Volvo 760 Nivomat conversion ride height

[volvo B230ET]

Im halfway through restoring a 760 turbo and I've decided to convert the
nivomats to normal springs and shocks as the rear ride height was to high,
because of the lack of weight in the back of the car the nivos used pump up to
ridiculous height.

Does anybody know what the lowest ride height you can achieve out of the
conversion kits fron IPD

Sachs turbo gas struts
Bilestien touring class
Bilestien Heavy duty shocks

also Thought id include some pictures if anyone was interest with the
restoration.

[360beast]

You can go as low as you would like! All you need is some normal dampers and springs and that's it, to need to pay stupid money for a "conversion kit" get some Kilen 40mm springs and something like bilstein B4 dampers and jobs done

Edit: I forgot to say it looks like an interesting resto you're doing, if you use a photo hosting site like Flickr then you can put full size pics up, those photos are teeny weeny, they somehow manage to make Mark's photos look massive!

[griston64]

Originally Posted by 360beast

You can go as low as you would like! All you need is some normal dampers and springs and that's it, to need to pay stupid money for a "conversion kit" get some Kilen 40mm springs and something like bilstein B4 dampers and jobs done

Edit: I forgot to say it looks like an interesting resto you're doing, if you use a photo hosting site like Flickr then you can put full size pics up, those photos are teeny weeny, they somehow manage to make Mark's photos look massive!

Oi you

[Laird Scooby]

A point to note for you, it's the springs that set the ride height, NOT the dampers with normal suspension. The Nivo suspension "pumps up" as you drive to bring the rear ride height close to normal, as standard the 7/9xx range do sit high.

One of the most popular swaps is to fit 40mm lower springs and Bilstein B4 dampers. Luke has suggested Kien springs which are a subsidiary of Lesjofors, the people who made the original springs for Volvo (among others), there is another brand beginning with S that i can't think of just now (should know it as that's what i have on mine, normal ride height with KYB oil dampers) that are also a subsidiary of Lesjofors and/or Kilen so lower versions of those with KYB gas-filled dampers would be about the same as Kilen springs and Bilstein B4 dampers.

One of the biggest improvements you can make to the suspension is to fit either Volvo bushes or PU bushes - Luke can give you a lot of info on the PU bushes but whichever route you take, get the car to handle right to start with and fit a rear anti roll bar to reduce body roll - most 760s didn't have the rear one as standard.

Then once you know what it handles like as it should, you can make improvements. If it doesn't handle right to start with, any improvements you make (or think you have made) might actually have the opposite effect if it doesn't handle correctly to start with!

[360beast]

Being a saloon 760 Dave it will have IRS which I believe you can see a photo of in the OP, so I don't think that you can get an ARB for them... I could be being thick though.

I think Mark is angry that someone has made smaller pics than him

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by 360beast

Being a saloon 760 Dave it will have IRS which I believe you can see a photo of in the OP, so I don't think that you can get an ARB for them... I could be being thick though.

I think Mark is angry that someone has made smaller pics than him

I didn't realise it was a saloon Luke, good point! I think you're right, not ARB available but i could be wrong. SUrprised Volvo didn't fit a rear ARB to the IRS set up though, many other manufacturers did at a similar time. Had a few big Datsuns/Nissans with IRS and fairly certain they had rear ARBs, can't think of any other RWD cars i've had with IRS that were a similar era at the moment apart from the Jags i had, can't remember if they had rear ARBs or not to be honest.

Thankfully Mark now uses proper pictures so who knows!

[griston64]

Originally Posted by 360beast

Being a saloon 760 Dave it will have IRS which I believe you can see a photo of in the OP, so I don't think that you can get an ARB for them... I could be being thick though.

I think Mark is angry that someone has made smaller pics than him

It took me ages to get them that small ! I had to compress them overnight between two copies of War And Peace held down by ten baked bean tins

[jpliddy]

hi just asking
anyone got the part numbers for heavy duty springs and standard dampers
i heard the car sits a bit higher at the back with this set up but i carry heavy tools sometime so i don't mind

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by jpliddy

hi just asking
anyone got the part numbers for heavy duty springs and standard dampers
i heard the car sits a bit higher at the back with this set up but i carry heavy tools sometime so i don't mind

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Coil-Spri...w/333606901284

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KYB-Kayab...Y/173270879612

There you are Jim, KYB springs (Heavy Duty aka reinforced) and gas dampers for the rear end.

For the OP, wanting to lower the car by 40mm :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-K...6/192785569967

However - there is nothing in the listing to confirm if they will fit the IRS saloon versions - worth double checking before purchase!

[volvo B230ET]

Originally Posted by 360beast

Edit: I forgot to say it looks like an interesting resto you're doing, if you use a photo hosting site like Flickr then you can put full size pics up, those photos are teeny weeny, they somehow manage to make Mark's photos look massive!

Hahah i never realized there was a place for the smallest photos, looks like ive started something now aha. yeah thats a good shout ill give it ago, ill post a link when ive set one up.