Project 'Too Much': 1969 P1800S - soon to be P1800 GT

[daemon2]

I didn't think I would get anything done on the car this weekend but today was a productive day.

I had to build custom tapered rod bolts so I could have adjustable bump steer rod ends. Can't see the tapered rod bolts under the spacers and heim joints but it came together nicely.




Also starting to tie in the rear frame section and measure out suspension - also managed to sneak an order in today
Drivers side



and passengers side:

[daemon2]

[WSSix]

Very nice!

[daemon2]

Its coming along slowly but it's nice to see progress. My suspension parts are beginning to arrive. I am still working out spring rates because the car isn't far enough along to know the corner weights yet.

I've decided to go with the Ridetech Select series coilovers. I have envisioned a dash mounted sport button that will stiffen the shocks, increase boost through an electronic boost controller and handle a few other items for the fun drives

I am impressed by the quality of these and excited to get them on.



Close up:



I was holding out for a Volvo B8444S V8, but they are running over 5k for a well used engine. I can run an LSX376 for close to that price and not have the headaches of creating my own bellhousing, etc.

Time will tell...

[DETON8R]

Originally Posted by daemon2

I was holding out for a Volvo B8444S V8, but they are running over 5k for a well used engine. I can run an LSX376 for close to that price and not have the headaches of creating my own bellhousing, etc.

Time will tell...

I've wondered what it would take to get a Volvo V8-32 valve engine into a project, and there just isn't the support for modified engines like the LS series of engines. Complexity, cost and availability just make it too hard for anybody who has a budget. The 60 degree V8 from the Volvo block might have been a benefit for fitment between the fenders, and it would allow you to race in certain sanctioning body classes with an "all factory" car, but that really isn't my objective. It really would be "nice to have" but not for my budget. and abilities...........

Good progress, keep the photos coming!!

[daemon2]

I was very excited about the suspension so I tried to push forward with a few things I have been thinking over.

Like everything with this project so far I have to do a little more work that I had planned at the beginning. I have started a lot of fab on the front end, cutting out rust and making filler panels. I have started to plan the core support as well, I will need a much larger radiator for the V8.

This is just a few quick pics of the front with wheels, I will also start the metal around the new wheel arches to tuck these babies away without rubbing. These are .25 inch above ride height:





The core support will be a lot of work but the new rad opening will likely be twice the size of the old one.

[WSSix]

Looking good!

[Ryguy442]

Awesome project! I love cars that are out side of the box.

I got a suggestion for you that make things alittle easyier when doing sheetmetal work. I noticed the panle clamps you are using, iv been doing sheetmetal work for 10 years, iv tried using those and I wasn't happy with them. They left a gap that was a little to wide for me, they were kinda bulky, and messing the square peg was a pain. So I just made my own out of some scap I had laying around. They were very simple to make



Mine used just a thin strip of sheet metal to make the gap tighter, and also they just use a piece of tig wire instead of the big square beg. This way if you can't get behind it then you can just let the wire fall out. Make fitting panels easyier because you and slide the clamp on one side of the panel and slide the panle into the other side. Anyways thought it might be a helpful tip. If you have any questions just ask! Keep up the good work

Ryan

[daemon2]

Thanks for this! - I was finding the square peg on the back of mine hard to work with.

Originally Posted by Ryguy442

Awesome project! I love cars that are out side of the box.

I got a suggestion for you that make things alittle easyier when doing sheetmetal work. I noticed the panle clamps you are using, iv been doing sheetmetal work for 10 years, iv tried using those and I wasn't happy with them. They left a gap that was a little to wide for me, they were kinda bulky, and messing the square peg was a pain. So I just made my own out of some scap I had laying around. They were very simple to make


Mine used just a thin strip of sheet metal to make the gap tighter, and also they just use a piece of tig wire instead of the big square beg. This way if you can't get behind it then you can just let the wire fall out. Make fitting panels easyier because you and slide the clamp on one side of the panel and slide the panle into the other side. Anyways thought it might be a helpful tip. If you have any questions just ask! Keep up the good work

Ryan

[Ryguy442]

It's no problem, I might do a thread in the body and paint forum to show how I made them. They are pretty simple I'm sure you won't have a problem figuring them out. But I made my before I bought any, I bought a few and ended up getting frustrated and threw them in the scrap pile.

Ryan