itopping Ian Topping Mega Moderator Location: Ann Arbor, MI Join Date: 04/04/2007 Age: Party Animal Posts: 32 Rally Car: Volvo 242 (a work in progress)

itopping New pics of my project August 20, 2008 10:53PM Registered: 04/04/2007 Posts: 32 I know if haven't posted much about my project so here's some background: Purchased a Volvo 242 last summer and immediately began stripping it out. I was able to get almost everything out before the end of the summer. After a few cage builders fell threw, we found Ryan Thompson who was excited about the project. He got the car earlier this summer and after I spent a month playing Navy, here are some pics of where the project stands now. More can be found at http://thompsonracingfabrication.com/index.php?option=com_rsgallery2&gid=5 Ian Topping Flint, MI http://www.thompsonracingfabrication.com/ http://www.teamilluminata.com./ http://www.autoeuropesales.com/ Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/20/2008 10:55PM by itopping. Reply Quote Attachments: open | download - IMG_3947_jpg.jpg (26.2 KB) open | download - IMG_3950_jpg.jpg (31.8 KB) open | download - IMG_3951_jpg.jpg (26.2 KB)

gilbrock Eli Gilbert Godlike Moderator Location: San Diego, CA Join Date: 03/30/2006 Age: Settling Down Posts: 307 Rally Car: 91 Galant, 02 WRX

gilbrock Re: New pics of my project August 21, 2008 09:12AM Registered: 03/30/2006 Posts: 307 um.......wow. awesome! Reply Quote

BillyElliot Billy Elliot Mann Super Moderator Location: Royal Oak, MI Join Date: 08/11/2008 Age: Settling Down Posts: 523 Rally Car: 1996 Honda Civic with VTEC YO!

BillyElliot Re: New pics of my project August 21, 2008 09:46AM Registered: 08/11/2008 Posts: 523 How much did all of that run you, if you don't mind me asking? Looks like a very nice job. I used another local guy to do my cage work that was closer (came well recommended too) and I was very dissapointed in his work. I did mention TRF to the guy who was doing my work and he said that Thompson used to be a customer of his (implying that his work couldn't have been better than his own). But comparing the job you got done, and to what I got... there's no doubt who I'll go to TRF for cage work next time. Reply Quote

Jon Burke Jon Burke Elite Moderator Location: San Francisco, CA Join Date: 01/03/2008 Age: Settling Down Posts: 1,402 Rally Car: Subaru w/<1000 crashes

Jon Burke Re: New pics of my project August 21, 2008 11:37AM Registered: 01/03/2008 Posts: 1,402 eeets vahry naheeeez! I would totally be sitting in it w/the steering wheel going 'vrooom! vrooom!' Jon Burke - KI6LSW Blog: http://psgrallywrx.blogspot.com/ Reply Quote

pikespeakgtx Michael LeCompte Senior Moderator Location: Arcata, CA (Sverdlotsk, Siberien) Join Date: 11/11/2007 Age: Settling Down Posts: 714 Rally Car: Mazda GTX BPT - - - - - Not full-fledged - - - - - More like fledgling.

pikespeakgtx Re: New pics of my project August 21, 2008 12:03PM Registered: 11/11/2007 Posts: 714 That thing looks hard core! What are you doin for driveline? Michael LeCompte Reply Quote

alkun Albert Kun Infallible Moderator Location: SF Ca. Join Date: 01/07/2008 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 1,398 Rally Car: volvo 242

alkun Re: New pics of my project August 21, 2008 01:41PM Registered: 01/07/2008 Posts: 1,398 Hola Comrade! Looks very familiar! My 242 just needs the door bars and a gusset or two, and I was a lot lazier about getting it clear first. Looks very nice! Are those the JVAB rear strut towers I see back there? -Al PS yours has more tubes than mine, you win! Looking for Volvo 242? PM me, I probably have a line on one for cheap... Reply Quote

itopping Ian Topping Mega Moderator Location: Ann Arbor, MI Join Date: 04/04/2007 Age: Party Animal Posts: 32 Rally Car: Volvo 242 (a work in progress)

itopping Re: New pics of my project August 21, 2008 06:08PM Registered: 04/04/2007 Posts: 32 I can't say enough about Ryan. I think he's done a excellent job and he's been great to work with. Billy, it would probably be best to talk to Ryan about prices. Personally, I think what we paid was very reasonable considering the quality of work that was done. As of now, the drivetrain will be a 4runner axle with a 4.56 and a Supra lsd, a Chevy T5 box mated to an engine that John is currently building. Those are indeed JVAB rear strut towers and of course we'll be suspended by a set of John's soooper bitchin suspenders. Ian Topping Flint, MI http://www.thompsonracingfabrication.com/ http://www.teamilluminata.com./ http://www.autoeuropesales.com/ Reply Quote

