Wheel-Vo... The itch that needs to be scratched.

[Stigian 1,234]

We all have a "must build" project in mind, and this is mine..

 

Over the years I have restored WH's

Built things that go on them such as a snowplow and harrow...

Added a couple of extra wheels - The 6x6..

And even made a fast fun machine - Project Why Not..

 

Wheel-Vo is the silly/stupid one

 

As you all know I paid The Showman a visit the other day and came back with a car load of WH..  A 312-8 although with no engine and trans it's more like a 300-0

 

 

 

Here it is back in the workshop thrown in a rather neat pile

 

 

 

 

 

 

The plan?

 

The title should of given you a clue, I'm on the look-out for a cheap Volvo that will give up a 2.3 turbo engine, gearbox, rear axle and maybe a few other parts, then sell on the rest to get a few £££'s back..

Of course a standard WH chassis won't be suitable so I'm going to have to build one..

A lot of work ahead but I can/am collect parts while I'm finishing Project MadTrax..

 

There won't be any real updates for a while but I can keep you updated as to how the parts collecting is going..

 

And of course... Video's

 

 

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,358]

I enjoyed the the view of Chris's feet. Nicely done. As usual I await another of your famous builds. Before you tear the Volvo apart please provide a few photos. Have driven Volvos since 1972 , so I can't wait to see what you will do. I have a 2000 S40 and a 2001 XC70 in the drive now. I know the wife will not let me copy your plan. Cheers

Edited January 21, 2018 by elcamino/wheelhorse
left out words

[953 nut 56,165]

             You do some very interesting builds and your updates are informative and entertaining.   

[19richie66 17,531]

this should be good 

[Ed Kennell 39,179]

Can't wait to watch this one. 

[tunahead72 2,448]

My Gawd, man, where DO you come up with these ideas?  Is it something in the water?  Air?  Just genetic?

 

Oh, who cares, I can't wait! 

[JC 1965 1,530]

Keep us updated on your progress Ian. Thanks for the photos and keep them coming.    

[Pullstart 63,201]

There should be a video of the Volvo in action before disassembly, you know for a side by side comparison...  Woo Hoo another WheelHorseBlokeSpecial!

[Stigian 1,234]

On 20/01/2018 at 9:29 PM, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

I enjoyed the the view of Chris's feet. Nicely done. As usual I await another of your famous builds. Before you tear the Volvo apart please provide a few photos. Have driven Volvos since 1972 , so I can't wait to see what you will do. I have a 2000 S40 and a 2001 XC70 in the drive now. I know the wife will not let me copy your plan. Cheers

 

Hey Jim, everyone knows what Chris's head looks like, so I thought I'd show his feet instead

I will take a few photo's of the complete Volvo before I pull it apart, expect lot's of videos as well

 

 

On 20/01/2018 at 10:28 PM, 953 nut said:

             You do some very interesting builds and your updates are informative and entertaining.   

 

Thanks Richard, I do try and keep my build threads entertaining, though I do admit to being a bit slack of late.. Just not enough hours in the day!

 

On 21/01/2018 at 11:09 AM, 19richie66 said:

this should be good 

 

It will be

 

 

On 21/01/2018 at 12:35 PM, Ed Kennell said:

Can't wait to watch this one. 

 

 I can't wait to get started on this one Ed

 

 

On 21/01/2018 at 10:16 PM, tunahead72 said:

My Gawd, man, where DO you come up with these ideas?  Is it something in the water?  Air?  Just genetic?

 

Oh, who cares, I can't wait! 

 

Hey Ed, I think I must of been dropped on my head too many times as a kid.. All the best nutters blame it on thier parents

 

 

On 22/01/2018 at 1:31 PM, JC 1965 said:

Keep us updated on your progress Ian. Thanks for the photos and keep them coming.    

 

Updates as something happens JC, it's only the lack of Volvo that's keeping me from doing any more at the mo, though I do have a lead on a complete car, I just need to get it for the right price first..

 

 

On 25/01/2018 at 12:45 PM, pullstart said:

There should be a video of the Volvo in action before disassembly, you know for a side by side comparison...  Woo Hoo another WheelHorseBlokeSpecial!

 

Hey Pullstart, there will be plenty of video's from start to finish of the build as always

 

Ed asked where I come up with my ideas, well I think this one must of been inspired by a couple of videos that popped up on internet 5 years ago..

