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The rugged dependability of the Volvo has
been legendary. No other car has a better public image as a
safe car to drive your kids to school, grocery store, soccer
practice, etc. If you have a Volvo already, this is old news,
but for those beginning this conversion who don't yet have the Volvo
to be converted, you may be surprised at the luxury features and
European road manners you'll find in these cars.
Volvos from 1975 to the present can be
fitted with the powerful HO Mustang engine and your choice of a
5-speed manual or the AOD automatic overdrive transmission.
You'll be adding this dependable power to a Volvo that probably
already has luxury features like leather interior, long wearing
European carpets, air conditioning, cruise control, four-wheel disc
brakes, heated drivers seat, power door locks, power windows and
mirrors, electric antenna, very good impact protection, and a lot of
window area for visibility. Many of the cars you'll find have
an electric sunroof as well.
The Volvo station wagons hold more stuff
than a Cherokee or Explorer, and with the Converse Engineering kit
and a Ford 5.0L engine, can run circles around either of these
vehicles with better fuel economy, better handling, and features
neither one can match. Because Volvo has kept the styling of
their vehicles so similar for so long, your Volv8 TM conversion will
look current for longer than any other used car you could buy.
Despite the "dependable" image of
the Volvo, some models do have problems. The diesel 6-cyllinder
is known for surviving for 200-300K in mileage, yet if maintenance
isn't performed regularly, a broken timing belt or a serious
overheating session can sideline the vehicle with a very expensive
engine repair. Parts for rebuilding all Volvo engines are
expensive, and the diesel particularly so. The turbocharging
system of turbo models is expensive to overhaul, and the V6 models
had a common problem of inadequate lubrication to the camshafts.
What all of this leads up to is a windfall
for the converion fan who would love to have a Volvo with its
"respectable" image, yet have the performance of a modern
sports car, and all without spending 20-40K in the process. The
windfall takes the form of a ready supply of nice used Volvos ripe
for the conversion. Often, a few calls to independent Volvo
shops in your area will turn up a diesel or a V6 customer car that
languishes behind the shop with a blown engine that the owner can't
afford to rebuild. You can step in, make an offer, and perhaps
get a great car for $2000-3000!
The Converse-converted Volvo will be a fun
car to drive, smooth, quiet, and civil at all times, but if you see
the guy in the new BMW next to you, its hugely comforting to know
that you can smoke his doors off anytime you want, sending him back
to the dealership for an expensive diagnosis of why his car isn't
fast anymore. You can expect 0-60 times of seven seconds with
an average H.O. 5.0L engine and with the overdrive transmission, fuel
economy is 23-26 mpg! The Ford engine and transmission are
extremely dependable, and if repairs are needed in the powertrain,
the Ford parts are less expensive than the Volvo parts.
If you desire even more performance, there
are a myriad of Ford Motorsports parts available at your local
dealer, and a host of aftermarket companies sell 5.0L equipment, from
larger throttle bodies to complete supercharger systems and
everything inbetween. Companies like IPD sell suspension and
handling equipment for Volvos to complete the Cinderella
transformation. A Volv8 TM powered 760 wagon ran the One Lap of
America event and came in 16th out of 100.
If you ever need to tow anything with your
Volvo, the 300 lbs/ft of Ford torque can do the job. Several
SCCA and Vintage racers use them as classy, un-trucky tow vehicles
for their race cars. |
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