Final Post

The last three years have been a fun and educational blogging experience. As you can probably tell from the frequency of my posts, it has become a burden to update on such a regular basis. Due to there being little reward or compensation from this blog, it is hard justifying the time to write articles, especially while pursuing my masters degree and working full time.

FCP Euro's Mercedes C300 race car

FCP Euro hired me for DIY maintenance and modification blog posts, many of which I have shared on my own blog. As of 2017, they are taking a new direction to solely focus on their own motorsports team. However, my numerous articles have been archived for my portfolio and can still be read here: FCP Euro - Michael Hallock. I hope that these write-ups can guide and inspire other self proclaimed mechanics for many years to come.

Just because I am retiring this blog, does not mean I am leaving the car scene. Quite the opposite! I will continue to upload videos on YouTube featuring #ProjectV50 and my P1 Volvo instructional guides. 

If you have not already, please subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram!

MyNameIdeasWereTaken's 2008 Volvo C30

My C30 is an ongoing project, becoming more race car every day. Details can be seen on my website, but you can also follow along with the build on SwedeSpeed and C30Crew.

MyNameIdeasWereTaken's 2006 Volvo V50

My wife's V50 "XC" is the another project, with progression updates being shared both on YouTube and SwedeSpeed.

Thank you to my loyal followers and readers. I'll see you around on the internet!

MyNameIdeasWereTaken ~ Michael

Project V50: Redline Goods Steering Wheel

A good friend in Germany sent me the first Redline Goods steering wheel for nothing more than the cost of shipping. Since then, it has been installed in my S40, my C30, my previous V50, and now the new V50XC.

The perforated leather stays significantly cooler in the summer and the white stitching adds a sporty touch to the interior of the car.

The following video shows the installation process:

Project V50: Modified Mototec Intake

We picked up a Mototec intake for $100; quite a bargain compared to the $299 price tag.
-I like that it has an integrated MAF housing, similar to the Injen intake on my C30 and S40.
-I do not like that it reuses the factory rubber hose between the IP and turbo...

The pictures of the Mototec are a bit deceiving. It is NOT a cold air intake. It draws in the warm of of the engine bay, just like all the others do. This is just a hose which attempts to direct some fresh air towards the open filter.

I found an aluminum funnel which fits perfectly in the carbon fiber canister's opening.

I cut the funnel down to fit over the included 90° hose.

I then took some rubber door ding guard trim and used it as a "seal" between the funnel and the filter canister.

The outside of the funnel was painted textured black to match the rest of the hard piping. I used a self adhering tape to seal the gap between the funnel and hose.

Then put a hose band clamp around the tabs I cut, which holds it solidly in place.

The end result is a completely enclosed intake, similar to the factory air box, but with 3" diameter piping and a higher flowing filter. I'm not super thrilled about still using the factory snorkel part, but it is still better than drawing in warm air from the engine bay. The bumper will be coming off for an upgraded front mount intercooler install soon, at which point there will be some additional modifications to the funnel in the grille area, similar to what I had done on my S40.

Since I bought the intake through classifieds, it didn't come with an ECU bracket.
I purchased an 8" 90° metal bracket from Home Depot and cut it down to fit the ECU.

The following video shows removal of the stock airbox and installation of the Mototec. Most new intakes will come with detailed instructions for these steps, so the video is kind of vague.

Here is a before/after recording to hear the difference.

Overall impressions: Like most intake modifications, throttle response has greatly improved. Lots more induction noise and a nice little whistle when you come off the throttle. I'll have the car tuned later this year, which is when we will really see the gains from it.

Build quality is good, clearance is good on the M66, but fitment is a little weird. I had to do some modifications to make it sit the way I wanted.

If I could do it again, I'd probably choose the Mototec intake over the Injen, simply because it was not too involved to make it a cold air intake. But the Snabb intake pipe still appears to be the best option, mostly because it replaces the rubber hose going to the turbo.

Project V50: Debadging and Rebadging

Spacing out the trunk VOLVO letters, similar to the newer style Volvos, is a subtle way to make the car look more modern. For an added custom touch, we also painted the letters black for a nice contrast against the silver car.

A few extra letters may have added themselves, but this V50 is well deserving of the "XC" Cross Country identification.

Traditionally, the XC was an all wheel drive turbo version of the standard V series wagon with a slightly taller suspension. Our V50 is all wheel drive, our V50 is a turbo, and all wheel drive models come with slightly taller suspensions. Therefore, I know give you the V50XC!

The following video shows the process of removing trunk badging and the rather simple process of reinstalling the letters.

Project V50: Fog Light Grilles

...I hate fake grilles...

The following video shows the simple process of cutting out the fake grilles to make them functional.

Fuel Pressure Sensor Replacement

If your car begins to surge at idle, or acceleration begins to stutter, a likely culprit is the fuel pressure sensor. The fuel pressure sensor monitors pressure in the fuel rail and makes adjustments as necessary. However, these sensor are common to fail after 100k miles and should be replaced as part of the 100k mile tune up.

The following video shows how to replace this sensor. You may also read my latest article of FCP Euro: Fuel Pressure Sensor Replacement (C30, S40, V50, C70).

Pedal Cover Installation

I'm not talking about the cheap covers that you can buy from Walmart, which require a hammer and a banana for installation. I am referring to the high quality R-design pedal covers, which were a factory option from Volvo.

These upgraded pedals add to the sporty appearance of the car while also providing better rubber grips for your feet.

The following video shows the installation process, and you may also read my latest article on FCP Euro: P1 Volvo Pedal Cover Replacement.

