Inga - my 1990 Volvo 740 GLE

OldnDecrepit

I have owned Inga for two years now so I thought I should detail some of the work I have had done in that time.

Replaced

Front sway bar (23mm from a 960)
Rear sway bar (19mm from a 940)
All suspension bushes (mostly with SuperPro ones)
See here: ozvolvo.org/discussion/756/suspension-upgrade-for-inga-my-740gle#latest
Cam belts (full kit with idlers, tensioner, etc)
Front Springs & shocks with bump stops and dust covers (King springs & Monroe GT shocks)
Exhaust system (from the cat converter back)
Brake master cylinder
Rear tail light assemblies
Rear engine oil seal
Universal joints
Battery
Overdrive solenoid
Seat belt buttons
Oil cap washer
H4 headlight bulbs
H3 Fog light bulbs
H1 driving light bulbs
Front tyres
Differential oil
Transmission oil
O2 sensor
Lockable fuel cap
Brake pedal rubber
Fuel guage sender (twice)
Reservoir cap
Washer nozzles

Installed

Tinting
Lambswool seat covers
Dynamat insulation - did this when looking for the source of water leaks into the car.
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Dash mat
Floor mats (still need a better set)
A left foot rest - had a local fabricator make one for me
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Repaired
Roof liner
Drivers seat (Repacked cushions)
Blocked flame trap
Brake light wiring
Front disk brakes
LH Rear wheel bearing
Central locking
RH Rear power window

Also had the car interior detailed when I first bought it and, after the oil leaks were fixed, had the underneath pressure cleaned.

A recent Compression test was 170,175,180,175psi.

She's been on the Dyno, see here:ozvolvo.org/discussion/1453/inga-on-the-dyno#latest

Clive740

OldnDecrepit I have owned Inga for two years now so I thought I should detail some of the work I have had done in that time. [img][/img] [img][/img]Replaced Front sway bar (23mm from a 960) Rear sway bar (19mm from a 940) All suspension bushes (mostly with SuperPro ones) See here: ozvolvo.org/discussion/756/suspension-upgrade-for-inga-my-740gle#latest Cam belts (full kit with idlers, tensioner, etc) Front Springs & shocks with bump stops and dust covers (King springs & Monroe GT shocks) Exhaust system (from the cat converter back) Brake master cylinder Rear tail light assemblies Rear engine oil seal Universal joints Battery Overdrive solenoid Seat belt buttons Oil cap washer H4 headlight bulbs H3 Fog light bulbs H1 driving light bulbs Front tyres Differential oil Transmission oil O2 sensor Lockable fuel cap Brake pedal rubber Fuel guage sender (twice) Reservoir cap Washer nozzlesInstalled Tinting Lambswool seat covers Dynamat insulation - did this when looking for the source of water leaks into the car. [img][/img] Dash mat Floor mats (still need a better set) A left foot rest - had a local fabricator make one for me [img][/img]Repaired Roof liner Drivers seat (Repacked cushions) Blocked flame trap Brake light wiring Front disk brakes LH Rear wheel bearing Central locking RH Rear power window Also had the car interior detailed when I first bought it and, after the oil leaks were fixed, had the underneath pressure cleaned. A recent Compression test was 170,175,180,175psi. She's been on the Dyno, see here:ozvolvo.org/discussion/1453/inga-on-the-dyno#latest

I thought I would dig this thread out of the vault, as it it quite relevant to the suspension work I have planned for the near future.

@OldnDecrepit I noticed that you listed King Springs and Monroe shocks in your list of work, but the photos in the link to suspension upgrades seem to show a Pedders set up. Did you change your mind?

Now that a few years have past, how do you find Inga has settled into the new set up?

And is there anything that you think wasn’t worth doing?

Brad

Does the Dynamat make much difference to the interior noise levels?

kenzieabc

Brad

Ex850R hey Les sorry I missed your reply here. I've sent you a message as well

OldnDecrepit

Yes a bit but the car is pretty quiet anyway. It's just that I had to remove all the interior floor material to dry it out after getting several inches of water in the car after heavy rain.

Some exhaust has been added to the mix as the new system breathes better but has added a bit of note.

Brad

Interesting. My mum's 740GL filled up with water a couple of times. It was leaking in around the windscreen.

OldnDecrepit

The main leak in Inga was the clogged rear drains that go through the boot. Water backed up in very heavy rain and spilled into the cabin via the rear vents. It was made worse by the fact that the car was parked on an angle nose down.

OldnDecrepit

The rear springs and shocks were fine at the time as the previous owner had replaced them.
I upgraded the fronts with Kings and Monroes.

There are Kings all round in my 164. Kings are made locally here on the Gold Coast.

Clive740

Did you find the sway bar upgrades made much of a difference to the character of the car?

I kind of like the lazy supple ride that the old girl has!

But the original shocks are shot, so I’m currently thinking shocks and bushes for sure, springs are still a maybe. I was thinking of just replacing the bushes on the sway bars. But many people seem to be upgrading to stiffer sway bars for a firmer handling ride.

If I want to retain my supple feel, maybe I’m better to keep the stock sway bars.

OldnDecrepit

Yes, the 900s sway bars make a big difference but have not made it harsh.

I have found it has improved the handling greatly but still acceptable for around town. I'd be wary of going too big on the bars. getting the 9 series bars is also easier and a lot cheaper.

DW42

This thread underscores to me just how much work is usually needed to take a nicely maintained by previous owners 30 year old Volvo up to being an excellent daily driver. My 240 wagon, which was already nice when I bought it, has had many of the same jobs done. And 5 1/2 years on there are still one or two annoyances still left to fix. This seems to be true regardless of the price bracket of older car: my brother, who is in a different socioeconomic bracket to me, recently bought a 1981 Aston Martin V8. Despite a more than ample service history and being licked clean daily by servants, it will take many weeks of work to sort out all of the minor problems.