Volvo 1800

[jiminy14]

hello!! i just joined this group. i ahve been working on the 1800 since i was 16 ( 24 now). its been in stock form for two years then turbocharged, fuel injected using mega squirt, and now with a '93 HO 5.0L carbureted. i drove the car for a couple months two years ago when i frist threw the v8 in, but it was quite incomplete and dangerous to say the least....i couldn't resist driving it though. the engine bay is super small and i had to replace teh entire firewall. i blew up the stock dana 30 that was in it and decided to put in a ford 9". things snowballed and i ended up building a frame and i would say half a complete street chassis.

www.pbase.com/jiminy14 (http://www.pbase.com/jiminy14)
www.pbase.com/james14 (http://www.pbase.com/james14)

just waiting on my rear end and some more money to really get things moving again.

i will try to post updates every couple days since i ahve started working on the car again.

thanks for looking. my car is hacked compared to all the cars i have seen here but i risked embarassing myself anyway hahaaa

james

[ProTour69GTO]

welcome and cool project

[MZ 500]

Welcome, sweet project I like it when people do somthing different.

Heres mine it's hack job too but it's comming along I got my frame conectors in this weekend.

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33198

[jiminy14]

thanks guys....and matt you r car looks like its started off right. i should've built a rotiserie for my car but funny thing was that at the start i thought.....why waste hundreds of dollars on steel to build one...i feel liek and idiot for ever thinking that. also it looks liek you've got a great foundation to start from...body looks solid as hell unlike mine.


jsut got my control arms finished tonight and por15'd them...i love the por15 but holy christ it takes a long time to prep and let dry etc .....about a 3 hours process to get one coat of actually por 15 on.
anyone have any experience with the stuff??? i am using it for the first time and hoping it will hold up almost as well as a powder coat.

james

[curly]

Cool project!

[MZ 500]

thanks guys....and matt you r car looks like its started off right. i should've built a rotiserie for my car but funny thing was that at the start i thought.....why waste hundreds of dollars on steel to build one...i feel liek and idiot for ever thinking that. also it looks liek you've got a great foundation to start from...body looks solid as hell unlike mine.


jsut got my control arms finished tonight and por15'd them...i love the por15 but holy christ it takes a long time to prep and let dry etc .....about a 3 hours process to get one coat of actually por 15 on.
anyone have any experience with the stuff??? i am using it for the first time and hoping it will hold up almost as well as a powder coat.

james

thanks for complements on the body it is solid now but there was a lot of rust in the rear quarters and front torque boxs. The quarters have been replaced from the body line down and both torgue box's where cut out and replaced. My welding skills have got a lot better on this project.:) From what I have heard por 15 is grate as long as you do all the prep work if you skip a step it will chip off sounds like your doing it the right way.

[jiminy14]

finished coating the control arms last night. assembled some of it today....had to come to work though before i could throw on some wheels.
hopefully tonight i'll get a chance to lower the front down and see how low it goes and how much interference i will have with fenders tie rods etc. the wheels in the front are 17x8 +25mm offset. stock wheels were 15x4-5 " approx and a 165/80/15.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/08/84331671-1.jpg

controls arms drying in the paint booth.
this is as far as i got before work.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/08/84331691-1.jpg
some up to date engine pictures. its really tight. i am using some new motor mounts and am praying they don't allow the engine to move more. i have about 1mm clearance on the driver's side.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/08/84331817-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/08/84331818-1.jpg

please forgive the disgusting looking headers. i was not about to grind any welds or make them pretty. they are jsut temporary to get the car driving.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/08/84331863-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/08/84331872-1.jpg


that's it for today. i have to get the rest of the suspension together tonight and then design some caliper brackets.

james

[jiminy14]

some new pictures from this past month's work;
the car sits a little too low now in the front for clearance reasons only. i would love to be tucking this much on all four corners.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/10/86205027-1.jpg
the side view with rust glaringly obvious. the rocker here is cut out and the inside is just about 100% gone. luckily the rocker isn't doing much structurally anymore.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/10/86205037-1.jpg

my favorite picture.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/10/86205247-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/10/86205527-1.jpg
the floor 99% done. i still have to grind welds and clean it up in general. sat half outside this summer and surface rusted.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/10/86205051-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/10/86205111-1.jpg
the rear suspension. brackets are finally all welded and rear end is complete. just needs oil.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/10/86205054-1.jpg

the rest of the pictures are www.pbase.com/jiminy14 (http://www.pbase.com/jiminy14) if anyone is interested. the car has been moved for the winter to be stored in my family barn so little work will be completed until january now. the car might even get a body job this winter if i have time.

thanks for looking.
james

[badbu68]

Very cool!

[neki67]

Welcome and thanks for sharing your project with us. Very, very cool!

[novanutcase]

Very Cool! Very Unique!

