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So I fire up my 244 this morning for a foggy drive to work. It's chilly and wet, a bit of condensation on the windows and just a raw feel to the air, even though it's probably only about 40°F.
As usual, I'm a couple of minutes later than I should be, and I drive, shall we say, enthusiastically, along our local 4-lane and short Interstate run that gets me to work.
Yes, this is the car with the wing, as well as a few other upgrades I've detailed at various times: 242GT upper strut bars, turbo sways w/ urethane bushings, Virgo wheels with 195/60-15s (presently wearing Gislaveds), Bilstein Touring struts and shocks, homebrew cut springs (1.5 coils), and a couple other niceties like a tach, small clock, GT steering wheel, CD changer, power antenna and front armrest. It's a factory 5-speed car and I've tweaked the timing a little advanced; otherwise, it goes like a stock 240.
I've always thought it could use a cam or something to wake it up a little. Today, I was completely convinced of that.
I almost didn't notice him next to me, as I was concentrating on traffic and merging onto the 4-lane highway. The car was still fogged up a bit but I look out through the clear spot on the driver's window, and there's a bright red fender and a Virgo wheel edging up to me at the first red light. That got my attention!
Turns out it's an 83-84 242TI! Lovely car, looked brand new, shiny paint and nothing bent or missing.
The light turns, and we were both the first cars in line. I accelerate... briskly.... shifts at 4500 in 3 gears... and the red fender is next to me, then way ahead of me.... I don't think he even tried.
This road is a little strange, it's as big as most of I-95 through the area, though it does have a few driveways coming right out on it. It's posted 40, and virtually every car on it is going 55-60. There are always a few going 65-70 during every morning and evening commute. This car had no trouble walking away from me when I backed off at about 65 and dropped into line at 55 or so.
So umm anyone got a VX cam and gear they wanna sell? Think I need a little upgrade!
Grrr while writing this, got a call from my wife- the 245T broke down on I-95 about 20 miles from home and is now being towed home. Thank you AAA. I guess it's gonna be one of those days....
--
Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: '87 244DL/M47- 234K, '82 245T/M46-182K, '89 244DL/AW70- 212K Not too distant past: 86 244DL 215K, 87 244DL 239K, 88 744GLE 233K, 88 244GL 147K, 91 244 183K
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I would think a REAL Volvo wouldn't be going 65 in a 40 zone.
Maybe I'm just a strange kid, but I don't understand why so many people are so ultra competitive on the road. I honestly couldn't care less about going super fast as long as I get there. Most of my friends though waste a lot of money on stuff to make their cars quicker though for whatever reason.
Quite honestly, it pisses me off to no end seeing so many people driving like morons, whether it be speeding or lane hopping.
Maybe the police are more relaxed in your area, but I know if I was going that fast in a 40, I'd be pulled over and given a ticket for near $300, and I'd deserve it too.
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If you listen to the radio in Portland, OR, you may know me as "Portland's Favorite Soul Brother!"
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Don't worry about the rant, actually it is just good common sense. Sometimes we all need to be reminded that we are driving 3000+ lbs. of steel out there....
"Maybe the police are more relaxed in your area, but I know if I was going that fast in a 40, I'd be pulled over and given a ticket for near $300, and I'd deserve it too."
I use to live in Portland, the police in Oregon are definitely tougher on speeders than here in the N.E. After getting a couple of tickets there I learned my lesson!! In general, people in the N.W. are less aggressive on the roads and drive slower than in the N.E. Which I think is a good thing!
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Jim 90 244DL 245K
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Sorry for the rant... I just had to take one of those "High Risk Drivers" courses (a result of that ticket I got back in March that I mentioned here on the site.)
Man, I've never been a speed demon, but those classes make you never want to drive again.
It actually frightens me that half the people in that class still had their licenses.
Again, I didn't mean to go off at you Rob... I was going off more at everything in general...
--
If you listen to the radio in Portland, OR, you may know me as "Portland's Favorite Soul Brother!"
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You raise a good point though. I've chosen to take classes a couple of times to save the points on my license. The cop who ran the class opened my eyes as to who we may be sharing the road with; people on drugs or alcohol, you never know.
As a separate thing, I've also done the Sherrif's Office Citizens Police Institute where you get a fascinating insight into what these guys do for our society. As part of it we got to practice driving a cruiser round the training course, both chasing and being chased. That really accelerated my car control skills (pun intended).
Anyway, I guess the point is that it made me really slow down and actually observe speed limits. After all, posted speed limits are law. So I'm with you, if someone wants to race they should take it to the track.
Edit: Oh yeah, and nine times out of ten you catch up with everyone that busted their gut trying to get past you at the next red light.
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Remember that your engine was possibly not fully warmed up to that moment.
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If you get the new turbo cam from ipd, it will take like 3 seconds off your acceleration and 1/4 mile time. The thing is a hoss, and it works. A friend of mine has one in his 242 and it runs awesome.
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posted by
someone claiming to be Bond. James Bond.
on
Mon Oct 25 17:52 CST 2004 [ RELATED]
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Rob,
Check out this auction on eBay:
Enem V15 cam
I absolutely love this cam in my '92 auto and I guarantee with the M46 it's even better. I've got it timed 6 degrees advanced and aside from a slightly rougher idle it really pulls above 3000 rpms all the way to the redline (Alas, I can't fully take advantage of the cam but it has made a drastic improvement especially for highway driving) even with the auto tranny. Do a search on T-bricks...nothing but praise and more aggressive than the VX or VX3 yet emissions legal. Damn good price for the cam too...I paid over $300 with shipping and import taxes.
Best,
Adam
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'92 244GL silver-metallic, 150k, Enem V15 cam, Bilstein HDs, IPD sways, upper+lower braces, Cherry-Turbo strut brace, 240 OEM rear spoiler, 15' Dracos, E-codes w/side repeaters, Cowl covers paint-matched, Magnaflow 2.5' mandrel SS exhaust w/Unitek header
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Rob,
Perhaps you should take the Turbo Wagon to work and maybe meet up again for a rematch. You know he wasn't going to let you beat him with that spoiler.
My 84 244 B21A 'GT' goes in for paint this week. Turbo/GT bars with poly bushings, strut to firewall braces, GT front springs, Virgos, and of course a GT wheel.
A K cam is to follow. Spoiler? 89-90 Bonneville SSE shortened by 4"(Cutout brake light). This car will never be fast so it may as well be fun.
Thanks for your response regarding the head gasket on my 242 Turbo project.
Erich Zappe
Ottawa Canada
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For a while i really wanted to have a sweet fast volvo. Then i remembered i didnt have a turbo. So my second goal came in mind. What do you think of when you hear the name volvo...well i think of "Hey, they last forever". So instead of trying to have a super fast volvo, i am just going to go for a super long lasting volvo. It is sooo much cheaper(Parts and tickets)! A volvo isnt a volvo until it has at least 200k miles on it(I am not quite there yet myself, but i am working on it, only 20k more!), any car can get up to 200k with some maintainence...not many other than volvo can exceed that 200k+.
--
Blue '89 Volvo 244 DL 5-speed w/ 176k
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