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Hello All:
1967 Volvo 122S Wagon. The brood and I just put 850 miles on the beast this weekend driving to and from New Hampshire from New York City. I do not have the overdrive but I drove pretty steadily at 65MPH the whole way, easing up a bit on hills and the motor just hums. My question:
What are the real benefits of this overdrive everyone is talking about? I hear many people say that they wish they had made this conversion before they did anything else, but I have a long list of things (such as a new floor) that I feel should take precedence. The car is already in great shape, looks and runs beautifully, and I am hesitant to potentially introduce a gremlin when things are running so well. Am I crazy? No, I mean about this overdrive thing.
Cheers,
Jeff Pucillo
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mmmmmmmmmmmmmm 123GT, my one is off the road at the moment, but I had a chance to drive it just after purchase. This thing had sat for several years without use, it started and drove like a dream. I had driven a later model 142S 4spd no overdrive and the 123GT ATE IT FOR BREAKFAST, it was at like 70mph and was barely above idle.
go the overdrive, plus it is such a cool unique unit as well.
mmmmmmmm 123GT mmmmmmmmmm overdrive
I can't wait until I am able to get her back on the road.
Daz
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considering how long that '67s been going w/o an OD, imagine how long she'll go with one. that's the main reason why for me.
i drove mine a few months w/o one, everything was great; i came across an O/D; and would never go back. it's like night and day the difference. like some else already said, it's just so much more relaxed. it can almost become a Zen moment when the valves are just right and the road was built right.
night and day.
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In a similar vehicle (the 122s' M41 is on the garage floor as yet) I had an OD tranny and it was sweeeeet. Then the solenoid decided to die and it was still a hoot around town and for short bursts but any long trip (out here in the West) was torture as the noise level was higher, mileage lower and heat generated greater. In short, short trips were fine but long trips were very tiresome.
for what it's worth
--
Mike!
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While you are fixing the floors, which you should definitely do first, scout around for someone with an ODed Amazon. Ingratiate yourself so that he/she will let you borrow it to take it for a comparison drive -- it's the only sound way of making up your mind.
Bob S.
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This is Danny here, down in Manhattan. When we figure out this spring get together, you can take my 122 two door (with OD) for a drive. Not a wagon, but...you'll get the idea.
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Hello All:
Wow, what great, thoughtful, helpful responses. Danny, I will definitely take you up on your offer. You can drive Virginia too. (Virginia is our wagon, okay?)
Speaking of my wife, she offered up her two cents on the subject; she feels that since we are usually traveling with two small children in the back that going 80-90 MPH is not really in anyone's best interest anyway. Not a bad theory, but I like the idea of easing up on the camshaft and getting better mileage even in the mid-60's. Hearing that no one has experienced any major overdrive failures puts to rest my concerns on that front.
Cheers,
Jeff Pucillo
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You're not crazy at all... you don't *need* the overdrive.
I did a road trip in a '64 122 wagon from north of Denver to Las Vegas doing 85-90 at times with no problems. A B18/B20 can take the extended hight rpm runs without a sweat. But...
Its sort of like having a 5 speed, but never leaving 4th. The overdrive is just a lot more relaxed. Its rarely an extra problem. Usually, if the OD fails, it just don't work, and you're back to your old 4 speed box.
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-Matt I ♥ my ♂
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posted by
someone claiming to be Charles
on
Mon Apr 11 16:33 CST 2005 [ RELATED]
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Consider that most of Sweden was dirt roads in 1967, and you will understand why these cars were not geared with freeway driving in mind. The engine turns about 4,000 rpm @ 65mph in fourth gear, depending on your final drive ratio. IMHO, this is "too fast" for sustained cruising and will definitely accelerate engine wear, especially up top - and these motors already have something of an infamous reputation for cam failure.
An overdrive transmission (M41) will knock off almost a thousand rev's at speed.Should improve fuel economy by a respectable margin as well.
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'cause after a few years of owning a trouble free 120 you will get bored and the thought of a little project that will improve gas milage, reduce cruising noise and engine wear, and get your hands nice and dirty. BTW I have yet to actually meet someone who has had a catastrophic o.d. failure, usually just electrical problems that stop the od from switching on, sometimes the solenoide valve fails which is another great oppurtunity to get your hands dirty.
--
Patrick, '68 220, '83 245, '92 Eurovan (work truck).
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posted by
someone claiming to be Clayton
on
Mon Apr 11 10:37 CST 2005 [ RELATED]
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That engine will run flat out for years. Overdrive just makes the driver feel better, the engine will not care. I don't think fuel mileage is improved all that much, because at the speeds everyone is bragging about, wind resistance is the biggest factor. It's a brick after all.
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posted by
someone claiming to be pete
on
Mon Apr 11 08:33 CST 2005 [ RELATED]
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Cos some of want to do it the whole way at 85-90
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You average freeway traffic around here (St. Louis MO) is around 75 - 80. The engine is wound pretty tight at that speed without an OD. Even at 65 mph the engine just sounds so much more relaxed.
I'd do it again in a hartbeat if I got another PV, and that's even with having to cut and weld the tiny PV tunnel.
--
I'm JohnMc, and I approved this message.
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John,
My wife saw your car one day a few years back and just couldn't decribe it to me. She said it was a volvo...but an unusual looking one that she'd never seen before or since. If you were driving at 75-80 mph, no wonder!
Next month, I'm bringing a '67 122S Wagon home to St. Louis. I suspect the OD question will be in my mind the whole trip back.
Volvo #6: all wagons.... 1972 145S, 1976 245 DL, 1983 245 GL, 1986 740 GLE, 1990 740 GL, now a 1995 940...
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There aren't many PV's in the St. Louis area. I think I've only ever seen 3 others. If it didn't say VOLVO on it I don't think many people would know what it was.
--
I'm JohnMc, and I approved this message.
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Jeff,
I drove our 122S for many, many years without OD. A healthy motor has no problems with sustained freeway speeds (roughly 4500 rpm at 70 mph with the low wagon gearing), and it's not unduly loud. Sounds like you have a good one.
OD would drop that to around 3600 rpm, which definitely feels more relaxed. Once you do it, you'll like it... but solid floors and basic repairs should take precedence, I agree.
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Phil;
I also drove my first car, a wagon, twenty brisk highway miles (which may not seem a lot to those of you in Nebraska, where you drive that far for beer and cheese)to and from work daily for four or five years...with not a problem...except when the exhaust system went away, then it was even more fun (but I was a lot younger then too, I don't think I would like that too much now!)...I think the revs keep it from rusting!
Jeff;
I agree with Phil...first things first...make it reliable and solid....an OD is nice, but as your weekend experience shows, life will go on without it.
Cheers
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