Other Cars (British & British-Inspired)

1800's assembled by "Jensen", so ok to ask? I'm seriously considering a 1800 ES,(Estate Wagon),possibly better looking than a Jensen GT ?/lol. Cronic problems to look for ? Webbsite ? Anybody ? Thanks,roverman.

The 1800 was assembled in UK for the first couple of years... but then production moved to Sweden. As I recall, all ES 1800s were Swedish-built. That said, I'd really love to have one! I like the interiors (nifty dashboard!) and I particularly love the original leather seats. The exterior styling has grown on me. I've only driven one. As I recall, the brakes were quite good. The steering however wasn't very good (NOT rack and pinion, as I recall). The overall feel wasn't as sporty as an MG. (I don't know what they weigh, but the one I drove felt heavy.) I'm told that the old Volvo motor is quite good, and very tough, and I thought the Bosch fuel injection seemed to work pretty well on the one I drove... but if you're planning a transplant anyhow none of that matters, eh? As I recall, there are hardcore Volvo enthusiasts who put newer turbocharged Volvo engines in 1800s and Amazons. As for websites and such, or access to performance parts, I think it would help a lot if you spoke Swedish. Incidentally, I've seen some real nice P1800s vintage racing. I keep looking at them because when I find a UK-built one I'm going to add it to BritishRaceCar.com. There's already a P1800-V8 conversion in our "Other British Cars" photo gallery: Dale & Larry Rembold's 1962 Volvo P1800 with Ford 289 V8

Hey Art,
I currently own two P1800ES Volvo's. One has a 400hp 850 Turbo engine and the other is stone stock. I was also the top Volvo tech in north America. So what do you want to know?
Cheers
Fred

Thanks Curtis and Fred. Rust prone areas ? Fred, your 450 hp. is which engine ?Approx weight of stock ES ? One on ebay now, with Buick V6, for silly $'s.Would a Subaru/ WRX,all wheel drive conversion,be BAD ? Cheers, roverman

Art, "rust prone areas" everywhere but the roof.

Frame rails, rockers, wheel arches, headlight buckets and door bottoms are the major areas. I love these cars but if you're of bigger stature try one first. They fit tight.
The big engine is a 96 Volvo 850 turbo engine. Custom rods, pistons, cams, turbo and porting. ECU is a remapped gm affair. Trans is from a 87 Volvo 740 turbo. Rear end is stock with Quaife lsd.
The Subaru engine won't fit for sure. It's way too wide. The front wheels are too far forward to accomodate the Subaru trans axle.
I have thought about the AWD before and toyed with a modified S10/Blazer setup but the front end is very narrow and the transfer case would need to be in the rear passenger footwell. It can be done but just another project on a very large pile.
Stock weight is 2580 lbs. for a 72 1800 ES according to the factory manual.

Cheers
Fred

Fred, I'm 6'1''. I sat in one decades ago, and I thought the ergonomics were all wrong ! Tilt wheel and move/change the buckets ? To me, it's the "blonde" of all wagons, so you overlook things. Thanks, roverman.

Art, if the P1800 makes your pants go all squidgy. Check out the VOX P1800 and Amazon as well as Bo Zolland
Cheers
Fred

Fred, I'm 61, they do that already. Will the P1800 be same for check of my fit? "ES" is about 450mi. away.Thanks, roverman.

Yep, same same.

Ok, so a 65' P1800, is that British enough ? Body by Jensen? "Claims" to have a Rover 215, and no mod of the firewall. Where would one "stuff" the master cyl/booster ? One on Ebay, with Buick V6, had booster under floor of driver seat(skidplate) ? I shall scope, roverman.

Okay, a little off topic... Fred, are there internal differences between the basic 850 engine and the turbo version? Compression ratio, for example?

Second question: did Volvo offer the 850 with a stickshift in North America? I've only seen the automatic here, but one of my Swedish buddies was an engineer on the stickshift transmission project. I drove one in Sweden and liked it a lot. If I can't find an 850 with stickshift here, would a transmission conversion be feasible?

