Volvo P1800ES...kinda

They have long winters, SCANDANAVIAN WOMEN, and still get all that done. Admirable indeed.

I suspect it's not long before those women banish the guys to the garage....

I've been thinking about your wheel and tire size. On my MSM, I have 16x7 rims and 205/50R16 tires. In that size there are a good selection of performance summer tires. I'm running Bridgestone RE-71s, but there are also RE760 Sports. The tire diameter is 24.1", or roughly between the 15s and 16s you tried. IMO, these are not too tall but not low profile either. They are comfortable on the street, but good for autocross. To my eyes, they look right as well. Some 16x7 Panasports would look very nice on a P1800.

Agree - a set of Panasports that look like Minilights would look really nice on the 1800.

The BBS wheels were 16 by 7" but the offset was not going to work. Mini wheels might be my last hope before I go steelies with custom offset.

Problem with this game is that you have to actually buy wheels and tires in order to try them on. Gets way expensive. Also no vendor allows you to shop by backspace,only by car model.

In reply to NOHOME: I've got a set of Rota RBs (Panasport look-a-likes)on my MINI. Tires are 205/50/16 if you ever want to try them on to see.

DeadSkunk wrote: In reply to NOHOME: I've got a set of Rota RBs (Panasport look-a-likes)on my MINI. Tires are 205/50/16 if you ever want to try them on to see.

For sure if you are headed this way I want to try those out. They would be perfect.

Pete

Over the decades, I've been able to measure from a wheel/tire I have on hand -- and do a pretty good job of predicting where various changes in width, offset and diameter were going to end up. The bigger issue I've always found is trying to determine if the backside of the wheel and the calipers were going to play nice. That's a much tougher nut to crack -- without having a wheel on hand to try.

Knock knock....

DILYSI Dave wrote: Knock knock....

who's there?

OK, since you insist...

As those of you who have been following along are aware, I had a #D spatial conflitc witht he exhaust and the steering. Well, the good news is that via diligent networking, I found a set of headers that will work! Hurray. Now, if I can find what they are for, I will go looking for a less craptastic looking set, OR find cast manifolds for that car and go that way.

The good news is that I don't have to make them from scratch.

Are they these? https://www.summitracing.com/parts/jba-1624s-2

The JBA 1624-2 has been around for a while. Not sure if it's a perfect match or not. And the s version seems like an update to the originals.

pres589 wrote: Are they these? https://www.summitracing.com/parts/jba-1624s-2 The JBA 1624-2 has been around for a while. Not sure if it's a perfect match or not. And the s version seems like an update to the originals.

I am not sure what they fit. Found them as a result of shaking the grapevine until someone handed them to me and said "Yours if they fit.

So now I have one nice looking stainless steel header on the PS and this ugly but fitting header on the DS. I hope that the tag has some data once I scrape the rust off.

Looks like an aftermarket Fox body Mustang shorty - but pics can deceive...

MichaelYount wrote: Looks like an aftermarket Fox body Mustang shorty - but pics can deceive...

Not Mustang, of that I am sure. They are a V8 conversion header for something, but not sure what.

Is there any info left on that tag welded to the no.5 cylinder primary in the picture?

Try rubbing some oil on that tag, sometimes that will bring out some numbers.

I can maybe add to the stance/tire size discussion on your ES.. coming along nicely btw

On my 63, I've settled on 16x7 rims in the rear with 225-50-16 tires.. The fit is tight, and once I put them into service I might decide they're a little too big, but food for thought- they do tuck up in there.. On the front, the rims are 16x6 with 205-55-16 tires, and although the fit is snug, they fit too.. I've included 2 pics because the different wheel colors I'm playing with change the look, so a few different angles/colors to give different perspectives.. Nice to see yours on it's feet and out in the sun! <img src="http://www.locostusa.com/forums/download/file.php?id=49924&t=1"

<img src= "http://www.locostusa.com/forums/download/file.php?id=49927&t=1"

...sorry, new to posting pics here and I seem to have done it wrong; although it worked in 'preview'

Ccrunner, I'm a huge fan of your work. Glad to see you over here. To post photos here, you need a host (I use photo bucket, but smarter folks sometimes use flicker, I believe), click the camera icon above, and paste the image address in the box that appears. I apologize for the threadjack, but feel this Volvo love fest can only be improved by the presence of Mr.runners pics.

