Collectively, Eternally: A 2JZ-Swapped Volvo 740 Drift Monster

What was the most well-liked automotive in your hometown while you had been rising up? For Pål Ivar Frigstad, early ’80s Volvos dominated the roads in Høvåg, Norway. Particularly these with a turbo.

As a substitute of watching cartoons or studying comedian books, Pål would ask his mother and father to purchase him automotive gross sales magazines. He’d pore over them, in search of modified automobiles to encourage his personal mannequin automotive creations. Tinted home windows, painted rims, and makeshift subwoofers made out of folded coloured paper had been sufficient to maintain him busy… for some time.

At simply 10 years previous, Pål started tinkering along with his first automotive, although his efforts weren’t all that critical because of his younger age. By 18, he took on his first main venture: an Opel Calibra.

Following the Calibra, in 2009, Pål acquired a 1988 Volvo 740 that he nicknamed BADVOLVO. What started as an unregistered venture progressively remodeled right into a drift monster.

Pål’s journey with the Volvo has seen its share of challenges, principally because of rule modifications. When he first started engaged on the engine bay, there have been no particular guidelines concerning the firewall. Like lots of his fellow drifters, who had been modifying or relocating their automotive’s bulkheads, Pål eliminated most of his Volvo’s firewall so he might reposition the engine way back to potential, constructing every thing else round it. Nevertheless, later rule modifications compelled him to return the engine bay to its unique kind.

What’s not unique is what now resides within the bay: a totally cast Toyota 2JZ-GTE VVTi engine constructed by Widmer Motor in Norway.

Pål spared no expense on the engine, which is undoubtedly his favourite side of the automotive. For a private contact, he even CNC-machined his Frigstad Motorsport brand onto one of many red-anodized billet cam covers.

The three.0-liter inline-six boasts a formidable array of parts, together with Wiseco cast pistons, Eagle H-beam connecting rods, GSC Energy-Division S2 billet camshafts with Brian Crower adjustable gears, and GSC valves, springs and retainers. The listing is intensive; see the spec listing on the finish of this publish for all the small print.

A Volvo constructed for monitor use isn’t full with no massive enhance injection. For this, Pål chosen a Precision 6870 Gen2 turbocharger mounted on a {custom} chrome steel manifold with a v-band connection, paired with a 60mm Turbosmart wastegate. A {custom} Garrett-cored intercooler with two compact Spal electrical followers retains the consumption cost contemporary.

Engine water-cooling is dealt with by a {custom} system with 20 liters of coolant capability. The crux of the setup resides on the rear of the automotive, the place a big aluminum radiator with two Flex-a-lite followers and a Meziere (208l/min) water pump is mounted.

With 826hp on faucet, Pål’s Swedish brick wanted a driveline as much as activity. He has that courtesy of a Sellholm Tuning MPG 5-speed sequential gearbox with a triple-plate clutch and a modified Volvo 1031 axle with a {custom} Sellholm 2-way limited-slip differential and 31-spline axles.

The suspension encompasses a bespoke four-link and Watt’s linkage, BC Racing coilovers up entrance, and 3-way Proflex coilovers designed particularly for this car by Sellholm within the rear.

Different points of the construct that must be up to date because of regulation modifications embody the roll cage and the roof, which was formally fiberglass however is now metal once more.

Inside, the {custom} work is clear. The 6-point cage is tightly fitted within the cabin, and the fiberglass dashboard is flocked. The {custom} Woodward steering column mounts a custom-engraved Sparco wheel with a snap-off hub and push-to-talk change for the intercom. Pål sits in a Sparco Circuit seat, the passenger in a Sparco Dash, each secured by QSP 6-point racing harnesses. Important information is displayed on an ECUMaster ADU7 digital sprint.

The battery has been relocated to the place the again seat as soon as lived and is housed in an aluminum field. The MaxxECU Race engine administration system and PDM field are on the passenger facet.

As a remaining contact for the inside, Pål repurposed a pair of Speedhunters x TAKATA Racing tow straps he bought in 2014 as light-weight door pulls.

The outside has acquired vital updates, too. Initially, the fender arches had been metal, sourced from a BMW E46 M3, however have since been changed with custom-molded fiberglass equivalents.

For weight discount, the entrance bumper, hood, fenders, doorways, trunk, and the Group A-inspired ducktail are all in fiberglass, too.

After 15 years of evolution, challenges, and perseverance, Pål and his Volvo have turn out to be inseparable. He informed me that he’ll by no means promote the 740 however will give attention to new builds, beginning with a BMW E46 M3 and ultimately aiming for a Nissan Silvia S15.

If his subsequent venture is something like this Volvo, I’m positive we’ll be seeing Pål on Speedhunters once more.

Alen Haseta
Instagram: hazetaa