My 144 sits really crooked. Help?

imorgan202 · 08-31-2006, 08:20 PM

I tried searching around first, but I couldn't find anything related to a car on stock springs.

So, I just bought a '74 144 last weekend, and it's great! I've never had so much fun with an older vehicle. The engine is rebuilt, and can cruise at 75 all day long.

The car does sit rather crooked though. The passenger's side is probably about 1" higher than the driver's side. I can find no signs of an accident, and the ride is fine--the shocks aren't blown. The car does pull to the left though. I don't really know where to start with this, and hoped for suggestions. Is it a simple case of saggy springs? Any help would be great. I'm enjoying her anyway. In the mean time, a couple pictures of her current state.

benflynn · 08-31-2006, 08:22 PM

sounds like a spring has given up the ghost, mine sags in the back, it did i put 16s in the back and it is level now

ElPiloto · 08-31-2006, 09:33 PM

You could replace the springs. Stockers from the junkyard don't cost too much.

Or you could put it on a frame machine. It shouldn't cost too much just to make the measurements that would tell you if the whole chassis/body is tweaked or true.

gsellstr · 09-01-2006, 10:50 AM

I too would vote for a weak spring. Time to throw on some 15x6 or 16x6's and a set of springs.

Fronts are 140-specific, but being a 74 you can use any 240 spring in the rear.

imorgan202 · 09-01-2006, 11:48 AM

Thanks for the replies everyone. That's a good idea about the frame machine. I was/am hoping it's just a spring though, for it would be great to "have to" lower it. You say "any" 240 rears will work. Is this so I can choose a stiffer spring? What would you choose?

Since you mentioned 16" wheels...anyone have any good resources for wheels in this size? I read that the bolt pattern is 5x108, and that's just odd. TireRack doesn't have anything, and IPD's wheels (which I really like), only come in 15s. I'm not really a fan of other OEM wheels because if I'm spending money to replace something, it's going to be lighter.

Trying to gain as much knowledge as I can. Thanks!

gsellstr · 09-01-2006, 11:51 AM

If you want stiffer, find a good set of wagon springs. Otherwise any lowering spring should fit. Kinda personal preference on that.

fivealive · 09-01-2006, 12:06 PM

there are only a few 16" OEM Volvo wheels that come in 16" sizes.
Galaxy (EU only I think)

Hydra (pretty common, found on some 740 turbos)

Otherwise Ronal www.ronalusa.com makes a lot of nice wheels in 5x108. They don't have pics of them on a 140-series, but anything that fits a 240 should fit your car. Also, IPD sells Eikers, which are 17" and could be made to fit your car with some fender "adjustments"

JE Jr · 09-01-2006, 04:17 PM

Volvo are selling out the Galaxy now in Sweden. 1495 SEK each (~200USD) including Tire!!!

You should have a spring spacer left front! Probably that one is missing.
Check out the parts catalogues at www.gcp.se and you will see what piece I mean.

imorgan202 · 09-01-2006, 05:27 PM

Cool info on the wheels. I'll have to check on that spacer. It's great how helpful you all have been. Not often do I find a forum where people are truly nice.

Ian

gsellstr · 09-01-2006, 05:44 PM

Even if the spacer is missing it shouldn't be much more than a half-inch or so. It's more of a cap than a spacer. Unless you've got one side that's not seated and the other is. You might take a look with the shocks out up front and make sure both front springs are seated at the top. If the ball joints were replaced they have to pull things which allow the spring to move usually. Installing everything again and a lack of attention may allow the spring to get compressed without being in the upper seat correctly, which MAY cause the difference in height.

Hope that made sense.

ElPiloto · 09-01-2006, 07:42 PM

The first thing you should have done is stick your head under the car and looked at the springs. Sometimes they break. Sometimes they just sag from age. (like me

) If you check them all out and don't see any difference. Move on to the other suggestions in this thread.

Oh, the price for all this good advice is that you have to let us know what the problem was when you get it sorted out.

1 riktig svensk · 09-02-2006, 08:31 PM

Really fat previous owner????

Dauntless · 09-02-2006, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JE Jr

Volvo are selling out the Galaxy now in Sweden. 1495 SEK each (~200USD) including Tire!!!

More info on this!?!?!?!

imorgan202 · 09-04-2006, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1 riktig svensk

Really fat previous owner????

Haha. My friend said that's what I looked like from behind when I was driving it. I'll have to wait a couple weeks to really figure out that happened--low on cash. As it is, this weekend the top alternator bolt sheered off inside the alternator! At least I was able to drill it a tad bigger and put an nut on the other end. All's fun with old cars, right?

Ian

08-31-2006, 08:20 PM	#1
imorgan202 Board Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chicago, IL	My 144 sits really crooked. Help? I tried searching around first, but I couldn't find anything related to a car on stock springs. So, I just bought a '74 144 last weekend, and it's great! I've never had so much fun with an older vehicle. The engine is rebuilt, and can cruise at 75 all day long. The car does sit rather crooked though. The passenger's side is probably about 1" higher than the driver's side. I can find no signs of an accident, and the ride is fine--the shocks aren't blown. The car does pull to the left though. I don't really know where to start with this, and hoped for suggestions. Is it a simple case of saggy springs? Any help would be great. I'm enjoying her anyway. In the mean time, a couple pictures of her current state.