Third question: is there a trick for changing air conditioning evaporators without removing the whole dashboard? That and the odometer gear are the only things wrong with my mom's 850 after fourteen years. My mom got her non-turbo 850 sedan new while I was working for Volvo Truck, and I've always loved that car. Some day I hope to inherit it, but perhaps I should pick up another one in the meantime.

Hey Curtis,
Yep lots of differences between "white block" engines. Altogether 15 variations. Two valve and four valve, 2.0, 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5L,
high pressure or low pressure turbo or no turbo.
Most of the non turbo engines were 10 or 10.5 to 1 compression.
All of the turbos except the B5254T (9.0 to 1) are 8.5 or 8.4 to 1.
Turbo cams are different, swapping in the non turbo "PGI and PGE" cams are a good idea.
The engines are strong but anything over 350hp needs better rods. They look good but a little bit of detonation and they want to go play outside.
Lots of ways to build them.
Stickshift cars are around. My oldest daughter Megan had a brutal 855 turbo wagon in high school.
We went to town on that car.
It was a stick shift. Same engine as my P1800. Centerforce clutch and custom suspension.
My 18 year old blonde made all the boys with their 5 litre Mustangs look dumb.
Even managed to twist off both front axles inside the trans.
I have a trans with a split case and two broken axles for sale cheap if you want.
Sticks can be retrofitted. Everything is there. Turbo and non turbo trannys are for the most part the same.
Rumors of a factory LSD trans abound but I've never seen one. The Quaife LSD is the way to go anyway.
The later "R" six speed should also fit without too much work.
Ah yes evaporators, afraid your going to spend some quality time with the car.
It's not a hard job, just long.
There are some hacks out there that cut the evap box out but I've seen the result and it's not nice.
Disconnect the battery, treat the air bags with respect, take your time and some foam tape to get rid of all the rattles and you'll be fine.
Use a good aftermarket evap because Volvo still hasn't fixed theirs.
Odo gears are available in a kit from IPD (very good guys to deal with).
The solder terminals for the stepper motor let go and the motor breaks the gears. While the gears are out solder them up and you're good forever. Don't lube the gears or they turn into little jellybeans.
While your soldering redo the system relay (mounted above the radiator beside the fan relay) and the fuel pump relay ( under the fuse box cover) and you might be suprised at the improvement.
Any other advise just ask.
Apparently I'm full of it.

Cheers
Fred



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/2010 09:26PM by DiDueColpi.

Yeah its me again. Sorry to jack into my own thread. 65'-body by Jensen ?Speak of here ? Sounds like 215 Buick and Volvo 4 spd/od. Engine weight of 1800 motor ? Thanks, Art.

Hey Art,

not sure where you would put a master cyl under the car unless it was jacked up like a 4X4. Underside very similar to mgb.
Just did a quick thumbnail on my stock 1800 and the v8 should fit without a brake booster. A 65 should have a remote booster anyway. The 65 (M40/41) trans would be about as strong as the LT77 so no real advantage in adapting it. Anything larger will need serious trans tunnel mods. B18/20 engines tip the scales at around 330-340lbs.

Cheers
Fred

Thanks Fred. Did Volvo have a 4spd od. in 65' ? This coupe has it. So 215 is slightly lighter. T5 might be a better, direct fit trans ? Good place to buy a turbo 850 motor ? I'll bid on the "SE" today. Cheers, roverman.

Yep, M40 trans was 4speed . M41 was 4speed with laycock overdrive. Both were available.
The only trans that will bolt up to the whiteblock 850 in a north south orientation is the automatic from the 960/ S90 cars.
You could go way out there and put the three litre twin turbo S80 engine in it. Three hundred horse right out of the box.
It might make the automatic easier to justify.

Cheers
Fred

The 1800ES sold for $2,950.My bad. I learned a little too late how "maximum bid" works. Coupe with the 215, is way too rough. Still looking for a "straight" coupe, with VOX 1800 potential. Merry Christmas all, Art.