best modification

[asneddon]

I was wondering what people thought the best thing they had modified on their cars was. I was thinking about this the other day and have narrowed it down to two things on my car.

Its either the under-bonnet sound proofing (at ~£35) which makes the car a nicer place to be at all times, or the headlight upgrade to halogens (~£70 I think). These are a huge improvement over the sealed beams and make night driving much less stressfull.

There are some things I have spent many hundreds of pounds on that I kind of wish I hadn't now (exhaust springs to mind), and some other things I have in the back of my mind to do in the future (123 ignition).

It would be good to get an idea from other users what you think the best things you have done are.

[ClassicVolvoShop]

There can be no daubt: Overdrive! - D-type - the fuzz about the "stronger" J-type is overreacted - D-type reduces 24% - and in the Amazon Estate's - that has to be the best upgrade.

My 1971 145 is also upgraded with original OD conversion - I even upgraded my B20 245 - with a later M46 (OD) gearbox...

[classicswede]

I'm not so fussed about the od but with a low ratio rear axle I should imagine it would be of more benifit. To a degree the od does not count as a modification as it was available from the factory.

Some of the mods I like the most

1) adjustable dampers and rally 50% stiffer springs

2) full sport exhaust system. Made teh car a LOT quicker and stopped it melting spark plugs and exhaust manifold gasgets.

3) halogen conversion lamps. (look me up on ebay)

4) change to 195/60 15 tyres. Many will not agree about this but for me they massivly improve the road holding and I see no reason to take advantage of modern technology

5) stalk dip conversion. I hate the floor dip

6) 240 carpet and sound deading. I modded teh 240 carpet as a free option. It would be worth paying out for a propper carpet.

7) interia real seat belts. Saves the hassle of haveing to adjsut the seat belt

8) PU top wishbone bushes. I'd never realy consider runninga amazon on rubber top wishbone bushes because they wear out very quickly. If replacing bushes I would alway fit PU but the difference is not huge but just a small refinment.

Modifications I hate the most,

1) HID lamp conversions. There are enough new cars out there blinding everyone that we dont need any more. The lighting is worse as all you can see is a short distance in front because the HID dip is on with the main making teh area directly in front to bright

2) Unleaded head conversion. Why would you want to do that?

3) Minilight wheels. They just look silly on a amazon to me. I can understand why ppl do use them though.

4) engine swaps especial derv. The B18 and B20's are such good engines I see no reason to change them.

5) sunroofs (on any car). I hatethem because they eventualy start to leak and I hat teh odd drip landing on your head.

6) removing air filters.

7) Bilstein yellows. They just are not that great. To be more truthfull they are worse than a good basic gas damper.

[222s]

Originally Posted by asneddon

Its either the under-bonnet sound proofing (at ~£35) which makes the car a nicer place to be at all times, or the headlight upgrade to halogens (~£70 I think). These are a huge improvement over the sealed beams and make night driving much less stressfull.

£70 for halogens? They're normally MUCH cheaper than that! I paid £45 the pair for some Wipac ones & I believe that good ones can be had for even less than that.

Originally Posted by ClassicVolvoShop

There can be no daubt: Overdrive! - D-type - the fuzz about the "stronger" J-type is overreacted - D-type reduces 24% - and in the Amazon Estate's - that has to be the best upgrade.

Originally Posted by classicswede

I'm not so fussed about the od but with a low ratio rear axle I should imagine it would be of more benifit. To a degree the od does not count as a modification as it was available from the factory.

Imho the estates are useless without o/d due to that low diff (5000rpm in top is just 80mph, so not fun) - o/d is a must, even for non-motorway use. CVS - doesn't the D also 'over-drive' more than the J (or was that what you were referring to)?

Originally Posted by classicswede

4) change to 195/60 15 tyres. Many will not agree about this but for me they massivly improve the road holding and I see no reason to take advantage of modern technology

I agree about modern technology - however 195/60 reduces the rolling radius, and thus also the gearing. Even 195/65 is undersized - the next size up from 165R15 that is the closest in diameter & easily available, is 205/65.

Compared to 165R15:
195/60 - 7% smaller diameter
195/65 - 4.1% smaller diameter
205/65 - 2.1% smaller diameter

Originally Posted by classicswede

5) stalk dip conversion. I hate the floor dip

7) interia real seat belts. Saves the hassle of haveing to adjsut the seat belt

I actually prefer the fixed belts & the main beam dip on the floor!

