My foot is too wide to push the gas pedal without pushing the brake pedal, unless I'm careful. That's with the tiny tunnel in it now! Update...got it ***led, took a little more than usual because they didn't have the model name on the previous ***le, but that got squared away quickly. The steering acts like it has toe out, so I checked, and it does. I'll put some toe in on it and see how it does. Brakes are ok, but the sluggish pedal action made me want to fix it, so I called the Jeep place in Tucson, they have a MC in stock for it. Sent my wife up to get it. I took the old one out, it looks really bad and didn't seem to have any fluid in it, at least it didn't run out of it when I pulled off the lines. Didn't have any heat issues driving around town this morning, it is 95 degrees out now. Maybe I'll take it to the Rally...what fun! I can't imagine what could possibly go wrong.
That’s sure a “winner” in a lemon’s event. I think you were up here recently but don’t recall where. But since it’s in my backyard (or side yard to the east), I could find some really interesting secondary roads to run you over. You’ve got some p***es, some 2 lane, and you’ll have the trailer/camper/boating traffic this time of year. Nothing as bad as out of phoenix to vegas but the temps will prob be high 80’s low 90’s for half of it or better. Enjoy the ride and some gorgeous scenery
Volvo changed from a pair of S.U. H4 carbs to a pair of HS6 carbs in mid-1962. GUESSING yours are the HS6 version. Carbs are fairly reliable. Biggest issue is folks use the wrong oil in the damping ***embly. Second biggest issue is the domes sometimes warp, causing the pistons to stick. The older (pre-smog) Volvos were virtually bulletproof, other than rust. I drove a 122 well over 100k miles. Jon
@carbking You might want to mention the correct oil, since any HAMBer with one of these carbs will find this thread on a search. The few times I worked on the old Volvos they also stuck me as basic, bulletproof cars. Not a bright candle, but it would last a looong time.
I have mixed feelings about answering that question, as my guess would be different oils might have been used for different applications; but the S.U. service manual states S.A.E. 20. Jon
https://mossmotors.com/220-226-dynolite-carburetor-dashpot-oil-125ml I run 20w50 in Sprite SUs per quite a few people on the MG forums suggestions. The above moss motors oil is 20 wt. My understanding is that a person can experiment with different weights. Somewhere in my notes I think I have some info from Joe Curto At British Superior on the effects of oil weight on SU carbs. Joe is like Jon @carbking very knowledgeable and easy to talk with. @squirrel if you ever plan on selling those carbs I might be interested. Dan
Anyways...got the master cylinder on, the brakes feel good now. Got some new tires. Driving home from the tire store on the highway, almost 100 degrees out, it boiled over when I pulled into the garage. listen close, you can hear the steaming...
I pulled the manifold and carbs off a B18, and fitted them to a B20 which was an EFI engine, more displacement and a bit more cam. I played around some with different needles, springs, and oil. Richer at upper rpm’s helped, but the springs and oil (lighter) just added a little throttle bog at lower rpm’s. I think the factory had those figured out pretty well.
Phoenix temperatures: Tuesday: 110 / 92 Wednesday: 114 / 93 Thursday: 115 / 92 Are you feeling lucky? Russ
I'm planning to go through Phoenix tomorrow around 9-10 am, when it's only around 100. And get to Vegas in the afternoon, when it's 105. I can handle that in the Corvette, but I don't think the little Volvo is up for it, unfortunately. Wednesday I might get to Boise, where it should be under 90.
@carbking , I understand the hesitance and appreciate the response! As with a lot of older stuff "your results may vary" but that gives a baseline. Thanks to others that piped up, too. Jim, good luck with it, whichever you take. You have my number. I've got a truck and trailer, and will be 'on call' for you tomorrow AM.
I love old Volvos. I had a 122s that I drove from San Diego to Chicago. It was my daily driver in the 90s. Tom Waits had a 544 and described it as a car with scoliosis.
