New pics of my project

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 08/21/2008 12:55AM by itopping.

um.......wow. awesome!

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.

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/

That thing looks hard core!

What are you doin for driveline?

---

Michael LeCompte

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!

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/

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.

---

Monika Hawkinson
Seattle, WA

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

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.

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

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/

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

That's all you can do. Roll with it baby!

Keep us updated!!!

---

Michael LeCompte

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.