Builds The Volvo C304 restoration. (2 Viewers)

[cicak]

29 January 2017

14/15 January was a charity trip into the jungle to deliver food to the Orang Asli after the monsoon rains

Then the factory was unavailable the next weekend.

So 29 January was second day of Chinese New year so I'm back on the Volvo. I have the mighty RED Landcruiser after fixing the aircond and a few other items to make life comfortable for the wife on our Journey to IPOH for Chinese New Year.

It's decided after measuring the pedal travel and position etc that the pedal axle needs to be 30mm lower to give 40mm of travel and match up to the lower position of the fulcrum needed.

We are working on the pedals when we hear a mewing noise a close investigation reveals 4 kittens in the guillotine and one angry mamma cat.

She runs leaving me to sort out a box and warmth for the kittens - they are cold and wet and Mr Brown is locked away he will kill the kittens.

We finish the brake pedal off and its mounted in the bracket. It all fits in the proper place. I make a bracket for the clutch arm. It does not fit well however there is a 20mm height difference. We need to remake the clutch cylinder bracket.

The clutch needs a spacer bush made its a bit loose.

That obstacle means I can work on the accelerator pedal.

30 January 2017

Work on the pedal continues and it's mounted in place it looks like it will work . I mount the steering column to make sure niothing is in the way.

Home time - wifey decides its CNY we have dinner with Mum before leaving. 9.30pm we leave Ipoh for the 200k drive home. Yup you guessed it CNY traffix was so bad atfer 2 hours I had travelled 9k on the highway. 6.5 hours later at 4am in the morning I arrive home exhausted. I keep the wife awake the whole way as punishment for making us leave late lol.

 

[cicak]

2 February 2017

Public holiday in KL train up arrive IPOH 1.00am - Tired I collect the trusty Isuzu from the workshop 8.30am

Back to KL in the evening

4 February 2017

I'm starting to hate this drive I just sit on 150K for the 190k just keep outta my way.

First job finish the accelerator pedal off a few mods it will be finished. Like heck, I decide to add a clamp to stop the cable top moving and causing issues a few more hours are lost making sure itsLate in the arvo down to the bolt shop - hey it's open I get 4 imperial UNC 1/4 inch bolts. They don't fit damn.

The go faster pedal is slowly getting completed.

5 February 2017

Mr. Brown smells cat and eventually finds mama cat upstairs and a 2 hour watch and wait game. Mama cat proves she is cunning and eventually slinks away unscathed.

First job finish the accelerator pedal off a few mods it will be finished. Like heck I decide to add a clamp to stop the cable top moving and causing issues.

It's all ready in the arvo and finally looks better. Then the 4 bolts for the door stop will not screw in.

Late in the arvo down to the bolt shop - hey its open I get 4 imperial 1/4 inch bolts. They don't fit damn.

The go faster pedal is slowly getting completed.

7 February 2017

Another holiday - take joe from the home with me. We work on brackets for the seat bottoms etc.

 

[cicak]

9 February 2017

Another Public holiday the drive to IPOH is easy less than 90 minutes still on 150k.

First job finish the accelerator pedal off a few mods it will be finished. Like heck I decide to add a clamp to stop the cable top moving and causing issues.

We take the clutch pedal miles away to a engineering shop they are also open. They specialize in GEAR cutting. More on this later as they can make PORTAL gears hmmmmmmmmmmm.They will have the nylon bush ready

Saturday. The day cruises by working slowly to finish the bracket.

The go faster pedal is slowly getting completed.

10 February 2017

Bolt shop take a pic of the thread with me. Crossed thread and a UNC tap and I run around all 4 bolts on the right door then the left door and all the bolts now fit. Now the bracket bolts in and the go faster pedal all works. The inspector gives it the thumbs up. Then it's painted.

Mr Brown excited to see me as usual.

The completed go faster pedal.

Then only thing left commence the brake line fitting. We prepare the Volvo to move across the workshop. By 4.30pm it's across the shop and on the hoist with a lot of effort its sitting on wooden planks on the hoist.

6pm hometime.

