66 Volvo P1800 Custom Build ( Pro-Touring Ls1 V8, Body Mods, and Flush Mount Glass) by Iamtheonlyreal1

13 minute(s) of a 136 minute read

I can promise you, the Geometry will be better than the factory Volvo... LOL Paul Horton Welder Series offers quality products and these kits will be engineered to be best that can fit under the factory chassis without butchering. We will also be working on New Adjustable 4-link arms and coil over mounting bar attachment, which will allow proper rear adjustment and bigger tires due to the elimination of the coil springs.

Another project that I am working on with a reputable company, and will be announced later, are custom gauges that will fit in the existing gauge pods.. The gauges will probably be offered in the orignal face and a tasteful custom retro pattern. They will also be easy to hook up electronic models.. The Speedometer will be operated by Acutal GPS, and or mechanical/electronic conversion, which will eliminate the speedo cable problem and innaccuracy's.

If any of you guys in the in P1800 Community would need any parts of this build, let me know, and I will see if I can get it produced for you.. These products so far, with the exception of my glass kit, are being handed off to the seperate manufactures for production, and the level of production and risk is based off what they feel comfortable with. This is the time to get something done if any of you see the need, so please discuss it and give me some feedback that I can encourage them with. The P1800 lacks so much in parts support, aftermarket or factory, that it affects the value and interest in the car.. I am not personally producing any of them with the exception of the glass kits, it would considerable expense, so I would rather convince the individual manufactures there is an untapped market.

4-20-2011

Ok, we finally have a bit of an update.. I remove the pieces of the front end and starting putting together the mock up unit for the manufacturer.. Please keep in mind, I will not be using this unit, this is just being used to get the mounting of all the components and get the geometry right.. It will be completely made from scratch after this, so I havent taken alot of care to fill in the blanks.... ha ha

After the actual piece is made it should bolt right into the body using the existing holes, and be totally self contained all the way to the Coil over Perch's.. I still have to add them, but I need to bolt it back up to the car, so I can determine the perch location at ride hieght.. There appears to be plenty of room for a Conventional Coil Over sitting at about 12-13 inches neutral position in the ride height position. I am guessing that will allow more than enough suspension travel.

4-21-2011

Well, I finally got the Volvo set on the ground, it got dark, so I couldnt roll it out in the parking lot for pictures. The front end looks like it is going to work awsome, and it really opened up the engine bay.. It literally just slides under the car with ease, so I think it will be something a novice can do without a whole lot of issue, once the kits are offered.

My firewall is cut, but it isnt necessary.. I had to cut it for the 2jz Supra motor, that is why I am going with the LS1. We will have some engine stand that will support the factory Volvo motor in the crossmember.

I also see the Air Dam is going to have to be dialed in a bit, that is why I really want to roll it outside for a real world perspective.

4-22-2011

I got to roll the car outside, and see what it is going to look like.. I need to make a decision about the air dam corner transition into the fender and finish the passenger side out and add a lip to the bottom, but I think over all it is going to work. I really like the nose and bumper in the real world, if you look at some of the corner shots, it is going to look pretty good when finish painted. Over all the stance is working, just need to dial it in a bit.

Things seem to look like proportionally, but if you notice something that is off other than the air dam, please let me know.. Also, keep it to proportions, because this is the styling this car is going to go, and the styling has been debated WAY too much on other forums.. LOL

Here is a couple of before..





Now the new Outside Pics..There seems to be a huge difference to me now.. After so long of working on every part of it, the differences tend to fade away the more it is being worked with.

4-23-2011

I have been working on the differences between the P1800 and the 122
Crossmembers, and it is taken care of.. The Crossmember and Suspension System
work in both application, while actually improving the 122's rigidity...

The p1800 uses brackets at the rear of the Crossmember that Cup the frame, then
has two pin bolts that run horizontally through the frame for attachment, which
causes the subframe to squeeze the side rails of the unibody frame work. But the
122 only have a tab mount that fits on the bottom of the unibody frame, with two
bolts that run vertically into threaded holes at the bottom of the unibody frame
rail.. The P1800 designed crossmember will fit the 122, and all I have to do is
add the rear mouting tab. The rear mounting tab will not affect the P1800
mounting system for the rear at all, so the frames will work in both cars..
Infact, the extra mounting for the 122, will help stiffen the suspension if you
wanted to drill out holes to run the Horizontal Pin Bolts that the P1800 uses.
You then would have a more rigid mount, because of more mounting points, and the
P1800 mounting plates extend further back and squeeze the outer unibody frame
rails.. The Unibody Frame work is the same between the P1800 and 122, so there
are no issues at all...


I will be installing this system in my 67 Amazon, so there will be pictures to
show how easy it is. I will also have an original motor installed on the
crossmember, because there will be motor mount stands available for the Factory
engine mounting.