I like the looks of P1800s so I made the effort to check out the pics.

I thought it would be a crime to look at those and not get them posted up.

ccrunner's pics

Very nice car sir!

In reply to ccrunner:

The big issue with fitting those tires on an 1800 is not so much getting them to fit but the steering effort involved with turning them. At low speeds, even 195 tires need some effort. My solution for my own ES will be electric power steering, but I also plan to reinforce the frame where the steering box and idler arm mounts in an attempt to handle the added stresses.

The wheel offset is critical as well. 195 tires on stock 5.5" steel wheels hit the inner panels behind the suspension on my ex's 1800ES. The suspension gains a lot of positive camber as it compresses when cornering, so a wheel/tire that "fits" under normal driving can rub the wheel lip like crazy when cornering hard.

I agree - very nice looking car!

Thank you HunterBenz for posting the pics for me

I couldn't agree with you more Ian F on the power steering issue with the 1800 platform.. even with the stock rims and tires, I really wanted PS for this car.. Without going back through this build log, I can't remember if NOHOME is planning PS, but with bigger tires it seems to almost become a necessity.. I, too, am going with an EPS setup (equinox column and Bruno controller).. I like the adjustability, and that I won't have to plumb a pump in the engine bay that I scarcely have room for..

I wanted to post the pics of my coupe on 16" wheels because I went back and forth on 15s vs. 16s when I chose mine.. If NOHOME wants to use stock 1.8 Miata brakes they'll surely fit behind either.. or even a bit bigger brakes if he goes to 16s).. It's very subjective, but I've convinced myself that the 16s don't look too big on the 1800 .. also, if memory serves me right, the 205-55-16 // 225-50-16 (fronts/rears in this case) are virtually the same diameter as the stock 1800 skinny tires.. 25" I think it was(?)...

Coming in late to the tire discussion - ND wheels might be an option. +45-ish offset, stock 17x7 BBS would look good. Or use the 6ULs in 17x8 or 9.

If you want a search via backspace, email me your ideal numbers and I'll see if my contact can search the Tire Rack database.

Keith Tanner wrote: Coming in late to the tire discussion - ND wheels might be an option. +45-ish offset, stock 17x7 BBS would look good. Or use the 6ULs in 17x8 or 9. If you want a search via backspace, email me your ideal numbers and I'll see if my contact can search the Tire Rack database.

I know Long Road Racing is selling a bunch of take-off wheels and tires from the MX-5 Cup Cars they've built. They were advertising on FB.

Nice to see this thread pop up to the top. As you all can imagine, even thought the Molvo is on the back burner while I sort out the MGB, there is a lot of mental time still being dedicated to the Molvo. I did figure out how to shop TireRack by wheel offset, seems to be lots of selection withing the Miata envelope.

The tire size options in 15" are leading me to 16" and the same thought train keeps me going to 17". 7" wide should be plenty for my intentions with the car. Prefer not to go staggered as it is being legislated as illegal here in Ontario should I ever have to get the car safety checked; all 4 corners have to be the same unless the factory delivered it that way.

ccrunner your car is stunning. I can only hope mine comes out that nice when done. post the link to the build thread cause others would like to see it. The steelies have always been the default should I have trouble getting the tires under the fenders and your pics show that is would be far from 'settling for".

I agree with Ian that the magic overall diameter is going to be 25" since that matches the factory look that I am going for.

All said and done, I think rolling stock selection is going to be like watching the bride select shoes, just take my time and keep the wallet open.