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Post by volvograeme on Jan 3, 2015 0:45:31 GMT
Happy New Year Daf Fans!
For those of you who have seen Richard's wonderful article in Belting Along about the Volvo 66 that I am now the proud owner of, here some up to date photo's and some potentially interesting information.....
This one was registered on 14/11/75, which does, we already knew, make it a very early one. I'm trying to find out the exact official launch date of the Volvo 66, but no joy yet, waiting to hear back from Volvo Heritage. However, I have found out that there were 2 Volvo price lists issued in 1975 - one in March, that only lists the 244/5 and 264/5 and one in September that lists the 66, with prices "valid from 15th September 1975 for 1976 spec cars only". It was £1945 on the road btw!
This must, (I think), mean that The Yellow Peril must have been within the first two months of production.........Could be interesting - I'll update when I can get more details!
In the meantime, be assured that this one is now being looked after for the long term - I have promised Richard that I will continue to update on full restoration progress as we go along.
(oh and yes - that is my 960 Estate in the background!)
Best Regards all - be back in touch soon!
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Post by Richard DAF Webmeister on Jan 3, 2015 12:23:53 GMT
Aaah great! It does come over well in the pics. I see that you haven't removed my very 70s retro-mode extra go faster stripes yet!!
I'm really pleased that you are so happy with this special rare happy little car.
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Post by volvograeme on Jan 3, 2015 22:49:22 GMT
A friend of mine in the VOC has provided the following information re chassis numbers for the Daf and Volvo 66's. Interesting, firstly, that they ran consecutively after the model change.
It shows that mine is in the first 3000 made - so not as early as I may have hoped, but certainly an early one!
DAF 66, MY75 (MY code letter "A"):
First ch. no.: A20000 Last ch. no.: A53121
Volvo 66, MY75:
First ch. no.: A53122 Last ch. no.: A92224
Regards all Graeme
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Post by volvograeme on Jul 17, 2015 21:57:16 GMT
Gosh, been a while since I last posted! Happy to report that "Daffy" is still belting along nicely - I use him quite regularly these days. OK, so I haven't carried out much work, tis true, but I am enjoying having him on the road so much, I just haven't got round to it! New picture attached from a recent show - as you can see the little lad polishes up really quite nicely! Much admired of course.
Also very proud to announce that he has been selected to be on the Volvo Owners Club stand at the NEC Classic Car show in November! Not least as the V66 was launched in October 1975, this year is the 40th anniversary. In an amazing co-incidence, Daffy was registered on 14th November 1975, so he will be celebrating his 40th "Birthday" on the Saturday of the show!
Few bits to sort before then, I think the belts need re-adjusting, and not sure if the Vacuum control is working 100%, but a friend of mine who knows a thing or two about the CVT is popping over on Sunday, so hopefully we can get it sorted.
That's it for now - Keep Belting Along Daffers!
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Post by Richard DAF Webmeister on Jul 18, 2015 20:48:02 GMT
Wow - well what a report! I am so pleased and proud that Daffy is doing so well, and a forthcoming starring role too. Fab!
Yes, I would think the belts will be getting ready for adjusting by now following their fitting early last year.
Good luck with it all - I hope to get a long to the NEC show again as a punter.
And from the new pic, it looks like it still has my special stripes on the bonnet?!
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Post by volvograeme on Jul 18, 2015 21:57:17 GMT
Thanks Richard.
Yes the extra stripes are still there - they have proved very popular with people, and they really do suit it so well.
When I do, finally, get around to finishing the body work and re-spray I'll have to seriously think about what to do about them!
Be wonderful to see you at the NEC if you can make it along. Best regards as always G
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Post by volvograeme on Sept 21, 2015 22:55:15 GMT
So, at long last, the restoration begins..... Gearbox first, (of course), so today was the strip down and rebuild of one of the primary drive units....... as you'll see from the "before" picture it sort of needed it!! The good news is up on the ramps the exhaust, petrol tank, floor and sills etc really are remarkably good - so that is all a relief! The other primary drive unit should be sorted tomorrow then a few more mechanical bits to sort before going to the body shop on 2nd October.......