John

[68droptop]

Very cool project. Nice wheels...

[jiminy14]

Very cool project. Nice wheels...

thanks!! i loved the wheels when i first saw them.... i wanted to go wider in the rear ( like an 18x10 or 11") but they only came in 18x9.5 so i am stuck with the 275. the car is tiny and narrow so its looks fine but i crave a wider tire back there.

the wheels are konig "beyond" btw

[CHROMAHOLIC]

Nice car, Always loved that body style......I think this has got to be my favorite Volvo....600hp this thing rocks

[jiminy14]

Nice car, Always loved that body style......I think this has got to be my favorite Volvo....600hp this thing rocks

holy hell that is a really nice car. i have only seen exterior pictures of that car before. such a complete car .....definitely above my level/ goal. haahaa

[Smock67]

Your 1800 is on its way man. way to think outside of the box and be original.

That is one sweet volvo nice color and everything especially the side exhaust

[Twentyover]

Nice car, Always loved that body style......I think this has got to be my favorite Volvo....600hp this thing rocks

Apparently someone else also subscribes to PPC

[jiminy14]

i haven't completed anything more since the fall but found some new pictures from when it was towed home. the car has been following me around for the past 4 years while i was in school. its nice to have it home again.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/02/93291888-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/02/93291916-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/02/93291961-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/02/93291985-1.jpg

the car is looking rough but there is lots more body work to be done and lots more welding and grinding to do before i worry about body work.

[fiorano]

NIce!

I drive and Amazon 1964
but this is being built to 1964-66 ETCC spec
I am builing the drivetrain for something
SBC 350-muncie 4 i hope to put it into a MErcedes 1968 or so...I lost the old volvo 142 i wanted it for....

[Iamtheonlyreal1]

I always loved that car....Great to see one getting done...That is a car that is definitly to its own in style....

[jackfrost]

wow... thats a beautiful car. looks like you are making the right mods. :twothumbs:

[crazeflier07]

I like that your car is different. I love the look of that car! Get her finished, I want to see her done.
~Jon~

[jiminy14]

the car has come along a bit since last year..... just updated the pictures today

i haven't got the time this moment to go into detail but here is the link to all the current pics...
www.pbase.com/jiminy14/inbox (http://www.pbase.com/jiminy14/inbox)

i built a tent for the winter so i could work on the car in warmth...the sheet metal work is almost done with the exception of the exterior body panels. i think i might actually drive the car this summer

james

[thetoystore]

that car is AWSOME

[NOT A TA]

Nice project! My sisters ex ice races an 1800 in upstate new york. Always liked the body style, they've got coolness written all over them. I saw a couple wagon versions back in the 70's and they're one of the slickest wagons I've ever seen.

[1971CHEVELLE]

it is different still very cool protect

[jiminy14]

thanks guys ... it had been a while since i updated. still glad a volvo can be cool with the necessary modifications LOL

james

[icebird84]

nice project

[pimtina]

Cool project! I'll be keepin' my eye on this one!

[Regan]

Very cool. Definitely unique!

[96Z28SS]

my girlfriends dad used to race them.

[srh3trinity]

That car has nice lines. I like the rake to the stance, should be awesome when you finish it up.

[radback]

Excellent!

[jiminy14]

my girlfriends dad used to race them.
that is really cool....the cars seem to be competitive in their scca class. there are lots of them around the north east.

[73supreme455]

Very nice!!

[jiminy14]

i can't believe its been 2 years since i have posted anything new...its been a slow two years but here's what i have gotten done...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/109222774-1.jpg
trunk is sealed off from cabin.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/109652779-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/109222785-1.jpg
this is where all the work was done over the past year. $500 for a nice warm winter workshop including insulation.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/109652777-1.jpg
cabin got a quick coat of por15 to prevent surface rust
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/109652804-1.jpg

the underside of the new back half is pretty much done... welds ground down as much as they will be.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/109652782-1.jpg
this is what happens when your project ends up taking years not months ( surface rust).
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/109652795-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/109652797-1.jpg

the brake master cylinder now has a permanent home.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/109652806-1.jpg



then what happened next was typical of a decision i would make. i knew there was rust in the rockers ... didn't know it was this bad...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/109652807-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/109652808-1.jpg

so then i justified a big decision using the reasoning so familiar to gear heads...."well i've gone this far... may as well keep going."

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/112862224-1.jpg
now the car is stripped down to nothing and i am starting from scratch with the body. i never took right down to nothing in all the years i ahve been woprking on it. always exciting to find out new things about your car.
the rockers were GONE. new ones have been purchased but i think i might be making a lot of the rockers myself now since there is not much to attach the new skins too.