 

[cicak]

11 February 2017

Strip the volvo brake lines out then down to the parts shop for Toyota and Volvo hoses and the hydarulic shop for new pipe and fittings. $550rm is emptied from my wallet.
3pm back in the workshop after 4 hours/away I get the Rear brake lines done but I have to go steel pipe brake to brake as the flexible hoses are not the right length so we will get more monday and fix up the issue. Meantime I finish the piping to the master cylinder for the rear brakes and will sort out a longer flexi hose next week.

12 February 2017 - Sunday

Fit the clutch slave cylinder and lay the piping out till I run out of pipe as I cannot find the 2 spare 5 foot lengths I saw in the workshop Friday.

Cut the panel under the passenger seat in the wheel well to give access to the injector pump etc.

Fit the drivers floor.

Cut out the 2 sidelights fill panels as the new sidelights from Volvo are much bigger and need new mounting
points created.

 

[cicak]

16 February 2017

Work on the steering disassemble and reassemble the steering column parts so the worm screw works properly.

Rebolt it all in and the brahe booster yet again.. Chasing parts etc and the day is gone.

17 February 2017

Work on the steering again bolt in the top half of the steering and it all fits nicely.

 

[cicak]

3 March 2017

Drop into friends workshop to get the alloy watertank remade into stainless steel. There is his immactulately finished PINZ. In the shop is my friends PINZ all the light grey panels are new and designed in-house. They look so factory that he has more pinz's lined up after to have the same operation done.

4 March 2017

Day Trip to the Volvo I was going to drive quietly since the Isuzu'as rear tires started sliding out during the week in the rain. However, it's dry so I sit on 140k instead. Work continues on brake lines they are getting so close to being finished. We order the new hydraulic cylinder for the power assist steering. 2 weeks and can collect. Then it's an emergency run down to the tire shop for 2 new rear tires for the trusty ISUZU.

Back to Kuala Lumpur in the evening as tomorrow it's my birthday and I have 4x4 driver training to run. It's a much safer 190k run back home with the new Michellin sneakers on it.

Mr Brown throws a sad when I leave.

 

[cicak]

10 March 2017

Get to Ipoh and realise no Fone however, the workshop is opened for me. Work on the brakes and clutch piping all finished except I miss getting the last pipe correctd as they have moved the mounting brackets 30mm and there is no more strech left as the hydraulic shop closed 5 minutes ago sob.

11 March 2017

The workshop is locked cannot get in. Damn the wrong message was conveyed to the workers and I cannot ring them. So I head home to KL a days work lost.

 

[cicak]

18 March 2017

My last full weekend on the Volvo until after June as I have 14 kids from the orphanage to teach kayaking on Sundays until their 5 days kayaking adventure with me in June.

Inspection shows

Front mudflaps mounting points bolted on.

Steering arm has been shorted 40mm resulting in reduction of steering turns from 2.25 to 1.5 making it nicer to drive.

Rear electrics panel is almost completed.

I finish the rear piping and all the way to the front and sheath the piping under the dash.

I grind down the front holding nuts 3mm to make the joining nut on the pipe to flexi hose tighten up and the front brakes are then completed and make the firewall to the master cylinder piping up.

Right rear mudflap mount

and left

Power steering assist cylinder collected. Before you ask yes its equal pressure both ways even though it looks single action. It will be mounted to the DIFF next week.

The hydraulic shops beginnings was for the tin mining industry in IPOH.

The brake and clutch piping all protected, holding brackets will be made next weekend

I finish the rear piping and all the way to the front and sheath the piping under the dash.

Clutch pipe is relayed as one piece from slave cylinder to firewall

Wahoo they are all finished and tightened down.

Knock off time

19 March 2017

9:10am damn the gates been locked I cannot get in. I give up and go home at 10.00am. Another day lost.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Some good progress! Going to be one heck of a truck, keep it going.

 

[cicak]

22 May 2017

Well it's been 8 weeks at least since I last saw the Volvo. After being off work sick for 6 weeks with a stomach virus from something I ate and now training the orphanage kids for the August Kayak adventure I took a day off work to visit it for progress.

Meantime in the 7 weeks I have obtained new front windows cutoms made and cut for the wonderful price of 40USD a pair for 9.7mm laminated autoglass oh and I left it at home damn curses. I have new LED headlights. The new stainless steel water tank is still being made.

So whats been done.
- Powersteering is almost completed
- Rear 12v power panel is completed no pics as the Volvo is way up on the hoist.