Sofa King Kevin Hawkinson Mega Moderator Location: Seattle Join Date: 12/18/2005 Age: Settling Down Posts: 240 Rally Car: 83 Volvo

Sofa King Re: New pics of my project August 22, 2008 10:33AM Registered: 12/18/2005 Posts: 240 Nice nice nice. To bad you'll have to cut more holes in the floor, and weld in some more sheet metal for the link boxes... PS, your cage is a very convincing arguement for starting with a 4-door. Kevin Hawkinson Seattle, WA 83 Volvo 240 Gp5 (in progress) 35-ish Reply Quote

pikespeakgtx Michael LeCompte Senior Moderator Location: Arcata, CA (Sverdlotsk, Siberien) Join Date: 11/11/2007 Age: Settling Down Posts: 714 Rally Car: Mazda GTX BPT - - - - - Not full-fledged - - - - - More like fledgling.

pikespeakgtx Re: New pics of my project August 24, 2008 09:30PM Registered: 11/11/2007 Posts: 714 Sofa King Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > PS, your cage is a very convincing arguement for > starting with a 4-door. I was curious as to what you meant, because I didn't notice the car was a 4 door. You just weld the rear doors shut and fill in the seams?? Michael LeCompte Reply Quote

Tim Taylor Tim Taylor Elite Moderator Location: Oakland, CA Join Date: 02/02/2007 Age: Settling Down Posts: 617 Rally Car: Mazda 323 GTX

Tim Taylor Re: New pics of my project August 25, 2008 04:38PM Registered: 02/02/2007 Posts: 617 pikespeakgtx Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sofa King Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > > PS, your cage is a very convincing arguement > for > > starting with a 4-door. > > > I was curious as to what you meant, because I > didn't notice the car was a 4 door. > > You just weld the rear doors shut and fill in the > seams?? > > Michael LeCompte With a 4-door he would still have access behind the main hoop to put in the yet to be built 4-link sheet metal. There are so many tubes in the main hoop that it's going to be a contortionist job to get back there now. Reply Quote

pikespeakgtx Michael LeCompte Senior Moderator Location: Arcata, CA (Sverdlotsk, Siberien) Join Date: 11/11/2007 Age: Settling Down Posts: 714 Rally Car: Mazda GTX BPT - - - - - Not full-fledged - - - - - More like fledgling.

pikespeakgtx Re: New pics of my project August 25, 2008 11:45PM Registered: 11/11/2007 Posts: 714 Oh Ok. I see what you mean. This car was never a 4 door, but Kevin was saying that a 4 door would be good in this case because it would be easier to get at the floor in the back by the differential to install the 4 link after the cage was installed. No kidding about the contortionist job with all those tubes. Have fun with that. It sounds a lot like one of those bitch jobs my dad was always giving me to do as a kid. I wanna see how one of these babies goes with the full tilt turbo motor, ford tranny, and the strut towers, the soooperbitchin suspenders and the 4 link, and all that. Any good video out there of these cars flingin dirt? Michael LeCompte Reply Quote

itopping Ian Topping Mega Moderator Location: Ann Arbor, MI Join Date: 04/04/2007 Age: Party Animal Posts: 32 Rally Car: Volvo 242 (a work in progress)

itopping Re: New pics of my project August 26, 2008 08:43AM Registered: 04/04/2007 Posts: 32 I agree that it will be difficult to get back there and Ryan (the fabricator) is aware that he has more work to do behind the main hoop. This is certainly a lesson learned for the next build, but this is what we have now so we have to deal with it the best way possible and move on. Ian Topping Flint, MI http://www.thompsonracingfabrication.com/ http://www.teamilluminata.com./ http://www.autoeuropesales.com/ Reply Quote

Bruce Beauvais Bruce Beauvais Senior Moderator Location: Troll part of Michigan Join Date: 03/07/2008 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 103 Rally Car: none- right seat's for me

Bruce Beauvais Re: New pics of my project August 26, 2008 01:32PM Registered: 03/07/2008 Posts: 103 itopping Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > As of now, the drivetrain will be a 4runner axle > with a 4.56 and a Supra lsd, a Chevy T5 box mated > to an engine that John is currently building. > > > Ian Topping > Flint, MI Ian, We gonna set up a delivery date for that super-secret ratio T5? Racing season is pretty much over so time is a little more free. One of these days I'll trip over it one too many times. Bruce Beauvais Too many SAABs to count Reply Quote

pikespeakgtx Michael LeCompte Senior Moderator Location: Arcata, CA (Sverdlotsk, Siberien) Join Date: 11/11/2007 Age: Settling Down Posts: 714 Rally Car: Mazda GTX BPT - - - - - Not full-fledged - - - - - More like fledgling.

