Wednesday, August 5, 2015

New videos coming soon!

Hello all!

We are in the middle of summer, and it's been a while since I updated, but I thought I'd let you know what I was working on.

I'm half way through a video shoot of how to rebuild the heater box / system on the 544.  I hope to have that completed and up on the blog in the next couple of weeks (time permitting, of course.)

I've also picked up a B20 and M41 transmission (both from a 1975 240) that I will be rebuilding and installing in the car.  The plan is to document everything along the way!

I'm outlining more videos and projects with the car every day.

Stay tuned, more content is coming soon!

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Happy Birthday to the PV!

70 years ago yesterday (September 1st), Volvo introduced the PV444 at the recently built Royal Tennis Hall in Stockholm.

Family enjoying a picnic with their PV444.

Circa 1947. Volvo plant workers assembling the PV444.
Volvo had started working on the car a few years prior to the show, and didn't have a working model ready to debut. Still, interest was high at the show, with many folks gathering round to catch a glimpse of the "Little Volvo".

Volvo would take 2300 preorders before the show was over. It was an instant success. Volvo wouldn't deliver any of the cars until after WWII had ended (the first production car was signed off in February of 1947).


Kodachrome colour photo of a Family with their PV444.  Circa 1949.
The first batch of PV444s came in Black, with a light green interior.
This photo is taken outside the Volvo factory.


It would be the PV444 that would introduce the USA market to Volvo. Delivery began in LA during August of 1955 to promising numbers. The cost of a PV444 in 1955 was $1995 (about $18K today.)

By the time that production ceased on the PV444 / PV544 in October of 1965, exactly 440,000 units had been built.

The car that turned Volvo into a worldwide brand celebrates it's 70th birthday.

Interior of a 1947 PV444.




Wednesday, June 11, 2014

You can now sign up for Email alerts for this blog!

Yes! It's true! Be alerted when I make updates directly!

In the right side-bar on the blog, you can put your email address, and that will allow you to receive updates when I make new posts about the car!

As the summer months approach, I'm planning on adding a few more videos, with many of the posts being "good weather" projects for those of us that don't have access to a garage.

Planned videos that are upcoming include:

Setting the timing by "ear", not with a light
Windshield replacement
Kingpin replacement (maybe, we'll see how it goes...)
Seal replacement (Rear and Front)
Original Bendix radio repair

Is there anything you'd like to know more about in regards to your 544? Let me know. I'd be happy to shoot a video about it if I think it's a good idea! You can always leave me comments here, or shoot me an email!

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Dylan's 544 Entry 3: Adjusting those "mysterious" SU carburetors!

A mystery no more!  Some basic info about adjusting your SU HS6 Carburetors on a Volvo B-18 / B-20 engine!

There are some other adjustments I sort of glanced over (choke cable adjustment comes to mind) but this should get you going!

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below!

Dylan's 544 Entry 2: Valves

Valves:  Often overlooked, misunderstood.  This is my method for setting the valves on the Volvo B18 / B20 motor.  Enjoy!


Monday, May 12, 2014

Big news: I now work at iPD!

Oh, Hello!

So it's been a bit since we last spoke.  In that time, I've taken a full-time gig at iPd in Portland!

This is good news for this blog, because I now have access to lots of additional info about these cars that I didn't have before.  Working at iPd also allows me to talk to other Volvo owners everyday, and it has given me a great insight to what kinds of questions you guys have.

Here's a video to address this.  I'm currently working on blog entries about setting the valves, and adjusting the SU carburetors.  The videos have been shot, I just need to finish editing them and I'll get them up soon!

As always, thanks for checking out the blog!  If you have any questions you can always reach out to me in the comments section below!

Monday, December 2, 2013

Dylan's 544 Entry 1: Replacing the gas tank

The 544 continued to clog fuel filters, so I decided I would replace the fuel tank.

Here's the step by step, and the first official entry in the "Dylan's 544" video blog.

Questions / comments are welcome below!