Denverspeed

Alrighty folks, it’s time for an update to the Volvo high performance blog. Its been a while since I have written. Don’t worry, I haven’t been sneaking around making undocumented modifications to the race wagon. The problem is that I have been busy and poor. That’s a bad combination for a hobbyist hot rod builder.

I’m sorry to say I didn’t reach my goal of running an 11 second pass in 2009. With only a couple days left it isn’t looking good for making that happen either. So I guess I’ll be pushing the schedule and now the 2010 goal will now be to run an 11. I think I can increase the pressure a bit and shoot for an 11.50 or better. That is a good number to shoot for because it’s the cutoff where alot of extra safety gear is needed on the car. In particular, a roll bar will be required. Lets hope that I’ll be installing a roll cage later in the year.

One of the big changes for 2010 will be in the driveline of the Volvo Turbo wagon. I’m swapping the Getrag 5 speed with an automatic transmission from a 1991 Chevy Corvette. This transmission is named the Turbo Hydramatic 700r4 and its quite a stout part from the factory. Though it never had to deal with more than 300-350 hp in any factory installation. With the turbo wagon now making 500hp it will need some help to deal with the abuse that the little 4 cylinder turbo will be dishing out.

With future performance increasese in mind I am starting a rebuild and enhancement project on the 700R4 I have had in my garage for the last month. And a little later I’ll be working on some adapter parts to make the Chevy transmission work behind a Volvo engine. This should really improve the 1/4 mile performance of the car dramatically.

Automatic transmissions are really uncharted territory for me. I have worked on most every part on a car over the last 20  years. Engines, suspension, and manual transmissions are all things I have done. I have even dabbled in fabrication and paint work. But automatics have always been a little bit scary and unknown. Its definitely one of those projects that not many home mechanics undertake. And just to confirm how complicated these devices can be the box of rebuild parts arrived on my front porch to give me a preview of what I was about to get into. I was blown away with the assortment of  parts. There must be 100 seals and gaskets, a half dozen press fit bushings and another 100 hard parts that include clutches, steels, bearings, valves etc. This thing is a really advanced jigsaw puzzle. It should be fun to see how it all works.

I picked up a very nice manual written by ATSG on rebuilding the 700R4 and studied for a few days before cracking the gearbox open. The internet also provided lots of nice color pictures and descriptions. After filling my head with abstract diagrams and pictures, I decided it was time to remove the pan, and pull the oil pump to see what lives inside. Over the last couple nights I have been slowly disassembling the transmission and taking pictures not only so I can brag about this on my blog, but so I can remember where the hell all these loose parts go. One of the scariest parts is when you unbolt something and a couple of random balls, washers, or metallic parts go bouncing across the floor. I have a handfull of parts that I have scratched my head about, wondering where they came from. Hopefully the diagrams are good and will help me reassemble the puzzle.

The insides of an automatic are really amazing. Planetary gear sets remind me of playing with a spirograph when I was a kid. Its really neat stuff.