It Ran When Parked - A More positive update!

[edie_fox]

Although you’re coping incredibly well and dealing with it logically. I can image your heart sank seeing that initially

My nightmare!

‘Luckily’ it is a big moneybags/non-personal person at fault. Should make the process much less of a pain.

I’m so sorry this happened but I hope it’s all sorted for you, one way or another, soon enough. At least you have access to a new 480 pretty quickly if it comes to it. We all know a man with one or six for sale!

[MisterH]

Although you’re coping incredibly well and dealing with it logically. I can image your heart sank seeing that initially

My nightmare!

‘Luckily’ it is a big moneybags/non-personal person at fault. Should make the process much less of a pain.

I’m so sorry this happened but I hope it’s all sorted for you, one way or another, soon enough. At least you have access to a new 480 pretty quickly if it comes to it. We all know a man with one or six for sale!

Thanks Edie, to be honest it basically didn't register for the first day, just had too much to do, and the speed at which Jeff put the feelers out to the community and the response given meant that by 8:30 I was positive. If I can get it all sorted with the shop the biggest headache will be whether or not I can rely on the Audi 80 which has so far proven to be an unknown quantity...
But yes, logic and reason always beats anger and despair in my eyes

[dcwalker]

One way or another, Ben, it'll come good in the end. If replacement proves to be the option, R1 is still in need of a new home and bears a striking resemblance to your car (before the dust cart redesignedit, that is)...

Pleased to see you're taking all this in your stride!

David

[MisterH]

One way or another, Ben, it'll come good in the end. If replacement proves to be the option, R1 is still in need of a new home and bears a striking resemblance to your car (before the dust cart redesignedit, that is)...

Pleased to see you're taking all this in your stride!

David

Has it got a B18E unit? I remember that was the clincher for my one

[dcwalker]

One way or another, Ben, it'll come good in the end. If replacement proves to be the option, R1 is still in need of a new home and bears a striking resemblance to your car (before the dust cart redesignedit, that is)...

Pleased to see you're taking all this in your stride!

David

Has it got a B18E unit? I remember that was the clincher for my one

Yes...

David

[WillC9303]

Apologies for hijacking the thread with this question but what is the B18E engine? I think the name for my engine is F3N so what is the difference between the two? And what makes the B18E superior? I went on the wiki page but it says the B18 engine went out of production in 1968….
Sorry I know this is Ben’s thread, I’ve asked the question about engines on Facebook before but the answer was ‘it doesn’t matter all the N/A engines are basically the same” clearly not?

Thanks

[jamescarruthers]

The Volvo codes can be confusing and Wikipedia is not correct with the 1968 statement of course-- they will be talking about an earlier engine with the same code (long story but its to do with how Volvo internally "code" or identify engines that the same code can be used on another engine in another decade-- "B" is "Bensine", "petrol" in Swedish, 18 is roughly the displacement).

The B18E has a bit more power and torque due to a pointier cam, dual choke inlet and probably slightly different fuelling ratios in the ECU and ignition advance being set a bit different. On the other hand, they are a bit less smooth due to this and power and torque are reduced slightly in later revisions in to B18F to make for a better running engine. The B18E is also not restricted in power by catalytic converters in the later cars. Yes, the engines are basically the same, but the B18E is a bit more rough and ready, IMHO in a good way that I enjoy driving. There's not much in it, but I have to admit, B18E is my pick of the 1.7 N/A engines too. There aren't many B18E engined cars left not though as it was only available in the first few years before refinement and a slight power reduction came in. All of this is slight but noticeable-- it is certainly not quite right to describe a catalysed B18F as strangled or anything like that, but it is a bit slower.

The final Volvo evolution of the same engine block is the B20, 2.0, and is a much more refined motor and gets its power back up, and more, due to extra displacement plus the application of evolutions in electronic fuel injection technology. For example, the volume of air, in order to calculate the fuel required for combustion is sensed via the mass flow of air at the intake (MAF sensor), rather than the manifold air pressure (MAP sensor). FYI the Turbo cars (B18FT) also use MAF sensing, although a completely different set up of fuel injection, and maintain the 1721 displacement.

While we are on the subject of engines, its all over the internet that the B20 in the 480 is a new Volvo engine after the Renault derived B18... its not, that's another internet mistake that just gets repeated and repeated sadly. It is exactly the same engine block, basically bored out.

[WillC9303]

Ah, I see now. Thanks for the detailed explanation. So the B18 = F3N and the 2.0 = F3R? In that case I have an F3R engine, not an F3N.

[jamescarruthers]

No problem. Oh, and the code you mention F3N, is a roughly equivalent Renault engine but is not your actual engine. Our engine is basically a Renault F3 series, Volvofied a bit.

