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Cool! Is the front bumper somewhere on the list? Good question! It is on the shelf. Much debate in the shop about if it stays on the shelf or it goes on the car. It needs mounts fabricated so it will be a little bit of work. Thing is, the car (debatable) looks better without a front bumper. Kinda Cobra-like, so the alternate thought is do I make up some nerf bars and call it a day? The grill selection also has to be addressed. I made this nice mesh grill, only to find that it could not mount the way it is in the picture. So, a task would be to re-design the mesh, or just capitulate and go with the stock grill that I also have on the shelf.  |
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eurogranada
Europe
To tinker or not to tinker, that is the question...
Posts: 2,556
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I'm in the add the front bumper camp. I do like the custom grill, but I also like the original. If I remember right there's two types of bumpers on the p1800. Horn like and flat. Maybe two half horn type bumpers? As an alternative a la escort and often mimicked on capris?
Hey it's your car remember so do what you like!
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I'm in the add the front bumper camp. I do like the custom grill, but I also like the original. If I remember right there's two types of bumpers on the p1800. Horn like and flat. Maybe two half horn type bumpers? As an alternative a la escort and often mimicked on capris? Hey it's your car remember so do what you like! The budget would dictate that I use the new flat bumper on the shelf. Spending another 1k for the cow horns would not go over well with the person overseeing the war fund. Besides, the rear is a flat bumper. |
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can you post a front view of the car as is now and one with the bumper propped up at the correct height?
We can then all offer advice & opinions that you don't want to hear, lol!
Same with the grill.
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Y'all going to have to wait and see with the bumper as it is a bit further down the list of priorities. So I had a rub on big bumps and figured a bit more rear ride height would be a good idea anyways, So up some 1" spacers for the rear struts. Got those mounted and it made a huge difference. Will post pic after a few laps around the block to settle the suspension. The rubbing turned out to be non related to ride height; was a flex line touching the LH tire when hitting a bump. 
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Before  After raising 1"  Subtle but significant look to the stance and feel to driving. The spacer does not affect rear travel or pre-load since it is between the body and the top of the shock mount. I can actually feel the changed stance from the Driver's seat. Next stop is the wipers. The motor for the aftermarket wipers wants 12 power signals to control the various speeds. The Miata used ground signals to control the factory wiper motor. If I want to keep the Miata column stalks as the control for the wipers ( I do) then I have to contrive a relay based circuit to reverse the signal polarity. How hard can that be? Pete |
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Looks great, glad your through the gearbox woes at last! at least its just the easy tidying up jobs now Oh and a bit of electrickery to get the wipers sorted!
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tristanh
Part of things
Routinely bewildered
Posts: 990 
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Looks subtly better.
Are you going to switch it with micro relays, or fit a PDM? They're the future of wiring I reckon.
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Whether you believe you can, or you cannot, you're probably right.
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Looks subtly better. Are you going to switch it with micro relays, or fit a PDM? They're the future of wiring I reckon. Just use three relays to convert the ground signals from the stalk to 12 V to the motor. Simple enough circuit to wire up, just a bit bulky to locate. I suppose a PDM could be used, but not sure to what advantage, certainly more $$ than three relays that I have kicking around for the spare Miata harness. PDM would have been the thing to use if I was rewiring the car. |
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tristanh
Part of things
Routinely bewildered
Posts: 990
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Whether you believe you can, or you cannot, you're probably right.
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Sept 9, 2019 12:10:03 GMT
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Been a while since I did an update. Mainly putting on some miles and cleaning up the list of details. But I figure an update would be welcome. Friends daughter did a short drive-by vid going down the Hwy.
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tristanh
Part of things
Routinely bewildered
Posts: 990
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Sept 9, 2019 19:39:44 GMT
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Gotta love the burble.
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Whether you believe you can, or you cannot, you're probably right.
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Sept 9, 2019 21:58:29 GMT
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Fabulous !
