How to Pull Off a Volvo 240 Suspension Lift Right
Thinking about a volvo 240 suspension lift usually means that you've spent a lot of time looking at "battle car" builds online or you're simply sick and tired of scraping your own oil pan on every speed bundle in the neighborhood. It's a funny issue because for decades, the Volvo 240 was the quintessential "low and slow" cruiser. People cut springs to get them on the particular ground, but recently, the community offers flipped the script. Now, everyone wants to turn these Swedish bricks in to rugged, go-anywhere machines that look like they belong in a post-apocalyptic movie.
Carrying out a lift on a 240 isn't quite mainly because straightforward as carrying out one on a Jeep or a truck having a body-on-frame design. Since it's an unibody car with a Mcpherson strut front end plus a live axle rear, you possess to be a bit more innovative. But honestly, that's half the fun. You aren't just buying a package away from a listing and bolting it on; you're-engineering the piece of 1980s history.
Exactly why Even Bother Lifting a Brick?
Let's be real for a second. The Volvo 240 was never designed to be the rock crawler. However, its over-engineered framework and dead-simple driveline make it surprisingly capable when a person get it off the pavement. There's a certain charm to having a car that seems like a rolling refrigerator and giving this the floor clearance of a modern all terain.
Nearly all people go down the volvo 240 suspension lift path for 1 of three factors. First, there's the particular aesthetic. A lifted wagon with large tires just appears "right. " Second, there's the energy. If you reside somewhere with large snow or you enjoy camping upon Forest Service roads, that extra two or three inches of clearance are the differences between making it to the trailhead and calling a tow truck. Lastly, there's the "Gambler 500" crowd—people who need to beat the particular living daylights from a cheap car and see how far it can move. Whatever your reason, it's task management that transforms the smoothness of the car completely.
The Top End Puzzle
The front suspension is definitely where things get tricky. Because the 240 uses struts, you can't just toss a longer spring in there plus call it up a day time. Well, you could , but you'd best out the strut immediately, and the ride quality would certainly be absolutely unpleasant.
The most common way to handle a volvo 240 suspension lift within the front is definitely strut spacers. They are essentially metal blocks that bolt involving the top of the strut tower plus the strut support itself. It's a simple solution that goes the entire assembly downward, giving you lift without having to sacrifice almost all your downward suspension travel. You can find these on the web from a few specialty shops, or even if you're handy with a welder plus some plate metal, you can fabricate your own.
An additional old-school trick is "extended" strut tubes. This involves slicing the factory strut housing and welding in an area of pipe in order to make it more time. It's not for the faint of heart, plus you need in order to be confident in your welds—having the strut fail with 60 mph is usually a bad day for everyone included. But if done right, it allows you to make use of longer springs and gain serious height.
The Rear End Is Much Easier
Thankfully, the rear of the 240 is a breeze compared in order to the front. Since it's a strong axle with coils springs, you do have a lot more options. Numerous enthusiasts have uncovered that particular Jeep springs—specifically front springs from a Jeep Cherokee (XJ)—fit surprisingly well in the back of a Volvo 240.
These Jeep suspension springs are usually stiffer and longer compared to stock Volvo devices. When you change them in, the particular back from the vehicle will skyrocket instantly. It gives this that aggressive, raked look. If the Jeep springs are usually too tall, a person can always trim them down the bit with a cut-off wheel till the ride height is exactly exactly where you want this. Remember if a person go too firm, the back end will bounce about like a pogo stick when the trunk is bare.
In case you don't want to swap springs, you may use "coil spacers" or "spring perches" to boost the height. These sit at the best or bottom associated with the spring and just add a bit of thickness. It's a cheap method to get an additional inch or so if you're on a tight spending budget.
Steering plus Geometry Issues
Here is in which a lot of individuals mess up. When you perform a volvo 240 suspension lift , you're changing the particular angles of everything underneath the car. The most immediate issue is the Panhard rod in the rear. This rod retains the axle focused underneath the car. Because the car will go up, the rod pulls the axle to one aspect. In case you lift it greater than two ins, you'll notice your own rear wheels aren't centered in the particular wheel wells any more. One side will poke out, and the other will be tucked in heavy. The fix is an adjustable Panhard rod, which lets you dial the axle back to the middle.
In the front side, you have in order to worry about your link rods and handle arms. Lifting the particular car boosts the position of the link rods, which can lead to "bump steer"—that's when the car darts in a different path each time you strike a bump. To fix this, a few people use "roll center correctors" or "spacer blocks" for the ball joints. It keeps the control arms at the more natural angle therefore the car really handles like the car rather than the shopping cart.
Brake Lines plus Driveshafts
Don't forget the little stuff. When a person pull the body aside from the axle assemblies, your brake lines are going in order to get tight. On a significant volvo 240 suspension lift , the stock silicone lines might in fact reach their limitation once the suspension is fully unsprung (like when you're going over a crest or have the car on a jack). You don't need your brake lines acting as limitation straps for your own suspension. It's a good idea in order to swap in certain more, stainless steel wrapped lines. It's safer, and it'll increase your pedal feel in any case.
Driveshaft alignment is another issue to watch. The 240 has the two-piece driveshaft with a center support bearing. In case you lift the rear too high, the angle at the U-joints can turn out to be too steep, top to vibrations. Sometimes you can get away with it, but also a person might need in order to shim the middle support bearing or the transmission bracket to get the angles back in the happy range.
Tires Make the Build
Let's be honest: no one does a volvo 240 suspension lift to keep the stock 14-inch tires and skinny auto tires. The whole stage would be to fit a few meat under those fenders. Once a person have the lift installed, you may usually jump upward to a 27-inch or even a 29-inch tire based on how much you're willing in order to "massage" the wheel wells with a sludge hammer.
All-terrain tires like the BFGoodrich KO2 or the General Grabber are usually popular choices. They look tough and actually provide grasp in the dirt. Just keep in mind that bigger tires will make your speedometer examine slow, and your acceleration will take a hit because you've effectively changed the final drive ratio. Your old B230F motor isn't a giant to begin with, so adding large off-road tires will make it sense even more leisurely.
Wrapping Issues Up
At the end of the day, a volvo 240 suspension lift is one of the particular most rewarding projects you can do if you love these cars. It breaks the particular mold of what individuals expect from a vintage Volvo. It's not about monitor times or becoming the fastest apart from a stoplight; it's about producing a car that will feels indestructible.
Is it heading to handle like a sports car? Definitely not. It'll become a bit floatier, and you'll have got to be even more careful in the corners. But the very first time you generate over a control or blast via a muddy trail without hearing that will soul-crushing sound associated with metal hitting rock and roll, it'll all be worth it. Simply take your time with the geometry, don't ignore the brake lines, and obtain looking forward to a great deal of confused stares at the fuel station. There's nothing at all quite like a raised brick.