 

Here's the Turbo Terror Tractor as you have seen else where, this is the original video.

 

 

 

The other inspirational video is this Volvo 740 turbo seariously smoking some tires/tyres

 

 

[Stigian 1,234]

Morning all, well Project Wheel-Vo has taken a big step forward this week as the new running gear has been found...

 

You might say it's been safely kept in this big metal box

 

 

 

A "can't quite get he's head around my thinking" Nigel gives the Volvo 940 2.3 SE Turbo a   

 

 

 

That's quite a big 4 pot!

A Volvo B230FK if your into engine numbers.

 

 

 

 

Here's the important bit... The turbo

 

 

 

Size wise a manual gearbox would be smaller, but an auto does make life easier... Also I kinda like the idea of being able to keep both hands on the steering wheel during launch as well

 

 

 

I dug out the WH 312-8 bonnet/hood to have a look size wise......

This pic makes me look totally nuts for even thinking of this project! 

 

 

 

However, lift the bonnet/hood up and plonk the said WH item on and suddenly the engine does not look that big..

A certain amount of errr... "Scaling up" is going to be needed on the WH panels but not as much as I had 1st thought as the actual auto box isn't as long as I had 1st thought.

Of course I have to fit a radiator and intercooler under the hood as well.

I will be using the Volvo rear axle, they are known to be strong and (quite handy for me) easy to narrow

 

 

 

As of yesterday here's where I have got to..

Just need to disconnect the shifter linkage, speedo cable (I think the speedo is driven from the 'box), unplug any electrical bits, unbolt the propshaft, unbolt the 'box crossmember and then the engine and trans can be removed as one..

Glad I have the use of a forklift

 

 

And of course

 

 

 

 

[19richie66 17,531]

You are crazy! Now get busy 

[CasualObserver 3,409]

Hope this gets me through.

[posifour11 723]

Dude, you're the best redneck/hillbilly ever! 

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,358]

@Stigian I love the idea , while you are working on the build , the wagon will provide storage for the various bits and pieces and sheet metal to work with . In case you don't know a redneck / hillbilly is a compliment . Have a great  day and start drawing up your plans. Can't wait to see you ideas for the frame. Cheers 

[ebinmaine 68,874]

Absolutely love this !!!!

[Chris G 3,296]

I can't wait to see more of the progress on this build!!! Also I love that there are people like yourself who build things like this for two reasons. Reason 1 it's just simply awesome! Reason 2 I can show the better half what your building and all of a sudden my hobby and builds are not so bad and crazy after all. 

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,358]

@Stigian What year is the Volvo ? 

[meadowfield 2,616]

you've lost it mate! 

 

need to pop down and see you soon

[Pullstart 63,201]

Hey Stig, your steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car???  

[Stigian 1,234]

On 06/06/2018 at 5:43 PM, 19richie66 said:

You are crazy! Now get busy 

 

Thanks Richie, there is a lot of non building thinking and working out to do before I can start any metal work.. So I will be busy just in a thinking kinda way..

 

 

On 06/06/2018 at 5:49 PM, CasualObserver said:

Hope this gets me through.

 

Nice Gif Jason   Though I think your going to need more popcorn and Pepsi than that

 

 

On 06/06/2018 at 6:07 PM, posifour11 said:

Dude, you're the best redneck/hillbilly ever! 

 

That's quite a compliment.. Thanks Posifour

 

 

On 06/06/2018 at 7:43 PM, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

@Stigian I love the idea , while you are working on the build , the wagon will provide storage for the various bits and pieces and sheet metal to work with . In case you don't know a redneck / hillbilly is a compliment . Have a great  day and start drawing up your plans. Can't wait to see you ideas for the frame. Cheers 

 

Hey Jim, I like the idea of using the wagon for storage, but as my workshop is on a nursery/garden center and is open to the public I had the get the 940 stripped and out the way as fast as I could..  The shell was taken away for scrap on Monday.

I have ideas for the frame, a lot will depend on how I go with the suspension, thinking a four bar with maybe bike shocks at the back..

The front needs a lot more thinking about to get it looking right and stong enough to handle the abuse I'm sure it will get..

 

 

On 06/06/2018 at 11:53 PM, ebinmaine said:

Absolutely love this !!!!

