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Blue LS/T56 from PDX to FLA

Any word on the part number and dimensions of that strut? Would love to know more about it!

Also, very nice work with the car, engine output curve looks pretty much spot on :-D

The KYB's I have are #765016. I bought them for some custom housings I was making for my 855t and never got around to using them. They are 21.75" extended and 14.92" collapsed, so almost 7" total travel. My housings are stock height, that's why I used the spacer. I'm not concerned about going crazy low. My 350# springs are 7". The KYB's are along the same price as the Koni yellows. These in particular have 8 adjustment points. The threaded top stem is smaller than the stock volvo, so you will need a spacer (McMasterCarr) to fill the void. Obviously, I'll let everyone know how they perform.

Specs on the cam?

The LS9 camshaft is 211/230 @.050 valve lift and .558/.552 lift with 1.7 rockers and a 122.5 centerline
 
Finally got to work on the car some. Spring break for the kids, and Mickey Mouse had me tied up for the better part of a week. Anyhow, this past weekend, I was finally able to put on the front strut assembly. I only have about 100 miles on it so far, but the KYB's seems to ride very good. They have 4 positions, and I have them on the softest right now. It is hard for me to compare them to the koni's I had in my old 850 because I had 550# springs in that.

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Notice anything wrong in this picture?

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yep, I had these things built and sitting in my office for 3 weeks, and I failed to notice the adjuster was upside-figgin down until AFTER I get it all together. [facepalm]
I was too pissed to fix it that day, it'll have to wait..lol...

What did make a HUGE improvement was the installation of Ben's QSRC. Holy cow this car turns now. I'm using the middle spot, and wow...like a whole new car, as far as turning response. Not sure however why one came polished and one "raw"

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Also installed same day was a 25mm front sway bar. Here is how the top of the strut looks with adjuster.

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So, as if that is not enough, yesterday I borrowed a friends lift and got started on fixing my dead 5th gear in the t56. I thought I was going to have to drop the trans, but ended up, I was able to do it in the car. Pretty straight forward repair. Thankfully 5th/6th gears/synchro's are just behind the tail housing in a t56.

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That's all for the next couple weeks. Having to miss the upcoming track event on the 19th, as I start a new job on Wed. Next thing on the car really, is going to be widening the rear fenders anyway, and paint. The car is in pretty nice shape, but there is some rust bubbling through down at the rockers..so I gotta get that fixed up soon-like.
 
Well hello again. Man, what a crazy few past months for me. Since last posting, I acquired a new job, sold my '82 GLT, sold our house of 14 years, moved to a new place, and had our 3rd daughter. Whew. After selling the GLT, I had to drive the blue car as a daily until a few weeks ago when I bought my wife a mini-van. Party of 5 is too much for the avalanche. So now that I have the truck for myself and the wife in the van, the 242 is again the 3rd vehicle and I can finally get back started on it.

Over the past few weeks I installed a new radiator. The volvo radiator was working just fine. The way it was mounted, there was not much room between it and the waterpump pulley...like maybe a 1/2"! This new AFCO radiator fits under the core support perfectly! It was an off the shelf model, $250 new. Now I have room for future under-hood mods. :)

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I also replaced the main fuel pump with an AEM 380LPH pump and ran -08 fuel line all the way up to the engine.

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Installed a new accessory bracket system. Hackster had made his own alt and ps bracket for this car. They were both built well, but I need the alt up top. This new bracket relocated it, and also move the ps pump in tighter to the block. $120 on ebay..and it is all steel! Spectacular bracket. I would recommend it to anyone doing a LS swap if you didn't get brackets with your motor.

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Just this week I started on project 275. That is fitting 275's under the car. The 235's on 9" rims just are not cutting the mustard. No good on the road course, no good on the street. Time to put some meat under the car, especially with things to come.

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No going back now...

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If you are wondering, this is the "Towery Method" of fender widening. Going to have to come out about 1.5", but that shouldn't be a problem.

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Still working on the fenders, hope to have them done in a week or three.

...and as for future engine bay items....yes, it's getting a turbo. Turbonetics TC76. Goal is to have all this done by Thanksgiving and then have the car tuned and ready for the WannaGoFast 1/2mile event in Ocala, FL in January. I have 3 other friends that I have been helping with their half-mile cars, and well, the bug got me. :) Probably be a few weeks before another update...but hang in there.

-Matt
 
Yay updates!
Met your friend Pablo from Bold City Brewing the other night. Everyone loves your car.
Keep up the work on it. Come help me widen mine next!
 
If you are going to repaint the bottom of the quarters again, I'd suggest widening the front also. Looks realy weird from the back when just the rear of the quarter is pulled out.
 
If you are going to repaint the bottom of the quarters again, I'd suggest widening the front also. Looks realy weird from the back when just the rear of the quarter is pulled out.

I really only moved them out about 1". I'll get a shot from the front and rear and post it, but to me, it is hardly noticeable. I thought is was going to look "flat", but it still follows the curve under well. BUT, I also cut the inner fender about half way between the outer skin and the inner seam. maybe that is how it kept its curve better? (kinda like a mini-tub). I'm filling in less than 1" of gap.
 
So, I guess I never updated with any pictures. Since the last post, I had the wheels powder coated and participated in a 1/2 speed event. Over the past few months, I've acquired all the needed parts to turbo the LS. We just moved into a new place (of our own...no more renting!) this past weekend, and I am waiting on my garage to be finished (next few weeks) before I start on the turbo install. Anyhow..here are a few pics of the car, and you can see the how the fender widening went.

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Big update here. Finally got the garage finished. House is all remodeled and stuff (wife is happy now), youngest kid just turned 1 (a little more freedom for dad), so what better time than to start the turbo swap! I started all this last weekend. There is a race I am trying to make on Oct. 7th, but I doubt I will. We will see how things come together.

So, here is the pictorial...

The workspace...35x24 garage with a 14' pad out front!!

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Ready to start!

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Manifolds

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Merge. I am using all steel pipe for this. #1 because it is cheaper if I mess it all up. #2, I have the equipment to weld it. #3 it is going to get coated and wrapped #4..did I mention it is cheaper?

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Merge, up pipe and T4 flange all tacked together

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Crossover done. A little gap, but nothing I mig can't handle

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Ready for finish welding

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Path of the downpipe. And..NO, that steel holding the turbo wont be part of the finished package! :)

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Another angle showing the overall layout

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Downpipe all done.

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I'm a novice welder at best. I can't say it's beautiful, but I can say I did it myself. Most if it will be under the car or wrapped, so doesn't matter anyways..

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Precision 7275 and Precision 46mm gate. ALMOST done! This is where I am at now. Should wrap all this up on Monday.

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Random top view

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..and that's it for now!
 
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