Number of questions for c70 upgrades

[VoluptuousVolvo]

Hello all! I've been pondering a few work items on my c70 convertible and I thought that I should post here for some advice, given that I'm very inexperienced when it comes to modding.

1. replacing shocks/struts/springs
I've noticed that the ride on this car (92k miles) is very rough despite the car having lots of body roll in the corners. Going over bumps feels very harsh and is noisy. Also, I often hear a whooshing noise going over speed bumps and such. Is this an indication of shocks/struts or springs needing replacement or both or something else entirely? I'm tempted to buy the following items: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... em-vfsk2-t and https://www.ipdusa.com/products/8460/Sp ... 958-112706. Is the strut kit overkill? Should I buy rear Bilstein shocks too (I've heard that the front struts wear out much faster)? I desire a comfortable ride over bumps and preferably good cornering.

2. exhaust option
I would like to hear more from my 2.3L turbo engine when I'm on the throttle without inducing irritating amounts of drone at cruising speeds. My exhaust shop recommended a muffler delete. Does anyone have experience with this on their car? And suggestions for replacement tips would be great too. I also don't want anything that's too loud when I'm not driving aggressively as I live in a rather dangerous neighborhood and would prefer not to attract attention when I'm driving home late at night.

3. gearbox
Sometimes, when I'm shifting (manual), I feel as though I'm pushing through ridges/cogs with the shifter. Other times, the gearshift pops smoothly into place. Is this normal or cause for concern/action?

Thank you for reading. Any and all help is appreciated!

[bmdubya1198]

Welcome! For the struts, some of those parts can be reused if you're looking to cut costs. You're in CA, so rust/corrosion likely isn't a concern. I would get the struts, bump stops, mounts, spring seats, and bellows. New hardware is preferred, but not totally necessary. Bilstein B4 struts/shocks are very good. They are about the same as Sachs, they provide an original ride feel. I have them on my dad's '08 S40 and they ride very well. Nice, comfortable and controlled, but not harsh. If you replace the front, I would also do the rear.
For the rear, you just need the shocks and the mounts. Nothing extra needs to be done back there unless something is worn/damaged.

The springs will stiffen up the ride a bit and certainly tighten up the handling. If you don't want a harsh ride, I'd stick with the stock springs, however they aren't that bad. I have iPd springs on my V70R and they ride well. Not too harsh for my liking, but definitely stiffer than stock.

Exhaust-wise, don't cut off the muffler. That will cause drone. Look around on Viva Performance. There are some cat-back exhaust options over there that are very high quality and will not cause any drone. I have a Supersprint exhaust on my car that I like a lot, but I don't believe they make it anymore. iPd and OBX make a full turbo-back system for these cars for a good price, but they are catless (probably not okay in California) and a little loud.

Check the condition of your shifter cable bushings. They are rubber, and tend to wear out and cause sloppy shifting like you describe. I recommend these monoball-type busings from BNE: https://www.bneshop.com/products/m66-s6 ... 7016&_ss=r
Snabb also make stainless bushings (which I have) and they are good, however this spherical design is superior. I would like to try those eventually.
If you have not changed your transmission fluid in some time, I would suggest doing that as well. Commonly used fluids are the OE Volvo stuff or Redline MTL.

[VoluptuousVolvo]

Thanks bmdubya1198! Really helpful reply.

I pulled the trigger on the B4 struts without lowering springs. In fact, I found a full assembly on IPD (https://www.ipdusa.com/products/22120/I ... 831-140279) with stock ride height springs already assembled. Will wait to see how it drives before making a decision to buy matching rear shocks.

Good points about exhaust. I'm leaning toward this Ferrita catback system: https://www.vivaperformance.com/ferrita ... wd-models/. By any chance, do you have any opinion of this exhaust? Doing some research right now, looking to find reviews and see if it can be DIY installed without welding/cutting.

Really appreciate the advice on the shifter cable bushings; certainly had not thought about that.

Thank you once again!

[Goupil]

That ferrita catback is bolt on, clamps to the stock downpipe (or a Ferrita downpipe). The hardest part was getting the old exhaust out haha

It's a bit louder than stock but nothing crazy. Can't really speak on drone because I have other things making the car loud (poly bushings, crappy engine support)

[bmdubya1198]

Yeah. Ferrita exhaust systems are very good quality. I can't say anything about the sound, but it's probably similar to my SuperSprint.

[MSAC]

I am working on a 2007 Volvo C70 convertible FWD. It has bottomed out a couple of times damaging the oil pan. What struts & or springs can I use to raise it up about 1 1/2 inches
MSAC

[bmdubya1198]

I am working on a 2007 Volvo C70 convertible FWD. It has bottomed out a couple of times damaging the oil pan. What struts & or springs can I use to raise it up about 1 1/2 inches
MSAC

The stock springs and shocks are likely worn out, and new struts and shocks alone would likely help with that. If it's bottoming out, then either your roads are REALLY bad, or you just need to be more careful.
If you replace the springs as well, the new springs will cause the car to sit slightly higher, at least temporarily.

[abscate]

When I replaced my 15 year old springs I lifted about 2 inches