This is a summary of the reports written for the various Technical Session the Club has hosted over the years.
Technical Writeups
2010 Aluminium Wheel Repair and Refinish
We visited Panther Precision Machine to see what is involved in refinishing aluminum wheels.
Paul Levasseur provided his personal background in the automotive refinishing supplies business and as sales representative for Standox paint which is the paint used by manufacturers of a number of high-end automobiles. Panther Precision Machine was one of Paul’s customers and that is how he got involved with the business. They operate a very “green” shop, examples being the recycling the wash-water through distillation and the use of water-based paint. Also all the metal swarf and scrap is collected for recycling. Their business is one of a very small number that repair alloy wheels.
This year’s Technical Session was hosted once again by Volvo of North Vancouver. The subject was tires and was presented by Jason Leber. Jason was a former Volvo Master Tech, and has worked for Yokohama tires. He covered many topics including tire sizing, tire ratings and tire safety.
The 2008 edition of the Volvo Club of BC Winter Technical Session was held at Volvo of North Vancouver. Tony Do discussed the pros and cons of transmissions fitted to various models.
The 2007 edition of the Volvo Club of BC winter Technical Session was held on Wednesday, November 14, 2007. The people at Volvo of North Vancouver graciously opened their shop bay doors to host an informative and entertaining evening. Master technician Ian Peterkin demonstrated fault tracing techniques and explain the most likely causes for “non starting” of the 200, 700/900 and 850/S70 series.
The 2006 edition of the Volvo Club of BC winter Technical Session was held on Wednesday, November 15, 2006. Master technician Ian Peterkin will take the audience througha guided tour of suspensions and exhaust systems from 140, 240, 740, 960, 850 models . Each car will be put on a hoist and master mechanic Ian Peterkin will point out typical strengths, weaknesses, maintenance requirements or each series.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005 was our 2005 edition of the Club’s winter technical session. The people at Volvo of North Vancouver graciously opened up their shop bay doors to host an informative and entertaining evening. Master technician Ian Peterkin took the enthusiastic audience through the timing belt replacement on a 1980 Volvo GT with a B21F engine.
Subject Volvo, 1980 GT. Here is the subject car, 1980 GT with a B21F engine.
This article covers the timing belt replacement of Volvo single-overhead cam (SOHC) engines. We will cover the procedures, tools and supplies needed, and some of the typical snags you might face in this task.
Wednesday, November 24, 2004 saw the 2004 version of the Volvo Club of BC ever popular and successful winter technical session. The people at Volvo of North Vancouver graciously opened up their shop bay doors to host a very informative and entertaining evening. Anyone who drives an older car in the greater Vancouver area dreads the annual AirCare inspection. Master technician Ian Peterkin took the enthusiastic audience through the tune up on a Volvo with LH2.4 fuel injection.
Our 2003 Technical Session was held on November 20 at National Tire Wholesale, in Vancouver. Thanks to Eathan Skwira for spending his evening showing us the details of front end wheel alignment.
No report from that session.
Key details about the AirCare program include:
Purpose: The program was designed to identify and reduce emissions from passenger cars and light-duty trucks, targeting high-polluting vehicles.
Location: Mandatory for vehicles in the Greater Vancouver and Lower Fraser Valley regions.
Operation: Over 22 years, it operated with a focus on cutting down carbon dioxide and diesel particulates.
Effectiveness: According to, it was considered one of the most effective emission programs in North America, with reported reductions of 89% in light-duty vehicle emissions.
End of Program: The program concluded on December 31, 2014, as newer vehicles were found to be cleaner, making the tests less necessary.
AirCare On-Road (ACOR): A separate, ongoing program started in 1996 focused specifically on testing heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses.
Thursday November 29, 2001 marked last year’s Technical Session, held at the Cambie Road location of Don Docksteader Motors. Our host for the evening was Jason Leber, Volvo Master Technician. The evening was attended by about two dozen members. Jason’s presentation was like a walk down memory lane, from low-tech to high-tech. In some ways, the evening was an continuation of Jason’s presentation at the meet this past August. Jason has been with Docksteader Motors for 7 years and previously worked for an independent Volvo repair shop in North Vancouver. He holds the title Technical Specialist.
On Thursday December 7 the Club had its year 2000 technical session, held by Ian Wood and son Hayden at iwe Rear Ends Only. Once again, a successful tour, 18 people attended. The Club provided donuts and juice. Those who attended watched the overhaul of a differential in a 1980 GT. This is a subject that I knew virtually nothing about. In all the years I have owned a Volvo and after having worked on many areas of one car or the other at one time or the other I’ve never had the occasion to do any work on a rear axle.
This year’s technical tour was another complete success. Thanks to Mike Handfield for organizing the event. About 25 members were hosted by brothers Don and Doug Borden at Alec’s Automotive, 3891 Fraser Street, Vancouver. The shop is really old and really interesting. You half expect the equipment to be run by belts from the ceiling, instead it is packed with excellent machine tools. There isn’t a sharp comer anywhere, as all the rough edges have been worn smooth by years of use.
Our November 1998 Technical Session was held in the Surrey body shop of Ed Schram Motors. By all accounts, this was as successful as any previous sessions judging by the turn out and enthusiasm. Any time you find 20 or more Volvos parked in one spot, you know you’ve found the right location. On hand were Ed, Brian and Schram and their body man and painter Howard. Len Lee, who looks after the used parts end of the business was also on hand.
The November Technical session was a smashing success by all accounts. The session was held at the Cambie Street location of Don Docksteader Motors. Shop foreman Jeff Wong and Jason Leber led us through the replacement of rear trailing arm bushings, rear shocks, front lower control arm bushings and front struts. As a special note, Jeff will be celebrating his twentieth year with Docksteader in May of 1998. This Cambie Street facility was built in the late 1980s to help solve the problem of not enough space at the old location on Main Street. Some people may remember their extended hours in the mid 1980s.
1996
Ambassador Upholstery Restoration