Our blocks have a nice Renault logo on them! Zoom in on this pic.

[dragonflyjewels]

Interesting snippet from a launch press information pack, says Porsche had input on the design of the head.

Given that they also did the turbo conversion, I just wonder if they worked on all the engines.

[jamescarruthers]

Interesting snippet from a launch press information pack, says Porsche had input on the design of the head.

Given that they also did the turbo conversion, I just wonder if they worked on all the engines.

I guess Porsche played with the lift of the cams via its profile differences on different models and also got the air flow better on all of them and then also added those special valves (sodium filled) for the turbo. And cashed a nice cheque too for use of their name too I’d imagine!


Much thread derailment…. More sympathy Ben’s way from me too!

[MisterH]

Interesting snippet from a launch press information pack, says Porsche had input on the design of the head.

Given that they also did the turbo conversion, I just wonder if they worked on all the engines.

I guess Porsche played with the lift of the cams via its profile differences on different models and also got the air flow better on all of them and then also added those special valves (sodium filled) for the turbo. And cashed a nice cheque too for use of their name too I’d imagine!


Much thread derailment…. More sympathy Ben’s way from me too!

Don't worry, it is very interesting to read, I just remember reading in your ad for your old E-reg how the B18E was the best engine to have In your view, and as it was an insurance friendly 1.7 non turbo I decided that would be the one for me

[MisterH]

Before the story progresses, just wanted to post this, anyone who has had to endure "oH ItS noT a prOpeR VoLvO" comments from the
Volvistas, may feel a bit of vindication:





As you can tell, this whole thing has been a feast for my sense of humour...

[jamescarruthers]

Haha, yeah they are hardly little cars.

My Dad loves to tell the story of when someone drove in to the back of his when in traffic, in maybe a Sierra. The 480 and it’s bumper were unscathed but the Ford was severely smashed up at the front with lights hanging out, etc.

[jifflemon]

Modern cars are designed to fold like a cheap suit....

[MisterH]

Modern cars are designed to fold like a cheap suit....

Yeah I guess so, reckon the Audi will need a rad and that's about it. Wasn't the 480 one of the early adopters of crumple zones IIRC?

[Jay-Kay-Em]

Volvo ran many safety car prototypes and I know the VESC from the mid seventies had crumple zones. This no doubt fed into the 240 way before 480.

The only thing I know the 480 for pioneering is the impact absorbing bumper, where they can take a considerable knock and still maintain their shape.

Saying that, the foam they achieve to perform that rots out the bumper bars, so I’d rather they didn’t have it

The nose of that Audi has done exactly what it was designed to do. Be soft as shite for pedestrians. This is now heavily regulated and ironically, the death of our beloved pop up headlamps

[arthuy]

Gutted for you, thats a bad one.

Few things you need to watch for.

1) The assesor will give you a low value, they only go by the trade values.
2) If they take it to a yard charges add up for storage and they try and hold on to the car. (think carefully about lettiing the car out of your posession).
3) Do your homework. Go through all of the 480 adverts you can find and use this to demonstrate that the car is worth a lot more than they say.
4) Refuse the first and second offers.

Many of us will have been in this position and it sucks, you will need to go through some pain but hopefully you will manage to save your car.

The safest option which isnt ideal is to get the car to a repairer of your choice, have the work done then let the lawyers get your money back. When the insurance companies deal with each other they have the rght to settle as they see fit. The other party although at fault will only pay out the market value of the car unless you push them to do the right thing.

Good luck and stay strong.

[Alan 480]

Haha, yeah they are hardly little cars.

My Dad loves to tell the story of when someone drove in to the back of his when in traffic, in maybe a Sierra. The 480 and it’s bumper were unscathed but the Ford was severely smashed up at the front with lights hanging out, etc.

I think I can better that a Sierra rammed back of the Regal, I got £100 from insurance (back in 80's) and it took a saturday to fix, totaled front of the Sierra

better half caused 'rather a lot' of damage to side of a people carrier as she was a tiny bit too far out at a junction, cost me a front number plate and an hour with T-cut on the 480

[dragonflyjewels]

Long live the crumple zones, on other people's cars that is. Thankfully never had an accident in any of our 480s, but a rather expensive looking Honda wrote itself off on the back of our 940 estate. All lights shattered, bumper half on the car and half in the puddle of coolant, bonnet and both wings wrecked. The 940 was also written off due to bumper brackets not being available so I bought it back for £100 and put up with the slightly misaligned bumper until one turned up from a scrapyard. The guy's insurers rang me and persuaded me to accept £100 for the whiplash injury I told them I didn't have.........