They collected the power steering parts from the engineering shop and I fitted then to the power steering

cylinder. Went down to the hydraulic shop cut the hoses to length and got new ends fitted. Then connected the power steering hoses to the new cylinder. New holding brackets for the left and right hoses made and mounted. Could not fit the top power steering hoses as the Volvo is way up on the hoist. But next visit I will have it done.

Mr Brown was so happy to see me he decided to help me on the workbench while I chopped 10mm off the mounting bolts.

Finally it was all bolted down. We may have to change the design of this does not work.

Discussion on the switch rollcall we have 5 to buy to have them able to complete the front switch panel.
Then it was time to test out the new LED headlights. Ooooh they are cool. Bonus they have sidelights and indicators built into them.

So now we can weld in the inserts I made and touch them up with paint etc.

A few things left to do:
- Air conditioning
- Assemble doors
- Build new Drivers dash panel
- Wipers build and fit
- Connect remaining switch panel wires
- PTO find switchs and refit
- Test everything

 

[cicak]

9 June 2017

Took the week off to take 17 orphanage kids on a 4 day intensive kayaking training camp. Then had the Friday to myself. So a visit to the Volvo was in order. 5:5am Leave KL with young Joe from the orphanage with me . 7.30am in IPoh for breakfast and 8.15am at the workshop.


So whats been done.
- Powersteering is almost completed - still have resivior to mount
- Bull bar was bolted down but not correct so I have this to fix today.
- Rear floor has been bolted down
- Covers are being made for the inside of the door locks.
- The side bars on the bumper have been remodelled to protect the underneath of the cabin door frame.

Then we moved onto the power steering resivior - cut hoses ready to bolt it in. Damn the braket is imperial bolts 6mm will not fit. We need to go to the bolt shop later.

Cut and fit the brake booster vaccum hose.

Then we found the engine mounts we had missed bolting down the underside of the engine mount locking washer. So we made 2 8mm washers from steel and bolted them in - 1 hour gone

Connected up a missed brake pipe part.

Then it was time for a test fit of the glass we had so happily brought from KL.

Great dissappointment they did not fit. Turns out some idiot made them bigger than the exact tenmplates we supplied. Quality was terrible. They were returned to the glass factory much tot he anger of the big chinese shop manager who looked like he wanted to string the cheap bangaldeshi labourer up when he explained how he made the windows.

Then Joe tried out the hammock setup and gave it the thumbs up.

Oh we missed getting to the bolt shop.

Soon it was hometime and the end of a very unsuccessful day and Mr Brown decided to get friendly with Joe by holding his hand with his teeth.

Final view of the Volvo before I see it in a couple of weeks.

So whats left
- Doors assemble and bolt on
- Air COnd to do
- Dash wiring
- Switch Panel to be cut out
- Power steering final connection
- Fix the loose rubber hose we found under the engine
- Window wipers buy and fit
- PTO Switches find and install
- GEar lever hole repair
- Windows fit.

 

[cicak]

26 June 2017


Public holiday Parts run after spending the 2 previous Saturdays chasing parts . Compressor, ARB pressure switch, drop seats off to cushion shop, return glass to glass shop to remake as they really screwed it up.

Recce for corporate team building etc and of course the Sunday kayaking training for the orphanage.

Saturday 24 June was teaching a kid from the orphanage the basics of welding - trying to show these kids career opportunities.

So they sent me a pic of the switch panel. It's a go cut the new one out.

Meantime in my spare time I have been drawing up the rollout drawer stuff (cooker plate and hidden tables) free-hand ready to get to the bending engineer to do his magic laser cuttting and bending stuff. I only need to repurchase 2 M8 internal diameter bearings so we can do the final measurements needed for the 60+ bearings needed to make it roll out/in smoothly.

Switch panel is layed out they are laser cutting the new one out now.

The cushion shop sent me the pic of the seats they are ready. They look ace with material instead of the sweat causing PU. However, they are closed for Raya holidays so I can only collect this coming Wednesday.

So welding lessons for the kid and I slowly get the racks for the military box storage at home completed.

Collected the speaker panels and the overhead console. They did not bend the speaker panels sigh - have to do that in IPOH next time.

Then we attacked the overhead console - Oh Crap there is a design issue and the first weld splits the 5052 alloy - sigh back to the drawing board and redesign to make less pieces. There goes 600rm of 5052 alloy rats.

