Hi you may be interested in this rebuild as I do not believe there is one in Kiwi Land.
Hi second post
I'm a kiwi living in Malaysia - most people call me GECKO (my nice neighbour he just calls the police hahaah) due to the large GECKO tatto I have on my arm. I have acquired a Volvo ex Polis Military C304 (4 wheel model only) and in the process of restoring it.
As we pulled it out of the storage park with my BJ75 on 26/07/2010. It was not running but would tick over.
The BJ75 struggled to pull it it appears the brakes were frozen on on the volvo.
ONto the tow truck and down to a performance tuning shop hahaha.
Once they removed the spiders and cobwebs from the tank it started.
THen they changed all the fluids.
But they could not fix the brakes so I made decision to do the DISC conversion first before the rust treatment.
I drove it around at nite for 2-3 weeks testing it out - without brakes and only using the gears and handbrake. I learnt what was good and bad in the truck and what needed fixing. Now I have a 40+ item list to attend to.
Then last Saturday I took it to the hospital (escorted by the BJ75) which was entertaining, saw this on the way out. Oh yeah I burnt off a 22R powered LC II on the way up a hill it could not pass until the downhill part hahha.
This is it after being washed and driven for a few weeks. Mr Grumpy my neighbour hates it and all 4x4's the other neighbours in the street think its neat including the ("SIR") who I took his kids for a run in it now he wants to book a jungle trip with me.
The interesting one is my car illiterate neighbour she I quote "that engine sounds so sweet" its nicer than my Honda.
Then where is that big beautiful 4x4 on sunday she asked.
Then the serious stuff removing all 4 wheels and portals - yeah yeah thats me working on the Jalopy.
Me working on the last wheel. The mekanik did 1 I did 3. Not bad for my first ever working on a Vovlo and no manual either.
7 hours later a A stack of portals
[img]http://www.geckoadventure.net/BLOG/2010_08_21_Volvo089.jpg[/img]
Once that was done it was over to the BJ75 and pulled the WARN 8274 out of it it has water in it :( and the new axle to be fitted and a new knuckle this week and new leaf spring bushes and it also has a brake problem.
We did this on the first round of fixes:
1. LC II Front Discs front and rear as this is a part which is readily available.
2. Install the WARN 12,000lb winch for REAR recoveries
3. Fix the taillights with LED lights
4. Fix the indicators
5. Fit new headlight wiring and H4 halogen bulbs and new reflectors
6. New radiator hoses and brake hoses.
7. Battery Rack for 2 solar batteries and 2 120amp batteries and a 150AMP Alternator.
Once we
So thats my intro. I will post up stories as I slowly restore it.
The rest of the truck is STOCK apart from the Canvas top being lopped off and replaced with a hardtop by the previous owner.
I have previously been in (and out) a C304 during the RFC2007 when we got flooded and I was in the BJ75 in the same small convoy of 6 of us. I know what it can do - awesome.
Pictures of the project.
Latest status is POTRALs with DISCS being assembled and fitted this coming week.
Rewiring of HEADLIGHTS, REAR lights and INdicators being done this week along with new fuse boxes.
Rear 12,000 WARN WInch being installed sometime this week also but not wired up thats my job later.
Maybe it might be ready to roll out of the workshop this week then it will be driven for a week before going to get the RUSTed front removed and replaced.
Fixed the passenger door lock up on saturday *_*
Spent all Sunday afternoon changing the two engine fan belts don't ask its a prick of a job as the alternator has been changed previously then we noticed the belts etc do not line up the alternator is 3-4mm out :( . THis needs to be fixed in the coming weeks.
Then we changed the radiator hoses as they had RUST in them. Then we tested out that mighty PTO winch yup it worked also.
By 5.00pm we are ready to go to the jungle Ulu Slim some 90k away.
By the time we headed into the jungle its gettting dark. Stupid us but we really wanted to test it out.
At the first steel bridge we take the creek and yes we got stuck as the Volvo stalled as it was missing under 2000rpm as I crossed the river.
Then we were stuck no way back and no way forwards and by ourselves duh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and then we realise only 2WD is working and we have no front drive :(
Cleaned out a rock or two from behind and then we reversed out and then drove over the creek at a faster speed hahaha. Up the hill and it was very slippery wet and muddy we decided to turn for home.
Then we only had high beam and a missing6 cyl which ran clean only ay 4000 rpm amd missed at anything under 2000rpm.
Back home at 4000rpm down the highway with only high beam.
Home at 9.30 after driving flat out at 4000 rpm at 80k for the 90k home hahaha.
The perspex windows need to be replaced before it can go out at nite again its too hard to see out the front windows.
Monday Arvo Dropped the Volvo back to the workshop at Lunchtime to find out why the front axle not engaging and picked up the Landcruiserr II and drove it back to work the first time I had driven the Landcruiser in 5 days. They also to remove the radiator and flush it .
On the way to work.
1. WHats that long green thing in front - oh year a bonnet.
2. WHy do the brakes feel so heavy (and GREEN is a delight to drive) to push
3. Why does the steering wheel feel so vertical and FAT?
4. WHy does it not stop as good as the Volvo
5. Oh shit almost hit that car the brakes need too much pressure to work hahaha
6. Steering feels heavy even with power steering
7. Hey its got window wipers why do I need them
8. The Volvo sits better on the road - ooops whats wrong with me hahaha.
9. Damn where is that music coming from - oh really its got a stereo.
10. Wow its cool in here that airconditioning stuff really is cool.
11. Why do the front windows not open forwards and let air in?
June 2011 Volvo Update
Rear facing WARN M12000 winch installed and removed so the winch motor can be repaired.
PTO Fixed and running
200liter (50 GALLON) fuel tank installed.
Well after much mucking around and people loosing sketches and plans of the Volvo I have finally found commitment to get the cabin restored and then the rear cabin.
3 weeks time it goes into a workshop 2 have the front of the truck repaired or replaced - replaced is what I want
Options to be done are twin headlights and get the front read for an intercooler. Radio console to be installed - hydrualic steering to be installed
The truck is now a daily driver after the carby rebuild and here is it in recent action with 2,200kg of drinks in it at a charity event for work.
Next weekend it ventures into the jungle for a charity trip and will have 500 rubber plant saplings in the rear for a 52kilometer trip one way and a 80+kilometer trip back out.
However it broken down last nite looks like coil failure so I have to go retrieve it today.
After the cabin rebuild they are going to make a ALLOY rear cabin with rollcage etc in it and a few other options to turn it into a camper/rollout kitchen/utility jungle truck as it has a date with the RAINFOREST challenge 2011 in December and its not going to miss it and it will have a 13B-T engine installed also. Currently we a re building up my spare 13B-T engine which has been sitting on the shop floor for 3 years. A new head has been found all we need now is a fuel pump and then we will rebuild the whole engine from scratch and yes find a TURBO as the other one was donated to the scrap heap.
pictures of the STage 1 rebuild will be posted here if people are interested.
Latest status is POTRALs with DISCS being assembled and fitted this coming week.
Rewiring of HEADLIGHTS, REAR lights and INdicators being done this week along with new fuse boxes.
Rear 12,000 WARN WInch being installed sometime this week also but not wired up thats my job later.
Maybe it might be ready to roll out of the workshop this week then it will be driven for a week before going to get the RUSTed front removed and replaced.
Fixed the passenger door lock up on saturday *_*
