1800: P1800es Delores 1972 Blue

[VolvoRoyS]

I have followed this thread with interest as I bought my 1973 P1800ES last March on-line at the Bangers and Cash (Mathewsons) auction, also entirely unseen. Like Delores, the bodywork seems quite good with evidence of work done on the sills. It was made clear that the engine was not running well (see my thread on fuel injection) and while it will now idle I think the injectors are leaking as it's running rich. I wonder if the fuel injection on your car is working OK.
And I find the steering quite heavy so there might be work required there. How is the steering on your car?

Roy

[Othen]

Originally Posted by VolvoRoyS

I have followed this thread with interest as I bought my 1973 P1800ES last March on-line at the Bangers and Cash (Mathewsons) auction, also entirely unseen. Like Delores, the bodywork seems quite good with evidence of work done on the sills. It was made clear that the engine was not running well (see my thread on fuel injection) and while it will now idle I think the injectors are leaking as it's running rich. I wonder if the fuel injection on your car is working OK.
And I find the steering quite heavy so there might be work required there. How is the steering on your car?

Roy

Hi Roy,

The best solution for heavy steering on the P1800ES is the Charles Atlas chest expander - build up those arm muscles!

:-)

Alan

[Derek UK]

Steering is heavy at walking speeds. Steering joints tend to get tight as they age and wear. Try 32 psi all round for the tyres.

[142 Guy]

Originally Posted by VolvoRoyS

And I find the steering quite heavy so there might be work required there. How is the steering on your car?

Roy

Aside from being the normal heavy Volvo steering, possible contributing factors can be
- somebody has tightened up the adjustment screw on the steering box too much.
- the idler arm bushing has failed or is heavily worn (beware aftermarket reproductions)
- the tie rod joints are crusty. If the boots are intact this is less likely; however, if they are 50 years old the grease will eventually dry out.
- wider section width tires have been fitted
- the alignment has been altered.

Some owners alter the caster and camber settings. The caster setting spec on later 1800s is 0 to +1 deg. That is very little caster (compared to modern cars) and represents Volvo's trade off between ease of steering and greater high speed stability. More + caster increases stability; but, makes the steering heavier. If the caster is at +1 deg or greater, you can drop it to 0 deg which will make the steering a little lighter. The early 1800s had a service spec that allowed the caster to go to -1 deg. I personally would not do that unless the car is not going to be driven at highway speeds. Similarly, the camber angle spec is very small: 0 to +1/2 deg. Modern vehicles tend to run more negative camber which can improve corner traction; but, increases steering effort. Make sure that your camber is in the 0 to +1/2 deg range to minimize steering effort.

[john.wigley]

I have no idea, but purely as an 'off-the-wall' thought ...

Assuming that the existing system is correctly set up as described by '142 Guy' above, and if, on coming from a 'modern' car, heavy steering is an issue on your 'classic', is it possible to fit an after-market electric PS system?

They are now widely available for R + P equipped cars, so is it possible that such a kit exists or could be modified / adapted to work with other steering systems? I doubt it would be cheap, but it might provide an answer if one has a treasured classic that is becoming uncomfortably heavy to drive due to the advancing age of the owner!

Regards, John.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

I have no idea, but purely as an 'off-the-wall' thought ...

Assuming that the existing system is correctly set up as described by '142 Guy' above, and if, on coming from a 'modern' car, heavy steering is an issue on your 'classic', is it possible to fit an after-market electric PS system?

They are now widely available for R + P equipped cars, so is it possible that such a kit exists or could be modified / adapted to work with other steering systems? I doubt it would be cheap, but it might provide an answer if one has a treasured classic that is becoming uncomfortably heavy to drive due to the advancing age of the owner!

Regards, John.

You mean something like this John?

https://epowersteering.com/purchase/.../universal-kit

I believe there is a UK supplier but haven't found it in my search results - likely to be a similar cost and contents though.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

I have no idea, but purely as an 'off-the-wall' thought ...

Assuming that the existing system is correctly set up as described by '142 Guy' above, and if, on coming from a 'modern' car, heavy steering is an issue on your 'classic', is it possible to fit an after-market electric PS system?

They are now widely available for R + P equipped cars, so is it possible that such a kit exists or could be modified / adapted to work with other steering systems? I doubt it would be cheap, but it might provide an answer if one has a treasured classic that is becoming uncomfortably heavy to drive due to the advancing age of the owner!

Regards, John.

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

You mean something like this John?

https://epowersteering.com/purchase/.../universal-kit

I believe there is a UK supplier but haven't found it in my search results - likely to be a similar cost and contents though.

What an interesting discussion chaps. I suppose with shipping and duty the parts would end up costing about a grand - then fitting it might be a challenge.

Having driven both the RB and Aunt Maud today, here is my tuppence worth: the RB is an historic motor car but drives almost like a modern car (power steering and brakes plus 20 years worth of other improvements), GAM is the 1960s driving experience. The RB is a much better motor car but it does not have GAM's charm or style. I conclude: if one needs PAS then buy a 40 year old 244 - adding RB's functionality to Aunt Maud would no longer be the 1960s driving experience.

Just my thought.

Alan

[Laird Scooby]

Found a UK supplier and in their blurb (can't remember which bit now though) they hint it's a lot less than a grand :

https://easysteer.co.uk/

Plenty of room under the dash for the add-on E-PAS unit and presumably could be tailored to suit the characteristics of GAM so the assistance was there (they also do speed sensitive additions) when needed for parking but drops off at speed. Also could be tweaked so it was "just enough" assistance to prevent a hernia during parking.......

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

You mean something like this John?

https://epowersteering.com/purchase/.../universal-kit

I believe there is a UK supplier but haven't found it in my search results - likely to be a similar cost and contents though.

Exactly that, 'L.S.'.

While I fully accept Alan's point apropos the 1960's experience, is there not perhaps another consideration?

Cars produced up until that decade were almost universally equipped with cross-ply tyres. Radials began to gain ground in the '70s on account of their better handling characteristics, longer service life and improved fuel mileage.

It became accepted practice to replace cross-ply tyres with radials, especially as the cost of the latter began to fall with increasing demand. The downside of doing this was heavier steering due to the more flexible sidewalls of the radial increasing resistance to steering input at the wheel.

Cars of the period previously engineered for 'worm and peg' systems and cross-ply tyres were later re-engineered to better cope with the widespread adoption of radials and rack and pinion systems.

On that basis, I do not think that you would necessarily be sacrificing the charm of the 1960s driving experience, Alan. Rather, you would simply be adapting it to suit rapidly changing metrics as was widely the case in period. A little like replacing points ignition with the electronic equivalent today, perhaps?

Regards, John.

[Snow White]

I really like the idea of a pennant. However, expanding this idea, I thought a period Bay City Rollers Scarf would do a good job if tied on tightly it would protest the paintwork from contact damage with the aerial tip when folded down.

I’m not really sure why the aerial is there, it serves no useful function.