[jiminy14]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/112862226-1.jpg
i am really tempted to flare the wheel arches a bit ... especially on the front. something needs to be done if i am going to steer the car.

the back of the car was mangled in an accident or two over the years and never repaired properly. problem is that i can not purchase a new rear panel. there was one left in existence i found a couple years ago bu they wanted $1000 for it. i avhe begun repairing what i can.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/112862216-1.jpg
this corner was crushed in and the lines were not right so i cut it out repaired it and re-attached. it seemed the easiest course of action.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/112862217-1.jpg
what a mess !!! this has been repaired and i have made a new tail light housing but no picture to show for now.


on my student budget i have come up with an ultra cheap improved brake set up ( hopefully improved).
GM metric caliper ( cheap and can be replaced with the wilwood version if it all works out).
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/112862245-1.jpg


the caliper bracket bolted on to the stock volvo spindle. the bracket is about 10lbs btw ahaha but just a test to see how it all works before any money goes into it.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/112862231-1.jpg

turned down the stock hub to allow for a hub ring to center on.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/112862235-1.jpg
the ring
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/112862236-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/112862239-1.jpg
the rotor is from a crown vic, but has a very deep hat. couldn't believe how tight a fit it was while still providing enough clearance.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/109652813-1.jpg
the assembly.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/112862254-1.jpg
the rotor is jstu over 11" and vented.... that's exciting for me . stock replacement rotors for the car are 10" solid and about $250 a piece.

the whole new setup cost under $150 so far. hopefully it works.

it needs all the body work to be completed.
i have to also figure out a steering solution since i will not be keeping the volvo steering box design.
then its a matter or wiring and assembly. i doubt it will be out next summer though. i am very busy with school and work right now.

congratulations if you made it this far.. thanks for looking.

james

[Iamtheonlyreal1]

Awsome build, I love those cars... I am building one also, but I am going to run the Nissan Skyline running gear. Intercooled Turbo, 6-speed, Independant rear.

Great work on your end, looking forward to see a finished product.

[jiminy14]

Awsome build, I love those cars... I am building one also, but I am going to run the Nissan Skyline running gear. Intercooled Turbo, 6-speed, Independant rear.

Great work on your end, looking forward to see a finished product.
sounds very interesting... i would love to see some pics or detailed plans. i have put this car through several different stages ....including turbocahrging the origianl motor, fuel injecting it etc using mega squirt it was fun as hell but i blew up the stock tranmission and rather than rebuild the same thing i wanted somethign new. i still wonder if a straight six or even sr20det wouldn't have been a better choice.

[rbwamsley]

Thought you might like this.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
http://www.topgear.com/au/car-news/mattias-vocks-volvo-p1800

[Swiftandswank]

nice work, keep up the progress

[Iamtheonlyreal1]

Here are a couple of pics of what I am starting with. I installed these 19x10 and 19x8 wheels to see what the car would take factory. I am going to run an 18 inch wheel, and drop the car down a bit more.

This is going to be this winters project..Right now I am ordering all the parts and accessories I am wanting, so I will have everything ready.

To be honest, I thought about putting an LS2 in the car. But it will be alot easier build with the Silvia/Skyline stuff.. Everything appears to fit with out having to do alot of cutting and fab work. The independant rear cradle can easily be made to fit the P1800 and the transmission appears to fit the tunnel.

Not to mention the fact the engine and trans packages are readily available in a complete state at a bargain of a price. I can get the whole package of complete motor(wiring, computer, accessories, intercooler and tubes, 6-speed trans, drive shaft, rear cradle and suspension, front suspension and subframe(not used) ect, ect, for barely over 5000 dollars delivered.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/06/000_00081-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/06/000_00031-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/000_00051-1.jpg

[jiminy14]

Very solid looking base you have there. body looks solid from here!! a straight 6 or 4cyl even is a great option for simplicity reasons. you can get more than enough power out of one of the more modern japanese motors. i jsut finished putting an sr20det black top into a friends '73 datsun. weighed less than the stock motor and lots more useable power.

i actually turbo charged the original b20 in this volvo in 2004 when i was in university. FUN AS HELL. i used megasquirt to fuel inject it and ran with a bunch of stock volvo parts to turbo charge it... cheap, fun and i learned SO much.
in the end cracked the overdrive off the back of the transmission, ( electronic overdrive hung off the back and weighed a fair bit). had been working at a local speed shop here in ontario at the time it happened and decided to go bigger. the for v-8 has been done before by a few people. i jsut got sick of the electronics and lack of reliability with my DIY set up. decided if i was going to spend the money i was going to amke sure i had more torque than i would ever need.

i would still love to have two more 1800's ..... one to do up stock and one to do the modern japanese turbo thing with.



the best aprt about these cars is that they have not appreciated in value ever. you can get a running driver for $5000 no problem . and even the most concourse of examples isn't much over $12,000.

so happy to meet others on here with 1800' s. so excited to see your projects evolve.


james