Volvo Mods - Step1

Malt_Vinegar · 22 Mar 2006 at 18:13

So, the quest for sub seven seconds for less than 500quid has started!

Step one was to get a boost guage to see more accuratly what it was actually making at full boost, i did not really trust the original gauge.

Heres the original :

Now, the interior of the volvo is quite dark. It would be difficult to see unlit new gauges, i invested in a backlit version. (its not the most fitting gauge style wise, but beggers cant be choosers!)

So, there is it. So far it seems to be suggesting im not boosting much more than 8psi, whereas the original guage is almost hitting the end of the yellow (suggesting 10-12)

This is a good thing and means i can probably use an MBC to up the boost a tad to see if i can eek more speed out of this bargain bin motor!

With boost at this level, and after learning how to launch with the autobox, the best time i can get to 60 (using the g meter) is 7.56. I dont think there is much more available as it stands now.

Next on the cars is an MBC to see if the standard actuator can stand more boost. If it cant, then im on the hunt for a cheap one. Might be tight fitting an MBC and actuator into my tiny remaining budget!

Costs so far:

Volvo 480 turbo - 411.00
Boost gauge (inc delivery) - 24.94
Total Cost - 431.94

Boost at 8 (ish) psi

Best 0-60 - 7.56 seconds

Oakesy2001uk · 22 Mar 2006 at 18:17

excellent, keep us updated!

burns · 22 Mar 2006 at 18:34

How practical do you need the car to be? The first stop for bargain 0-60 times would be loosing as much weight as is possible. Good luck on getting more out of it though, they're cool cars 480s.

=Mac= · 22 Mar 2006 at 18:35

Looks good.

I take it you arent going for a pro to up the boost if you are trying to do it for under £500?

mac

Malt_Vinegar · 22 Mar 2006 at 18:37

Oakesy2001uk said:
excellent, keep us updated!

I shall, just looking for a suitable (read - cheap

)MBC now

Cheapest i have found actuators is 49.95, but i can get a new actuator spring for the existing one (under 15 quid). Is this worth doing, and how easy is it to do?

burns said:
How practical do you need the car to be? The first stop for bargain 0-60 times would be loosing as much weight as is possible. Good luck on getting more out of it though, they're cool cars 480s.

Losing seats/interior is a last resort, but i will do it if i really need to, just to get the times as low as possible! (just for some timed runs

) Practicality is an issue, but not terribly so, its a fun temporary project car and i dont want to use it much as a daily drive. However, its the only car i can use atm.

=Mac= said:
Looks good.

I take it you arent going for a pro to up the boost if you are trying to do it for under £500?

mac

This is strictly an "EBC" (Even Bigger Cowboys) modding mission!

ZG002 · 22 Mar 2006 at 18:38

you stripped the thing out mate?

Trickle · 22 Mar 2006 at 19:39

Cheep boost guages are often -+1psi out.

A guy I know had two boost guages in his 200sx and they read 1psi different.

Lowe · 22 Mar 2006 at 21:59

Trickle said:
Cheep boost guages are often -+1psi out.

A guy I know had two boost guages in his 200sx and they read 1psi different.

Was that at different parts of the boost circuit though? In the old GTT I had two gauges plumbed into different areas to measure the boost loss across the circuit. I'd always lose 1-2psi between the carb and manifold.

Trickle · 22 Mar 2006 at 22:31

Pretty sure he tested them in different configurations.

Would appear that either one of the gauges is out here on the volvo or there is one heck of a major drop somewhere.

Malt_Vinegar · 22 Mar 2006 at 22:36

Both gauges are taken about 6-7 inches apart from separate T pieces. on the feed from the CEM

Hate · 22 Mar 2006 at 22:36

are these FWD?

Malt_Vinegar · 22 Mar 2006 at 22:43

Hate said:
are these FWD?

yup

[TW]Fox · 23 Mar 2006 at 00:05

7.5 seconds from an automatic is very impressive. Quite a Q Car you've got there Malt!

ZG002 · 23 Mar 2006 at 00:22

im so impressed.. im thinking about buying a manual one to play about with.. strip it out.. and blow it up.. lol

saitrix · 23 Mar 2006 at 00:23

[TW]Fox said:
7.5 seconds from an automatic is very impressive. Quite a Q Car you've got there Malt!

Not even got all the boost out of it yet!

Really do love that car there Malt_Vinegar, a right bargain.

Malt_Vinegar · 23 Mar 2006 at 00:48

Cheers peeps, I really had no idea what i got myself into when i bought this

Im having great fun driving it, think im a 480 turbo convert! I have visions of this becoming a future project, with a slightly bigger budget.

ZG002 · 23 Mar 2006 at 01:14

lol i want to know more

what engine they running? they 1.7ltr or 2ltr?

what kinda money you looking at for a ok manual one?

you stripped yours out yet?

lol

Malt_Vinegar · 23 Mar 2006 at 01:19

ZG002 said:
lol i want to know more

what engine they running? they 1.7ltr or 2ltr?

what kinda money you looking at for a ok manual one?

you stripped yours out yet?

lol

Mine is a 1.7 with a t2 turbo (standard boost is meant to be 7.5ish psi) I really would not expect them to make any more than a grand in great nick, but i dont know, not looked about much since i got mine on a bit of a whim!

The interior on mine is as it was when it left the factory, except a bit warm, and now with two boost gauges and minus the clock!

ZG002 · 23 Mar 2006 at 01:22

did they do a 2ltr turbo?... 0-60 in that time from a auto 1.7 really aint bad at all lol

if i got one it would be next year some time and it would be purely for a toy.. lol would probs be mostly stripped out etc.. im after a 200sx s13 this year first

penski · 23 Mar 2006 at 07:54

[TW]Fox said:
7.5 seconds from an automatic is very impressive. Quite a Q Car you've got there Malt!

First the Micra...Now a bit of Volvo Perversion...Are you feeling okay, dude?

*n