Ian's Volvo TGB13 6x6

**Sitec** · 1st October 2013, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by roobar_and_custard

There are many different types - military and civilian.
The military come in 4 basic types TGB1111 (open top tank killer), TGB11 (4x4 hardtop), TGB13 (6x6 hard top/ambulance/radio body) and TGB20 (6x6 troop carrier). The civilian derivatives are refered to as C303, C304 and C306, but I have not yet found a definitive explanation on these.
Mine is a TGB13 Command Cab, which is a 6x6 full bodied hard top.
I got mine from a guy who trades in Sweden, Michael Hultengren (hultis4x4@hotmail.com). I had a great experience, but to be honest, that was over 6 years ago.
There are a number of places which appear to deal in them, but as I have not dealt with any of these I have no recommendations.
http://www.staaling.dk/
http://www.bachint.dk/shop/search-1.html?keyword=volvo
http://volvo4x4.eu/
http://fmv4x4.com/web/
http://fmv4x4.com/web/

Are you a member of the yahoo groups Volvo forum and the Real 4x4 forum in the states. Occasionaly cars come up here (mostly Real 4x4 and mostly in the states). There not the most active, but if youe speak German or Swedish then there are plenty of others which are. You may also be able to get a recommendation on a dealer.
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Volvo303/info
http://www.real4x4forums.com/PinzgauerBBS/index.php

Importing is straightforward, but requires lots of paperwork and funds to change hands. You can import these without restriction as they are are all pre-01 Jan 89, but make sure the date of registration or manufacture is clearly documented. You must get an import approval first, before even commencing shipping. These are available from DOTRS.
Importing Vehicles into Australia

There are many companies that ship - mine came Ro-Ro (Roll-on Roll-off) with Wallenius Wilhelmsen, and an agent in Sweden organised this for me. Whilst waiting for the import approval, your vehicle will need to be stored.

I used an agent in Melbourne to clear customs for me. Plan to pay tax, and lots of it - all up it cost me around 2000AUD in Tax - including quarantine cleaning the car. Again, this is quite straight forward, assuming you find a capable agent.

Registration was also easy, that will depend on which state you are in, but engineering approval will be required. Mine required only modification to lap/sash seatbelts for the rear outboard seating positions and changing the perspex rear windows to safety glass to comply with ADRs, but I also had to prove it was being assessed as a Motor Vehicle in ADR and not a passenger vehicle (see attached). Mine is still LHD as it is over 30 years old.
It then had to have a roadworthy - bizzarly this was the hardest part as many places refused to assess, something to do with the size... Minor work was required to pass, but that is no different to any other roadworthy.
Finally - show up at your local registration authority with Import Approval, Engineers Certificate, Roadworthy Certificate and a means to pay more taxes - I think these are called registration fees - and smile sweetly while they scruitinise the paperwork...

And that's it.

If you need any more specific help, then let me know.

Ooooooohhhh Yeeeeaaaahhhh! U hit the nail on the head... Taxes, washing, dock handling... Taxes, a bit more washing... Storage because they (the people who wash it correctly) didn't wash it properly, oh and did I mention taxes!

Still, worth doing to have something unique tho! The Cummins for my 101 that Ive shipped out of the UK still worked out at half what I'd have had to pay for the same engine over here... and it came with a gearbox, PTO, rad, engine mounts etc. Roll on the 4" exhaust!

**roobar_and_custard** · 1st October 2013, 07:47 PM

And after all that, I still found 3 live rounds in it...!

**rathgar** · 1st October 2013, 09:23 PM

Thanks for that. I have read the forums and done research on importing I will have a look at those links. Hopefully I might ask a few more specific questions in the future - no rush !! Pity I'm not closer I'd come and have a look.

**Sitec** · 2nd October 2013, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by roobar_and_custard

And after all that, I still found 3 live rounds in it...!

Wow! Just shows how well they check stuff!!! Well, I'm sat in the container yard, with the engine on the truck..... and have been for the past two hours... Some numpty used a wrong form, so even though it has been customs cleared and quarantine cleared... They have to express clear it again! Another hour to wait.. as they've all gone to lunch!!!! Talk about frustrating!

**roobar_and_custard** · 18th November 2013, 10:41 AM

Well no significant progress on the Volvo, but at least some for a change.

Most of the energy in the last week has been around wrestling the diesel from the donor vehicle.

However, managed to start pulling apart the drive train to start looking into the "awfull noise" I get from th erear axles when on a feathered throttle.
So far, have pulled off the PTO on the first rear axle as this was proposed as being the source of the noise, but to be honest it feels really smooth and with no apparent play. Slightly relunctant to take it apart.
The propshaft to the rear axle is good too, nice sliding action and smooth UJ knuckles.
The rear diff however feels a little grumbly on the pinion bearing, so hopefully this is the source of the noise. Especially as I have 3 new CW&Ps to go in (higher ratio in readiness for the diesel) and will be getting all the diffs rebuilt anyway.
I think I'll be pulling out the diffs next.
Ian.

**roobar_and_custard** · 6th January 2014, 09:38 PM

Finally, diffs 1 and 2 now out... diff 3 held up by bad weather and a hasty retreat into the dry.
Sadly diff three is the one I suspect is causing the noise, but no chance as yet to examine.

Front portal boxes are SOOO heavy!! Not Stolly heavy, but really not a 1 person lift... so many bruises now! And rather disappointingly, looks like I'll be replacing the CV boots again as they have both split. I suspect that this is due to old rubber, even though these parts were "new" a few years ago.

I'll add these to the growing list of parts needed...

Last week it was a runner, and this week it doesn't drive, which is lucky as it no longer stops! I think this is progress.

**roobar_and_custard** · 6th January 2014, 09:51 PM

Also played around with putting some Discovery seats in to replace the standard vinyl seats...

Not 100% convinced they are the right choice, but a big improvement over the originals.

Ian.

**Sitec** · 6th January 2014, 10:01 PM

They look good in there... More room in that cab than a 101... That's for sure!

**roobar_and_custard** · 9th January 2014, 09:29 PM

Finally started on the rear axle to get the last diff out (nearly there). However on the way have taken the opportunity to dismantle one of the hubs to use as a reference for a custom disc conversion.

The hub is self contained in its own casting and is the same on each axle, so I'm hoping that this will be quite simple. Pending measuring up, I will be using Disco 2 rotors (vented fronts and solid rears) as I prefer the front mounted rotor option.

This also keeps the tradition of using Land Rover brakes - do the shoes and slave cylinder look familiar?

I suspect at some point in its life this truck has had the stub axle come loose and the portal gear has had a good chew at the axle end casing. Some very distinctive marks there! Fortunately the gear is unmarked, so its either harder or new. I prefer the idea of new.

**roobar_and_custard** · 30th January 2014, 10:05 AM

So whilst work goes on in the background on the disc conversion and the refurb of the proposed diesel, had a play with the fuel filler.

The Volvo one has always been a pet hate of mine - possibly the worst considered fuel filler in the history of cars! So the weekend saw the first step of the conversion to something more conventional.

The ali casting came from the US, the filler from a Series Land Rover and the hose from a Defender (keeping to a common source of parts if possible).

Pretty happy with the outcome, but the final plumbing (through the floor) still needs to be finished.
Ian.

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