The pictures above are of the mock up unit, it will be cleaned up and finished
out by a Suspension/Crossmember manufacturer.. But these give you an idea of
what it is, how much it opens the underhood area, and the stance possible.
There will be a supplimental kit for rear coil spring removal, and an Adjustable
Coil Over Retro-fit

4-24-2011

I have had guys who are unfamilar with the P1800 asking for pictures that give size compared to other vehicles.. Here is the best that I can do, a couple with a 72 Olds Cutlass Convertible, and a couple of others with one of my motorcycle projects..

The Drivers Side Air Dam blend looks good in these pictures, but others it doesnt.. These wheels are out a bit too far in the front, because I have 1.5 inch adapter that change the bolt pattern for these wheels. I think the 19x8.5 will work great for the front and the 19 or 20x10 for the rear.. I need to get some wheel company too hook me up, that is for sure. LOL Too many choices out there to choose from, and I really need to make a choice for final set up before paint.

5-4-2011

No, she is lowered in the rear and sitting on my new custom front suspension.. The wheel arches Make a HUGE DIFFERENCE in the appearance of the car. If you lowered a car with factory wheel arches, the wheels disappear into the fender works. I am not sure of the part number of the arches I had used.. They were Complete rear arches all the way around. I used the opposite rear arch for the front.. Left rear arch, on the right front fender. You need the complete arches to make this work, and they are not layed in postion in what would be the factroy Amazon Position. You have to roll them forward or back, so they fit the P1800 body correctly, and make sure you have complete archs and not any of the patch kits.

I have not updated this build in the last little bit, because I have been working on Making the Front Suspension/Crossmember kit available to the public.. It goes in the production next week, and I will have some updates on its progress once I get a couple of units back.. Should be a couple of weeks after that point, so I will update the thread and contact everyone on my Waiting list.. This kits fits the P1800 and the Amazon, eventhough they are slightly different.. The overall crossmember and suspension is the same, but the rear mounting was really the only difference.. Now that I had figured out how to make one unit fit both applications, the are full speed ahead.

Again, what this crossmember kit gives you is.. Rack and Pinion Steering (Close Ratio) Non or Power rack available, along with Right hand drive option. Tubular control arms with very servicable and available maintenance parts, Adjustable Coil Over's, to eliminate the standard coil spring, so it allows ride stiffness and ride height to be adjusted in minutes, lighter weight componentes, standard spindle position or 2 inch drop spindles available, Readily Available and Reasonable Brake Rotors with factory Volvo Bolt Patterns(Early and Later models)HUGE BREAK OPTIONS, from standard 9 inch brake rotors all the way up to 14 inch brake rotors (with alot of Caliper configuration options), the crossmember works with the factory drive train and bolts directly to the factory motor mounts, but leaves alot of engine options due to underhood clearances (No more upper control arm and Steering components intrusion into the engine bay.)

The list goes on with the differences and options this kit will offer, but we will also be offering a supplimental Coil Spring elimination kit for the Rear Axle. This will be a bolt in kit, that will attach Adjustable Coil Over's to the rear axle, so the same ride height and suspension performance adjustments can be made to compliment the front end and the overall performance and stance of the car.

If you would like to be added to the contact list, just email me, and I will add you to the list.. There will be a bit of discounting on the first order, due to lack of retailers at this point.. Once I find retailers, I will be under contract to sell for the full retail price as they are...

6-3-2011

Guys. I will have some update before too long... I am still working on it, but I am doing some to the behind the scenes leg work for product development. I have had way too much interest and demand for items I am making for this build and my other Amzon Build (Project Volvo X). I am doing my best to make these items available to who ever wants them, and think you will be surprised about what is coming up for parts and performance for the P1800/Amazon.

Right now, The front Suspension kit is scheduleed for release before too long.. I am doing the final details on parts sourcing and pricing, so I can make it worth the money to everyone. I am also releasing a direct bolt in Rear end Assembly, it will allow braking, gear ratio, and traction options to be setup according to your particular needs. This rear end kit will hook directly to your factory 4-link arms, and use the existing pins, shocks, coil springs. But, it will support my Rear Coil Over conversion kit and support an upgraded rear sway bar. These will be available very shortly after the front end kit.

My company plans on offering a completely re-designed and re-badged Amazon to sell on the market. We will have cars for sale, and will complete a conversion on cars sent to us by customers. Fully adjustable suspension (Quick Ride Height adj, Ride Dampening and rebound control), Power Rack and pinion, 14 inch Rotors and 6 piston Calipers, 13 inch rear Rotors and 6 piston  Calipers, 500 horsepower LS Series General Motors V8m(20+ Mpg), Completely new and updated Air Conditioning, All New Wiring and Conveniences, Custom and User Friendly interior (Family or Race), unique paint colors and wheels, etc, etc.