Mike Jr's 1969 164 project

[MikeJr.]

I tackled most of the suspension this past weekend. Some trial and error determining the direction I want to go and what wheels.

I started off with the front springs and which spring rate to use
From left to right, Stock, 1000lb 9.5", 850lb 8"

I decided to try the 850lb 8" springs first. I'm running Bilstein HDs for the 164. Fronts from VP and rears from ipd

I fitted the 16" BBS

I also tried the Polaris

And for fun I tried the Works, but I tried those with no spring, shock, and only the bump stop jacked all the way up. Wanted to get an idea for possible future bag set up. These are the 9.5" on the front.

Then I moved onto the back. I just bought Ben's Rear Adjustable Spring Perch & Mount for a 240. I also has a couple 240 upper spring mounts. Everything fit perfectly. I did use a 350lb 8" springs in the rear because I already had them. They may be to aggressive but we'll see.

Then tried the wheels on the rear

And the 10.5 Works. They fit pretty damn good. I may have to convert them to 9.5 like the front.

Honestly I'm not real crazy about the BBS on this car, but I think they would look great on the 245

Mike Jr's 1979 Volvo 245 project

Picked up this 79 245 last year from a friend of mine who's a former Volvo mechanic. His father in-law was the original owner of the vehicle, and he bought it new in Alabama so its been in the south it's whole life. The car was originally assembled in Nova Scotia Canada, so it's been a North...

turbobricks.com

So my plan now is to run the Polaris on the 164 and set up the car with airbags and the works next year. I was going to put a supercharger on the 245 LS project but I have to put the Works on this car. They look so damn good on this car.

 

[dl242gt]

Yes, the works looked better than I expected. Even the mesh wheels looked good on there. Polaris will make the car look more modern to me But still looks cool though. I was just noticing in the pictures how clean the inside of the wheel arches are. Very solid car.

 

[MikeJr.]

Yes, the works looked better than I expected. Even the mesh wheels looked good on there. Polaris will make the car look more modern to me But still looks cool though. I was just noticing in the pictures how clean the inside of the wheel arches are. Very solid car.

Yeah it’s a real solid car. The Polaris will only be temporary but I think they look better than the BBS on this car

 

[towerymt]

I used 200lb, 250lb, and 325lb rear springs. I came back down from 325 to 250 and settled on that for my 244. You might want something closer to 175-200.

 

[MikeJr.]

I used 200lb, 250lb, and 325lb rear springs. I came back down from 325 to 250 and settled on that for my 244. You might want something closer to 175-200.

I decided to heed your advice so I ordered some 225lb and in Gold

 

[fatcatbestcat]

I'll take those BBS off your hands if you don't like them!

Just recently discovered this thread, possibly part of what drove me to get back into pushrod cars. 164s are heavily underrated.

 

[MikeJr.]

I'll take those BBS off your hands if you don't like them!

Just recently discovered this thread, possibly part of what drove me to get back into pushrod cars. 164s are heavily underrated.

Agreed. I was lucky enough to have one as my first car so the love happened early.

I think if more people owned and drove them, they would change their mind. They’re a little ugly stock, but have tons of potential modified.

 

[MikeJr.]

I bought a sway bar kit with a 1" front sway bar from VP. I also bought new motor mounts, and a transmission mount. All 3 mounts were completely shot. I also got some 5x8 250lb springs for the rear. I got all that installed and finally put back on the ground. It's too low in the rear still even with the adjusters maxed out. I wouldn't want to run them maxed out anyway, so I ordered some 10.5". I know the wheel arch is higher in the front than the rear so it's more of an allusion, but I want it somewhat even or at least get it even with top of tire. I don't know... I'll play around with it and see.

Here are some shots of it on the ground with it's new bff

I also got the front fogs installed and working

I took it out for a shake down and it rode a lot better than expected. I don't know if its the bilsteins or the 17s or the fact the the old stuff was shot, but it rode surprisingly well.

 

[JohnMc]

*banned* for posting porn

 

[dl242gt]

Reported for hot foglamps.

 

[TouzinFish]

Just binged this thread, coming along great! One of the cleanest 164's I've seen in awhile. Love the early bumpers.

 

[MikeJr.]

I discovered some interesting history on this car. So back in 2007 I save pictures of the interior of this car to my misc. Volvo folder on my Pbase account.

3b24_3.jpg by mikejr

pbase.com

https://pbase.com/mikejr/image/82781745

487a_3.jpg by mikejr

pbase.com

Turns out I had saved the photos from the 2007 ebay listing. I know I've had these pictures saved for a long long time all because I liked the interior, and now I own the actual car.

The guy in CO that sold it in 2007 had only owned it for a year and had the interior redone at that time in a non-original color. More of a terracotta color in vinyl than the original brown leather. He was the second owner and purchased the from the original owners family out of CA after the original owner became to old to drive it. He parked the car in 1997 and the family put it in storage till 2006 and would occasionally start it and drive it.

The original owner had kept meticulous records throughout his ownership and did religious maintenance on the car. He kept a leader of every fill up, every oil change, every service, and every part purchase. From 1969-1997 he kept these records. Also when he parked it in 1997 it had 122k miles on it, and now it has 129k, so only 7k in 27 years! The 2nd and 3rd owner also kept good records, but did not drive it very much.

 

[DET17]

Amazing to find those lifetime records for a vehicle expenses..... that is surely "old school" as I doubt anyone today would keep such meticulous records. Also shows what a small circle we travel in with these old Swedes; your data find from '07 and you end up owning the same vehicle!

I've always liked the stylish front of these machines.... suspect the suspension and brakes are really archaic but she sure has style!

 

[JohnMc]

It's dual wishbones, better than the McPherson struts used on 240/700/900/etc. later cars. And I think the 164's even had vented discs, pretty much the same as the 240's.

 

[OttoB]

It's dual wishbones, better than the McPherson struts used on 240/700/900/etc. later cars. And I think the 164's even had vented discs, pretty much the same as the 240's.

Vented disks came '72.

 

[MikeJr.]

Vented disks came '72.

I plan to do a vented disc conversion on mine. Don't know what all is involved yet.

 

[towerymt]

IRL:

 

[blkaplan]

its sooo nice

 

[MikeJr.]

The car did great in the mountains during MM. Boiled the brakes a couple of times though which was a first for me at MM. The car is definitely a cruiser but I was able to give it hell in the mountains and push it.

A few days before MM i took it for a shake down drive and lost pedal with a light amount of spirited driving. I looked through the records and the master and calipers were replaced 5k miles and 17 years ago. I decided to try and flush the brakes instead using new DOT 4 and I'm glad I did. The old fluid looked like maple syrup

I also decided to do a little cosmetic painting to the rotors and calipers using POR15 caliper paint.

I few other things were done like the passenger vent window re-adhering

Hella horn install

And I was very happy to get this the day before the trip

I few shake down pictures prior to the trip

 

[MikeJr.]

And here are a few during MM

JohnMC driving and Andrew Nance passenger

Jesus was my co-pilot