August 12, 1999
Dear Glenn . . . I own a 1970 P1800E that is in excellent running order and looks just great. I have had the car for two years, and during that time there have only been two problems that I cannot seem to figure out. One is a persistant, rather loud "whisper" somewhere in the exhaust system, similar to what you might experience if the gasket between the exhaust pipe and the manifold was gone, which it's not. In fact, I've replaced the whole exhaust system recently with a stainless steel version. There are no apparent holes anywhere in the manifold. I have had the system checked and there are no leaks that are evident. Have you experienced this? I was wondering if it's because the cab of the car is situated right over the resonator, and because the car has limited soundproofing compared to today's Volvos. It seems that what I'm getting is a direct transmission of sound from there that isn't muffled. Any clues?
The other issue relates to engine sounds (tappets, etc.) that are very evident in the cabin of the car, especially at low speeds. Again I suppose that this relates in part to lack of soundproofing. The car only has 103,000 miles on it, which seems to me to be a little premature for any major work. Is the engine noise normal in your experience, and if not do you have any suggestions for getting that " new car" sound, i.e., quiet running, back? I should mention that my other car, a 1986 245, has 220,000 miles on it, and it's as quiet and smooth as a Swiss watch. I'd like to work toward that with the P1800. Angus Grant, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Hello, Angus - Without listening to the car myself, I can't tell whether the sounds you're hearing are normal or not. The "chuffing" sound produced by a leaky exhaust manifold-to-headpipe gasket can also come from leaky joints between exhaust pipe sections and mufflers farther down the system. Another possible source is the gasket between the exhaust manifold and the cylinder head. Hissing noises may come from leaks around the intake manifold or vacuum connections. The location of any noise in the engine compartment often can be pinpointed with a mechanic's stethoscope.
Because of the design of the B18 and B20 engines, they make more noise than later models, especially the tappets, as you have noted. The design of the cabin and primitive soundproofing do not muffle the engine noise much, making the P1800 naturally louder inside than modern cars. Where a 1986 Volvo 245 murmurs, a normal P1800 shouts.
Good maintenance and engine tuning assure that the noise remains at the normal level. I've heard many stories of owners adding soundproofing to P1800s, and you could certainly reduce the sound that way. Personally, I don't mind the noise, and I consider it authentic. -Glenn.