Building a Custom Front Suspension for the Volvo - 1959 Volvo PV544 Build

[@richb.4374]

Nice welds on the strut towers. As a retired welder, I spotted that right away. What I love most about your channel is you build cars with hand tools and skill, not tons of money and outsourcing. The best of all is that you and your dad build unusual cars and combinations that many would scoff at and make them haul ass! This project is old school cool!

[@_the_Chad_]

That ending hahaha nicely done!!

[@BuildaMan]

that outro would fit right at home on the history channel.

[@wyatteells9033]

as a volvo guy who's also building an old school drag volvo this is so exciting for me

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Thanks!

[@mattiascarlstedt1647]

In sweden we call the PV a humpback. They have quite the racing/rally/rallycross pedigre

[@russellzacharias3535]

It is like that front end was originally designed to be a drag car. Take out the '59 Scandinavian interpretation of suspension leave everything with a purpose and that is it.

[@SloppyMechanics]

dude that *strut tower* you guys bent up is insane

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Thanks bud! Very happy with how it came out.

[@zrxdoug]

Your dad is a pretty brilliant guy...that front suspension "jig" using a single through-tube is genius. Y'all continue to inspire & educate with every video you post. 👍

[@hagerdhotrodz]

Your first two legendary 4200 blocks have earned shop end table material, just say'n. This new build would look rad with a heavy roof chop to get it out of the wind for faster times.

[@Calvin-Nelson]

It most certainly would, but would also disqualify us from the classes we want to participate in

[@dionrau5580]

Yep I was thinking the same thing! Ya know, for areodynamicals... Well it just looks too Cool, Ha Ha. You guys build the coolest car's 👍🏁

[@dr1ver267]

I am loving this build series so far, I can’t wait to see how this turns out! I haven’t been this excited for a new KZbin build in a while

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Thanks!

[@a4000t]

The stuff you find at swap meets and flea markets just amazes me.

[@michaelblacktree]

I wish there was a flea market like that around here! I live in central Florida, so all the flea markets have touristy crap.

[@Calvin-Nelson]

@@michaelblacktree what about turkey rod run?

[@Calvin-Nelson]

We just bought another set of those struts from a flea market this past weekend.

[@michaelblacktree]

@@Calvin-Nelson - In the past, I haven't had much luck with that. Plus the entry fee is $20 a day. I used to visit the flea market in Sanford, but it closed down a few years ago. I also used to go to swap meets at Moroso. But that was closed down as well. That's a common theme in central Florida, everything getting replaced with apartment complexes and strip malls. Sorry for the rant.

[@Calvin-Nelson]

@@michaelblacktree that sucks... sorry about your luck. At least winter time isn't so Dang cold! Lol

[@hackjobhotrodshop5075]

I'm continuously impressed by what you guys find at flea markets and swap meets. All I find are unilug cragars, oxidized sbc manifolds, rusty squarebody doors and that dude selling all the Chinese air blower nozzles. I want to find strange drag struts dang it!!

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Found another set this past weekend.

[@jp2246]

The ending was good! This is going to be a fun and interesting build to follow.

[@dagazenterprise]

very cool, i'm really happy you are sticking with the 4.2, such a great idea

[@dragdriverepeat]

Oh man, i can't wait to watch this build and see the car at Sick Week!

[@fredericrike5974]

A little mere re engineering never slowed the Nivlac crowd down before- look out Volvo! But what I want to know is what color it will be- that is the important bit- wink, wink, nudge, nudge! Great progress, and still with enough time to shake it down before race day! FR

[@dustinwhisler6602]

Crazy how clean the car is! The metal in better shape than 5 year old Ford trucks, lol!

[@BigMikesHooptyBarn]

Man I'm stoked about this build!

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Thanks. It's going to be a fun one.

[@BuckDOESIT]

Ha! Love the end Calvin.

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Thanks!

[@DaneSaysStuff]

Man. You fellas wasted no time getting stuck in on this one. Great work so far! Now I'm hooked and anxious to follow along.

[@TurboWorld]

Watching you guys do this makes me want to reinvent the front of My Volvo wagon, great job! Thanks for sharing.

