Jump to content

Volvo 850: A Block of Butter.


Conan

Recommended Posts

  • 2 weeks later...

Bloody hell, that took longer than expected.

 

S__64897044.thumb.jpg.72be33ba30b411272163ed77b58c4b61.jpg

S__64897046.thumb.jpg.f32dbd2d2e5b0ae8054d5e3a535e4a8d.jpg

IMG_20210310_155044.thumb.jpg.f50a3de8194dc84f626be46afed8ed4d.jpg

 

So, what exactly are we looking at? The car actually comes equipped with TD04HL-16T Turbo already. Punting that will net some pretty good cash back in the kitty. Nothing wrong with it exactly but an upgrade is an upgrade.

 

S__64888874.thumb.jpg.f2100358d9e0a7e1bf8d6a0058ca4b12.jpg

13351156414025.thumb.jpg.034335b8407f2c150d126277d390b625.jpg

 

What goes back on is the TD04HL-13T from later smol pressure model S70/S60. But it has been upgraded with billet compressor wheel and uprated wastegate spring. Along with higher flowing exhaust port and rebuilt kit. The S60R exhaust manifold was put on instead of the crack prone standard log manifold as well.

 

It was supposed to be done last week. But it wasn't put together correctly and the car smoke like chimney. It was dismantled again and only put back together today.

 

The result is that it now goes braaaap stututu. And the response is marginally better. Until I get a remap this won't net that much of a gain.

 

Next step is the exhaust and intake. The intake side this will get cone filter because I'm a chav at heart and I want more turbo stututu noises. Also this will get new intercooler piping as the reversed intercooler piping system on it is pointless in hot climate.

 

The plan with the exhaust is that this will get a nice custom motec system exhaust.  In all seriousness, I'm researching the solution of modern technology, valved exhaust. I really like the 5-cylinder noises but I don't want to be "that obnoxious guy" with a bright yellow Volvo. Thus, valved exhaust will be what this gets.

 

Stay tuned. This is why I like a car that is not exactly standard to begin with.

 

P.S in it's absent the front nearside shock absorber also blew. But I have plans, man.

 

Headphone warning. Kinda wish it can sound like this all the time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Loving this, watching with interest. 

Do you know about the original  intercooler piping that goes straight over the head, instead of round the side?
The over-the-head routing should be fine in your part of the world, it was rerouted  so the block heated the intercooler pipes so they didn't freeze in Scandinavian winters, but this lost some efficiency... 


 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Ghosty said:

Loving this, watching with interest. 

Do you know about the original  intercooler piping that goes straight over the head, instead of round the side?
The over-the-head routing should be fine in your part of the world, it was rerouted  so the block heated the intercooler pipes so they didn't freeze in Scandinavian winters, but this lost some efficiency... 


 

 

Yep, I do know about this. It's originally supposed to be done with the exhaust but we didn't have enough time. It's definitely coming in the very near future.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Today I went and got fitted some H.Drive suspension kit.  £900!!!! I've bought car for less than that god fucking dammit. And not only that, the rear shock mount's also needed along with new anti-roll bar end links. Another 100 quid on top of the coilovers. But then again it's not likely I'm going anywhere this year anyway so I guess might as well invest in barrying my car.

 

BTW, below will be the only picture for now, haven't got the chance to take any. Might post one from the shop later. It's only very slightly lower than before anyway you can't even tell. So what's exactly is the point of this? I am also asking myself. But the front shock was blown so it's a good time for an upgrade I guess.

 

Handling is a lot sharper, obviously. Also, driving on bad pavements and road joints I felt the comfort level is not that much different to mismatched set that was on it before. But then I hit a speed bump and my spine broke clean in half. I guess I have to slow down for them from now on.

 

182579150_4227868167245322_5654685238593988710_n.thumb.jpg.3d3f594c0ffc320e5320711babf11f8f.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

More Volvo fiddling happened.