08-31-2006, 08:22 PM	#2
benflynn bigpimpin740t@yahoo.com Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Birmingham Al	sounds like a spring has given up the ghost, mine sags in the back, it did i put 16s in the back and it is level now __________________ think you got shorted? belive me, we have piles of turbos and ms units, email me w/what ever the hell you think we have of yours and when i am not on a river ill dig it out and send it to ya for shipping, one shotbigpimpin740t@yahoo.com one down, whose next?

08-31-2006, 09:33 PM	#3
ElPiloto Board Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Southern Arizona	You could replace the springs. Stockers from the junkyard don't cost too much. Or you could put it on a frame machine. It shouldn't cost too much just to make the measurements that would tell you if the whole chassis/body is tweaked or true. __________________ "Four in a row makes it go"

09-01-2006, 10:50 AM	#4
gsellstr Vintage anti-ricer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Somewhere in a northern California smog bank	I too would vote for a weak spring. Time to throw on some 15x6 or 16x6's and a set of springs. Fronts are 140-specific, but being a 74 you can use any 240 spring in the rear. __________________ RIP Doug "Mr. Doug" Williams, 4/15/2009 74 144 B20 http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=224983 90 745Ti, AW71L, IPD bars/springs, Koni SA's, JVAB B230FT, Big Valved 531 head, IPD Turbo cam, GT2871R @ 18psi, TLAO chips, E85, NPR, 3.5" DP, 3" DP-back, MSD, TruTrac, Wilwood BBK If you need Superpro bushings PM me or check the current GB, running until 3/31/13 at http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?p=4493644).

09-01-2006, 04:17 PM	#8
JE Jr Board Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sweden	Volvo are selling out the Galaxy now in Sweden. 1495 SEK each (~200USD) including Tire!!! You should have a spring spacer left front! Probably that one is missing. Check out the parts catalogues at www.gcp.se and you will see what piece I mean. __________________ Black car: --142 ´68-- Yellow car: --142 GL ´72-- 70's rally-car wannabe White car: --744 GLE ´88-- Polishing object Blue car: --S70 GLT ´00-- Daily driver

09-01-2006, 11:48 AM	#5
imorgan202 Board Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chicago, IL	Thanks for the replies everyone. That's a good idea about the frame machine. I was/am hoping it's just a spring though, for it would be great to "have to" lower it. You say "any" 240 rears will work. Is this so I can choose a stiffer spring? What would you choose? Since you mentioned 16" wheels...anyone have any good resources for wheels in this size? I read that the bolt pattern is 5x108, and that's just odd. TireRack doesn't have anything, and IPD's wheels (which I really like), only come in 15s. I'm not really a fan of other OEM wheels because if I'm spending money to replace something, it's going to be lighter. Trying to gain as much knowledge as I can. Thanks!

09-01-2006, 11:51 AM	#6
gsellstr Vintage anti-ricer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Somewhere in a northern California smog bank	If you want stiffer, find a good set of wagon springs. Otherwise any lowering spring should fit. Kinda personal preference on that.

09-01-2006, 12:06 PM	#7
fivealive Board Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: The PNW	there are only a few 16" OEM Volvo wheels that come in 16" sizes. Galaxy (EU only I think) Hydra (pretty common, found on some 740 turbos) Otherwise Ronal www.ronalusa.com makes a lot of nice wheels in 5x108. They don't have pics of them on a 140-series, but anything that fits a 240 should fit your car. Also, IPD sells Eikers, which are 17" and could be made to fit your car with some fender "adjustments"

09-01-2006, 05:27 PM	#9
imorgan202 Board Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chicago, IL	Cool info on the wheels. I'll have to check on that spacer. It's great how helpful you all have been. Not often do I find a forum where people are truly nice. Ian

09-01-2006, 05:44 PM	#10
gsellstr Vintage anti-ricer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Somewhere in a northern California smog bank	Even if the spacer is missing it shouldn't be much more than a half-inch or so. It's more of a cap than a spacer. Unless you've got one side that's not seated and the other is. You might take a look with the shocks out up front and make sure both front springs are seated at the top. If the ball joints were replaced they have to pull things which allow the spring to move usually. Installing everything again and a lack of attention may allow the spring to get compressed without being in the upper seat correctly, which MAY cause the difference in height. Hope that made sense.

09-01-2006, 07:42 PM	#11
ElPiloto Board Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Southern Arizona	The first thing you should have done is stick your head under the car and looked at the springs. Sometimes they break. Sometimes they just sag from age. (like me ) If you check them all out and don't see any difference. Move on to the other suggestions in this thread. Oh, the price for all this good advice is that you have to let us know what the problem was when you get it sorted out.

09-02-2006, 08:31 PM	#12
1 riktig svensk Board Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sactown, NorCal	Really fat previous owner???? __________________ My gallery ....no Volvo in my driveway anymore....

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