[@DrArtshotrodrehab]

Great content that car is going to be awesome

[@r1lark]

Really nice work on the front suspension install! Very clean and well thought out. Your plan to utilize the unit construction of the Volvo is definitely different. Most other builders would have built a new frame, hacked the body up and just put what was left of the shell on the new frame. I like the path you have chosen! Looking forward to more.

[@lunkydog]

Looking good! Shock towers look fantastic.

[@gregsefcik6700]

Nice clean work, looks great.

[@xozindustries7451]

Great progress, I like building the cage first to stiffen the chassis, good plan

[@rickyhogan2749]

This is Great , Thank you for sharing.

[@volvobrynk]

Big fan of the work! You do good work!

[@kennybiggs3944]

This is a awesome build love it👍keep up the good work

[@jord9308]

Gale Banks looked to open up the firewall for his hot Rod, so he welded a wheelbarrow into it

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Yep. That would work. Fortunately. We can weld a nearly flat piece in on ours.

[@dragdriverepeat]

hahahahahaha, the ending is awesome!!

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Thanks bud!

[@paullatour7012]

No need for a frame table. Troy Rogers who built the Chaparral race cars laughed when asked about a frame table and pointed to marks and hilti bolts on the floor of the shop. He said that was the flattest part of the floor.

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Whatever works for you.

[@duett445]

Amazing how rust free that car is, must have lived its life in CA or Az or similar dry climate. All the 544 I worked on have had major rust issues.

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Yeah. Unfortunately it did not work out so great in the end on this one.

[@laynelommen9460]

Nice drama at the end Calvin. : )

[@jeffleary1598]

Rest in pieces 4.2 blocks

[@davidreed6070]

I like it, with you guys' ability that is going to be a bad machine.

[@BEANS-O-MATICtransmissions]

I know you're REALLY into 4200s right now but, with such a short nose and limited height, why not run a genV v6? You'd still be 6>8 ! 👍

[@Calvin-Nelson]

A couple of reasons. Personally I don't like the way that they sound. Also, not huge fan of the split pin crank for the amount of power I want this thing to make. Also, the car is rather narrow, and really best suited for an inline. It's not really a very short front end... We may do an LV3 someday. I used to own one actually. Lol. I doubled my money on it when I sold it. Appreciate the constructive comment!

[@roadrunner4404]

Interesting. Following.

[@jasonfikes9514]

Really looking forward to this build. I'm wanting to compete in some drag and drive events myself, where would you find the class rules? If you dont mind me asking.

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Just Google the event you want plus "rules" on the end. That usually works for me. Lol

[@jasonfikes9514]

@Nivlac57 thanks, didn't think of that.

[@jonathanwindle2685]

Have you checked out Molnar Technologies Inline 6 Cylinder GM Atlas 4.2 Engine billit 4340 steel Rods?

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Yeah. We've used them on an engine already. They work great.

[@LimitedGunnerGM]

Dry sump the engine and have more clearance?

[@Calvin-Nelson]

That really would not give us any more clearance. In fact, the pump may actually interfere more.

[@robroyce6845]

TCI,Art Morrison,Chris Alston fron subframe??

[@Calvin-Nelson]

It's all homemade

[@talalhz9137]

✔👋👍🏻👨‍🔧⭐🏎💯

[@bandi_TEE]

Try a 3500/3700 vortec engine

[@Calvin-Nelson]

I can't find one for a reasonable price.

[@michaelblacktree]

I know what you mean. Every time I go to the junkyard, I see rows of vehicles with Vortec 4200s... and not a single 3500/3700.

[@blackericdenice]

When you say you have 2 weeks before sema. I’m out.

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Nope. We still have a few months.

[@thewraith6360]

This and the fairmont have to be my top favorite builds you've guys have done with the 4200 platform. Wish you guys could do a tubular manifold with a 6-1 collector to get that radical sound out of it, but man that engine bay is tight. If you want some ideas for a manifold look up "1000HP 2JZ - SPOT ON PERFORMANCE VL WAGON FKX275 V2.0" they did a tubular 6-1 manifold with a side exit exhaust.

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Nice. I'll check that out. Thanks bud.