Ultimate Volvo Street Rod

Kind Sirs:

I have loved my Volvo for years, putting on all the IPD goodies and stereo gear it will stand - but now. . .

I pick up this weekend a 1975 Caddy Eldorado (FWD) with the 500 inch engine. My one-year project (I'm 40 this year) will be to build a subframe in the rear of my charcoal 1990 760TI wagon (227 K miles), and mount the entire Eldo engine and transaxle where the rear seats and deck used to be. Plenty of Caddy goodies exist, so the power is not the difficulty. Packaging and stealth ( it will all fit below an insulated deck at the height of the window bottoms) will be the fun parts.

Just for Volvo purity, and stabilty under 600+ lb-ft of torque, I'll fabricate a de Dion axle tube with a four link, coil-overs, and a panhard rod and sway bar, using the outer bits of my existing axle (brakes, drilled rotors, and anti-lock) - like a mid-80s dream car called a Vector W2 used. The new axle tube will be "bent" to the rear around the Eldo transaxle chain cover. I'll use telescoping non-CV half-shafts for drive axles.

I will get the car project well photographed and posted; my goal is to be finished by 4 July 2004.

Comments? What do I call it - Volvolac? Eldorolvo? Caddilo?

Reply to
mccanlessdesign
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Well, I think you're crazy, but that's no reason to stop this project. Rather than try to engineer a whole suspension, why not just use the complete front suspension and half shafts from the Cadillac, then worry about your fancy de Dion design if there's problems?

Reply to
Mike F

MVP used to sell a coilover kit, but they have stopped selling their performance stuff, so who knows. That will be one cool brick when/if you finish.

Griz

Reply to
Grizly Adams

I want to do the more technically interesting or "sexy" thing, not just use a C4 Corvette IRS or keep and cobble the Eldo parts - the track is too wide, as well. Plus, I like my Mille Miglia 16s and drilled Brembo rotors. I worked for a long time to get the right tire size, stance, and to visually fill the fenderwells. Right now I've got 235-55s on the rear, and 205-55s on the front - on the MM 16X7.5s, with no spacers, they don't rub, and look great.

Reply to
mccanlessdesign

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