Project Volvo V70R First Drive - Is It Really An M3 Killer?!

We finally got together and took the Project Volvo V70R for its first group drive! Here are our initial thoughts and if we really think it's an M3 killer as it stands. Short answer, no, but we're going to turn it into exactly that!

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[jamesnoori]

Cool that you have an R as your project car. I live in Sweden and I own a beautiful 05 S60R. Love it to bits!

My recommendation to you would be NOT to buy dampers from Volvo. They overcharge! These dampers are made by Monroe and you can easily find them for much cheaper without the Volvo logo on them. They're exactly the same. Except for the very top part of the front shocks which are a little larger than the Volvo ones. But that does not interfere with anything other than the plastic protection that goes on top of the shock absorber. My suggestion would be to tap the protector with a hammer in place. It will work!

Also, please don't forget to change the bushings on the car. There are tons of bushings on these P2 chassis cars to dampen vibration and noise. There's upper engine mount, lower torque mount, subframe rubber bushings (4 of them), upper engine mount stabilizer bar bushings (one on each side) spring seats (those wear out like there's no tomorrow!) and the whole deal of ball joints etc. I recommend changing as many bushings to polyurethane ones as you guys can. Powerflex makes them. It will definitely introduce weird engine vibrations at first but after they settle in (few weeks of driving) you'll have no issues + it stiffens up the chassis for track driving.

Lastly, I'd like to suggest you to check your AWD system. These 04 models are notorious for failing on that. Basically there's an angel gear coming out of your transmission that has a collar to hold the rear drive shaft in. There are small teeth in that collar that overtime will wear out and will cause the AWD to fail. If you leave it for too long it will mess up your angle gear seals, oil leaks out and it ruins the angle gear. It's a costly thing to replace/fix so check it before it's too late.

Lastly, I would like to wish you the best of luck on this project, I'm glad a YouTube channel is taking R Volvos seriously. They are underrated in what they are capable of!

Cheers

[erikolson]

rollcage? noway, this car deserve more respect

[connorPiper]

I love that my 98 S70 grandma car also sounds like this. I was so surprised in it when I floored it for the first time.
Not to mention it has 330K miles without any part replacement outside regular maintenance.

[johnschellhase]

My family purchased a 2004 V70R just like this one from the dealer new and it has stayed with us ever since. The car has now passed down to me and is my daily driver. I love it so much and I can’t wait to see what you can do to your R. We have gotten a lot of IPD parts and all of the parts have been great. The car has the IPD catback exhaust and sway bars. It has a chip tune and other miscellaneous parts. Have fun with this one!

[gabeslb]

Great video!!! I bought a 2015 Golf R because of its practicality and I totally forgot the early 2000's Volvos. I had a 2001 s80 T6 with around 275hp great car it saved my life! Seriously considering getting one of these now!

[Vikingdescendent]

Change the timing belt and all the pulleys around it first. In this condition it's a simple project.

[majtom]

It's all fun and games until your front struts are 400 a piece

[ogremgtow]

I love my XC70 Cross Country . Drives like a nice recliner, 200 plus horse power, scared few friends, all wheel drive and 30 mpg highway to boot. The look on some young kids face when you dust his Honda is classic.

[javiervite]

hey guys!! im a mexican engineer who happens to love volvos, they will be my first and last car.... curently driving a t5 2008, i can give you some tips about the 4C if you dont mind. All those sensors are conected via a canbus module wich you can intercept and code your own suspension settings, dont listen to people trying to get you to swap coilovers in to it, just good codeing and you will chop M3 all day long.
The main two modules you want to intercept and recode are TCM (wich handles the haldex clutch pack) and the ACM (wich recives and controls the buttons on the dash you know... confort, sport, advanced).
If you are going to swap turbo, consider a garret 3071 will keep the lower limit on 1500-2000 and raise the upper limit towards the 6500. cause you know, td04 and td05 run out of puff at 5000-5500 on 2499CU.

[Holdeenio]

Hey Guys! Excited for this series. I'm based in the UK and my parents had a T5 V70 and it was insane, the R is even rarer here. It's engine was donated while volvo owned Ford to the RS Focus... so there is plenty of tuning potential. Even just with a engine refresh and service, Intake, Exhaust, Intercooler and a rolling road remap you'll get it up to serious power. Big brake kit is vital! :)

[joannaatkins]

Great plans guys! Serious Kudos and internet points for this build.