 

IMG_20210610_114817.thumb.jpg.14dd11175976e1a1eb185f4fd550c635.jpg

 

Lowered the suspension by 10mm. Tinted the windows to reduce inside temperature. Can't even tell, to be honest.

 

IMG_20210622_201359.thumb.jpg.718248849d3e9190be52bdb1d84169bc.jpg

 

LED reverse light. Because sometimes I do reversing into the shadow realms.

 

IMG_20210624_144003.thumb.jpg.5080dafe3f04d9c04aaa82ff86f3651b.jpg

 

Corporate also needs you to find the differences between the top trim piece and the bottom trim piece.

 

Hint: They're the same trim piece.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Soooo... Sunday morning, I went out for a drive. Just for fun. Scenic route stuff.

 

In the afternoon some oil I've ordered arrived. Real güd stüff. Voltronic GT 5w-40. Really expensive with Group 4 and shit. Everything go well, put oil in, yadda yadda. Went to start it after first fill. Car went NOPE, I shall not start.

 

Hmm.

 

Try listening to fuel pump, quiet as a church.

 

Check fuse, good. Check relay, working. Get multimeter out, check connection, everything seems to be working fine. Even try hotwiring the fuel pump.

 

Nope.

 

Fuel pump is broken.

 

Bastard.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Update.

 

I went and bought a new relay anyway, thought maybe I should definitely rule it out better than sending 12v through it to see if it makes a contact and calling it okay.

 

Nope. Wouldn't budge.

 

So I called a mobile mechanic anticipating a faulty fuel pump. So he start diagnosing stuff and found that the power gets to the fuel pump no problem, and the car even starts when hot wiring the pump. So my mechanic did a test by wiring in a makeshift Nissan relay. It wouldn't fit of course but this is just a test. The car runs as it should and fuel supply stop as it should too. Guess where this is going?

 

The original fuel pump relay is broken, of course. It dates from 1994. It would make a contact but when it gets hot it just jump back to open circuit. What I didn't expect was that the NEW fuel pump relay I've bought is also faulty and does the same exact fucking thing. I went back to the factor selling it and got a replacement, put it back in, car runs great again.

 

I did not hot wiring the pump properly as well. That's why it didn't start before. But I am no expert in electronics.

 

Job jobbed. I feel half stupid, but not totally unexpected.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

FB_IMG_1636308637928.thumb.jpg.062885709cd9d836f8f545b07dd2f510.jpg

 

I still have this bastard thing. Covid restrictions lifted enough for me to have a chance to use it's show plate that @hairnet sort out for me. It did get quite a few looks.

 

I haven't done much to it though. I did replace PCV components (should've done this way sooner) and the lambda light that haunted me since I bought this stupid yellow thing is gone. Success!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

Wow it's been since November since the last update? Well nothing much happened.

I did change the grille badge with a new one.

254695622_4802562733109193_1358929884467244691_n.thumb.jpg.eab3ac9c2342eacb1852aaa89f2a10fd.jpg

255296516_4802562756442524_4185221411134766103_n.thumb.jpg.c35951944b701f90952ebd6564fad3e6.jpg

This came from Lithuania. I have bought quite a lot of parts from Lithuanian vendors as they seems to always have everything I need.

261103905_4874815919217207_7289001300924727116_n.thumb.jpg.9fc93368600f3380503e21c8a5171419.jpg

I also put on new set of tyres. Bridgestone Potenza Sport in 205/45R17. I cannot recommend this more. Great tyres.

274708281_5178609508837845_7500449227606023892_n.thumb.jpg.3643a23562adf0f17454f6dfcbe8742b.jpg

Did the torque mount as well as it's knackered. Purple polyurethane for extra street cred.

Oh and I did my first track day in this stupid yellow thing as well.

