Vincent's Pro Street 1975 Volvo 242 "MazdaSwede"

[Mangohick]

Hope you guys don't mind me posting updates on my Pro Street build. I've always loved fat tire cars so I decided I should build a Volvo since I've had over a dozen since I was 16. The chassis is design has a emphasis on backbone stiffness and four link support. Tubing is .095" 1-3/4 DOM for most of the structure. The firewall has been moved back 5" to accommodate for tighter mass centralization as well as moving the engine up to keep the pan off the ground while cruising.
-Vincent


-75 Volvo 242GL
-2JZ-GE
-6 speed 4L80E with PCS valve body mod
-Narrowed 9"
-Weld 15x15 RT-S wrapped in 31x18.50 Hoosier QTP DOT's
-Custom made DOM chassis designed by Joshua Mazerolle (Vague Industries)
-Phantom Electronics touch starter
-PCS Dashlogger, TCM, EGT module and touch button gear select module
-Built in my garage on a "pallet"


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[snopro]

Im looking forward to seeing all that tube work welded up

[Mangohick]

Got the main hoop bent and tacked into the car..

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Cut the trunk hinges out and test fit the wheels again.


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Tires are 31"x18.50" Quick Time Pro's On Weld Racing RT-S 15x15 wheels.
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[Tig]

Oh wow, this is going to be good.
Nice tight fit for that main hoop, lookin good man.

Looking forward to your updates.

[Mangohick]

Thanks Tig!



Starting to look a little more busy in here.

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[Twentyover]

Mango-

You like the gear ratios on the 5R55E? Reason I ask is over on Turborangers a guy built an adapter plate for duratech 4's that adapts the 302 bell pattern, and he has a 157 tooth flywheel so you can get a 10.5 inch clutch. Maybe worth a look

Just an option

[Mangohick]

Mango-

You like the gear ratios on the 5R55E? Reason I ask is over on Turborangers a guy built an adapter plate for duratech 4's that adapts the 302 bell pattern, and he has a 157 tooth flywheel so you can get a 10.5 inch clutch. Maybe worth a look

Just an option

I like that idea.. I may run that in my daily driver. I've decided to skip the duratec4 and go LS.. For more trans options..

[Mangohick]

I've been really busy but still taking out a few hours around midnight to fit tubes.. Almost have the four-link truss finished. Time to buy some tubing!



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Notch setup
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[no go nova]

Your doing great work in your garage.

[Tig]

Awesome, lovin the tube work.
What are you using to bend the tubing? DOM correct?

Great job man.

[Mangohick]

Your doing great work in your garage.

Thanks No Go! I cant wait for the day when I get a shop with a lift!

[Mangohick]

Awesome, lovin the tube work.
What are you using to bend the tubing? DOM correct?

Great job man.

Thanks Tig! I'm using a JD squared model 3. Tubing is 1-3/4 .095" wall DOM.
:) My fab skills aren't good enough to warrant Cro-mo..

[CadillacMazerolle]

Love this build!!!!

[Mangohick]

Bending and fitting the cowl bar

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[Mangohick]

Finished up the firewall/cowl area. Starting on the front node for the backbone.



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[no go nova]

Man That fab work looking great. That Volvo gonna be a beast.

[dangina]

I love where this is going!

[Mangohick]

Got a few more tubes fitted..


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Getting the Mazderp engine ready to stab back in my other Volvo
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Cant forget cup holders for Sonic runs :headbang:
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[Mangohick]

Finally got some time to lay some tubes.. Got the top of the backbone x finished up today. Definitely took me the good side of 5 hours to fit three tubes..:screwy:



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[Tig]

Awesome updates.


Thanks Tig! I'm using a JD squared model 3. Tubing is 1-3/4 .095" wall DOM.
:) My fab skills aren't good enough to warrant Cro-mo..

I think you're wrong, you are definitely capable and skilled enough to do a chromoly chassis. Heck your tubing notching and alignment is damn near perfect.
Great work man.

[Mangohick]

Awesome updates.



I think you're wrong, you are definitely capable and skilled enough to do a chromoly chassis. Heck your tubing notching and alignment is damn near perfect.
Great work man.

I really appreciate the kind words! Lets just say I'm hiding a few big gaps here and there :secret:
..well that and I also don't know the first thing about TIG welding.. Once I buy a machine and get comfortable with it I'll switch over to 4130.

[knuckleworks]

great stuff :)


/janne

[CadillacMazerolle]

i heard there was more updates...... lets seee it!

[Mangohick]

My chassis designer (Josh Mazerolle) didn't think I had enough work to do.. so he sent me a CAD drawing of plans for the rest of the cage..

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Mother in law was visiting for the weekend, needless to say I got a ton of work done in the shop. :smoke:
Got into bending the A-pillar bars

Slight 5* bend out with a 44* bend along the roofline

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Headliner bar has one 10* bend in the center
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[wfo guy]

I'm not excited about you using a Volvo but I like your work. :) Where did you get the idea for the braces on the chassis?