The main issue of modifying cars is remembering what the car is to begin with; if you just do what you want to make a car "fast" without setting limitations, you might as well just have the same LS/2JZ swapped engine and transmission as everyone else, but with a different shell.

With that in mind, remember that you don't necessarily need the car to be the precise same weight as an M3, but you do need it to have a *low* centre of gravity, so get to work on the less importantly structural windows (outside the passenger cell) so those three huge rear windows need to be polycarbonate, that sunroof and likely much of the tin on top needs replacing with fibreglass or carbon fibre. Saving as much weight up top means less extreme weight savings needed lower down!

Reducing nose weight should really reduce plow and understeer, so those front wings need replacing with lightweight alternatives again, plus suspension arms and alloys can be both much stiffer and lighter both. Reducing unsprung mass is a great way to increase grip by keeping the tyres in contact with the road, so you won't even need stiffer springs, just those stiff dampers.

Removing the unnecessary air box, plastics, engine cover, under tray etc will shed important lbs up front, plus an aftermarket lightweight exhaust manifold, exhaust and intake will make a *huge* difference to weight. Those mufflers and resonators are too restrictive and heavy for your build, plus you'll hear WAY more of that gorgeous mini V10 sound.

Removing the front seats, and the electric motors from the rear windows will help save more weight. Just tack the rails in place and let the air con look after the sprout(s) to be.

If you do install a roll cage, I'd suggest only a forward/half cage so you don't end up putting all that weight back in.

Removing the rear speakers or half from front and rear from is another place to save weight while retaining drivability. I don't want to suggest ripping out airbags because they're so integral to a dailies safety, especially having kids and parents inside.

Soundproofing/spare tyre/jack and tools etc all from the rear third of the car can obviously go too. I reckon that should get you close to your target weight while keeping real useability.

Best of luck to you guys, I'm really stoked for this build and I really hope you pull it off, regardless of if you love or hate my advice!

[gocart]

Looking forward you watching these videos as I'm contemplating on buying my first Volvo

[jessewildman]

Having two Volvo tanks myself, I'd recommend skipping the roll cage, especially if you're trying to reduce weight. These things are indestructible and if you roll this thing, it's not gonna look much different. The existing structure is insanely strong and durable. Volvo's aren't called tanks for nothin'.

[karlsundbeck]

Keep it up regards from Sweden I drive a s60R awd 2005 say no to E85 to the engine. 4c suspension is wonderful in snow and on the track. Like you're plan.

[jorqued]

I have been driving Volvos from mid 90's, my last two have been a 95 850T5R and a 04 V70R manual, both tastefully tuned, 3"DP w race cat, cat back exhaust, engine tune and suspension upgrated. Driving now a stock 08 E90 M3 manual and I have to say the M3 has a far superior suspension, steering and handling which results in much more fun driving. High revving na motors are a different way of driving and experience as well but that's personal taste. Comparing a V70R to a M3 makes no sense, okay your future highly tuned T5 engine with AWD will have more power and be faster in a straight line, great. Compare it to a 335i, 335D, 535i or Audi wagon, turbos and AWD.  I love Volvos and the T5 engine, great bargain but it is what it is.

[micke]

bigger turbo, bigger injectors, bigger downpipe and exhaust, bigger intercooler and a custom tune! Dont run on e85... Because your piston rings will haft to be fresh so that the etanol dont get into the block and fuck up your motor.
Replace the bushings in front and back to those colorful powerflex and no m3 e46 N/A will touch this car!
Check your tranny oil! Should be red as wine! Smell it, if it does smell burnt, replace it instantly! Consider also a new clutch if you are running manual, otherwise get a oil intercooler for the automatic and do a rebuild on the tranny.

Get a pair of Nokia Z-line tires! That grip in those nano compound tires is very good bang for the buck! Perform also suberb in wet conditions! My S60 T5 hardly spun anything when wet with these! (300bhp)

[padoue]

Love the idea guys! I got a xc70t6 and these cars are pretty powerful and real sleepers! I loved these 5 cylinders, too bad they don't make'em anymore!
Excited to see it come together!

[NorthernChev]

The acceleration in this video is hindered by 600 pounds of double chins hidden by beards...

[mufflejoy]

Aw man I envy you guys - I had a V70 2.4T (200 hp) and even if it is far from the T5 and R performance, it was a super flying carpet traveller. And yes - 5cyl engine sound is just pure magic - the dual tone whine of Audi and Volvos with 5 legs is the best :-)

[JeffManseau]

the only M3 killers are their owners and time lol