274367638_3374831062641204_691603519673794068_n.thumb.jpg.db1e3cf13dda5ccc1429e2a5454562a6.jpg

So, just one day before I was due to take this stupid yellow thing 250 miles north eastern to Buriram Circuit, I found that I had only 4.5-5psi of boost left. It's supposed to boost up to 9psi. It was then found that ALL of the turbo hoses are old and soft and splitting in few places. In a frantic move before I depart I visit parts shop to buy the whole lot and have them replaced in Buriram. I did all that and the result was that I still had 5psi left.

Well I guess that's the Boost Control Solenoid kaput then.

It still drives fine though. I still have some boost. Good enough.

ASP_7844.thumb.jpg.a1b4e54ca667b77f89de191ee950b2af.jpg

I wasn't even supposed to do this track event. My friend who bought a slot couldn't go so sold it on to me, and yet in the end he could go anyway so he bought another slot from another friend who got covid right before the scheduled date. So from the start the intention was indeed getting some cool photos for extra street cred, all important these day.

ASP_7647.thumb.jpg.463a877f16777ecd888b44ff8723e012.jpg

Halfway through the day the exhaust decided to develop a massive leak. Basically straight pipe. So the spirit of Rickard Rydell was in full effect too.

ASP_0370.thumb.jpg.b759c7bac4da187a6ded75311c63f7bf.jpg

Apart from having half the boost the car did admirably, not another issue apart from the exhaust which makes it even more exciting. No overheating, the tracking is still straight.

IMG_20220226_114142.thumb.jpg.1ff3bc57122c2f27e1e87748c692ca4a.jpg

Another slight issue is that even though Potenza Sport tyres got incredible grip. As per every review out there, wear rates on track is massive, especially on a very hot day like last Saturday. The picture above is only after 6 laps. So I before I did more sessions I went to nearby place to swap them front to back. At least this way the wear would be consistent and I can keep using them on the road for another while. Safe to say if I ever do another track day in this car I would get a different set of wheels shod in more affordable and more durable RE004 or just go with Semi-Slicks. IF I don't decide to buy a dedicated track car which I seriously am considering.

Anyhow, I did 2:28. A racing driver friend took it out and did 2:17. A racing driver, I am not. It is a lot of fun though and I definitely will do more.

After I'm done at Buriram I drove 125 miles further north to Khon Kaen, stay a night there, then drove 300 miles home. Not a single issue. The car's a mile muncher.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 24/06/2021 at 09:55, Conan said:

More Volvo fiddling happened.

 

IMG_20210610_114817.thumb.jpg.14dd11175976e1a1eb185f4fd550c635.jpg

I like this shot as if I did not know otherwise id of happily said oh thats a shot somewhere in the UK...

but I know it was taken in Thailand! so it messes with my head how much it looks like the UK LOL

well I presume it was, unless you have done massive road trip that you have yet to post about? :)  (I dont know my Geography that well but could you drive from Thailand to the UK or vice versa if you wanted too?)

 

and im glad to see the butter block is still going strong! also many LOLs at the UK plates :) 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

I like this shot as if I did not know otherwise id of happily said oh thats a shot somewhere in the UK...

but I know it was taken in Thailand! so it messes with my head how much it looks like the UK LOL

well I presume it was, unless you have done massive road trip that you have yet to post about? :)  (I dont know my Geography that well but could you drive from Thailand to the UK or vice versa if you wanted too?)

 

and im glad to see the butter block is still going strong! also many LOLs at the UK plates :) 

Well I guess if I can get to the channel crossing...

In all seriousness, somebody did drive from here to Germany so the answer is indeed a yes.

2 minutes ago, juular said:

images.jpg.e984e2d972580352c6054846b8eee29a.jpg

You know you want to.

I don't have enough money for engine rebuild just yet, but a new electronic boost solenoid is only 25 quid. 😅

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...

An update.