But you’ve got to shorten that exhaust pipe ?!
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Sept 9, 2019 22:01:37 GMT
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Fabulous ! But you’ve got to shorten that exhaust pipe ?! Agreed on the aesthetics. However, with the pipe tucked up under the valence, the noise is unbearable inside the car. As is, the silencer plan is going to require a major re-think and space is at a premium. With the pipes where they are, the noise is just deafening inside. Outside, it is beautiful! |
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Sept 10, 2019 2:46:01 GMT
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ooh...more vids, please!
looks awesome, sounds terrific!
JP
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I know its spelled Norman Luxury Yacht, but its pronounced Throat Wobbler Mangrove!
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Oct 10, 2019 14:16:37 GMT
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No real news on the Molvo, but the S-Car-Go has been getting a lot of attention in preparation for the Grassroots Challenge on Oct 23. We picked the car up for $800 Cnd with the conversion already done but in need of attention. It did drive so it fit the bill. The original thought was to just tune the car up and pray that it held together for the event. It was complete but kinda ugly.  Then we got it cleaned up and took it to the dragstrip and kinda got to like the car. So we decided to do what we could and stay under the $2k USD budget. Out came the engine for a clean and rattle-can rebuild with a custom intake manifold and a gearbox swap from AOD to T5. The gearbox conversion uses the exact same parts as I used in the Molvo right down to the pedal assembly. So here we are now...You can see where the "delete" stick has been used to clean up the space and three cans of spray paint put into the budget to pretty-fy the lump and it environs. Brakes and tires and we should be ready to hit the road in just over a week.  |
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vulgalour
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 7,286
Club RR Member Number: 146
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Oct 10, 2019 14:53:02 GMT
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Raising the rear end up just that little bit really helps make it look more... factory? That feels like the wrong word. It makes it look even less like you've done anything to a nice old Volvo, in a good way. Drive-by video a nice little bonus too, it looks good on the move.
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Been a while since I did an update. The car is technically "Done" but what that means is that it enters the dreaded "Development" stage of the project that will actually make it the car I wanted it to be in the first place. First order of business was the exhaust. The bullets at the back were not cutting it  The catalytics were sacrificed and in their place went these mufflers under the car. Its never going to be silent, but I hope this makes a big difference to the noise level inside compared to before. Initital test indicate it is much better sitting in the shop and reving the engine. Interestingly enough the Fitech EFI seems much happier with the Cats gone. I have been having a love-hate relationship with the Fitech to the point where I have purchased a new Holley carb to replace it. With the cats gone, there has been a stay of execution since it seems to run so much better...a road trip will tell  In the same vein as the exhaust, the rear diff ratio is down from a 3/73 to a 3.31 for more relaxed cruising And lastly for now, the pesky front grill is attached. Took some figuring since it has to go on from the front and cant be accessed from the rear  More to come but no road test until spring! |
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Explain further about the FiTech please?
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I am perhaps the wrong person to ask about the fitech since it has frustrated me since the start. To be honest, it is not the fitech fault, but the fitech does make it harder to see through to the actual issue because it overlays its own system on top of everything else.
An example:
I have been fighting a condition where the car shuts off on decel. Not always, and most times it would take like a big gasp just before shutting down and then recover. Once recovered, it would purr like a kitten. So, off I go in a search for the correct tuning settings. I never did figure it out. The last time I drove the car I barely made it back to the garage. It would not stay running when slowing down. Then I take the cats off ( by chance) and it seems to run much better. Wont really know until a road test in the spring and then I will need to start from a new base tune because the one I have was obviouly compensating for something.Maybe.
So, there is potential, but luck and lack of EFI expertise has kept me from experiencing the full potential of the technology. My take is that if you already have a car that runs perfectly on a carb, the transition to fitech should be easy.If it is not running well on a carb, figure that out before you try to get the fitech to work.
Regardless, still having fun.
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