Almost done

[bbbuzzy]

Great looking car, JRL. Those Sentinels really look great. Ebay has singles, anyway to get a clean set of 4? You've also done some other mods. In your opinion, what are the best mods to improve the handling (tires? sway bars, shocks, etc). Thanks, and once again, nice looking ride!

[JRL]

Well, to make an XC handle you really need to lower it and then the point of having an XC sort of goes out the window.
Sway bars are always your best bet.
I installed an S60R rear bar. If I did it again, I would go with a V70R rear bar or spend all the money and go with IPD bars all around.

You yourself, labled your car as the family truckster, if lowered that goes out the window!
At that point you may as well buy a V70R

[JRL]

New picture but I need to get the right light.
Sucker is really up there with new springs!!!

[Ocean Racer]

Well, to make an XC handle you really need to lower it and then the point of having an XC sort of goes out the window.
Sway bars are always your best bet.
I installed an S60R rear bar. If I did it again, I would go with a V70R rear bar or spend all the money and go with IPD bars all around.

You yourself, labled your car as the family truckster, if lowered that goes out the window!
At that point you may as well buy a V70R

The S60AWD springs will dump the XC by a good 2" front and 2.5" rear.
The ride is MUCH better and it's still an XC for all intents and purposes.

I find the stock height of the XC scary at 100km/h+ on the motorway in the wind. I got blown from one lane to the next because the centre of gravity was so high and it floats around. Not to mention the XC would tilt badly when braking, taking off or cornering hard.

[Forkster]

New picture but I need to get the right light.
Sucker is really up there with new springs!!!

Wow. She's a beaut. When I ready to get an 07, I'll definitely bribe...err ask you how this one is doing.

[JRL]

Well, After a day of enjoying the new look, I was not happy.
It was pulling a bit to the right and felt a bit sloppy to say the least.
(Remember I have a complete new suspension).
Having all new tires mounted and telling them (and confirming with the mechanic) that I wanted and had 36 lbs of tire pressure, the last thing I thought about was to recheck the pressures.

It was wandering, it was sloppy, it wouldn't turn.
I made an appt. for this Wed. to go over my entire front end to make sure I didn't miss something, (inner tie rod, etc), but.....

On Friday night/Sat morning we installed new AkeBono ceramic pads (I'll report in a week or so how they are) and I said to my guy, while you're there please check the tire pressure
....28 lbs!!!
Immediately filled them back to 36.

Now I'm a happy camper and sent a mildly nasty letter off to my dealer's service manager.
I had told him last year that I thought his tire gauge on the tire machine was off but this is ridiculous!!!

[SkagSig40]

Hey JRL,
Beautiful job!!!
How much is this car worth now? I have a 2004 XC70 that has been an awesome car. I'd like to buy another but want something like what you just fixed up here. How much would a 2004-2007 100% rebuilt XC70 cost? I'm in Colorado by the way. Many thanks!

[JRL]

A lot
Probably not economically feasable if someone is doing this work at retail $$$!
I got all the conversion parts and pieces either used (at a great deal) or new (suspension, etc) at only 5% over dealer cost!
Most of the work (except software and of course wheel refinishing, the new tires, mounting and balancing, etc.) was done either by me or my "guy" at $30 and hour!
I'll figure it out in a week or so but even at my prices, probably a few thousand dollars, somewhere between 3 and 4K
My parts were probably $2500 to 3K or so, but now I have what essentially is an Adventure Series minus rear park sensors but EVERYTHING either brand new or totally up to date!

EDIT: Forgot about the speakers and the Dynamat, probably closer to 4K

What's it worth? I don't know exactly, but it would take close to 16K at this moment to take me out of it and that's about breaking even but someone would be buying an 07 that looks and drives literally like brand new.

I could not duplicate this with 85% of what's out there. NEVER in all my buying years have I seen a used car with these miles that looked as good as this one did which is why I spent the money on it.

[SkagSig40]

Thanks for the info! My local Volvo dealer has an 06 with 65,000 miles and they want $18,500 for it.