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1800S front suspension transplant[850/1995] posted by John Feingold on
Thursday, 26 March 1998, at 8:33 a.m.
I see that the early (e.g., some '63 and and all earlier) P1800/1800S lower A-arms and bushings, shock mounts and upper ball joints differ from later 1800S/E/ES items. These seem to be the only differences, aside from wheel bolt patterns. The early A-arms & bushings are weaker, and the upper ball joints are no longer available.
Question: Is the geometry the same with later front ends vs. earlier ones? From a geometry perspective, are front crossmember/suspensions interchangeable? Will later (1800E) spindles accept early hub/rotor units (to preserve early wheel bolt pattern)? I'm thinking about swapping in a complete front suspension/crossmember assembly from a later car into my early '63 (#7845).
Thanks in advance for advice.
Re: 1800S front suspension transplant[850/1995] posted by Topi on
Thursday, 26 March 1998, at 9:26 a.m.
Yes - you can do it. The X-member has same mounting points. You must change the steering & idle arms, drag link and steering rods, too. Later steering rods have bigger ball joints. Later X-member is known to crack at lower inner A-arm mounts. Please, add some weld before installing. Also, weld a 1/8" plate to top shock mounting points, too. PS. I personally like the older better! They crack but are easy to weld better. Easier to change bushings (you can make new bushings of nylon, brass, cast iron or polyurethan), later ones are not any better.
Re: 1800S front suspension transplant[850/1995] posted by David on
Friday, 27 March 1998, at 11:06 a.m.
I think Topi is wrong and confusing 1800 with 140.
Early 140 has smaller tie rod ends.
I don't recall different tie rod ends or side rods for 1800/120.
David
Re: 1800S front suspension transplant[850/1995] posted by Glenn Goodspeed on
Saturday, 28 March 1998, at 10:39 p.m.
The IPD catalog lists the same part numbers for early and late tie rods and center rod ends for the 1800. Lower balljoints are the same for all. Upper balljoints are different starting in 1966.
Topi is right in that the crossmembers are interchangeable. The stock crossmember on my '63 has served me well since I had tubes welded in to hold the lower A-frame fixing bolts, and it is easy and cheap to change the bushings. But I think that the later A-frames are stronger, and might be better for people who drive hard.
Experience tells me the spindles are interchangeable from '63 to '68, and I suspect they are interchangeable from '61 through '69. When Volvo changed the bolt circle in 1970 (?), they may have changed the spindles, too. To be safe, use a pre-'70 crossmember on a pre-'70 car. -Glenn.
Goodspeed's Volvo 1800 Newsletter