Introducing Viktoria, 1974 Volvo 164E

OldnDecrepit · 2017-08-17T09:37:00+00:00

Looks really good! Yes, assembled by Nissan in Clayton

OldnDecrepit

Viktoria drive well up to the SSVC Christmas Party and back (1.5hrs each way).

Unfortunately I found the carpet wet on the passenger side of my 164. It seems that the AC drain was blocked and all the water was flowing back into the cabin.

Simple fix but now the carpets and underlay have to be dried out. She's now sunning herself in the front yard with all the door open.

OldnDecrepit

She's back together again. I had to lift the rear carpet too and remove the underlay to dry it out. I treated and painted one of the underfloor panels that looked a bit rusty and I put another metal panel that had been in the boot for ages because I didn't know where it went.

She's ready for the Cars & Coffee, Gold Coast tomorrow.

jamesinc

"Better than original" is what I go for too, I think it's one of the loftiest goals to aim for.

OldnDecrepit

Cars & Coffee Gold Coast - 18/12/2021.

Clive740

Nice car. I’ve always liked the 164’s.

I notice the white walls didn’t stay on the car for long. I didn’t mind the look, although I prefer the narrow white line type.

Now that you’ve had the modified AC for a while, has it proved to be more reliable?

OldnDecrepit

Clive740
Nice car. I’ve always liked the 164’s.
I notice the white walls didn’t stay on the car for long. I didn’t mind the look, although I prefer the narrow white line type.
Now that you’ve had the modified AC for a while, has it proved to be more reliable?

The AC is working way better than the original system. Not surprising since the condensor, the compressor and the hoses have all been replaced. Additional 14inch electric fan triggered by the compressor helps too.

I was having balance problems with the refurbished wheels and the white walls were removed to eliminate them as a problem. It turned out that one of the original wheels is slightly warped. That wheel is now the spare. At this stage I'm leaving the white walls off.

I am considering painting the wheels yellow to match the body colour as I have seen this done on other cars and I like the look.

OldnDecrepit

Viktoria was at the mechanics last week to have the lower control arm bushes replaced as they were making a terrible noise with every bump in the road. Turns out she needed lower ball joints too so a quick trip to my supplier at Tweed Heads was made.

I have her back at home now but on Monday she is booked in for a wheel alignment.

OldnDecrepit

Once again Viktoria is at the Surefix Mechanical - this time for a brake overhaul.

We were out with the GC Antique Auto club when the front brake decided to lock on. It seems that the brake hoses have a habit of perishing and clogging up which results in the brakes not releasing. By the time I stopped in a carpark the wheel was smoking and there were little tongues of flames on the front right caliper.

I dropped a box of parts to the garage this morning consisting of all new brake lines, caliper refurbishing kits, pads, front wheel bearings and a new master brake cylinder. She should be back in a few days once the new front rotors arrive.

Yes that front wheel did get a bit hot.

Major Ledfoot

New front rotors aren't going to be cheap. :( They're also getting hard to find.

This is a good reason to always replace old OE brake hoses with new steel braided ones from @AshDVS. Years ago, the same thing happened to me in the first 144 after a weekend at Winton.

OldnDecrepit

Sourced my parts from George at Tweed Heads. He had everything in stock but the rotors. He sold his last pair to Vince Harmer in Melbourne for his racing 164.

The price of discs are cheap but he looks after me.

ab1

Good to hear. Did you get just the seals or new pistons as well?

I will need to refurb my brakes for the summer

OldnDecrepit

Full kit, seals and pistons.

OldnDecrepit

Brake work is proceeding on my 164E. The first photo is of a front caliper after cleaning, sandblasting and new seals and pistons installed.

These are the channel seals that I had to search for as they didn't come in the kits.

This is the outside of old front rotor with the seized caliper.

This is the inside shot of the same caliper. HOT HOT HOT!

New front rotor fitted.

I haven't seen the front bearing yet.

OldnDecrepit

Viktoria is finally back home with a full brake refurbishment and me a lot poorer. Brakes seem a lot better but still need to bed in the new pads. No pulling to the left or right anymore.

She's a bit dirty from her time in the workshop so I'll have to give her a wash.

OldnDecrepit

Looking her best again after a wash and wax.

OldnDecrepit

Upgrades under way.

OldnDecrepit

Sigh, once again Viktoria my 1974 Volvo 164E has failed to proceed.

At the Antique Auto Club's HQ ready for another drive and the car won't start. No spark to the ignition leads. It's another failed electronic ignition. So much for the 123 Ignitions being the bees knees. Only 3 years old.

Car was towed home and now I'm looking at re-installing the old distributor with points.

OldnDecrepit

Pulled the 123 Ignition distributor from the car - it seems there is a slight wiring issue.

carnut222

Yikes!

Major Ledfoot

What Greg said.

Any reason you can see why the wiring failed like that?

« Previous Page Next Page »