 

Thanks Eric

 

 

On 07/06/2018 at 3:15 AM, Chris G said:

I can't wait to see more of the progress on this build!!! Also I love that there are people like yourself who build things like this for two reasons. Reason 1 it's just simply awesome! Reason 2 I can show the better half what your building and all of a sudden my hobby and builds are not so bad and crazy after all. 

 

Thanks Chris, Reason 2 made me laugh.. Happy to be of service

 

 

On 07/06/2018 at 3:41 AM, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

@Stigian What year is the Volvo ? 

 

Hey again Jim, it's a 94/95 model.

 

 

On 07/06/2018 at 8:31 AM, meadowfield said:

you've lost it mate! 

 

need to pop down and see you soon

 

Thanks mate, yeah it would be cool to catch up again... It's been a while.

 

 

On 08/06/2018 at 5:10 PM, pullstart said:

Hey Stig, your steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car???  

 

Nowt to do with me, it's how those Craazzzyy Sweeds build them

 

 

[Stigian 1,234]

It's been a very busy and heavy few weeks, but when needs must..

 

The Volvo engine bay now looks like this..

 

 

 

Engine out..

A big thank you to Rob (far right) who has put a lot of time in over the past 7+ days to help me get this stage done.

A thank you to Matt (far left) who did the very careful forklift driving to pull the engine and trans out..

And a thank you to Nigel (middle) for offering advice, getting in the way sometimes, and for sitting on the forklift to make it look like he did the driving

 

 

 

Back in the workshop with a few parts plonked in place..

Only roughly plonked as the pallet is getting in the way and the engine is leaning to one side.... But you get the idea

 

 

 

 

 

 

To make the engine run a few wires are needed....

Quite a few as it happens.. I need the complete loom from the engine bay back to the front doors.. Which looked like this once the dash had come out..

 

 

 

 

The fuse and relay box!     I won't be needing all of them thankfully!.

 

 

 

Why so many wires?   Well, being a "modern"-ish car I need one of these brains to run the fuel injection system..

 

 

 

And one of these which is engine management..   I've not opened it up yet to check, I have a feeling it's one of the ECU's that can be "chipped" to get the engine producing the power it should be rather than the "tamed back" from the factory as it is now..

 

 

 

The loom out the car!   I won't need about 75% of this as I won't be running power window, rear screen heater, power sunroof or even the headlamp wash/wipers!

I think I'm going to need a very good wiring diagram

 

 

 

But I do plan to use as many of the guages as I can..

 

 

 

The Volvo now looks like this and is ready for the "metal monkeys" (as I call them) to come and collect.

 

 

 

Parts removed..

 

Engine, trans, wiring loom...

 

Propshaft. (may need shortening quite a bit )

 

 

 

Four wheels to smoke the tyres/tires off of

 

 

 

Rear axle..

 

 

 

And a new bit of wall decoration

 

[Stigian 1,234]

To keep Nigel happy, here's a pic of him actually driving the forklift as the engine was moved from a pallet to a four wheel'd trolly thingy.

 

 

 

Though I think the forklift fumes may of gone to his head a bit

 

 

 

With the pallet out the way we could plonk parts in more or less the right place..

For the comedy value the wheels were put where they would be on a standard WH... A bit narrow me thinks

 

 

 

 

 

I like this view, with the wonky wheels and panels it kinda looks like a wacky cartoon

 

 

 

I'm trying to be good and get MadTrax finished before I start on this build, but you just know I have to have a fiddle and make a start even if it's only getting everything in the right place so I can take some measurements..

A lot to work out first before I can even think about making a chassis!

 

 

And to finish this update, have another video.. Wheel-Vo part 2.

Sorry about the rubbish sound quality in this video..

 

 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,547]

So wider will be good...your gonna need all the stability you can get!

[DennisThornton 4,769]

Oh my! 

[Stigian 1,234]

On 21/06/2018 at 1:48 AM, Sparky said:

So wider will be good...your gonna need all the stability you can get!

 

Hey Mike, yep wider will be good, but not too wide as it has to look "right" and also my workshop doors are not that wide

 

 

On 24/06/2018 at 4:47 PM, DennisThornton said:

Oh my! 

 

I couldn't of put it any better Dennis