The 145 has been doing fine for a quite a long time, with the exception of the misfiring when hot; but of course, when we are 900 miles from home, that is the time when everything goes wrong. The misfire came back with a vengeance and the exhaust header disintegrated. This is the second time on less than two weeks that the car is virtually undriveable.

A lot of expensive parts from IPD (which is local here in Portland) later, the rough running seems to be all sorted out (I said that last time too, I know), and I have a new header that I will be installing sometime today. POOP! This has turned into quite the expensive trip...

A couple of thoughts on the experience gained from this adventure:

First lesson:

Header tape is the devil. The tape I put on the wagon less than two months ago has completely destroyed my perfectly good header. I discovered this fact after we developed a severe exhaust leak a couple of days ago that was blasting the side of the engine block and the oil filter with hot exhaust. It worried me, so I started cutting off the tape, and underneath the pipes looked as if they had been bathing in salt water for years---nothing left but rust and big flakes of peeling metal, and splits in two of the four tubes, on of them 4 inches long! I wish I had known that this stuff was actually insanely destructive instead of cool and helpful.

Second lesson:

Pertronix magnetic pick-ups for distributors and vintage Volvos just don't work well together. I was on my third set, which is why I was in disbelief that my problem was in the ignition, especially since the car ran well 90% of the time. But I coughed up the money for an infrared pick-up from Crane Cams anyway, and the problem is gone. Man! What is with companies selling sub-par products?!

Well, I am off the replace the header, and I hope we can get through the rest of the trip without further mishap. And I still love my old Volvos...

For the first time in months and months, I am really and truly SICK! Severe fever, headache, the works...I slept almost all day, but now that I am feeling marginally better, I have a chance to post about the 142 suspension rebuild project, which has proven to be much more involved than I originally thought it would be.

I purchased the various parts for the job over a period spanning the past few months in order afford to do everything I wanted to, and I just sold a beater car for our church which brought a little bit of profit as well, which was mostly devoted to the IPD order; this endeavor has not been cheap.



A little before the holidays I took care of brake pads front and rear, and replaced any hoses that seemed less than great. I also bought new tires around Christmas. I also finally replaced the fuel sending unit from Swedish Treasures---dammed expensive, but I don't have a working odometer either, so avoiding running out of gas was a bit tricky. However, the project still stood as follows:

The bushings were completely disintegrated in front on both sides, and they were getting bad in the back as well; Both sets of shocks were completely blown and leaking oil; E-brake didn't work; The diff cover and pinion seal were leaking badly; The rear springs had been torched (before I got the car) to lower it and were weak and uneven; The front springs had problems too---every time I hit a big bump the passenger side of the car would dive and hit the rubber stopper, while the driver's side stayed pretty stiff; and finally, I wanted to put a good set of anti-sway bars on it to properly complete the suspension.

Here are some pictures of where I am so far. Rear suspension is completely finished with new polyurethane bushings from VPD, an IPD sway, an e-brake cable I found on ebay that shipped from Israel, adjusted e-brake pads and repaired actuators, new diff seals (IPD), Skandix springs, and Bilstien shocks. Out front I have the new bushings installed in the upper wishbones, and almost everything else disassembled: I am still waiting on the ball joints (another lucky ebay find---$35 for all four, brand new!), but once I get those in and the bolt removed from the lower wishbones things should go back together quickly.