Engine Mount Replacement

Vibrations at idle can often be the result of a worn or failed engine mount. The following video shows the simple process for replacing the upper engine mount on P1 Volvos:

You may also read my latest article on FCP Euro: How to Replace a P1 Volvo Engine Mount (C30 S40 V50 C70)

P1 Volvo Headlights

Ever wonder what the differences are between the headlights of P1 Volvos?
What are "Day Time Running" lights?
What is "Home Safe" lighting?
How do you tell if your car is equipped with Bi-Xenon or Active Bending projectors?

My recent article on FCP Euro, P1 Volvo Headlight Bulbs and Features, goes into detail answering all of these questions.

You may also watch the following video which shows how to set and operate Home Safe lighting on P1 Volvos.

Dash Camera

People always talk about the fish that got away... Well, I always talk about the unbelievable things I see on the road, especially when driving in Atlanta.

To prove my stories are real, I have installed a Black Box G1W dash cam in my C30. Physical quality feels pretty cheap; it was one of the cheapest dash cams on the market. But video quality makes it clear why this camera has received so many great reviews across the internet.

Over six hours of looping video, automatically turns on with the car, great night vision, and a G-sensor which starts recording if it detects an impact when the car is off.

I extended my radar detector bracket to mount the camera for a clear view out the windshield. Nothing exciting has been captured yet, but you can be certain I will create a new YouTube playlist for the idiot drivers that I see.

Project V50: Purple

Purple lug nuts and purple LEDs to replace the factory halogen footwell bulbs.
PURPLE! Need I say more?

Project V50: Shift Knob

While shifting a manual car will feel like second nature once you have mastered the art of driving a stick, a strangely shaped shift knob can make the experience completely foreign.

Some people prefer a long throw of the shifter, making it clear what gear you are in. 

Some people prefer a short throw where a flick of the wrist can change gears.

Some people prefer cylindrical shift knobs which can be grabbed from the side.

Some people prefer spherical shift knobs which can be grabbed from the top.

I have always preferred a round shift knob with a short throw, making it easy to reach down from the steering wheel and quickly snap the car into the next gear. Because I have this round shift knob setup in my C30, my wife has learned to prefer a similar style of gear changes.

The following video shows the process of removing the stock shift knob and easily installing an aftermarket knob in its place.

Project V50: GPS Mount

If there is one thing I hate, it is a bunch of wires running about in the cabin. I also hate suction cup mounts.

Unlike most, I prefer to always have my GPS running while I am driving. The live map feedback showing upcoming turns and roads, the speedometer which displays local speed limits, and the current elevation marker.

The following video shows how I installed my GPS in the V50 with all wiring completely hidden.

Project V50: Installing Rally Armor Mudflaps

I'll let this following video give all the details on our latest modification:

Rally Armor mudflaps offer sufficient protection while also adding to that rugged off road look.

Project V50, Spare Wheel

We frequently take road trips on spirited driving roads and visit rural places with limited cell service. The last thing I want is to be stranded with a flat. Even though Volvo includes a full size spare in the trunk, the donut is only half width.

This means that you can only drive 45mph on the spare and must drive extra cautiously through the turns.

To allow myself to continue driving as normal when on my spare, I have replaced the donut with an actual wheel and tire. Of course, to keep with the theme of ProjectV50, this spare has been mounted to the roof basket. The following video briefly shows the process of building a bracket for the roof.

Project V50, New Shoes & Installing Wheel Spacers

Christmas came early with the purchase of new wheels and tires for the V50!

The following video shows off these new wheels and provides instruction for installing wheel spacers and hubcentric rings.

What Brakes to Buy?

Choosing new brakes can be a very daunting challenge. It is a moderately expensive purchase and your decision will be on the car for many miles. So how do you decide which brakes are best?

First, you must determine the application of the car. Is it being used for sporty driving, racing, or just a commuter?

Second, you should acknowledge the area you live in. Do you see frequent rain? Do your roads get salted in winter?

Third, consider cosmetics. To most people, brakes stop the car and serve no other purpose. But once you start paying attention, you'll acknowledge and admire brakes the same as you do nice wheels. Do you want your brakes to look cool?

Lastly, and most importantly, is your budget. Upgrading brakes can easily break the bank, but there are many replacement options for pads and rotors that won't hurt your wallet.

Check out my latest article on FCP Euro, comparing ALL of the replacement brake options for Volvos: Volvo Brake Options from FCP Euro.

Volvo Wheel Bearing Lock Brace

You would think that when a mechanical problem became so frequent, that it required a special part to be developed, an extended warranty/recall would be set in place to fix the issue for other cars.
Unfortunately, the rare problem with P1 Volvo hub bearings separating from the spindle is a responsibility of the owner to get fixed.

My recent article on FCP Euro goes into detail about the problems that can occur and how to install Volvo's bracket to prevent the issue from occurring: How to Install a Volvo Wheel Bearing Lock Brace (P1)

You can also watch the following video for additional information:

Project V50, Installing Hella Lights

The recent modification on our V50 has been the installation of roof-mounted Hella lights. With two wide angle fogs and three distant spots, these things illuminate everything within a 180° field of view.

The following video shows our installation process with all wires being completely hidden.

Elevate Front Mount Intercooler Installation and Review

An upgraded intercooler is an absolute must if you live in a moderately warm climate. Especially if you begin tuning your car, adding more power and higher boost levels.

Elevate makes an excellent upgraded intercooler for the P1 T5 engine.  You can read my installation guide on FCP Euro: Elevate Volvo P1 Intercooler Installation and Review, and my full review on FCP Euro: Elevate Intercooler Review For P1 Volvos (C30, C70, S40, V50).