Varg In Jeep's Clothing

I had to perform some voodoo magic on the water temp sensor similar to what I did on the oil pressure sensor. This has one seriously funky temp sensor from the factory. It seals against a taper deep in the hole. The aftermarket replacement is just a standard 1/8” NPT fitting.



...I removed all of the plastic from inside the old sender. I had to drill the top out as large and as deep as I could in order to fit a socket in there, and for the tip of the sender to stick out (hopefully) far enough. We’ll see what kind of readings I get.





In other news, I’ve moved onto the gauges, and with any luck, I might be done with them today.

On the “bad news” front, I’ve been getting input from people on a Volvo forum about my fuel sender issue. It has two wires coming from the sender (rather than the typical one), and neither show any type of continuity to ground; only when tested against each other, and it’s 100%. As it turns out, I picked the seemingly one car in automotive history that used a closed-loop system for a fuel gauge. My new gauge won’t work. So, I’m going to have to source a new sending unit and fit it in place of the stock Volvo sender. That’ll be fun.

After I fill it back up with coolant and hook up the oil pressure sensor, I should be done in the engine bay. The other fender might make an appearance today. Maybe even the hood and windshield if I can get some help.

 

60psi oil pressure at startup, 50 when warm
Not bad for an engine with 225k on it

I’m starting to wonder if the fuel gauge is going to work after all. I hooked it up, and it’s reading just over half tank, which is where it should be. What would be the odds?

The tach I got is an utter piece of crapola. Worthless. The needle does what it wants, when it wants (usually two seconds after it should).

According to the water temp gauge, the thermostat opened at 200 and held steady at 190.

We’re leaving for the day; I should get some seat time in this tomorrow to test the engine temps. I’m still skeptical that this little rad is enough to keep things cool.

 

slim, if your gas gauge workmanship is anything like mine. mine always read F or E. no room for anything but.

 

Whether it works or not, what about the non-matching silver ring on the gas gauge?

 

Super Awesome...congrats!!!

 

Hot damn!

 

My 9yo shot some video



I need to get these tires balanced. I got a little death wobble at 45. I need to check my toe-in, too. I’m not sure I ever set it beyond “that looks close”

 

Wow. Just wow. A huge tip of the cap, sir!

 

Very cool....

 

Fusebox
Fuel guage
What is happening here?

 

looking like you near end of project
hint hint
Used School Buses & Child Care Buses for Sale | Northwest Bus Sale

 

The trim doesn’t bother me nearly as much as the backlight does. The other three gauges are yellow incandescent, and that one is bright white. I might get the sender situation figured out and eventually replace it with a matching VDO gauge.

 

Thanks for that link. I just sent a link for one of them to my wife. $11k for a small V-8 van/bus with 40k miles... I can work with that.

 

Seriously though, the Jeep is a functioning work of high art. Your skills are amazing.

Thanks for making the build thread so we can see the little details along the way. Even seeing it in person, you wouldn't realize half of what's gone into it.

 

Thank you.
You’re welcome to come see it.

 

What's next on the build list?