I had already introduced my car in the showcase section. But since cars like these are never finished, it might be a good idea to keep a build thread as well.
I bought this car in 2016 as my first car. A Volvo 244GL from 1981. Powered by a B21E Kjet engine and a 3 speed automatic gearbox. Dailied it for a few years, forgot about it for a few years and after dragging her out of the shed one nice summer day I knew it was time to start modifying.
The first mods were simple stuff like an armrest and a Grip Royal steering wheel. Not long after, BC coilovers were mounted to the car.
I drove like this for a few years, slowly gathering parts but postponing installation a lot. Then, around 2021 I suddenly got a bit more motivation. Maybe because it was in the middle of the lockdown, maybe because there was some hope for Worthersee the next year.
Another big catalyst for starting everything was that I bought a turbo engine with a car around it. Which the car generously donated to the 244.
The 244 GL was now a 244 GL Turbo. The turbo redblock got mated to a 4 speed automatic. This combination improved reliability, drivability, fuel consumption and of course performance and chu chu sounds.
It was also around this time that I had rebuild a set BBS RF that I had bought a year or two prior. Originally being 17x7.5 specced for a Peugeot 605, I initially only switched the rear lips to widen the wheels to 9 inch. I also had the centers resprayed and barrels powdercoated.
I have had some struggles with finding the right tire size. Room within the arches of the big Volvo were a bit less generous as one might expect. I ended up with 205/40R17 on both the front and rear axle. The stretch in the rear is insane, and i’m not the biggest fan of it, but I also refuse going back to 17x8.5 on the rear.
Later that summer I decided it was time to finally fit the air suspension parts that I had been collecting throughout the years.
Up front, I used OnlyChargedDubs conversion bags for BC Coilovers. In the rear, I build my own setup to mount Slam Specialties SS-6 bellows on the spring perches. This then all got tied together using the 3P System from airlift which is fed by a single VIAIR 480c compressor.
Since the install, I have redone my wheels (twice) and with this, I also installed wider rims on the front wheels. They now measure 17x8.5 ET7 and 17x9 ET-1. With the fronts sitting on a 5mm spacer.
Also, the aluminium rims are now replaced with Radinox to fight the relentless battle with brake dust.
Like I said in the beginning, cars like these are never really finished. And I have more than enough things that I’d like to add/change/modify. I am, however, terrible when it comes to photographing process. So I hope I can get some proper progression pictures.
The current focus is on the interior. And especially audio and the seats. So I hope to post soon about those.
I bought this car in 2016 as my first car. A Volvo 244GL from 1981. Powered by a B21E Kjet engine and a 3 speed automatic gearbox. Dailied it for a few years, forgot about it for a few years and after dragging her out of the shed one nice summer day I knew it was time to start modifying.
The first mods were simple stuff like an armrest and a Grip Royal steering wheel. Not long after, BC coilovers were mounted to the car.
I drove like this for a few years, slowly gathering parts but postponing installation a lot. Then, around 2021 I suddenly got a bit more motivation. Maybe because it was in the middle of the lockdown, maybe because there was some hope for Worthersee the next year.
Another big catalyst for starting everything was that I bought a turbo engine with a car around it. Which the car generously donated to the 244.
The 244 GL was now a 244 GL Turbo. The turbo redblock got mated to a 4 speed automatic. This combination improved reliability, drivability, fuel consumption and of course performance and chu chu sounds.
It was also around this time that I had rebuild a set BBS RF that I had bought a year or two prior. Originally being 17x7.5 specced for a Peugeot 605, I initially only switched the rear lips to widen the wheels to 9 inch. I also had the centers resprayed and barrels powdercoated.
I have had some struggles with finding the right tire size. Room within the arches of the big Volvo were a bit less generous as one might expect. I ended up with 205/40R17 on both the front and rear axle. The stretch in the rear is insane, and i’m not the biggest fan of it, but I also refuse going back to 17x8.5 on the rear.
Later that summer I decided it was time to finally fit the air suspension parts that I had been collecting throughout the years.
Up front, I used OnlyChargedDubs conversion bags for BC Coilovers. In the rear, I build my own setup to mount Slam Specialties SS-6 bellows on the spring perches. This then all got tied together using the 3P System from airlift which is fed by a single VIAIR 480c compressor.
Since the install, I have redone my wheels (twice) and with this, I also installed wider rims on the front wheels. They now measure 17x8.5 ET7 and 17x9 ET-1. With the fronts sitting on a 5mm spacer.
Also, the aluminium rims are now replaced with Radinox to fight the relentless battle with brake dust.
Like I said in the beginning, cars like these are never really finished. And I have more than enough things that I’d like to add/change/modify. I am, however, terrible when it comes to photographing process. So I hope I can get some proper progression pictures.
The current focus is on the interior. And especially audio and the seats. So I hope to post soon about those.
