Great looking little Volvo

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Doppleganger

Full Access Member
Joined
May 24, 2019
Posts
12,677
Reaction score
58,680
Location
OH-MI: Just like it sounds
First Name
Chris
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
5.7
@Doppleganger

Dang man. You are gonna force me to buy it even if its crap. Lol

I am gonna spend a lifetime to build something like those above.

Fight your instincts - fight it! I've owned 54 of these things.....worked on alot more. BTDT - dont want anymore around. Burned out with an exponent.

Buy one already done......thats my advice.
 

Arkansas_V8

Proud Redneck
Joined
Jul 1, 2019
Posts
3,022
Reaction score
3,963
Location
Springdale, Arkansas
First Name
Brent
Truck Year
88
Truck Model
V20 Suburban
Engine Size
5.7
Fight your instincts - fight it! I've owned 54 of these things.....worked on alot more. BTDT - dont want anymore around. Burned out with an exponent.

Buy one already done......thats my advice.

My wife started laughing. She completely agrees with you.

She told me I would ruin my back again if I bought one that needed alot of work. Too much bending over working on something so small. Lol
 

Doppleganger

Full Access Member
Joined
May 24, 2019
Posts
12,677
Reaction score
58,680
Location
OH-MI: Just like it sounds
First Name
Chris
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
5.7
My wife started laughing. She completely agrees with you.

She told me I would ruin my back again if I bought one that needed alot of work. Too much bending over working on something so small. Lol

Smart woman. :gr_grin:

I'm finishing my last one and my low back is killing me. Good parts are unobtanium anymore. Everything is China or Viet Nam, etc. Even the OE parts - Chinese. Used to last 20 yrs, now its 18-24 months. My main issue is no place to work anymore - used to have a shop but the guy who owned the property sold it out from under me - which is why I dont have the 122 or 1800's anymore....no place for them to go so I sold them all off.
 

Arkansas_V8

Proud Redneck
Joined
Jul 1, 2019
Posts
3,022
Reaction score
3,963
Location
Springdale, Arkansas
First Name
Brent
Truck Year
88
Truck Model
V20 Suburban
Engine Size
5.7
Smart woman. :gr_grin:

I'm finishing my last one and my low back is killing me. Good parts are unobtanium anymore. Everything is China or Viet Nam, etc. Even the OE parts - Chinese. Used to last 20 yrs, now its 18-24 months. My main issue is no place to work anymore - used to have a shop but the guy who owned the property sold it out from under me - which is why I dont have the 122 or 1800's anymore....no place for them to go so I sold them all off.

Heck, so if I can get it super low, then it may be good as a parts donor.

If it is too far gone in the usual places I will probably pass.

I am super appreciative of your knowledge and honesty. Thank you.
 

MikeB

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2014
Posts
1,771
Reaction score
998
Location
North Texas
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1969
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
355
I always thought those things looked cool. Back in the early 1980s, I had the later body style -- a 242 DL with 2.1 liter OHC engine with Bosch mechanical FI, 4 speed manual, and electric OD. Also a 245 DL wagon that my wife drove for over 125K miles. Both had 4 wheel disc brakes and handled quite well. That station wagon drove like a sports sedan compared to an American made wagon!

A company called iPD used to road race Volvos and sold all kinds of engine and suspension parts. Never did anything to ours except add KYB shocks and slightly lower profile tires. Those were very good cars.
 

MrMarty51

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2012
Posts
7,783
Reaction score
10,001
Location
Eastern Montana
First Name
Martin
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
400
If a Volvo of that vintage sounds like a rod is knocking, get a timing gear set and change out the cam gear. it was a bakelite gear with an aluminum or steel hub, the bakelite would wobble loose from the hub and make a funny knocking noise.
A family here at one time had the Volvo dealership, I worked for his son delivering and selling candy, tobacco, and Frito Lays chips all over eastern Montana. Put a lot of miles in a two door 122S, it had an automatic transmission.
Those short sedans will turn around real quick on a patch of ice, and without warning.
I would like to find another Volvo 122S. Great little cars that`d run forever.
I was always more attracted to the P1800 though.
https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars-for-sale/volvo-p1800-for-sale
 

Arkansas_V8

Proud Redneck
Joined
Jul 1, 2019
Posts
3,022
Reaction score
3,963
Location
Springdale, Arkansas
First Name
Brent
Truck Year
88
Truck Model
V20 Suburban
Engine Size
5.7
I was finally able to go check this out. The driver side of the floor is pretty much gone. Trunk as well. He wouldn't come off $2,000. I just could not justify it.

And the search for the right deal continues.
 

Doppleganger

Full Access Member
Joined
May 24, 2019
Posts
12,677
Reaction score
58,680
Location
OH-MI: Just like it sounds
First Name
Chris
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
5.7
The bakelite gears were in the earlier B16, B18, B20 models. The B30 (rare straight 6 mostly used in the 164's) had the same gear but all metal.....nobody cares about the motor but they will kill for the gears out of one. lol

I've been saying for years their only future is in a drivetrain swap. They're so under powered and in-efficient, plus the electronics are now between a quarter and half century old. Its bad enough any peripheral mechanics (and now electronics) are sweat shop supplied. Like I said before, an Ecotec or Ecoboost would be great (alot of guys have even done Nissan/Toyota motors). They fit without destroying what little integrity the old shells had to begin with, they put out GOOD HP numbers, great mpg's and have torque ratings that a 50 yr old chassis designed for a sewing machine engine wont twist in half from.

Remember I said to really check for rust? Mine was a Florida car that went to New Mexico when it was 4 yrs old. Was in an estate dispute and garaged for 22 yrs. The guy who bought it from me couldn't believe how solid it was. This is how it looked stripped out:

You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach


No carpeting from the factory....rubber mats. Brilliant.
 
Last edited:

Doppleganger

Full Access Member
Joined
May 24, 2019
Posts
12,677
Reaction score
58,680
Location
OH-MI: Just like it sounds
First Name
Chris
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
5.7
Here's a few that they jammed something more fun in, The silver wagon has a twin turbo'd straight 6 in it from an S80. There are YouTube vids of him racing an F40.....and is bumper to bumper or winning. lol

You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach


OR....you could stay in the square body mindset and do this to one -
You must be registered for see images attach

FWIW.....a short bed std cab S10 frame fits these almost perfect. Could solve alot of drive train swap issues. lol
 

Arkansas_V8

Proud Redneck
Joined
Jul 1, 2019
Posts
3,022
Reaction score
3,963
Location
Springdale, Arkansas
First Name
Brent
Truck Year
88
Truck Model
V20 Suburban
Engine Size
5.7
Here's a few that they jammed something more fun in, The silver wagon has a twin turbo'd straight 6 in it from an S80. There are YouTube vids of him racing an F40.....and is bumper to bumper or winning. lol

You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach


OR....you could stay in the square body mindset and do this to one -
You must be registered for see images attach

FWIW.....a short bed std cab S10 frame fits these almost perfect. Could solve alot of drive train swap issues. lol

Loving that silver/grey wagon.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
44,079
Posts
948,931
Members
36,150
Latest member
rlfdavin
Top