Any Advice?

[Chris152]

Originally Posted by Stephen Edwin

If I rember correctly. When one sends a message one can choose to keep a copy.

Yep, that worked! Thanks.

Maybe a completely nutty question, so I'll blame it on the boy - has anyone fitted folding seats from an estate into a saloon, and if you did it would you end up with a flat surface for sleeping in? Feet at the back of the car, head behind the front seats? He's very keen on the looks of the saloon but wants the space of the estate.

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by Stephen Edwin

If I rember correctly. When one sends a message one can choose to keep a copy.

You're right, Stephen!

To assist 'L.S.' Chris and anyone else in this position:
1 - Click on 'Private Messages' below your name at the top RHS of the page
2 - Go to Control Panel on LHS of newly opened page
3 - Go to 'Settings and options' (third heading down)
4 - Go to 'Edit options' (fifth heading) this opens another new page
5 - Go to 'Messaging & Notification'
6 - Go to 'Private Messaging' (third box down)
7 - Check 'Save a copy of sent messages in my Sent Items folder by default' (last 'box' in this section)
8 - Scroll down to the bottom of this page and click on 'Save Changes' (Easily overlooked - I did the first time!)
9 - Return to main Forum

You should now be able to see your sent messages. It does seem an overly complicated process, but it is there! Hope this helps.

Regards, John.

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by Chris152

Yep, that worked! Thanks.

Maybe a completely nutty question, so I'll blame it on the boy - has anyone fitted folding seats from an estate into a saloon, and if you did it would you end up with a flat surface for sleeping in? Feet at the back of the car, head behind the front seats? He's very keen on the looks of the saloon but wants the space of the estate.

You beat me to it with the PMs, Chris! Glad that's sorted.

I've never heard of a car modified in the way that you describe, but I would think it possible with perhaps some slight modifications to the body. If that were necessary and you are also remedying rust issues, it should be possible to combine the work for convenience. We've discussed bodywork before, and I think it is important to decide on just how big a 'project' you and he want.

If it is a 'turn-key' car that he can jump in and drive whilst gradually improving, you may still be better advised to look for a decent estate at this stage. He could always add a saloon (my choice would be a gunmetal grey 2.3 Auto GLT!) at a later date when the 'bug' bites - that's how collections are started! But it is probably more sensible to reduce rather than add options at this stage and focus on two or three possible specifications.

Having owned both saloon and estate versions, I recall that the rear seat back-rest is quite different. It is appreciably more contoured around the wheel-arches on saloon variants, while the estate is more of a 'slab' profile in comparison.

You would also need to fabricate some sort of 'floor' in the boot area. I understand that your lad prefers the look of the saloon, and such a 'conversion' might also work to his advantage financially as saloons are often seen as less desirable than estates and therefore cheaper - condition for condition.

I would take advice from a body expert before committing to such a course, and I think you would also be wise to check with your insurance company before proceeding.

Regards, John.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Chris152

Yep, that worked! Thanks.

Maybe a completely nutty question, so I'll blame it on the boy - has anyone fitted folding seats from an estate into a saloon, and if you did it would you end up with a flat surface for sleeping in? Feet at the back of the car, head behind the front seats? He's very keen on the looks of the saloon but wants the space of the estate.

I could be wrong on this Chris because it's so long since i've had a saloon Volvo (and that was a 144) but i'm fairly sure if you move the front seats all the way forward, remove the head restraints and recline the seats, you prtty much have 2 single beds.

Usually on the saloons there is a cross-brace behind the seats so being able to retrofit estate seats is nigh on impossible, even more impossible if you have the long range fuel tank as the extra capacity tank sits behind the back seats.

[Dippydog]

Is there not a steel bulkhead behind the back seat which forms the front face of the boot?

[Dastardly Diesel]

Originally Posted by taiwan740

As for LPG conversion, i wouldn't bother. Oil companies are phasing out supply.

I doubt that. It's a by product of the fractional distillation process employed when petrol is refined. If they don't sell it they can hardly stockpile it or bury it.

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

I could be wrong on this Chris because it's so long since i've had a saloon Volvo (and that was a 144) but i'm fairly sure if you move the front seats all the way forward, remove the head restraints and recline the seats, you prtty much have 2 single beds.

Usually on the saloons there is a cross-brace behind the seats so being able to retrofit estate seats is nigh on impossible, even more impossible if you have the long range fuel tank as the extra capacity tank sits behind the back seats.

That makes sense, 'L.S.'; a little like the original Maxi. From what I remember of the 144, the head restraints were a different design to the two series cars and more easily removed. It was the bulkhead / brace that I was thinking about when I mentioned body modifications. I had overlooked the the long-range tank, but no car that I have owned has been fitted with one. The seat belts would also be different; it would undoubtedly be a complex job and certainly not one to be undertaken lightly.

Regards,. John.

[Stephen Edwin]

Or, Search for: car back seat bed

Something like ebay item 293206738662. Just put that number in the ebay search box.

That is not a particular recommendation. Just one search result that is copiously illustrated. To give the idea.


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[Stephen Edwin]

Or. Ebay item 164009783187.

*****

The difficulty is one cannot tell the quality or practicality from the listings.


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[Stephen Edwin]

Ah yes John the Maxi. Advertised as "Ideal for a young man about to start a family".


******


Super car really. Almost drove itself.


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