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Post by swissdave on Sept 22, 2015 12:42:51 GMT
Good news, nice to see progress. That diaphragm looks worse than the one in mine, no wonder it wasn't changing ratios properly. Keep the pictures coming!
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Post by volvograeme on Sept 22, 2015 19:59:13 GMT
So it turns out the other diaphragm was even worse!! Bigger problem is the weight carrier bushes which are non-existent, of course! Need to get this sorted asap, can anyone help?? Work paused for the time being..... Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
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Post by swissdave on Sept 22, 2015 20:24:13 GMT
Blimey! Contact Matt at Essex Dafs, pm me if you need his mobile no. They broke a V66 estate recently. I think that you will definitely need the carrier from a V66, I've read that the Daf 66 primary has slightly different weights.
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Post by Richard DAF Webmeister on Sept 22, 2015 21:11:46 GMT
Oh dear. I wonder whether that was a reason for the occasional vibration? I hope/am sure you will get it sorted.
Pleased to see that the floor and exhaust are still remarkably good and solid.
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Post by volvograeme on Sept 22, 2015 21:17:46 GMT
Been chatting to some other daf/V66 owners, I think I will have new pins made up with new bushes and repair the existing carrier. Not the cheapest option but the most time efficient in the current circumstances. Always the possibility that any secondhand ones knocking around won't be that much better Friend of mine has an excellent chap who re-makes bits for his tractors and who is happy to do the work ready for next week.
Well, we all knew it couldn't go that smoothly eh? :-)
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Post by andrejuan on Sept 23, 2015 13:25:08 GMT
Interesting how both diaphragms were completely cream crackered. But, how did it drive in that state? did it change up at all?
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Post by volvograeme on Sept 25, 2015 0:53:02 GMT
Interesting how both diaphragms were completely cream crackered. But, how did it drive in that state? did it change up at all? Apparently not! Although, as far as I was concerned, it ran "well enough".... One problem is that I had never owned or driven a Daf/Volvo CVT so I had no idea how they "should" drive..... It must be a problem for any new owner - how can you tell what is right when you have nothing to compare it to? This, of course, applies to any car from a Model T Ford to a modern Citroen, but is especially true of something "unusually" like a Daf CVT. Ultimately, one takes your chances and makes your choice, based on the research that you have done, or the chance that you take. I do, by the way, want to make it absolutely clear that when I bought this car it was described honestly and in full by the previous owner, and any work that it now apparently it needs is not the fault of that owner who actually did their very, very best to sell the car to me in the most honest way possible. I was not deceived, and am not disappointed in any way. In fact, I continue to love the "yellow peril" and will continue to do so for many, many years!!
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Post by volvograeme on Sept 25, 2015 0:58:15 GMT
So, here is the latest Restoration update...........
So pleased to report we are back on track!!! My excellent friend James, who is getting his hand dirty on this, has got the weight balance carriers, bushes and pins re-built, repaired and re-made as needed for an excellent price in double quick time.....
This is brilliant news, and seriously properly good work. I am over the moon.
Full restoration work starts again on Monday.....and we are back on schedule to get to the body shop by Friday......
"Daffy" will live, properly, again!!
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Post by Richard DAF Webmeister on Sept 25, 2015 12:12:06 GMT
Yay!!
You're absolutely correct when asking "how do you tell if an unusual car is running as expected?"
Certainly Daffy was behaving just as a Variomatic should - i.e. engine and transmission working in harmony, nippy(!) and good fun.
Every now and again there was a vibration but only really noticeable if the car hadn't been used for a few days, and after a couple of miles it would settle down. I put this down to the brand new drive belts - and that is another common experience, especially with the Roflex/Roudlands belts, that when cold or after a few days or more of not being used, they need to "warm up" for a few miles.
But heyho, all is looking good and we look forward to seeing Daffy in serious bright yellow groovy and unique glory!!
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Post by swissdave on Sept 25, 2015 17:24:30 GMT
" One problem is that I had never owned or driven a Daf/Volvo CVT so I had no idea how they "should" drive.....