The speaker panels I need to spend time sanding them ready to mark and bend then they can be undercoated and painted the desert storm colour with maybe a blue sheet behind the gecko to highlight it.

Then finally 26 June 2017 a late arvo 2 hour run to IPOH 190k away to drop off the glass, COmpressor and pressure switch so they get it all fitted.

Well the 2 hour trip turns into 4 hours the traffic and the accidents. We test fit the glass after they delivered it to my house after the mouthful I gave them after returning the first attempt back to them - F**K they did not follow the perfect templates yet again and left the bottom corners of each window intact instead of trimming them off. It's ok the workshop will grind the insides of the window frame welds out.

Dinner then home time - another 4 hours goes by and I arrive home 1.30am exhausted. No idea when I will get to the workshop next maybe next sunday if I give the kids kayak training to someone else to run.

 

[cicak]

8 July 2017

So early morning drive to IPOH 190k gone. Breakfast then down to the workshop. Hmmmmm not open So I go to the bearing shop instead. Now the workshop going to be is open so I head to the workshop after getting bolts for the bearings for the testing of the rollerdrawer design. I also drop the TURBO of my RED monster in for surgery to make it spool up faster since the RED monsters engine is getting a head overhaul due to pitted intake valves sigh and an overheating issue. IPOH has an excellent diesel performance tuning shop.

The progress is explained to me so I can carry on with my plan while they do the wiring in the next 2 weeks

Finish the doors and cockpit metal fabrication.

I hand over the new simple shocks I have purchased. They can be installed anytime not today.

I have the doors to panel up. The kneepads to remake and the speaker panels to prepare to bend and paint and bolt in.

The test bearings to get the measurements from for the roller drawers we will need 50-60 of these. Now I can finish the drawing ready to get CNC cut.

First the newly covered new seats. They look cool and will not be as sweaty as the PU.

The mess I have to start with - a door and the really rusted knee pads from Volvo 2 as samples. My goal is to finish paper templates and then do the cutting. WHo needs a huge crew like overhauling I can do all this myself.

Soon I have left door top panel done. The right well I prepared it and fited it but with 20mm left to slide in it will not budge. I need to knock out and do some trimming and and sanding with the flapper wheel. If the 5 bar plate proves to be too rough on the skin then I will replace with smooth panel. They are almost ready to get powder coated or anodized.

Door templates done. I could not do the cutting as I had trouble getting the 84 sheet to stay steady by myself so have left the big chop for the shop to do for me.

Next the afternoon killer the kneepads. Takes me several hours to get them cut out. The drivers side proving to be a pain to cut and will be a pain to fit due to the power steering and the new brake cylinder. I can make these out of 1.6mm steel next visit. Next is to find the sponge - im looking at kiddy playground floor sponge then I can shape it and cover them in Vinyl and fit.

Speaker panels need sanding after the lazer cut has left a lot of slag. I have 3 spots to get a fine file in and cleanup then they are ready for bending. Alloy bending template left for the workshop to bend them.

The front swithc panel is all cut out os stainless steel. I have requested it be cleaned up and clear coated. Connecting of the panel wiring and switches starts this week.

Wiring diagram has been revisited and some 24v stuff converted to 12v including the air conditioning. Only the starter and the t-Max winch remain 24v.

 

[cicak]

Service hatches have now been cut to allow generator and fuel pump access.

Final pic before I head off home. It hasn't changed much but quite a bit of work done.

Home time for the long drive home. Sicne they have added new speed cameras in the past month I have slowed down a lot and happily sit on 110kph.

Plans for the rollout drawer and the 2 slide out tables - cooking and eating are almost complete soon can start the CNC drawings and the building of the drawers and tables in KL.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Looking good! This thing is going to be awesome when done.

 

[cicak]

If I had about 2 weeks straight I think I can finish it once the wiring is done. Now the priority is the kids charity.

 

[cicak]

22 July 2017

So early morning drive after getting up before 5am and working for 30 minutes doing office work leave home 5.30am then arrive 7.25am in IPOH but not after getting a camera ticket from the new camera location sigh. Gotta be at the factory 8.15am.

The 190k gone made easier by ZZTOP music etc. Breakfast then down to the workshop. Hmmmmm not open so I wait with Mr Brown who only wants the gate unlocked.

