Manual or auto? *decision made for me*

[volvosneverdie]

Stickers ADD hp?

Im going straight to isle of white graphics to buy a thousand!

see you on the motorways.

meep meep!

[trabitom99]

Also I think history preservation point of view as I have got some odd virus

I have the same virus

There was a much more radical view than that being put forward in a recent article in the "Oldtimer Markt". A museum's car restorer was saying how, in his opinion, any renovation work done on a classic robs it of its identity and history. In his view "restauration" is where the utmost is done to preserve the car's original materials. "Renovation" is where an attempt is made to make a car "as new", but since various parts are no longer available you invariabely have to compromise, use modern replacements, have to chop and change the original stuff to make the reproduction materials fit, and end up with a product which is completely different to what originally left the factory. If the car can never drive again without "renovation" (ie replacing non-original materials) then in his opinion that is always preferable.

Bear in mind, he was talking pre war classics, where only a handful of cars remain, not 1991 varios. But I agree with his opinion in many ways - for example there are only a handful of unrestored gullwings around - complete with their original paintwork, mechanicals and interior. The vast majority have been "overrestored" turning them into cars which were never actually made like that, what many people with huge wallets are driving is not a piece of history, but a fake. It's like having a fake Picasso on the wall, rather than the original.

Gosh, I got carried away there. Back to your manual conversion, John And back to your stickers, Ben, and don't feel guilty about it

Tom

[nomead]

+1 vote for vario. Okay, I'm a bit biased.

I thought I'd keep mine running in original condition, whatever the cost (within reason of course)... Although mine isn't such a low-mileage individual, and isn't in good all-round shape anymore, more of a daily driver, but good enough to actually drive every day reliably. But then, I have a beard and I'm already 34 - ancient to some

And yet I've been sideways, actually doing "donuts" with mine - with summer tyres and a snowy / icy parking lot, though. But I still bet I had much more fun than the people who came in the same place with their Japanese FWD cars, trying to make the rear end move by pulling the handbrake... all I did was press the accelerator

[filthyjohn]

Hmmmmmmm.
Plenty to think about there. I think I'll have a bash at renewing the oil in both boxes, and doing the belts. If it's in good nick I'll keep it original, but it's on its last chance
I reckon it'd be pretty easy to pull all the vario stuff out and fit manual, we did this to my blue 'un in just over 2 hours of relaxed effort:


Crap pic but that's everything out.

[MJ]

I'd probably say stick with the CVT if your planning on selling it soon - the buyer could always convert if they want.

It you were going to be keeping the car I'd say do what you want as long as you don't throw the CVT stuff in the bin. Either keep it so it can be converted back, or sell it to someone who wants it

I'd love to drive a CVT sometime, sounds good fun - and I like Chris's idea on a clutched CVT

I have driven a tractor before with a CVT variant. Just like an auto really, but it has a joystick thing that you push forward or backwards to adjust the gear ratio. Not like triptronic where pushing forward or backward changes up or down one gear, this flows through ratios like a CVT. If you push it a little the change is gentle, but push it further and it zooms through the ratios more quickly. Very wierd

[Stefan]

I say keep the vario just because it is unusual especialy in such a late model.

[filthyjohn]

Well, I'm gonna leave it the way it is for now, do the servicing, cavity wax it, then probably sell it in the spring/summer. It'll have to go to an enthusiast, but then I doubt it'll get drifted with the CVT.
It is a funny old driving experience, nice for overtaking on the motorway, as you don't need to drop a cog to squeeze past a lorry. However I only managed 30mpg on my last run, whereas I topped 50 in the manual one. That'll be the low gearing of course.
I drove some CVT qashqais at work (jap market Dualis if we're picky), and it was much the same, the system hasn't really changed in nature. However Nissan improved it in the 90s with stronger steel belts (more like a rubberised chain). This was because they wanted to use it in their commercial vehicles. The murano SUV has one, and that has the 350Z V6 so it must be pretty strong.

[Bjorn Belter]

Yes, keep it Vario! That's what these cars were originally designed around.

Talking of "Nissan type CVT", i.e. the van Doorne steel belt version, in the early 1990s, the Williams F1 team installed one in one of their cars, when
David Coulthard was one of their test drivers. He did Silverstone lap faster than the same car with manual.

In fact, such was the improvement that the FIA then introduced the "no automatics" rule for F1.

Strange but true!

[filthyjohn]

I think they banned it to save crowds from the horrific racket:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=x3UpBKXMRto


Well, I can't get a prop, and tried a couple of engineering firms but can't get them to make one good prop out of my two knackered ones. I really need the car for monday, so there was only one thing for it:

Hup ya go:


Cover off:


Where's she gone?


Genuine Belts (in mint condition too):


Need a bellhousing, so pull the engine out of the blue one, it was coming out anyway:





Close of play today:





Sorry for the shockingly cack pictures, only 3 of the 14 flourescent strip lights in the unit work, which makes evening photography hard.
The manual box is in, gear linkage and shafts connected up, clutch pedal in, exhaust carved up 'cos it was ropey and in the way.
Still to do:
Change clutch and bellhousing, connect clutch cable, fit prop, remove all that vacuum malarkey carefully.

It'd have been finished today, but I didn't get started til 1pm, had a lunch break, and had to remove the engine and exhaust from the blue one.


I'm not entirely happy about doing this BTW, but I really need the car for work so it kind of forced my hand.

[trabitom99]

... well John, did you get to work on time ?

Tom

[filthyjohn]

Work's 7am tomorrow. Lucky for me because there was extra unforseen work today. Nobody ever told me the flywheels are different:




Got everything done and went to fire it up, nothing happens. Duh, it's because of the starter inhibitors that keep you from turning it over in P/D/R. So for the time being I wired in a ghetto starter button using a cavalier electric window switch. Just ran a wire from the starter live to the battery positive, and sited the switch semi-neatly in the console:

For some reason you still have to turn the key as well, I'll have to investigate the wiring for the defunct selector.

Anyone want to buy a vario conversion kit?

[volvosneverdie]

Im starting to wish i'd just offered to lend you mine for a while John.

Looks like lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of work.

Hope you dont get all finished, drive down the road and go-

'yeah, a dont like it.'

[filthyjohn]

Yeah it was a bit of a mission like. Had to change the exhaust too as the old one was getting close to dead. This one's ok but it's blowing cos we put it on in a hurry with old gaskets and no exhaust paste. But I drove 5 miles home and it was all good. Odd having to change gear but I think I'll get the hang of it again.

[volvosneverdie]

dont forget to lift the little wotsit up for reverse!

[trabitom99]

Anyone want to buy a vario conversion kit?

Hmmm ... I may need some vario bits soon ... Are you sure you're never going to convert it back again?

Tom