This is a collection of pictures taken while building my Volvo 242 Rallycar. I bought the car in January 2000 while moving from Albuquerque to Seattle.

Sometime around mid-September, the lens on my camera cracked, so all the pictures after that are kinda blurry. And then, earlier this summer, I got a new digital camera. And tonite (8/21), I updated the site so now there's links to sections. Having everything on one page was just un-freakin-manageable! When I finish a phase of the project, it goes to the navbar on the left.

3/23/08-Progress update:

Several weeks ago, the new 50's were finished, and installed. I test drove it, and suddenly had a lot more negative camber.

So, John and I discussed this, and his solution was to add a gusset on top of the plug-in thing. I decided to do something a little different. My reasoning for this is two-fold.

1. After this failure, I'm not really on board with this particular solution.
2. This offset thing did not take geometry into account in the top mount.

So, to make the thing way stronger, allow for more ability to compensate for geometry issues, and possibly make for common parts with JVAB's Subaru struts, I came up with this:

I got the weld-on ears from John, and had the upright pieces flame-cut, and then sent them down to my dad in Carlsbad for some CNC milling. At this point, I'm waiting for these pieces to come back, and then I can rework the knuckles and strut tubes.

12/1/07-Progress has been made

Ok, last weekend, I totally reworked the exhaust, adding a real muffler, slip-fit couplings, exhaust hangers, and a bracket to attach to the bellhousing.

Also, the new 50mm struts are almost done.

5/7/07-Status update:

It's been almost 8 months since my last update. About a month ago, I broke the last remaining exhaust hanger, and then John sold those beautiful new 40mm struts to some guy in LA:

To make up for it, I'll be getting some of the first 50mm struts that are currently in production.

For the rear end, we have a Toyota 8" rear axle that'll be going on with a 5-link setup. The axle will also get a LSD from a Supra, 4.3 ring and pinion, and will be converted to full-floating type by using Volvo 850 front wheel bearings on the outboard ends of the axle.

And, I'm building a Megasquirt. Its a MS1, v2.2, w/ MSnS-E daughterboard, and built-in VB921 coil drivers. I'll be using the Ford 36-1 wheel on the front pulley, and the EDIS coilpack, but without any of the other EDIS crap.

Oh yeah, and I'll be redoing the exhaust so that it doesn't fall off ever again.

9/16/06-BREAKING NEWS-BWHAHAHA!!!! It's ALIVE!! (ahem...again)

So, there was some issues with the timing. I blame the timing light. There was also a dribbly injector. Replaced the 357's with 804's.

Also, revised the brake masters to .625F/.7R (from .7F/.75R). This cut down on pedal effort, and improved modulation without making the pedal feel too squishy, although I do need to stiffen up the firewall some more. Also revised the handbrake thingy.

Oh yeah, almost forgot.

Also installed some JVAB front struts, and boxed the a-arms. These things are SWEET!!

They feel awesome on the thoroughly potholed backroads of South Park.

7/31/06- I have discovered women. They're neat. I like them.

The downside is that I haven't been getting much done on the car. The front suspension is ready to bolt on to the car. I want to swap out the brake masters (going down in size for less pedal effort).

The shortblock is assembled, head is decked, headgasket is on order. I need to spend some quality time with some greasy engine parts.

Hmmm... greasy engine parts, or chicks in bikinis?

I mean seriously. What would you choose?

6/18/06- Ok, school's out. Back to work.

I assembled the struts, degreased and sandblasted the a-arms, and pressed in some new bushings last weekend. Today I boxed the a-arms.

As a side note, I repo'd a 84 760T from my brother. Discovered that there was sugar in the fuel filter. Spent 3 days disinfecting the fuel tank and pumps. This car might turn into a "Group A 760 prototype" sans racecar interior. Maybe.

3/19/06-Holy guacamole Batman! It's 6 months since my last update. OK, so over Xmas, I blew up the new engine. Drove it for 3 weeks while it was making funny noises, until #1 connecting rod let go.

That was 3 months ago.

Now the engine is tore down, postmortem has revealed that the rod bolts were not torqued. This is mostly due to a lack of communication between me and JVL. I took over assembly right in the middle of the project, and assumed that things were already properly torqued.

Anyways, the block goes to the machine shop tomorrow (Foster's in White Center), the crank is at Camgrinders Inc, CP is making a new piston, and the rods have already arrived.
Oooh look, the new one is bitchin-er!

Also, those struts are almost ready to go in.

I'm making wheel spacers so the tires will clear the new springs, and modding the hubs to take the huge new wheel studs. They're off of some GM dually pickup or something.

The new struts will be on the car before the motor goes back in!

9/23/05- COMING SOON: 40 mm struts, with custom spherical-bearing aluminum upper strut mounts.