|
|
After embarking on the road of restomod 5 years ago, "Project 144" was finally completed over the weekend. It now has all the bells and whistles that I have always wanted to have, and I must say, the car is a lot more fun to drive.
I inherited the car from my dad 5 years ago. He bought it new in 1974, a plain Jane DL model, with just an engine and tranny and no accessories. He added A/C in 1975 as we live in a tropical climate, together with an AM/FM 8 track player at the dealership, and that was all the accessories the car had until recently.(The 8 track was replace few years back)The car was his and my mom's daily driver until his demise in 2001. It took me to my first day at school, my first day at highschool, my highschool prom, to and from the airport when I furthered my studies in the USA...and the list goes on and on. Obviously, I learnt driving in it. At the age of 14.
And so, when my Dad departed in 2001, we were left with the decision to either keep the car or let it go and get a new one for my mom. We could not let it go. You don't just slap a price tag on a car like that and park it at a busy intersection, and wait for someone to call. Afterall, it has been there for you all your life. Getting rid of it was like loosing my dad all over again. And so, I decided then, that in memory of my dad, to restore the 144 to its original glory, and even more. I was in the USA at that time, and begin collecting parts and shipped them back to Malaysia, so that when I finished my studies in USA, I could come back and get busy on restoring the car.
Well, in 2005, I came back and got busy. I have now installed (I did some of the work myself) steel timing gears, an M-41 (yeah, overdrive!! thanks Greenteagod!!)), 1975 244 Bosch electronic ign, a 14 inch electric pusher fan, Hella FF1100 aux lamps with the original green toggle switch from a 244 turbo that says "fog lamps", diamond headlamps, new lenses for all turnsignal and tail lamps, Sanden a/c compressor, power steering (!), and later this afternoon, Virgo rims as soon as I put some tires on them. I also gave the car a premium oven-baked paint job, and a full rebuild of the B20A, which has never failed us in the past 32 years.
My heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for all your inputs, help and assistance, and parts throughout all these years, without which this project would not have been possible and it was a pleasure to have met some of you during my days in the USA. For now, I'll drive and enjoy the car (if I can get my mom to hand over the keys, that is).
I'll take some pictures for you guys as soon as I get a digital camera. Just been a bit busy during the weekends past few years!
--
...and the bricks keep on rolling
|
|
-
|
|
|
Understand you had very valid sentimental reasons for saving that car; but in general here's a big thank-you for tenderly treating the most orphaned of Volvos to what it justly deserves, and doing it right & tastefully under probably less than ideal circumstances.
Won't be many if any as nice as yours in 30 years!
And you really knew what to grab in the states. Kudos.
So, pictures still forthcoming?
regards, -Sean
--
1966 122s, 1970 142s, 1974 142e... Blue is beautiful
|
|
-
|
|
|
Thanks Sean. That car deserves to be saved. On the contrary, it did save me once in an accident. When I was about 5, we were on a family vacation, driving along deserted narrow country roads when a lumber truck, with its load not properly secured was coming from the opposite direction. As the truck passed us, there was a horrible loud noise and we pulled over to look. A piece of metal sticking out from the truck's trailer had grazed the rear door, putting a big dent in it. I was sitting right behind that door. Had it been a lesser car, it probably would have gone righ thru. Many years later, while working on a jammed window on that same door, I discovered that the side impact bar had taken the hit, preventing that piece of metal from coming in.
Yes, the pictures are forthcoming. I'll go shop for a digital camera soon.
--
...and the bricks keep on rolling
|
|
-
|
|
|
Amaresh!
Congratulations!
Take good care of her so she doesn't get molested, etc!
Did you change cams?
We miss you!
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!
|
|
-
|
|
|
Gee, thank you George! I sure miss you guys too, and Oklahoma. Oh yes, the 144 is well taken care off...no racing and we will only drive it on sunny days...I have already had a guy offered me a nice sum of money the other day at the garage, but the car is not for sale.
I did change the cam, but back to the original "A" cam when the tip broke as we were trying to put on the steel timing gears, which prompted for an unschedule engine rebuild. Impressively, the old cam lobes were not worn out, except for some surface scratches. I was tempted to put on a "C" cam and upgrade to a pair of SU's, but since the single ZS (came with the car from Gothenburg) worked very well over the years, I decided against it. Probably regretted a bit after that, but with oil back up to 60 dolars/barrel...well.
How's the 164 getting on? Pulled the head off the motor yet?
--
...and the bricks keep on rolling
|
|
-
|
|
|
Not yet. It has been cold and snowy/icy here off and on and I'm
down with the flu now. Also been pretty busy with the Yellow Peril
keeping Ben in transportation to work. I think a new headgasket may
be indicated at the current rate of coolant use. Then I'll do the 164,
245, 122, 122, etc Too many cars, not enough time...
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!
|
|
-
|
|
|
I just gotta say that your efforts embody what I hope becomes the norm in these times to come.
Folks taking a vehicle that is an excellent and durable design, and making it a joyful and lasting experience.
Thanks for the read... and all the best...
macarose
|
|
|
|
|
