11-02-2009, 09:50 PM	#4
thelostartof unbalanced chemical Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Apache Junction, AZ	I am a little lost, you said you bought a Volvo that is Cali Spec and has a Map sensor? That would mean it is Regina, I do not believe it as Cali spec cars should all be LH 2.4 and Federal Spec cars were Regina with the Map sensor __________________ Chip Feedback Thread / PM for Discount Chip Prices / PM for DownPipe and Exhaust Prices / 240 Silicone Cooling Hose Sets

11-02-2009, 11:26 PM	#6
linuxman51 EGGhead Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: mont, AL	rex if it's map. good running vehicle when everything is working correctly. __________________ 1990 740 GL Volvo Saved my life 5-13-2010 RAMMER JAMMER YELLA HAMMER GIVE EM HELL ALABAMA!! http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=195282 Dyno Vid 10 Second volvo http://videos.streetfire.net/video/1...lvo_714020.htm Plug and play LH 2.4 Megasquirt ported volvo heads

11-03-2009, 02:50 AM	#10
igor Derby Widow Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New Zealand	Are you coming back to NZ to live or visit? __________________

11-02-2009, 07:58 PM	#3
DIYEFI.org Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009	Yep, I've probably taken 5000+ pics. The journey has indeed been absolutely awesome! I've basically been doing an automotive tour of America - staying with car guys I know only from the internet through my rather fast little Mazda pickup truck :-) So many great people! :-)

11-02-2009, 09:58 PM	#5
DIYEFI.org Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009	I'm ready to be educated :-) It was a cali car, Del Mar near San Diego, I think. It has a bendix fuel computer in it and a bosch abs computer (this confused us for a while when tinkering). I don't know what you mean by regina/lh/fed etc. Fred.

11-03-2009, 12:06 AM	#7
DIYEFI.org Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009	Yep, it runs sweet indeed. Tomorrow it will be running even better if things go well in Wellington overnight :-) Fred.

11-03-2009, 02:40 AM	#9
DIYEFI.org Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009	I'm all about non-oem EFI Who said the Volvo was still running on Bendix? There are literally thousands of pics, just very few online yet Why would I kill time I could be taking more in posting others up for randoms As it happens one of my mates put up a few that I took that he copied. Here is one of the Volvo north of Phoenix in "cinders" : Make that two! : More to come, some time. Fred.

12-01-2009, 07:03 PM	#16
DIYEFI.org Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009	Hi guys, I'm back in NZ now working on my turbo truck project and enjoying the scenery and friends and food etc, but there are some pics of the car up online, so I thought I'd link it here. The car is for sale and sitting in Atlanta GA if anyone wants it. Here is the thread on DIYEFI.org : http://www.diyefi.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=790 If you think I should put up a post in the for sale section of this site, just say the word and I will. Unfortunately I have to manually authorise all new members on my forums at the moment, but if you are keen, email me as instructed and you'll be in the queue. I've not forgotten this thread, there will be more posts on the car and another more interesting thread in another section of the site, too. Fred.

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