Contest!! Volvo Blog Post!

[FCPGroton]

WOAH.....

[admin]

Bumpidy bump.

[jks2]

"Cars and Clay, Not Just for Modeling"

One good way to ensure that your finish on your Volvo maintains its silky smooth surface is to clay your vehicle. Numerous companies make kits to do this. I'm partial to the ones from Meguiars, but you can use your favorite brand. The clay kits usually come with a clay bar and a bottle of detailing spray. The clay doesn't remove any of the clear coat or paint, it just removes particles that are sitting on top of the paint.

One way to know if you need to clay your car is to run your hand over the finish. If you feel small gritty areas, then it's time for the clay to come out.

Step one is to wash the car to remove any existing dirt and grime. No need to dry it as the water will actually help.

Step two is to start with a small (2' x 2') area and spray on the detailing spray that comes with the kit. Work the clay back and forth. You may need to spray the area again if there is a lot of grit to remove. You'll know when you have done it enough as the clay will start to slide easier and you wont hear any sound (a sandpaper sound).

Once you have all the grit removed dry the area with a clean towel.

After finishing the entire car put on a good coat of polish. The clay not only removes the grit and grime, it also removes the polish.

Give it a try, you'll be pleased with the results.

[Sinyckel]

For the last ten years I have owned several Volvo 240's. Two years ago I finally found what I was looking for when I was in a position to buy. I picked up a 1980 242dl as a project car for $600. Unfortunately the motor in the car only had 100k on it and ran like it had been babied by the previous owner, so yanking the stock B21F seemed like a waste. The car, just like almost every Volvo on the east coast is in need of rocker/wheelwell/spare tire well replacement and unlike many in the area I live in I am planning to have the metal work done to the body. (can't use filler on a 2 door Volvo, that's Heresy) However, in three weeks she will be getting her first upgrade. I am replacing the auto tranny with an M46. While in the future I am planning to supercharge the motor using an SC-14, Intercooler, and Mega Squirt system, I want to see what it's like to drive a relatively fresh, non-modified B21F with the four speed with overdrive. In this coming tax season, I am planning to pick up an 850T to use as my daily driver so that I can take the 242 off of the road and give her the attention she deserves. The metal has been ordered, and I have started sourcing parts so within the next year I will have a 1980 Volvo 242 with fresh metal, supercharger, and group A spoiler replica. I am hoping to squeeze out between 160-180 HP from the stock B21 while staying mainly stock with all other internal components. (Maybe a different cam, but I haven't decided on that) I think that this will keep the car very streetable, and make it playful enough to drive without fear of wrapping it around a telephone pole. I have been waiting for a long time to be in a position to do this, and I am teeming with excitement about taking the first real step towards making my Volvo what I want it to be.
s.

[Somthngfrce]

Ok, the next topic at hand as far as taking care of your Volvo is Leather Care.... This is a topic I personally like since I work with Leather at work. I make leather Gloves for the Sport of Falconry and also make leather equipment at work for Birds of Prey so I know the ins and out from hands on and also from Vendors we use.... Once you finish detailing your car, the next step is to tackle the inside. Before working on the leather, make sure to Vaccum the interior as if you clean the leather and THEN you Vaccum, you will just make a bigger mess.... Once you Vaccum you will need to wipe down the leather with either a cleaner or personally I use Antibacterial Hand Wipes http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... d=10314665. These are cheap at Walmart. Most of the problem with leather, is that the cleaning solutions are usually too acidic OR are too much of a base and it is important to keep the leather at a neutral pH! Yes, leather is skin, so too much or not enough will mean cracks and breakage! Hand wipes are designed to clean and kill bacteria in our hands obviously and not dry them so they are great and it has a neutral Ph for a cleaner. Use the wipes and be thorough in wiping ALL leather surfaces including the Steering wheel. You will be surprised how black those wipes get..... Once you are done wiping let surface dry for a little while. I also suggest letting the car sit in direct sunlight for a little while with all the windows closed. What this will do is super heat the interior and allow the pores in the leather to open up and soak any conditioner you apply all the way thru to the nap (back side of the leather) making it stronger. Leathe cracks from drying and Ph changes so if you allow the leather pores to open it will soak up the conditioner all the way thru and that will give the leather as a whole to stay hydrated! Once your interior is heated, start applying the conditioner you choose liberaly. You will see the hot leather "drink" the conditioner. I personally use this stuff called Bick 4 http://www.bickmore.com/bickmore/Leathe ... Bick4.html. It ios a cream conditioner that was made for leather horse saddles and leather horse equipment! So as you can see it was made for heavy duty applications in conditioning. I will take the cream and apply it straight to the leather with my hands almost massaging it into the leather. I do this for the whole car including the steering wheel... Once you are done, close the doors and let the conditioner sit in the sun. You will see in a few minutes the cream will disapear so there won't be any need to wipe down the surfaces! That should be it. If your leather is so stained that you need another cleaner, then I also use this stuff, does an exellent job http://www.bickmore.com/bickmore/Leathe ... Bick1.html but you can also use products like Lexol. They also make a 2in one cleaner http://www.bickmore.com/bickmore/Leathe ... Bick5.html but I personally like the cremes. They seem to give the leather more "moisture"... Remember when cleaning leather NOT to use house hold chemicals, soaps unless it's a saddle soap otherwise these items will dry the leather and eventually cracking. Besides cremes you can also use neatsfoot oils and also if you can find it at a pharmacy, fish oil that has had the odor removed. Sounds crazy but it works! This WILL kill you leater interior. Ask anyone whom works or has horses! One thing to NOT DO and that is seal the leather with a spray like Camp dry and/or Scotchguard!. This will seal the pores in the leather and will eventually dry the leather by not allowing the cream or spray cleaner to soak thru to the nap. I will also compile a list of links at the bottom of this write up of other automotive leather cleaners and conditioners. Just remember that this along with Oils and waxes are a subjective topic, so if you find something you like product wise stick with it!
Good Luck cleaning and Happy Motoring!

[admin]

Notice!

FCP Groton has raised the stakes!

Now there will be 3 winners to this contest!

1st Place ---- $200 customer credit!
2nd Place --- $50 customer credit!
3rd Place ---- $25 customer credit!

FCP Groton will still retain all rights to use the post(s) in their blog, and of course the authors will be credited for their work.

Thank you!

[macs&volvos]

wow, 200 bucks. That is awesome.

[bigguy]

Owned Volvos since 1976 ('75 245, '87 745, '95 850, 3 XC70's ('00, '05, '09). Just got a '09 XC70 because my 2000 XC70 had a short no one could find (wiring harness) more than the car was worth. Lost money on that one, should have gone another 5 years at a minimum. Looked at other cars and didn't want an SUV. Chose the XC for it's versatility. Except for the 2000 am pleased with Volvos. Don't like engine noise on the 6cyl '09, horrible compared to my 2005 XC70. Prefer the 5cyl turbo. Like the gadgets but would prefer a more rugged appearance inside and out. Just gave the '95 850 to my brotherinlaw and it's in excellent condition, he also has 2 other Volvos.

[RussianR]

http://www.volvolution.com/forum/viewto ... 1304#p1291

I am in! Russian R exists!

[MikeSr]

The Volvo bug starts a third generation. My grandson Julian is 18 and just getting his license. I am giving my 1990 740GLE 16V car to him as his first car. His father and his uncle were also recipients of Volvos when they were 16. All my family drives them. Between all of us, we currently own 11 Volvos and have owned a total of about thirty. I appreciate the quality and safety of this Swedish marque, and I plan on driving them forever.
VIVA Volvo!