I've been trading some emails with a guy in Ohio who has a Volvo C303 radio truck. Asking price is $15,000. Seems a bit high, thinking of offering $13,000 but still have lots of doubt. Especially started doubting the whole thing last night when the lovely Mrs_B and I were at the church and a guy tooled up in an absolutely beautiful Dodge Power Wagon, vintage something in the 1950's or 60's??? Totally restored and a show stopper. The lovely Mrs_B liked it a lot. She is not sold on the Pinz/Volvo but will let me have it if I want it. So now the door is open pretty wide for some sort of a toy.
This has more miles on it that I was looking for, the body is in OK condition, but not great. I don't like the fact that it burns oil, but it is a common Volvo B20 engine so it might not be too expensive to fix, engine parts are available.
I'd really like your opinions of this:
This has more miles on it that I was looking for, the body is in OK condition, but not great. I don't like the fact that it burns oil, but it is a common Volvo B20 engine so it might not be too expensive to fix, engine parts are available.
I'd really like your opinions of this:
Bob,
Attached are some pictures of the truck. I'd be happy to take more pictures of any specific parts of the truck you'd like to see. Mechanically, the truck is in nice condition. It has 94,000km on it, it had about 89,000 when I bought it. I've done the following to it:
Installed new CV boot on the left front corner. I have a new seal for the right front but haven't installed it yet, only the left was leaking when I got the truck and the right seems to be holding fine.
Replaced the rear main seal.
Installed new clutch and throw out bearing.
Converted to 1-2-3 electronic ignition kit. I have all the original mechanical sealed ignition hardware as well which will go with the truck.
Replaced the engine oil cooler.
Starter rebuilt.
Repaired body damage on the right side, lower left corner of the middle door. It came from Sweden with a pretty nasty gash in the body, I had it repaired by a local restoration shop and the door opens and closes fine and seals.
Replaced the passenger side mirror. The original mirror stuck way out on the right side, and got mangled by some trees on the trail. My brother and I fabricated a replacement mirror setup with some stainless tubing. The new mirror actually has much better visibility than the original one. It's also set up to be easily removed when on the trail.
New exhaust. The original system on this truck was rusted beyond repair. I had a local shop fabricate a new system using a generic muffler. It's a shorter, quieter system and sits a little higher so it's out of the way on the trail.
With the above work finished, the truck is in very nice driving
condition. I've taken it on a couple trips to PA (about 300mi round trip) with no problems. At highway speeds it runs slightly rich and burns a little oil -- about a quart every 150mi. Driving locally around town I haven't noticed any oil burn. I haven't worked on the brakes at all, but they are in great condition. The tires are the original military tires it came from Sweden with. They're mixed as far as wear, and should probably be replaced as I have no idea how old the rubber is. It shipped from Sweden with a spare, but it was stolen off the back of the truck at some point in the shipping. I have a fifth wheel that will go with the truck, but there is no tire mounted on it.
As you can guess, I've been fixing up this truck with the objective of actually using it off road, not to restore it to original condition. I've had it off road a few times now, and it is an amazingly capable truck. The 4wd and lockers all work well.
Let me know what questions you have, I'll be happy to answer
everything I can. Sorry for the delay in getting the pictures to you, it's been a busy few weeks.
Thanks,
Ross
Attached are some pictures of the truck. I'd be happy to take more pictures of any specific parts of the truck you'd like to see. Mechanically, the truck is in nice condition. It has 94,000km on it, it had about 89,000 when I bought it. I've done the following to it:
Installed new CV boot on the left front corner. I have a new seal for the right front but haven't installed it yet, only the left was leaking when I got the truck and the right seems to be holding fine.
Replaced the rear main seal.
Installed new clutch and throw out bearing.
Converted to 1-2-3 electronic ignition kit. I have all the original mechanical sealed ignition hardware as well which will go with the truck.
Replaced the engine oil cooler.
Starter rebuilt.
Repaired body damage on the right side, lower left corner of the middle door. It came from Sweden with a pretty nasty gash in the body, I had it repaired by a local restoration shop and the door opens and closes fine and seals.
Replaced the passenger side mirror. The original mirror stuck way out on the right side, and got mangled by some trees on the trail. My brother and I fabricated a replacement mirror setup with some stainless tubing. The new mirror actually has much better visibility than the original one. It's also set up to be easily removed when on the trail.
New exhaust. The original system on this truck was rusted beyond repair. I had a local shop fabricate a new system using a generic muffler. It's a shorter, quieter system and sits a little higher so it's out of the way on the trail.
With the above work finished, the truck is in very nice driving
condition. I've taken it on a couple trips to PA (about 300mi round trip) with no problems. At highway speeds it runs slightly rich and burns a little oil -- about a quart every 150mi. Driving locally around town I haven't noticed any oil burn. I haven't worked on the brakes at all, but they are in great condition. The tires are the original military tires it came from Sweden with. They're mixed as far as wear, and should probably be replaced as I have no idea how old the rubber is. It shipped from Sweden with a spare, but it was stolen off the back of the truck at some point in the shipping. I have a fifth wheel that will go with the truck, but there is no tire mounted on it.
As you can guess, I've been fixing up this truck with the objective of actually using it off road, not to restore it to original condition. I've had it off road a few times now, and it is an amazingly capable truck. The 4wd and lockers all work well.
Let me know what questions you have, I'll be happy to answer
everything I can. Sorry for the delay in getting the pictures to you, it's been a busy few weeks.
Thanks,
Ross