VALHALLA for VOLVOS

By Goran Freske

There were already eager "I Rollers" milling about Bob Workman's European Auto shop at 10:00 a.m., the official starting time for yet another OCVSA sponsored Tech Session. Bob and Cindy had the coffee dispenser working overtime, and the gut bombs were disappearing fast. We were all admiring Cindy's newly installed front desk, and we all reached the same verdict -- very impressive! The parking lot outside the office was rapidly filling with Volvos of all models, but mostly 1800s and 120s, and a few 544s, 140s and 240s. Even Dan Palmquist showed up with his beautiful black and rare 262! It was nice to get reacquainted with members who we don't often see, as well as meeting new Volvo freaks. We even garnered a few new members for the SDVSA.

   Bob Workman's European Auto holds a treasure trove of interesting parts, not only for Volvos, and complete cars in various states of restoration. It took Bob some time to answer all the thousands of general queries, before he could get to the main agenda -- a demonstration of how to do a tune-up on the B18 Volvo engine with standard ignition and twin SU carburetion. Everyone settled down around Daniel Frick's cool looking '67 1800S. First Bob proceeded to perform a compression check and leak-down test on the engine. Like an M.D. listening to your lungs, he used his stethoscope to listen for telltale hissing noises in the crankcase, intake manifold, and exhaust pipe that would tell him precious compression was being lost through poorly sealing valves and piston rings.

compression checks could give the same results. Specifically, if the cylinder has a bad valve stem seal, oil can leak past the valve and act as a wet test by sealing the piston rings. That is why a leak-down test is advised as part of every tune-up. A quick check of the timing was followed by the installation of new breaker points. With the distributor removed from the engine, Bob checked the play in the shaft and expounded on the general care of the distributor. He also emphasized the importance of marking the spark plug wires, so they go back to the proper spark plugs. With only four wires to keep straight, you'd think it would not be a major problem, but Bob said misconnected wires are common with cars towed into his shop. 

   Somewhere in here, the BBQ coals were gray, and the hot dogs had reached their moment of perfection, and Bob's brother, Jim, sounded the lunch gong. The always-famished Volvo Vikings stepped up to the Valhalla long table and satisfied their hunger and thirst with modern equivalent of Särimner (the daily reincarnated boar, which was consumed by the fallen warriors every night) and mead. Many an epic Volvo saga was told between mouthfuls. 

   Then it was back to "work" again, watching Bob putting the finishing touches on the tune-up. We all waited in great anticipation for the moment of truth -- the start-up. The engine started on the first crank, settled into a smooth idle. Daniel's exhaust system made the car sound wonderful, when the engine was revved. So, yet another immortal classic Volvo is happily buzzing down the road….waiting for the call by Odin when Ragnarök finally rolls around!