The progress is explained to me so I can carry on with my plan to finish the door panels and latch assembly.

The centre console has been rebuilt (apparently it got 3 fail strikes so was tossed) and really looks ace.

Only a wiring set of pipes need to be added else it will vibrate itself to pieces.

Mr Brown waiting for the gate to be opened.

The new centre console looks ace

I work away quietly all day after buying a sheet of alloy and mark out the door panels and remake the 5 bar checker plate panels I made previous trip. Popped into the powder coating factory next door got a quote and decided the colour all the new parts will be covered with. Then I discovered the heartache the paint was bubbling up in places. RUST FARK. So now I need to wire brush again and rustkill and then undercoat and top coat the doors all again sigh.

The left and right door panels are cut out.

I know where the rivnuts are going the template is marked ready for next weekends effort.

I have one kneepad cut out of 2mm alloy ready to bend up and need to buy a sheet next week to complete the other.

My final picture before I head off to the recce location for the kids kayak trip to view a houseboat. LIttle did I know I was going to get a crook stomach from the restaurant shortly after this picture sigh.

Every week I get closer to completing the beast.

 

[Pacer]

22 July 2017

So early morning drive after getting up before 5am and working for 30 minutes doing office work leave home 5.30am then arrive 7.25am in IPOH but not after getting a camera ticket from the new camera location sigh. Gotta be at the factory 8.15am.

The 190k gone made easier by ZZTOP music etc. Breakfast then down to the workshop. Hmmmmm not open so I wait with Mr Brown who only wants the gate unlocked.

The progress is explained to me so I can carry on with my plan to finish the door panels and latch assembly.

The centre console has been rebuilt (apparently it got 3 fail strikes so was tossed) and really looks ace.

Only a wiring set of pipes need to be added else it will vibrate itself to pieces.

Mr Brown waiting for the gate to be opened.

The new centre console looks ace

I work away quietly all day after buying a sheet of alloy and mark out the door panels and remake the 5 bar checker plate panels I made previous trip. Popped into the powder coating factory next door got a quote and decided the colour all the new parts will be covered with. Then I discovered the heartache the paint was bubbling up in places. RUST FARK. So now I need to wire brush again and rustkill and then undercoat and top coat the doors all again sigh.

The left and right door panels are cut out.

I know where the rivnuts are going the template is marked ready for next weekends effort.

I have one kneepad cut out of 2mm alloy ready to bend up and need to buy a sheet next week to complete the other.

My final picture before I head off to the recce location for the kids kayak trip to view a houseboat. LIttle did I know I was going to get a crook stomach from the restaurant shortly after this picture sigh.

Every week I get closer to completing the beast.

Yes you do, thank you for posting your progress!

 

[cicak]

29 July 2017

So the early morning 190k drive after getting up late getting the wife up to take her along also step on it drop wife off at mother's 8.00am and arrive factory 8.30 am with a yoghurt drink and butterscotch bread for breakfast .

My job is to sand the alloy console and the door panels ready for powder coating.

Almost end of the day I have sanded my poor fingers off 320/600/1000 grit sandpaper only 2000 to go most of the scratches etc are gone.

Door panels are both identical and the holes drilled for the rivnut bolting in.

So I decided on a change of effort - prepare the template for the 2 holes for the old centre console and the dog eared gear lever hole issue.

6pm Home time for the mother in-laws for dinner and Mr Brown decides its love an attention time.

 

[cicak]

26 AUgust 2017

Well after months of planning and stopping work on the Volvo for the past 3 weeks to ensure the kids kayaking event goes off of we get the HK typhoon 2+ hours plane ride away severely affecting our weather thunderstorms continuous rain etc.

The 3 support boats are not loaded until it stops raining the lorry is loaded up with 15 kayaks. Red broke down last weekend (after getting a rebuilt head and a more modified turbo ) going 4 hours north to collect the 19foot support boat so I had to go up yesterday instead and collect it. The new turbo HOWLS and is really nice to drive lol.

5 days with the kids kayaking and then 3 more days fishing after with 3 kids from the kids home.

Tonight we head to the houseboat 6 hours away and its pouring sigh.

No work on the VOlvo for 2 more weekends.

ANyone in TEXAS stay safe your having even more issues with the weather.