Beige Beige Beige Beige

[volvogeek]

You know if you look at the word 'Beige' long enough, it starts to not make sense anymore.

Kinda like this car. It's been in my possession for a little over a year now, but I haven't had the title. At one point I tried to part it and make it into a trailer, but there wasn't enough interest in the parts to make that worthwhile (and nobody ever got back to me after I sent pics/quoted prices). And I recently decided that I needed something to drive while I put my maroon/gold 245 under the knife, so I started working on it. Things are also in motion to get the titling issues fixed, so it'll be my spare car for a while.

Plans are low-key. Get it back into near stage-0'ness, do a little cosmetic fixing, make sure everything works and it's not going to leave me stranded, then leave it the **** alone.

As purchased, somewhere around March 2009:




Paid $400, what do you expect? It ran and drove.

Thus far I've replaced the radiator, fixed the AC/PS brackets (missing something like 6 bolts between the two), put my -3f and -2r springs innit, removed the roof rack and A-pillar antenna, installed rear antenna, fixed the 25a FPR fuse (those things SUCK!), and did a little painting.




It'll get some cleansing soonish after I plug the rack and antenna holes, then maybe a flathood and exhaust fixing and a couple of other things. Not a lot but should make for an interesting ride.

[volvogeek]

Gave it a bath and swapped over a downpipe yesterday, doesn't look too shabby now:




I need to swap the hydras onto it, because the rears are studded snow tires, but damn I like the way it looks now.

[Chris_R]

Mmmm... Sparky burnouts!

Good looking car!

Is that a wicked dent in the rear door or a reflection?

[Jaz_ej20]

Looks good man! Same rim and chrome dress trim as mine

[volvogeek]

Originally Posted by Chris_R

Is that a wicked dent in the rear door or a reflection?

It's a wicked dent. There's one in the rear hatch as well. But like I said, meh - $400 car.

Speaking of cheap, I spent a whole $1.40 on these:



Got 'em at ACE Hardware, they're plastic flush grommets, and they work FABULOUSLY. Hella frush.


I really really wish I had tires for the 14" steelies. Generally I hate steelies, but they just WORK with this car.

[volvogeek]

Sigh.

[DurableSwedish]

that looks much better, when are you putting the missing trim on? IPD/me sells the new clips to put everything on. The clips are only a buck or so eash too.

[volvogeek]

I like the Hydras, but I think the steelies fit much better. I got the missing trim today, put it on already.

[subw000fer]

The steelies were awesome on this car!

[volvogeek]

Originally Posted by subw000fer

The steelies were awesome on this car!

Weren't they? If I didn't have the hydras with nearly new kumhos in the garage I'd probably have ponied up a bill for some 14's, but that was an expense I didn't need.

[volvogeek]

Normally I don't name my cars, but this one has been christened Beige Betty.

[Vol242vo]

Welcome to The Beige Side!

[volvogeek]

And we're legal as of today. Plates, tags, and title in the next couple of weeks. Yay!

[Ferris Bueller]

Looks good, man!

[volvogeek]

I'm liking this car more and more every day. It still has a few minor issues but it definitely has personality and a good bit of fun factor. I'm going to double up the swaybars for a cheap handling improvement (still have the stockers from my '86 laying around) and maybe flush the tranny when I can afford $60 of fluid again... But she's a solid little wagon. I wuvs her.

[volvogeek]

You know those god-damned heater hoses that run from the back of the head to the firewall? The ones that spring leaks when the engine mounts go kablooey? Looks like the previous owner fixed the motor mounts, but not the heater hoses. I've been having overheating issues and couldn't for the life of me figure out where the water was going. I found a bad clamp on the hose coming from the overflow tank, so I replaced that. But was still having issues, and now that the other hose is nicely clamped the spray shooting from the aforementioned heater hoses is very noticeable. At least this time I know where it's coming from BEFORE I overheat the damned car and have to pull the head. Off to iPd tomorrow!

[mblue240]

I told you that you should get the poly hoses anyway...wait, that was for the other car. Might as well get two sets now.

[abdlock]

Originally Posted by volvogeek

And we're legal as of today. Plates, tags, and title in the next couple of weeks. Yay!

Pretty easy with a peice of paper huh?

[volvogeek]

Originally Posted by mblue240

I told you that you should get the poly hoses anyway...wait, that was for the other car. Might as well get two sets now.

Haha, like my unemployed ass can drop $280 on these cars right now.

Originally Posted by abdlock

Pretty easy with a peice of paper huh?

Yes it was, thanks!

[toms_elleck]

I know most people seem to disagree, but I love it with the hydras. Cool car!

[STM240]

+1
240 wagons with hydras are where its at

[volvogeek]

Minor update, fixed the heater hoses, one was definitely bad:



And a little fix for speakers that don't quite fit into the stock grilles:

[volvogeek]

I did a little work on her this weekend so figured an update was in order.

Tie rods, tie rod ends, control arm ends and struts were all replaced. Driver side ends (both of 'em) were absolutely destroyed.


Rear passenger door was also replaced since it had a big crease in it from day 1.


Door will get roughed up and painted after I hit up iPd's paint supplier and get a color-matched rattlecan. Then I'll move the upper trim/window scraper over from the old door.

Keeping it cheap, keeping it real.

[volvogeek]

Betty is dead, engine seized and I'm not doing a swap, nor parting. I'll be pulling a few things off it and it'll go to the crusher. Whee!

[Harlard]

I have a fresh motor and a desire for a wagon...