Originally Posted by classicswede

Modifications I hate the most,
3) Minilight wheels. They just look silly on a amazon to me. I can understand why ppl do use them though.

Agreed - can't stand them. Very cliched, and it's not as if they were the only aftermarket wheel available back in the day either. Amazons also share their PCD with a lot of US Fords (inc Mustangs) & some Mopar cars, which opens up a whole range of great wheels!

[ClassicVolvoShop]

Originally Posted by 222s

CVS - doesn't the D also 'over-drive' more than the J (or was that what you were referring to)?

What I meant, was that the D-type is 0.756:1 - the J-type 0.797:1 - so in my view, the J-type is the best! - and by best I mean, that the fuzz about the J-type being stronger and all - is nothing but fuzz as long as you drive your Volvo with all normal behaviour etc. - Yes, a J-type would be fine in a heavy tuned B20 car - but in a reasonable normal B18/20 A or B-car - the D-ype is super-fine - and gives you that extra 5% reduction of engine-rev.

(And it's NOT the fuel/gas-economy that makes me think so - it's the ease on the engine, noise reduction and the total driving-feeling I like about this..)

And well,
I agree that there can be tons of other nice modifications etc. to do - but that also depends on the "status" of your Volvo - if it's a summer-fun-driver only - then I rather want the original round Volvo ROBO headlights, than the flat Hella H4 ones.. etc..

Regardless of what was a factory option - OD is a modification - I believe the question was about - what you as an owner had done to your car.. ? Or?..
And if nerdy - OD was NOT an option for later 1967-70 Amazon's..

[Alf ista]

I did a halogen conversion and it does make a nice difference. I got mine from here:
http://www.holden.co.uk/displayprodu...t+Units+-+7%22
A nice selection, I got a Wipac set and the face is curved too.

I really like the idea of bonnet insulation, since I have a '70 car with no overdrive. Maybe an overdrive is on the cards sometime in the future but not now. Therefore I will insulate the sound out as best I can. I was going to look into what people thought of insulation that Woolies sell. But this one for £35, is that a Brookhouse option? If so, does it work well, and does it look ok?

[loon]

iv done the halogen headlight and full engine rebuild to a high spec but
for me the best mod was converting my old '66 non alternator b18 to alternator it made it so much more useable during the winter, i was using more power to start and light the car than was being charged back into the batery so after 3/4 days the batery was to flat to start it.
(short trips)
the kit is available from brookhouse.

[1966 122s]

Originally Posted by 222s

I agree about modern technology - however 195/60 reduces the rolling radius, and thus also the gearing. Even 195/65 is undersized - the next size up from 165R15 that is the closest in diameter & easily available, is 205/65.

Compared to 165R15:
195/60 - 7% smaller diameter
195/65 - 4.1% smaller diameter
205/65 - 2.1% smaller diameter

This advice fits exactly with what I'm getting out of the change I recently made from 165/65/15 to to a set of 195/60/15 . I'm really pleased with the improved grip and handling, and I can just about see / feel the slight lowering which I intended. However, I'm noticing the diameter change in higher rpm when cruising on the dual carriageway. Without an overdrive, the difference at 65 to 70mph is noticable and feels like the 7% that the maths show. If I was spending my money again I'd think of 195/65. or possibly be brave with 195/70 or the 205/65.

Thanks

[grahamwatson]

I have recently spent much more time than I care to admit reading through the last 200 or so pages of this forum. Loads and loads of good stuff as I bring a 4 door 122S back on to the road, but I thought this thread was the most interesting and worth a bump after 6 years to see if anybody has found some other good mods during that time.

For me, the metal tape upgrade to the rear light cluster (and the front side lights/indicators) is the best punch per buck. Cheap, easy and you can see exactly how much of an improvement by comparing after doing just one side. The perfect mod!

[Groundes-Peace]

Thanks for bringing this forward.
As I have only been looking closely at the forum for the last 3 years I had not read this thread.
The indicator and rear lights brightener idea with the silver tape sounds good. Will look at this.
The various upgrades on suspension are a real benefit.
I like the 123 Ignition if one is going for an engine re-build with fast cam etc.
Have yet to change tyres, but think this will help road manners.
If the car has an existing sunroof, a rebuilt Webasto is great in the summer, particularly if touring. Mine does not drip even in torrential rain.
Ideally disc brakes would be nice all round; today we are very used to much more powerful brakes, and other road users can be thoughtless idiots.
Make sure one to have open drainage holes in ones car; no benefit to carry stale rainwater to rot ones carriage!