September 10, 2005
Hello Glenn,
I have upgraded my 1968 Volvo P1800 to a Tremec T-5, Z code transmission. Sending the pictures, took around 5 weeks. A wider transmission tunnel was built around 12 inches wide. I used an adaptor plate from John Parker at Vintage Performance, 3/4-inch-thick 6061 T-6 aluminum, super quality! The pilot bearing is a stock Ford Mustang V-8 unit. The throwout bearing is a V-8 Mustang unit. The Volvo fork must had material added (welded) at the point it contacts the throwout bearing, as the Ford unit is much shorter. A very hard material must be used here, like tool steel. Around 1/4 inch must be removed from the transmission input shaft and also the outer tube around the input shaft that the throwout bearing rides/slides on. Of course the driveshaft must be replaced. It's a one-piece, 2-inch diameter, .080 wall unit built at a driveshaft specialist in Texas. The shifter hole ends up being about 3 inches center-to-center towards the firewall. You will notice the custom bezel I made from 3/16, 6062 T-6 uses a stock 1800 boot. I painted and insulated the front floorboards area and tunnel. Also the replacement tachometer and programmable 160-mph speedometer fit the holes in the Volvo dash, but the plastic back of the tach was trimmed. Works very nicely. This is not an easy conversion. It should be noted the later P1800 had a wider tunnel from the factory to handle an automatic transmission. Not sure of the years.
Doug Morgan
Canton, Ohio
Glenn
I attached a wave file of the Volvo 0-60 mph. The time is shown on the display. Could you add this to my car stuff? This is not a drop-the-clutch start and no power shifting. It's got more -- guessing I could drop off a 1/2 sec easy.
Doug
Click the 1800 to listen.