Restoring my P1800E

[Brickhouse858]

Hi Mitch, How's you grand build coming? Any updates for us to wet our whistles with? Great work, she's going to be a work of art in your hands.

[Burdekin]

Hi Dean,

I'm cracking on with the project thanks. I'm going to be transplanting the P1800 onto a MX5 platform (have a MK1 MX5) and am going back to be using a V8 Chevy LS engine with probably a T56 gearbox and Getrag LSD. They fit LS engines into the MX5 in the US so using the MX5 as the platform and I know it will fit now, see attached pics of a couple examples. Due to the mods I'm planning and some previous posts about the legality of the vehicle etc I'm concerned there may be guys on here that could make things difficult for me so I won't be posting the project on here anymore. This forum is really a Volvo enthusiasts forum anyway so I feel my project doesn't belong here and I don't want to upset anyone either with what I'm doing. I'm going to be posting the project on a US forum which I feel is more suitable. I haven't done the write up as yet but PM if you're interested in following the project and I'll let you know which forum it is.

For anyone who may be considering doing a P1800 to MX5 transplant these are the approximate measurements for comparison:

Front wheel centre to accelerator pedal - MX5 550mm, P1800 520mm. Both measurements could be a wee bit out but looks good and close enough.

Inner sill to inner sill - MX5 1250mm, P1800mm 1335mm but MX5 has plastics on etc so could be a bit wider. Will be boxing in the inner section of the sill to add more stiffness like modern cars do and then weld MX5 floor to the new boxed in inner sills.

Outer sill to outer sill - MX5 1550mm, P1800 1520mm

Floor to ceiling - MX5 1000mm, P1800 1000mm. Interior height seems spot on.

Top of B pillar to B pillar - Mx5 1250mm - P1800 1250mm.

P1800 wheel base is 185mm longer so I will extend the MX5 wheel base just rear of the seats.

[Brickhouse858]

Cool, will send pm.

[john h]

Nice idea! PM sent

John

[222s]

Originally Posted by mitch1971

Due to the mods I'm planning and some previous posts about the legality of the vehicle etc I'm concerned there may be guys on here that could make things difficult for me so I won't be posting the project on here anymore. This forum is really a Volvo enthusiasts forum anyway so I feel my project doesn't belong here and I don't want to upset anyone either with what I'm doing. I'm going to be posting the project on a US forum which I feel is more suitable. I haven't done the write up as yet but PM if you're interested in following the project and I'll let you know which forum it is.

I'd be very surprised if someone on here who reports it - it will be the MOT tester, or a VOSA roadside check that will cause you grief. The DVLA are also known to send their people to check vehicles at shows...

Have a chat with these guys to see how you can build what you want to, but inside the regs:

http://www.the-ace.org.uk/

or PM 'aceadvice' on the Retro Rides forum

It may be that if you effectively put 1800 outer panels onto the MX5 (but keeping its main bodyshell intact), that it will then be able to retain the MX5 identity, and thus avoid BIVA issues.

[Derek UK]

It might end up as a baby version of this.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2939638...tags/volvette/

[Burdekin]

For those interested this is a link to a Chevy V8 LS MX5 build forum: http://www.v8roadsters.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=5

I’ll be using the V8 Roadsters kit but will probably buy through Flyin Miata as they can supply all the parts as one nice kit for the project.

[222s]

Some inspiration for you - a Vauxhall PA Cresta with Jaguar XJR running gear. Build details here.

[Burdekin]

That's pretty much what I'm planning but will use a bit more of the P1800 structure.

[Burdekin]

There was a member asking about repairing the windscreen aperture so as I'm currently fixing mine I thought I'd post what can happen if you don't have a good windscreen seal and why if it is leaking you should get it fixed straight away. I'm actually a bit further on than the photos attached but my camera is at the garage so I've just posted what I've already saved and will give another update tomorrow of how things are progressing. This is a tricky area to fix as there is a lot of destruct to do before you even get to putting things back in and everything has to be made so is time consuming. I had to make a repair piece for the A pillar where it meets the windscreen aperture (will post pics tomorrow) and that was a tricky bit to make as it had several curves that had to closely replicate the original. Anyhow pics attached and these also show why I wouldn't be keen on any bodge fixes around this area. My stretcher/shrinker has been very handy making the repair sections for the windscreen aperture and I wouldn't like to tackle this job without one.