[Mangohick]

I'm not excited about you using a Volvo but I like your work. :) Where did you get the idea for the braces on the chassis?

Mission accomplished :)
I didn't design the chassis bracing.. matter of fact, the only thing I designed was the floor. The guy in the black hat designed it.. Mazerolle casserole or something..

[Mangohick]

Haven't worked on my car in months.. got the spine finished up though.


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[CruizinKev]

omg wow!!!! drool.

[454bug]

Man, that is the wildest cage I have ever seen! AWESOME fab work! Very impressive! :1st:

I can't wait to see the finished product. Those big meats look great from the back!

Keep up the great work! :cheers:

[Mangohick]

omg wow!!!! drool.

Thanks!

Man, that is the wildest cage I have ever seen! AWESOME fab work! Very impressive! :1st:

I can't wait to see the finished product. Those big meats look great from the back!

Keep up the great work! :cheers:

Thanks.. seriously though, your car bought me to this forum. You're breaking the mold set by all the GM bodied cars on here. Your bug is INSANE!

[Tig]

Awesome progress, it looks great.

[Mangohick]

Got the windscreen tubes fitted tonight

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[81sleepinOLDS]

This thing is awesome! I think it would be pretty cool to see a first gen s10 grill to match that gm power ;) great work. Definitely following this one!

[Mangohick]

Got the harness bars in tonight.. time to start on the rear section. I only have about 24" between the rear tires :)



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[Mangohick]

Started in on the door bars..


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[k5warwagon]

Please please keep the manual sunroof! Also, how wide is the seat area? Looks very narrow between the "spine" and the door bar.

[Don Volvo]

You can work on my Volvo Anytime.....

[Mangohick]

Please please keep the manual sunroof! Also, how wide is the seat area? Looks very narrow between the "spine" and the door bar.

I really wanted to keep the manual sunroof, but the roof of the cage is in the way.. There is very little room inside the car.. Just enough space for a seat.. I couldn't make it a clutch car if I wanted to, there isn't enough space for 3 pedals either.



You can work on my Volvo Anytime.....

What kinda Volvo do you have?

[Mangohick]

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[Mangohick]

Got a couple more tubes in last night.. Two more tubes and the door bars will be done, then two roof bars and the "cage" will be done, then I can move on to the back or front suspension.

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[Mangohick]

Got some goodies in this week


Wheel studs came in
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Wilwood hubs
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Speedway Mustang II/Pinto tubular IFS
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Parachute
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Finished up the door bars on the passenger side.. Looks SICK!
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[no go nova]

Nice progress keep up the good work.

[Mangohick]

Cage is "complete" for now..(still have roof bars and trans support to finish)
Moving on to front suspension..

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[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

Wow, incredible work! Gonna be an awesome car!

[Mangohick]

Nice progress keep up the good work.


Wow, incredible work! Gonna be an awesome car!

Thanks guys!

[Mangohick]

Rotors are in.. just waiting on calipers.. Went with a Wilwood 6 piston setup for the front.

ARP hardware
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12.19" x .81"
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[Mangohick]

Picked up a 6.0 for test fitting purposes.. Looks like it'll fit quite well with the 4L80E
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[CadillacMazerolle]

You are killin it Vincent!!! I am very proud of you son!

[Bob in St. Louis]

A Volvo? Dude, you're nuts, that's just crazy.
I just caught wind of this thread, and happen to work at a Volvo dealer.
I can't wait to get beck to work and show the guys in the shop what you're doing with a 242!

Rock on man.
Bob

[Mangohick]

You are killin it Vincent!!! I am very proud of you son!

Thanks Pops!


A Volvo? Dude, you're nuts, that's just crazy.
I just caught wind of this thread, and happen to work at a Volvo dealer.
I can't wait to get beck to work and show the guys in the shop what you're doing with a 242!

Rock on man.
Bob

Thanks Bob!

Housing ends for the 9" came in today.. Decided to go with Mark Williams symmetrical "pro street" double row bearing ends with Timken bearings.

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[Mangohick]

Havent touched the chassis in months.. finally got some time this weekend between Daddy duties to notch some tubes. I got the sub assembly for the coilover mounts made up.. then ran a couple 1.75" struts down to it from the top of the main hoop and two 1.65 supports from the sides of the main hoop. Crawling in and out of the car with the door bars in is a daunting task. Definitely took me about an hour and a half per tube.



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[no go nova]

Get this thing on four wheels.

[Mangohick]

I sneak in a little fab time between changing diapers :)

I have a really good excuse for not working on my car as often..
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Cant wait to get all this welded up..
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[Bob in St. Louis]

Tell me honestly, you were sitting in the driver seat, bouncing her on your knee and making race car sounds. ;)

[Mangohick]

There may or may not be a video of that happening on my girlfriends phone..

[Bob in St. Louis]

HA HA....Understood. ;)

[Mangohick]

Got the back subframe tacked in this weekend.. still have a few more tubes to add then it's on to the front suspension.

