Fast Friday #1

[matthew1]

Fast Fridays are going to be a weekly thing here (how'd you guess?) where we can shoot the breeze about the latest performance items/news/our Volvos.

So here goes.

In the last 6 months I've put in a boost gauge and MBC. And yea, the boost went up

My '97 850 T5 is hitting 15psi now, was 10psi (stock). The push comes on hard at 4k RPM. I had to halt other planned mods (brakes, R exhaust manifold, exhaust, chip) to take care of some suspension work because she was getting squirrely at full boost. New outer tie rods took care of most of that, now for the inners. Otherwise, she's at Stage 0, recent Seafoam, 75% new front end, with Mobil 1 and fresh trans fluid, both checked frequently.

I'll have a 0-60 video up on this topic later today. She's still not crazy fast yet, but a nice mild tune that pushes her up a bit from stock.

[matthew1]

Heatsoak. Ugh. Times measured in iMovie.

[Bondo1]

Hey I'm in Denver and just picked up 850 T5-R. I was wondering if there are are Volvo meets that happen or even a good parts shop. I never knew volvos could be so much fun. Anyways any info would be cool.

[matthew1]

http://www.facebook.com/rmvcoa.rgroup -- Dyno Day and Mt. Evans drive planned this summer.

[Bondo1]

Is your 850 an auto? I'm running a very similar setup to yours.

[matthew1]

Yep . In a few years I'll do a manual transmission swap. More here, and here.

I'm tired of having my gears changed for me, and the parasitic hp loss.

What mods have you done, Bondo?

[SimLyons]

Hey Matt: What you use for trans fluid this time....or are you referring to engine oil?Working and playing with MVS over the past 2 years (more??) has been terrific! I have tackled theings I would not have gone near before with excellent results! I used to have a few (rare) spotty leaks on the garage floor and not none! ZERO! The engine and trans (and bottom of the car) are clear, dry and clean! The car goes like a scared rabbit and would actually outperform my 2006 V70R in the 0-60 mph.

This is not only my daily driver but also my keep til death do us part! Yes, my wife knows to creamate us together (the 850R and me) in it!

[matthew1]

Hiya Sim,

Engine oil is Mobil 1, trans is just O'Reilly brand drain-n-filled every 6 months or 4k miles or so. It's always pink so I don't get too crazy with it.

Great to hear about your 850! Faster than a 2006 R in 0-60 mph is GOOD. I drove a 2004 V70 R for a while, I know how brutally fast those can be with 300hp and AWD, and that extra gear down low.

How'd you get your 850 R's off-the-line to improve? That's what kills my 850, the 0-30 mph time. Or did you just get so much out of the top end that 0-30 mph is immaterial?

I approached a woman in a nice '96 R pale yellow sedan about two years ago to ask her to keep me in mind if she ever sold it. She smiled and said she'd love to, but she'd probably be buried in the car! Saw her the other day in traffic, was tempted to yell to her and remind her I'm always a cashier's check away.

[Bondo1]

Right now im running an 18t,rip kit,cone filter with heat shield and straight exhaust. I have a boost gauge installed now and a/f gauge soon to be installed. I also have a n/a throttle body and a n/a intake that I ported sitting on my work bench waiting to be put on when I get some time and a different silicon hose. I need to get a tune so I can turn the boost up without blowing my engine. I'm running 15 psi right now. Have you ran your car a bandimere yet?

[matthew1]

Nice! Let me know if you want an extra set of hands with that intake swap. Bandimere - not yet. You? I'd hit 15-something if I'm lucky, and that number is embarrassing, so I stay away. But I'll go soon. After I throw on an R exhaust header that's [still] on its way, probably. PM, email, or post here if you're going in mid or late summer and I'll join you. Maybe get some cats from from Volvo Specialists to go. They've got some pretty nice P80 and P2 cars.