pikespeakgtx Re: New pics of my project August 26, 2008 05:07PM Registered: 11/11/2007 Posts: 714 That's all you can do. Roll with it baby! Keep us updated!!! Michael LeCompte Reply Quote

john vanlandingham John Vanlandingham Senior Moderator Location: Ford Asylum, Sleezattle, WA Join Date: 12/19/2005 Age: Ancient Posts: 9,728 Rally Car: Saab 96 V4

john vanlandingham Re: New pics of my project August 27, 2008 08:59AM Registered: 12/19/2005 Posts: 9,728 Got the axles finished last night when we pressed in the Sooper Bitchin M14 x 1.5 studs piccies to follow whenever Kevvie get round to it. I'll get them into UPSs hands today along with all the little link ends, stainless spacers, jam nuts, axle mounting brackets, shock mounting brackets, and hardware. Damn its a big pile of stuff! Maybe Tim will send the strut bottoms up..... Next step is slapping Kevvies axle together so we can position the caliper mount and see if we can do it a bolt on or a weld on dealie. And Panhard rod. And bellhousing. John Vanlandingham Sleezattle, WA, USA Vive le Prole-le-ralliat www.rallyrace.net/jvab CALL +1 206 431-9696 Remember! Pacific Standard Time is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time. Reply Quote

Tim Taylor Tim Taylor Elite Moderator Location: Oakland, CA Join Date: 02/02/2007 Age: Settling Down Posts: 617 Rally Car: Mazda 323 GTX

Tim Taylor Re: New pics of my project August 27, 2008 10:31AM Registered: 02/02/2007 Posts: 617 john vanlandingham Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > Maybe Tim will send the strut bottoms up..... > Welded them over the weekend...I just need to bore them for the ball joint. Reply Quote

itopping Ian Topping Mega Moderator Location: Ann Arbor, MI Join Date: 04/04/2007 Age: Party Animal Posts: 32 Rally Car: Volvo 242 (a work in progress)

itopping Re: New pics of my project March 09, 2009 07:34PM Registered: 04/04/2007 Posts: 32 New pics are up. The rear suspension assembly is now finished, boxes and all. And as you can see on the bottom, she is now begging for an engine! Ian Topping Flint, MI http://www.thompsonracingfabrication.com/ http://www.teamilluminata.com./ http://www.autoeuropesales.com/ Reply Quote Attachments: open | download - DSCF1437.JPG (105.2 KB) open | download - DSCF1438.JPG (102.6 KB) open | download - DSCF1435.JPG (100.6 KB)

Rallymech Robert Gobright Infallible Moderator Location: White Center Seattle Join Date: 04/27/2008 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 1,090 Rally Car: 91 VW GTI 8V

Rallymech Re: New pics of my project March 10, 2009 09:00PM Registered: 04/27/2008 Posts: 1,090 Is your engine the one that is on the stand at John's? If so, I think that you will be happy! Robert. "You are way too normal to be on Rally Anarchy." Eddie Fiorelli. Reply Quote

itopping Ian Topping Mega Moderator Location: Ann Arbor, MI Join Date: 04/04/2007 Age: Party Animal Posts: 32 Rally Car: Volvo 242 (a work in progress)

itopping Re: New pics of my project March 11, 2009 07:36AM Registered: 04/04/2007 Posts: 32 That should be the one. From what he's told me, it sounds like it should be pretty bad ass. I can't wait to fire it up! Ian Topping Flint, MI http://www.thompsonracingfabrication.com/ http://www.teamilluminata.com./ http://www.autoeuropesales.com/ Reply Quote

bean Rabin Rutten-James Elite Moderator Location: Canada Join Date: 06/13/2007 Posts: 149 Rally Car: None

bean Re: New pics of my project March 23, 2009 09:01PM Registered: 06/13/2007 Posts: 149 Beautiful work... Can I ask what the plans are to control the lateral movement on the rear suspension? Very curious to see how this car turns out - looks fantastic. Rabin Reply Quote

itopping Ian Topping Mega Moderator Location: Ann Arbor, MI Join Date: 04/04/2007 Age: Party Animal Posts: 32 Rally Car: Volvo 242 (a work in progress)

itopping Re: New pics of my project March 23, 2009 09:30PM Registered: 04/04/2007 Posts: 32 The panhard rod/track bar should be able to take care of the lateral movements. You can't really see it in the middle picture cause it's tucked in behind the axle. All the credit for the work goes to Ryan who continues to impress me. I wish I could work on the car more than I do, but school gets in the way. Thanks for the interest and I'll be updating this thread throughout the project. Ian Topping Flint, MI http://www.thompsonracingfabrication.com/ http://www.teamilluminata.com./ http://www.autoeuropesales.com/ Reply Quote

bean Rabin Rutten-James Elite Moderator Location: Canada Join Date: 06/13/2007 Posts: 149 Rally Car: None

bean Re: New pics of my project March 23, 2009 10:18PM Registered: 06/13/2007 Posts: 149 Figured something was missing or it wasn't in yet... Tried the link for more photos but no views of it there either so had to ask. Will be looking forward to the updates... Rabin Reply Quote