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[driveit]

Awesome work. And looks like you might have a helper down the road.

[nitroracer]

Out of curiosity, do you have more details on your other Volvo posted online anywhere? That one looks like an interesting build as well.

[Mangohick]

Awesome work. And looks like you might have a helper down the road.
I could definitely use some small hands sometimes!



Out of curiosity, do you have more details on your other Volvo posted online anywhere? That one looks like an interesting build as well.

Theres an album of pics here
https://www.facebook.com/MangoMoto/photos_stream?tab=photos_albums

[Gil]

Congratz @ dad & mom, awesome work for both...
I was wondering where you sit to drive this crazy thing, I know now...
Very nice.
Gil

[Mangohick]

Haven't had much time to work on my car, but I keep finding inspiration everywhere I look...


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[Mangohick]

:hammer:


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[Mangohick]

Started working on the front section of the car. Made some sleeves to slide into the framerails at the firewall node. Then tacked 4 beads around each tube to space the frame halves together, so when it's welded up the two frame halves will be burned into the sleeve as well as each other. Started bending tubes for the upper a-arm mounts.


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[Bob in St. Louis]

I love that last pic man, that's cool.

[Mangohick]

Got the front frame rails lined up and tacked into place.


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[no go nova]

Hey why not a motor plate and mid plate?

[dangina]

the cage is turning out great!!!

[Mangohick]

NoGoNova- Motor plate would take up too much front space where I could be running header tubes down low to the turbo. I plan to make motor mounts off the lower framerails that line up with the rear lower a-arm mounts and a crossmember in the same spot under the oil pan so the engine will be a structural member. Mid plate doesn't appeal to me as much because I'll most likely pull the engine and trans at once if either has to come out. Mostly for space reasons though..

Thanks Dangina!

[Mangohick]

Finally getting some money to order parts and some time to get a few shop projects done as well as making a new turbo header for my street car. I ordered the front wheels 17x8.5 back in March from Weld so they should be in soon. I picked up a Mark Williams thirdmember and their splined quick release hub for the Sparco steering wheel I bought. Also grabbed a Sparco Grid race seat.. fits like a glove! I bought control arms from speedway motors, then changed my mind and decided to go adjustable, so I bought some threaded adapters and some rod ends and went to work with the TIG. I'm making the 4-link arms from .120" 1-1/2" DOM with 7/8 FK Rod ends.. that cost about 70 bucks each.. ugh. I decided to change gears with my transmission, pun intended... Instead of using a 4L80E with our custom CNC'd PCS 6 speed valve body I picked up a 6L80E from a Camaro so I can enjoy the benefits of a 4:1 first gear and .66 double overdrive.

In my spare time (hahahahahaha.. right) I've been having Chris Acors help me build a Fab9 housing from scratch.. Lets just say it's not as easy as it looks. Hopefully I'll have more progress pics soon!

4.56 Ring and pinion with a lightweight 35 spline steel spool in a 3.25" bore bolt through aluminum case.
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[19,69camaro]

Those are some serious parts! Looks good so far.

[no go nova]

Good update glad to see your still doing this.

[Mangohick]

Wheel porn!
Front wheels finally arrived.. 17x8.5 with 255/40/17 Nitto NT05's

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[Mangohick]

Front wheels look badass!

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[Gil]

Awesome work !

[JustJohn]

I still like the 240 series Volvo. Built and ran like tanks.

[Mangohick]

Well.. I changed my mind again on my engine choice. Stuck up a killer deal on a 1JZ complete engine and a 2J GE block

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[twosaturns]

just found this, friggin' awesome.

[medici78]

Damn. This is a sick build. You can put any high-hp engine/trans combo in there and it will still turn out sick. Are you in Sweden?

[Godbolt]

Love it. How much boost you planning to run? Turbo upgrade in the plans?

[Mangohick]

Finally getting some time to work on my car again. Got some of the front frame braces tacked in and making progress on my FAB9.


Stumbled upon a good deal on a 2JZ-GE
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[Mangohick]

Finally got around to working on my car a little.. Been doing some kid stuff lately like making the little one a pedal tractor and lots of trips with her to the track! Got most of the tube work in the front done, time to hang suspension in the front. Then I got the headliner tubing in.. I put a 14* bend in my tube for a little more head clearance.. and most importantly, the sunroof crank still functions!



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Gave up on the Fab9 because I warped the **** outta the faceplate.. Got a housing from Johns.. It's pretty beefy, and short.
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[Z06killinSBF]

This is awesome, looking good man

[Mangohick]

Cut a few tubes for the front end and finished the headliner tubes. Getting an idea of where I want to mount the fire system and finishing up my adjustable caster mod for the MustangII lower control arms.



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I have good help..

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[Martin71RS]

wow, great fab work! and a cute little helper :-)

[StreetMachine82]

Beautiful work! Keep it up! Any new developments?

[Project Bike Truck]

any updates on this killer car?