That's just the thing, they aren't like anything else I've ever driven. I didn't notice the lack of vacuum overdrive function on mine for ages despite having Dafs in the past. The revs do rise and fall quite a bit depending on the throttle application anyway and the smooth nature of the Renault Cleon engine masks things a bit too. Now I have full overdrive function working the difference is noticeable, particularly as I now have an extra switch wired in to the vacuum valve so I can switch this function on or off at will. ;-)
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Post by volvograeme on Sept 30, 2015 22:35:43 GMT
*Phew* !! Gearbox work and servicing done, kinda just in time! Daffy is back home tonight and running just wonderfully! I knew these little lads were fun - but I didn't know this much fun when all set up right . So, back to being "over the moon" again..... Daffy has a day of rest before heading for the body shop on Friday, (the deadline that could not be missed - they are booked up until Feb next year now, so if I'd missed my "October" slot that would have been it....). Lots of pictures to come as we start the next phase of "Daffy's Big Adventure".................... Attachment Deleted
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Post by andrejuan on Oct 1, 2015 18:31:53 GMT
Yes it's a great feeling when making progress, the variomatic experience is second to none. What difference to the running has the transmission work made?
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Post by Richard DAF Webmeister on Oct 1, 2015 20:48:01 GMT
Yes!
The anticipation is really building up here!
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Post by volvograeme on Oct 1, 2015 21:16:26 GMT
Yes it's a great feeling when making progress, the variomatic experience is second to none. What difference to the running has the transmission work made? It is an amazing difference to be honest! So much smoother and I think better performance, much quieter too! (Well as quiet as they ever get I guess..... ). It really does feel like a different car.
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Post by volvograeme on Oct 2, 2015 19:33:40 GMT
So the bodywork is underway! Strip down started today on the front end and bonnet, which have proved to be exactly as expected with no nasty surprises. In fact the whole car really is incredibly solid and sound So Here We Go! (And yes, Richard, the extra stripes have finally gone!)
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Post by volvograeme on Oct 2, 2015 19:36:23 GMT
Couple more from today.
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Post by Richard DAF Webmeister on Oct 3, 2015 11:18:30 GMT
(And yes, Richard, the extra stripes have finally gone!) Ah, the extra stripes. They were but a passing phase, and also to help cover the few surface rust bubbles! They did add a certain something - I spent ages lining them up!
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Post by volvograeme on Oct 10, 2015 19:10:24 GMT
Been a busy week on the restoration! The front passenger wing was the worse bit which was very rusty around the headlamp, and on the bottom corner. Boot lid and doors, again especially the passenger side, have also needed repairs - although nothing unexpected I'm glad to say. Most remarkable are the sills which have needed no work at all.
Anyway, here he is today, looking about as bad as it is possible to look I guess! But ready for prep and primer next week. All improvements from this point on!
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Post by Richard DAF Webmeister on Oct 11, 2015 19:37:00 GMT
Ah yes, I remember that the nearside front wing had had a bit of a bash, as had the bonnet.
Oh well, soon there will be no need for the yellow Hammerite!
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Post by volvograeme on Oct 25, 2015 3:06:05 GMT
So the other half and I have snatched a little holiday, and while we have been away work has continued.....
The body tub is now complete, and less repairs than expected are all done.
However, the doors have been worse than expected so that has held things up a bit. Now about a week over schedule, the NEC is looming................. But we will get there! *Gulp*
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Post by volvograeme on Oct 25, 2015 3:09:08 GMT
More nasty, complicated, door bits..........
It WILL be finished for the NEC.......
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jolo
Likes DAFs
Posts: 40
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Post by jolo on Oct 26, 2015 13:02:13 GMT
Hi Will you be on a stand at the NEC
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Post by volvograeme on Oct 26, 2015 22:51:34 GMT
Hi Jolo
Yes, I'll be on the Volvo Owners Club stand. This year is the 40th Anniversary of the Volvo 66 and mine was first registered on 14th November 1975 - exactly 40 years old on the Saturday of the show, so the VOC were quite interested in having him on show!
Hope to see you there?
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