Volvo S70 Wagon

[mmatthews]

Originally Posted by Emarknot

The joys of custom builds !!

You should invest in a dremmel/rotary tool at this point. Harbor freight, Wal mart, big lots.... $15-30. Even a cheapo one will do wonders.

I think it took me 3 weeks to get mine done. 3hrs a day mon-fri, and the weekends were hit and miss for time. When you're done though, it will all be worth it. I honestly don't know why I like mine so much. The tires are rock hard, the rear bounces like it is on leafs and it's not all that capable.

It trails very well, it looks cool driving. I uploaded some pics to PB, but they haven't posted yet.

Got the Dremel. Looked for a good rotary bit today. Need to check Walmart. Lowes didn't have Dermel stuff.


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[Calderwood]

Originally Posted by mmatthews

Got the Dremel. Looked for a good rotary bit today. Need to check Walmart. Lowes didn't have Dermel stuff.


Sent from your moms house.

Home depot has a big assortment in my town.

[Szczerba]

Cool build and Needs portals.

https://www.shapeways.com/model/1524...5&materialId=6

[mmatthews]

Originally Posted by Szczerba

Cool build and Needs portals.



https://www.shapeways.com/model/1524...5&materialId=6

Already too wide.



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[Szczerba]

Excuses.

[mmatthews]

Sasquatch approves of the new tire choice. Mickey Thompson MTZ. Fully pushed into the fenders, they just rub. Hoping at ride height it will work out.


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[Emarknot]

Very nice !

Your rear tire setup looks about like mine, and I did nothing to the rear wheels at all. The fronts needed modified due to flexing only. I just flexed the chassis to one side and dremeled until it didn't rub. Then I did the same for the other side.

I really like your idea of the furniture in the back. I had thought about doing a wall for the switches. I have 3 in the back. When I installed the light kit, I didn't want the headlights on during the day, so I spliced in an on\off switch to control them. I have the esc mounted at the rear, so there is the switch for that. And finally the roof rack lights have their own switch because those run off of a 9v battery. Basically, whatever I want on or off, I just open the hatch and flip the switch.
My battery is mid mounted in front of the tranny. I wanted the weight upfront but didn't want to remove the body every time to connect, so I just hacked off the "tub" and left the front windows open.

I really wish I could have found a viable excuse to use the gas door. I thought maybe a mp3 plug-in or something. I really love the opening gas door !!


Here are 2 pics of my fronts.













and here is how the rear of the frame mounts up. The front does the same thing, keep in mind I am missing the "tub"










When I modified the fronts, I used the sanding wheel attachment. my dremel has a speed selector knob, I think it was on #4. If you do need to trim the front wheel arches, I suggest you do it completely after the fact that way you trim the upper portion of the wheel wells to match.

[mmatthews]

Got all the bead locks mounted. Used CI Lil' Nova inner rings. Height was perfect. I just narrowed then about a 1/4".

Used the GearHead hub spacers. Fronts didn't clear the knuckles. I wasn't going to use them on the rear but it would have drove me crazy to have different width axles. Little shit like that bugs me.

Made some patch panels to fix my c-notch screw up. I'll still need to notch them, but I can take them off to do it now. I'll paint the entire tub in final assembly. The patch panels will blend right in.

Tomorrows goal is to install the DDK and make some temporary suspension links.



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[mmatthews]

Time for a divorce.


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[DrHolm]

Cool!
I'll wote for a sound-module, playing ABBA tunes loud as hell!

[mmatthews]

Shocks in. Still need to do some trimming to clear the springs. SCX shocks for mock up. I'll be using Proline scale shocks. They are here, just to pretty to mock up with.

Gear reduction unit is causing some issues. Ride height and servo placement are both being effected by it's placement.

Ride height will hopefully be about a half inch lower. Not totally happy with it. I'll have to make some tweaks. I'm a bit limited by tire size and up travel clearance issues.

Everything fit under the hood and the dash covers most of it from the interior.

I needed to cut the shaft on the back side to allow the motor to be sled all the way over.

If you use the Split skid, you'll have to modify the top shaft to accept a driveshaft, or buy a shortened top shaft from Super Shafty. That's the option I choice. Ordered it today.







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[Emarknot]

Wow, very nice !!!

[mmatthews]

Originally Posted by Emarknot

Wow, very nice !!!

Thanks. I'm trying to make this my best build. It kicked my ass today. 11:30 to 5:30 non stop. The links were a total pain in the ass. I'll just keep at it, bit by bit. It'll start to take shape. I'm having a hard time with ride height and tire size. I'm not a fan of the small tires. If they stay, ride height has to come down. I test fitted (fit, fitted. I don't know) a Proline shock after dinner. It may help. I was burnt out tonight, had to take a break.

[halonine]

Really nice progress on this. It's looking really good so far. Very clean build into this body for sure. Keep it up!

Maybe trim the body a tad to lower it down and avoid rubbing?

[mmatthews]

Originally Posted by halonine

Really nice progress on this. It's looking really good so far. Very clean build into this body for sure. Keep it up!

Maybe trim the body a tad to lower it down and avoid rubbing?

If you notice, under the doors is a large strep of the body tub. It's about 5/8" tall. There is no simple way to remove it and use the tub the way I want. If removed, I might as well ditch the tub.
I think once the Proline shocks are in and the full weight of the interior, battery, electronics and the roof rack, it should settle down and look decent. That's what I'm hoping for.


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[mmatthews]

Note to self;
I think I can move the chassis up while leaving tub in place (spacer between rails and tub). Think body lift, but body lower. This may help with clearance issues with gear reduction unit.
Picture is before. I'll post after picture if it works. If it doesn't work I'll pretend this post never happened.


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[mmatthews]

Today's goal, rear links. Hope they are easier than the fronts.


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[mmatthews]

Goal for the day was met. All the links are done. Volvo is sitting on it's own legs. Yesterday's front links were entirely wrong. I had to go back and fix that first thing. Still need to fix ride height. It's frustrating me at this point. I have the "body drop" idea I still need to try. The whole goal is to not hack the body/fenders, but at what cost. It looks like a monster truck on it's trailer wheels.

Next goals are ride height and fitting the servo.

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[Emarknot]

You'll get it. Takes time.


Yours sits higher than mine plus my front tires are about halfway in the wheel arches, I don't see rubbing being a problem with your build.

You'll get it, and you will love it.

[mmatthews]

Originally Posted by Emarknot

You'll get it. Takes time.


Yours sits higher than mine plus my front tires are about halfway in the wheel arches, I don't see rubbing being a problem with your build.

You'll get it, and you will love it.

Just "got it".


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