Volvo P1800ES...kinda

All in the eye of the beholder - put on whatever diameter you like the look of. Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. It's not like the purist approach wasn't drawn and quartered long ago on this build. Long as it fits over the brake disc. I start out by looking at thed smallest diameter wheel I can find that fits over the brakes as that usually results in the lightest weight wheel/tire. When I went to bigger brakes on mine, I had to move up to at least 16" to clear them - but ended up going to 17" because there was a much better selection of tires. So much for the original steel 14's....

MichaelYount wrote: All in the eye of the beholder - put on whatever diameter you like the look of. Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. It's not like the purist approach wasn't drawn and quartered long ago on this build. Long as it fits over the brake disc. I start out by looking at thed smallest diameter wheel I can find that fits over the brakes as that usually results in the lightest weight wheel/tire. When I went to bigger brakes on mine, I had to move up to at least 16" to clear them - but ended up going to 17" because there was a much better selection of tires. So much for the original steel 14's....

Hey, as we can all see...I tend to meander along the path, so what will be is not cast in stone other than the Volvo body and the Miata body will not be separated again. Getting the final wheels and/or fender mods figured out is not critical at this stage as long as I can roll the car around. I will figure it out somehow

It is however important that I try to factor in as many things down the road as possible, so that what I do now wont come back to bite me.

I think you've already made the most important part of the decision in this area - no flared/minimally trimmed/rolled fenderwell openings. Makes it easy -- just pick wheel fit to stuff it all under the fender.

Welding marathon today. Spool and a half of MIG wire and the welding gas is running on fumes.

No way this is ever going to come apart now.

DS sill:

PS sill:

a-post support DS: (PS also done, no pic)

DS B-post. This one I had to make a closing panel to merge everything in.

PS b-post. As always, lessons learned on one side make the second better. Much more elegant results.

PS a-post:

DS a-post. Yeah, E36 M3ty pic, and a small bit to finish, but I still crossed the item off the list

Firewall closing panel.

Not sure how to describe it, but this thing feels and sounds quite solid.

Nest will be the joy of cleaning up all the welds and putting a bit of paint on everything. Not going to go too crazy since it will all be covered.

All in all, a good day in the shop.

Man, I want to see this thing in person someday.

Here ya go, looks like a station wagon now with the Miata gas tank gone.I feel like it is less "Miata" like with the turtle deck gone and more of a "Shooting brake"

One idea I had was to hide the spare in the space vacated by the tank. It just fits. So well see if we like it when we go to put the floor in. The plan is a hardwood with strips like a pickup truck.

did some more final welding of all the parts that have been fitted, but you have all seen those so no point posting pics!

This thing finally looks like a station wagon!

I think my next move is going to be to convert the chassis jig into a rotisserie. I have been debating whether to do this or just get rid of the jig and work under the car supported on jack-stands. My current state of mind is to go rotisserie.

Cause I need another fabrication project.

That looks awesome. I echo Keith, I really want to see this in person someday.

Go hickory for the hardwood floor. Beautiful colors and grain with just monwax poly. Should blend well with the tan interior and green exterior.

NOHOME wrote: The plan is a hardwood with strips like a pickup truck.

Had given this some thought when I removed the rear folding seat in my car and went with a box built to be level with the floor.... I decided against the fancy floor, partially do to added mass, but also not very utilitarian because it is tough to carry stuff with a slick floor... stuff slides around all too easily. Carpet has a much higher friction coefficient

Carpet also insulates against sound far better

NOHOME wrote: I think my next move is going to be to convert the chassis jig into a rotisserie. I have been debating whether to do this or just get rid of the jig and work under the car supported on jack-stands. My current state of mind is to go rotisserie. Cause I need another fabrication project.

I have input on a couple of fronts.

First, the wood floor idea is magnificent. No hump, and a long, flat floor is kind of the point of this undertaking as I see it.

Second -Build the rotisserie. It will take you a day, and save your eyes, back, and sanity. I just came in from rolling my car over several times to distribute the rust inhibitor I sprayed in the frame rails. I have saved the time it took to build the thing several times over in the course of my project. Not only that, but I believe I have done stuff better because I had better access. Like I was told when I started welding: step 1, get comfortable. You can't make a beautiful weld if you are all twisted up.

oldeskewltoy wrote:

NOHOME wrote: The plan is a hardwood with strips like a pickup truck.

Had given this some thought when I removed the rear folding seat in my car and went with a box built to be level with the floor.... I decided against the fancy floor, partially do to added mass, but also not very utilitarian because it is tough to carry stuff with a slick floor... stuff slides around all too easily. Carpet has a much higher friction coefficient Carpet also insulates against sound far better

Those are some valid concerns. Especially the noise filtration. going to give that some thought.

That said, nobody said that the noise and heat insulation has to be the top layer.

Weight is a concern; not so much because I don't have enough power to haul the thing around, but rather I don't want to lose the attributes of the Miata suspension.

A wood cargo area would be a beautiful touch

The floor would be a stunning accent to such an amazing piece of work!

Maybe some kind of honeycomb or even dynomat under the wood to give some sound deadening and insulation?

dont get me wrong... a polished wooden rear floor would be..

Keep in mind the wood/metal will be attached directly to the unibody underneath. As the unibody moves around, even with insulation underneath the floor, you've got pretty good potential for noise from the wood/metal as well as who knows what kind of resonances. And all of that occurring inside the passenger compartment -- unlike the bed of a pickup where we'd normally see this application. I agree with others that those floors look outstanding....but I've got a feeling that a well insulated/padded/carpeted area back there will be a much better idea from the perspective of driving/using the car. FWIW.

Santa arrived a few days early at my place -- new engine in a big box sitting in garage. Yum!

Currently on the hunt for another dead miata shell. Want to harvest the last 14 inches of the rear frame rails so I can extend the ones in the Molvo.

I could easily fab something out of rectangular tube, but the seamless aspect appeals to me.

Carpet doesn't do very much for sound insulation, it's the padding/insulation under it that does. You can still put that in under the wood floor. You can also add rubber strips that run lengthwise down on top of the capture strips that help w/ stuff sliding.

Bluej beat me to it. I was gonna suggest an under layer similar to what's used with pergo flooring

The rear wood bit is a ways off, but the thought was to use a layer of thin silicone mat to act as a noise and heat buffer. Neither the wood nor the silicone mat will be exposed to the elements underneath.

Is it wrong.....?

That I have been off work for a week, off to Florida to spend Xmax with my Mom Dad,brothers and nephews/nieces....yet today was the first day of my vacation that I actually wind the day down feeling relaxed?

Going to put the tub up on a rotisserie, and when I started this morning, this was a spotless shop.

If all goes well, she should spin by this time tomorrow!

Are the doors still going to fit?

bentwrench wrote: Are the doors still going to fit?

That is always a valid question. Going to find out before she goes up in the air!

The actual answer is "They will by the time I am done"

Got the front end of the rotisserie done. The material for the rear is all cut and ready to be assembled and welded. That was a bit of work.

I made the rotisserie so that the center of gravity can be adjusted and the car can be raised by just myself in attendance. I would have preferred an acme thread on the roads, but hopefully with some grease the 5/8 rod will get the job done.

The shop is totally trashed.

What a way to start the new year - even more inspiration!

You have no idea how bad I want to bolt in a seat, a set of seatbelts, open a beer and go for a roll!