how do i make my amazon (b18d) quieter when idleing. I dont want to mess with the carbs because i somewhat messed up my other car that way.

I agree with Shannon that you'll need to be clearer of just what noise is causing you grief.

I'll go out on limb and offer some suggestions based on my rookie experience a couple years ago.

Bear in mind that an overhead valve engine will naturally be louder than a overhead cam engine and some degree of noise is normal. In fact, valves that are too quiet means serious valve problems.

Valve noise can be helped by properly adjusting the valve lash and by installing an IPD cast-aluminum valve cover.

Aside from the valves there are all sorts of noises that ought-to and ought-not to be there.

If you suspect a specific area of the engine, take a 18-24" (45-60 cm) piece of garden hose or vacuum tube and use that to listen in to certain areas of your engine. Put one end to your ear and another to the area in question. I once found a significant intake leak on my 940 using this method.

Places to check first are:
Timing cover - listen for knocking or rattling
Water Pump - same
Intake manifold (head) - listen for sucking noises
Intake manifold (carbs) - same

This link has not surfaced in a while and I thought I should bring it back up. It is about body noise and interior sound proofing. Possibly relevant to your isolating the engine noise from the passenger compartment - IF you have no serious problems. I followed some of the advice in my 67 Wagon.

http://www.shagadelic.org/VW/info/gmbulley-soundproof/

This is an awesome write up on soundproofing a rattle-trap VW. MUCH of it is relevant to we amazon drivers since our cars are more than %70 steel and iron.

Cool thanks.
I'll actually have my mechanic do it. I don't want to screw anything up, even though it seems pretty simple. I'll just have a carb. adjustment done sometime.

Howdy 67122,

I've noticed that you've hinted at excessive noise on your other posts. In order to isolate the noise(s) you will have to be more specific.

You just mentioned that the noise is present when idling. Is it also present when the RPM goes up? Does the noise go away, get worse, or not change when the car is moving? Does it ever change in tone or pitch or volume? What is the nature of the sound? Clicking, clacking, rattling, whirring, ticking, ringing, rubbing, rapping, knocking, or what?

Have you tried to localize the noise? Is it coming from under, over, in front of, behind the engine? Is it coming from driver's side? Passenger side?

You are wise to not touch the carbs unless and until you know how and why to touch them. If the car is currently running, keep it that way by not messing with something you don't understand. Take the time and make the effort to learn what you don't know. It doesn't take long even if you have no one to help. Get the Haynes manual and download the Green Books.

But, first things first; give more information about the noise you are concerned about.
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Mr. Shannon DeWolfe -- I've taken to using mister because my name misleads folks on the WWW. I am a 52 year old fat man. ;-)

Thanks,
The noise isnt anything specific, the engine is just loud! should i have the idle lowered?

should i have the idle lowered?

I cannot answer the question because I have no idea what the current idle speed is. I will say, adjusting the idle will not, in and of itself, make the car quieter.

The idle speed does not cause noise at all. If you believe the engine gets louder as RPM increases, that is not going to be cured by adjusting the idle. A noise may be masked by lowering the idle but the cause of the noise is still there.

Do you have a video camera? If so, video the engine running (with sound ON, of course) and post it to You tube. Make comments on the sounds you hear and try to capture the sounds for us. Then link to it from here.

In your response to Repairman you mentioned that you will have your mechanic adjust the carbs. If you intend to have someone else do everything the old car is going to need, my advice is to sell it now. Unless you are independently wealthy, it is just too expensive to turn to a mechanic for every little thing that comes along.

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Mr. Shannon DeWolfe -- I've taken to using mister because my name misleads folks on the WWW. I am a 52 year old fat man.

?

I agree with Shannon...generally, a significant part of vintage Volvo ownership is the hands-on part...doing minor things yourself (because they are generally right there, simple and understandable, confirmed when in doubt with a BB post), and then maybe working up to more involved adjustments and repairs as you get experience and more confidence. If you're going to have your mechanic adjust the idle and do every other minor item, you're missing out on much of the fun and satisfaction...and you might want to consider an attitude adjustment regarding vintage Volvo ownership...or maybe you are indeed rich.

Regarding noise levels (when everything is operating normally...so no excessive lifter clattering, or knocking timing gear, no chattering PCV valve, etc), an Amazon is certainly noisy compared to todays standards, but that's part of the retroexperience!...but you may want to make certain you are not experiencing more noise than was originally typiical...make sure your horsehair sound deadening material is in place all the way up to under the dashboard on the firewall (adding some more [breathable!] open cell foam couldn't hurt, and those foil-backed bubblepack style windshield sun shields cut into strategic additional pieces should also work nicely), and close off any openings (like around steering column, missing grommets), which will let in warm engine compartment air and noise...use open cell foam there too. You could even add a custom made carpet kit, which curves up and under the dash.

...and, you can always turn up the radio...

Cheers

Thanks for the info. And, it makes sense not to go to a mechanic for small things, i dont know why i put that. Funny coincidence, I just put a video of the car on youtube this morning. Heres the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYzJ9sqrNLg
I've never had a B18 engine that ran right, until this car.. so this might just be the normal sound of the car! Its just fairly louder than my old american cars. The car isnt block-your-ears loud its just.. well.. if you watch the video you will see. And then after that tell me if its normal for my car to be that loud.

It just seems that some amazons ive seen, online and in person, are noticeably quieter while idling.

?

...I just saw the vid...it sounds faily normal...I thought I did hear the PCV valve clattering a couple of times, but that is only at idle...if engine is "shaking", you may need new motor mounts...not terribly expensive, but they wont made much improvement in the noise level...now get out there and drive it!

Cheers

and, some other amazons run smoother as mine seems rather... shaky.

I've not seen your video yet.

back when I was younger and knew a lot less, my mechanic told me the vibration of the engine is inescapable because of the lack of balancing in the engine (or something to that effect) however, he did significantly lower the vibration in my 145's B20 motor by adjusting the valve lash.

I've done the same and had mixed results with different cylinder heads. One ran smooth as silk, another is just wobbly, no matter what I do.

Adjust (or have someone else adjust) your valve lash.

Thanks
Ill look into that