IMG_20220311_134028.thumb.jpg.7f187cb6cd3073cd1a676fef51582cca.jpg

The engine bay now look like this. It now got reverse intercooler piping custom made for it. Turns out doing so is cheaper than ordering a pre made kit from overseas. The barry in me also decided to put cone air filter on it. It doesn't make it go faster. It is there to make noise. Plenty of noise.

285364657_5449802558385204_6187271166586493684_n.thumb.jpg.e88e236d5950af7e4bfbb24520c351b9.jpg

Then the air-conditioning stopped working a few months back. That took weeks to sort out. The evaporator which is situated behind the dashboard was leaking thus the picture above. When it's back together there's even less dashboard creaking than before so pretty well done job I'd say.

285476384_5451409444891182_7289183552329097699_n.thumb.jpg.2564e027f74a0e1b44ea775f0496d561.jpg

Then I decided it was time to finally fix the boost controller. I got new Pierburg turbo control valve from the S60 because the original type boost control solenoid is no longer available. It is completely plug and play and now the car finally make boost again.

Way too much boost. Peaking at about 17psi at one point. Usually it's peaking around 14. It's suppose to run at 8 if it's stock.

I spent a week fiddle with the wastegate actuator adjustment and it makes absolutely no different to the way the boost peaked. I even brought out a contraption with small syringe and digital low pressure gauge. Set it up so perfect and correct to the guide in a way that I'm pretty sure not even independent garage would bother. No different. I even swap in a spare wastegate actuator I have and it's still boosting more than expected. It's boosting way too stable to be a fault. And the exhaust hole on the bumper is very sooty for a pez (not overly so though) so it's clearly not running lean. Maybe this car actually has a chip. Those do run at 17psi without issues.

290089559_5547569141941621_250174891395634709_n.thumb.jpg.f3aacf1781a07d20a4efcfc8d44fca35.jpg

Anyway, I also replaced the ruined Bridgestone Potenza Sport with Michelin Pilot Sport 5. Not as good of a tyre I must say. It's softer sidewall so the steering feel is more numb. The grip itself is also not as good although on public road it's already a plenty. The Potenza Sport is so ridiculously grippy that I rarely ever gets to use to it's full potential. And I haven't had a chance to track it again and likely not to considering how much wear it got. I still got to try wearing the Pilot Sport 5 down though I only got a few hundred miles on them.

Why did I changed to Pilot Sport 5 especially so soon? Well... it was free ninety nine. Long story as to how that happen.

The Potenza Sport is now repurposed into my modern Mazda 2. It's still good enough for regular use on the road.

Finally, yesterday I also decided to fix the exhaust. It was bodged when the bypass valve got stuck open the last track day. A week back the bodged bypass valve was leaking again leading to a Rickard Rydell moment on the street. It sounded cool as hell but it was so noisy my ear felt like it started to bleed after half an hour. It was even louder outside. So it was finally welded shut and no chance of it stuck open ever again. It's so quiet all I'm hearing now is turbo noises from the cone filter.

I still love this car a lot. In case it's still not clear it's purely for my inner yob.

Corona update soon. It's still in the shop.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

The fuel gauge and temp gauge stopped working a while back. They were intermittently working before but they finally died completely. Since they both went out at the same time it's not likely going to be the sender or the sensor but the cluster itself is kaput. So I just bought a used cluster off the internet and swap them over. Well it is only £30 so if it's not that nothing is lost, right?

PXL_20220912_082106285.thumb.jpg.bf589e609a59639cf5c989314f3ccfad.jpg

I don't know which engineer in Gothenburg designed this car so that the entire dash pad had to come out to remove the cluster but I wish them well.

PXL_20220912_102438962.thumb.jpg.432333dbaddea5c004a1e0299cf2890b.jpg

The diagnosis was correct though. The circuit board failed on the original cluster. Everything is now working correctly and the Tripmeter gear isn't broken like the other cluster as well, so that's a nice bonus. It's a bit of a shame the old cluster is nicer cosmetically, but if it cannot function properly then it's useless being clean and nice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 9 months later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...