Sofa King Kevin Hawkinson Mega Moderator Location: Seattle Join Date: 12/18/2005 Age: Settling Down Posts: 240 Rally Car: 83 Volvo

Sofa King Re: New pics of my project March 23, 2009 11:37PM Registered: 12/18/2005 Posts: 240 So where do the rear wheels sit in relation to the wheel arches now? Kevin Hawkinson Seattle, WA 83 Volvo 240 Gp5 (in progress) 35-ish Reply Quote

itopping Ian Topping Mega Moderator Location: Ann Arbor, MI Join Date: 04/04/2007 Age: Party Animal Posts: 32 Rally Car: Volvo 242 (a work in progress)

itopping Re: New pics of my project March 25, 2009 02:25PM Registered: 04/04/2007 Posts: 32 The wheels are farther apart since the Toyota axle was wider, but they still clear the inside of the arches but I don't recall by how much. Back-and-forth, one of the wheels is close to the front of the wheel arch and rubs sometimes. We are pretty sure this can be adjusted with the links on that side. Ian Topping Flint, MI http://www.thompsonracingfabrication.com/ http://www.teamilluminata.com./ http://www.autoeuropesales.com/ Reply Quote

john vanlandingham John Vanlandingham Senior Moderator Location: Ford Asylum, Sleezattle, WA Join Date: 12/19/2005 Age: Ancient Posts: 9,728 Rally Car: Saab 96 V4

john vanlandingham Re: New pics of my project March 25, 2009 02:28PM Registered: 12/19/2005 Posts: 9,728 Where's the motor piccies!!?? John Vanlandingham Sleezattle, WA, USA Vive le Prole-le-ralliat www.rallyrace.net/jvab CALL +1 206 431-9696 Remember! Pacific Standard Time is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time. Reply Quote

itopping Ian Topping Mega Moderator Location: Ann Arbor, MI Join Date: 04/04/2007 Age: Party Animal Posts: 32 Rally Car: Volvo 242 (a work in progress)

itopping Re: New pics of my project March 25, 2009 04:50PM Registered: 04/04/2007 Posts: 32 Well gee you should've told me you wanted me to throw them up on the forum. Plus I didn't want to be drooling every time I looked in this thread. Here they are anyways (can't wait to see it in person): Ian Topping Flint, MI http://www.thompsonracingfabrication.com/ http://www.teamilluminata.com./ http://www.autoeuropesales.com/ Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/2009 04:57PM by itopping. Reply Quote Attachments: open | download - Topping cam1.jpg (47.5 KB) open | download - Topping head.jpg (66.4 KB) open | download - Topping valves.jpg (62.6 KB)

itopping Ian Topping Mega Moderator Location: Ann Arbor, MI Join Date: 04/04/2007 Age: Party Animal Posts: 32 Rally Car: Volvo 242 (a work in progress)

itopping Re: New pics of my project March 25, 2009 04:52PM Registered: 04/04/2007 Posts: 32 One more Ian Topping Flint, MI http://www.thompsonracingfabrication.com/ http://www.teamilluminata.com./ http://www.autoeuropesales.com/ Reply Quote Attachments: open | download - Volvo 8v fun.jpg (54.6 KB)

Rallymech Robert Gobright Infallible Moderator Location: White Center Seattle Join Date: 04/27/2008 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 1,090 Rally Car: 91 VW GTI 8V

Rallymech Re: New pics of my project March 25, 2009 08:42PM Registered: 04/27/2008 Posts: 1,090 Has the cam on the bottom of the picture been welded? Robert. "You are way too normal to be on Rally Anarchy." Eddie Fiorelli. Reply Quote

slidewayswrx Patrick Darrow Ultra Moderator Location: Portland OR Join Date: 12/30/2006 Age: Settling Down Posts: 327 Rally Car: Swedish John Deere

slidewayswrx Re: New pics of my project February 17, 2012 10:23AM Registered: 12/30/2006 Posts: 327 Bumping this up for mister Blake Lind. Especially check out the link that Ian posted to the Thompson Fab. We're doing pretty damned good so far as I can tell and Ian's build is a great one to go of off. Ian, come west with that thing. Zap zap my ass... Reply Quote

BobOfTheFuture Rob Russo Senior Moderator Location: West Babylon, NY Join Date: 09/24/2010 Age: Party Animal Posts: 362 Rally Car: Eh... Workin' on it.

BobOfTheFuture Re: New pics of my project February 17, 2012 04:38PM Registered: 09/24/2010 Posts: 362 Wow... Enablers, All of you... Reply Quote