The oil does what an accelerator pump does on conventional carbs. The heavier the oil, the greater the enrichment, but also the longer it keeps on for.
My brother visited today with his 544. This car has been in the family a long time...I rebuilt a B20 engine for it for David 30 years ago, and then brought it back to life for daughter in law 14 years ago, and now David has it again (it was too much for the kids to handle, all that maintenance!) Finally getting new exhaust. We might take the twin 544s on a LeMons Rally as Thing 1 and Thing 2. Lots of prep work for that, probably...it would be in December.
Sure you could get the stuffed ones for the back shelf, but ya gotta go for it! https://poshmark.com/listing/Dr-Seu...e-Set-with-Blue-Tutu-689e0d1542064461f607a9ad
I ordered a book, for reference Got the new $14 water pump in the mail today, and installed it this evening. Kind of a PITA, have to clamp the pump upwards to compress the two rubber rings, as you keep the gasket in place behind it, and get the bolts started. It took 4 hands. Test drive tomorrow, to see if it still gets too hot.
And a quick note: My new pump came with an undersized water tube o-ring (from the back of the engine to the side of the water pump). The cooling system would hold pressure overnight (Stant pressure tester) - and would immediately spit coolant when the engine was started. Diagnosis was "interesting" - the aftermarket multi-blade fan spread coolant all over. I spent a l-o-o-o-n-g time chasing that leak (even high temp RTV failed). Internet searching found that this is a common problem. ***emble with 2 o-rings (and high-temp RTV). Russ
You told me about that one, so I made sure it fit well...it took effort to push the tube into the pump. I think it's OK. but I'll keep an eye on it!
As per our conversation when you were in Tacoma recently @squirrel , I owned 3 of those PV-544 Volvo's at one time, and that was during my senior year in high school. Great memories of those bullet proof cars, I am seriously thinking about potentially buying another 65 PV-544, that isn't rusted out. But those cars are now commanding a higher price than what I paid for the ones I had back in 71. Thanks from Dennis, so much for posting this latest vehicle, built for another adventure!
Made it to Russ's house a few miles away. No problem But on way way to Bisbee, going up the long grade from the river it got hot. Stopped and cooled off and added water. Made it most of the way to town. It got hot again. So I stopped for some ice cream.
I made it to another part of Bisbee, Lowell St, and stopped at Jay's to take a picture. He was there, loading up his truck to go race motorcycles, so we talked for a while. Then I headed up the hill through Tombstone Canyone, and the car did OK, didn't lose any more water. By the time I got to the river again (on highway 90 this time instead of Highway 92), it was warm but not overheated. I took the shortcut home and hit some good rain, and it cooled right down. I found a few leaks in the car, and the rain-x works pretty well on the windshield.
Just stumbled into your new adventure, and I´ll follow along if you don´t mind...it´s amazing how a real gearhead like you seems to be attracted to anything that is on wheels, has bolts and wires and makes some kind of noises, no matter if it happens to be powerful or slow, expensive or cheap, diesel or gasoline... I took my 3 year old son to a vintage car show last Sunday and the only photo I took was of an old combine powered by a side mounted VW boxer engine. To this day I´m trying to wrap my mind around how that little 24,5 hp boxer could run a combine...
The Volvo 544 was very popular in rally and racing during the late 1950's thru the mid 1980's in Sweden. Here's one still competing in national swedish rallies. It's powered by a modified 2L Volvo B18 engine with dual Weber carbs. Adam Backstrom surely knows how to drive the car....
These are cool cars, I had a 58 444 once. Wish I still had that but I ran out of room in my shops. I have a pair of SU carbs I'll send you if you want them, just pay shipping.
That is one incredible video, of a driver and a automobile, that are truly in sync with each other. Brings back memories of when I had my 65, PV-544 with a loud muffler, when I was in high school ! Love that video, thanks for posting that.
The Jalopy Journal
