I would like to change bolt pattern on my 66 Amazon sedan to the later 5 on 4.25" pattern. I really like the five spoke "Turbo" wheels from the 240 Turbos, check this car out to see what I mean:

http://www.vclassics.com/ad_pics/leigh.htm

The front looks easy... just change to 1800 disks, right?

The rear is more complicated, it seems. Did 1800s ever come with the later pattern AND drum brakes in the rear? I have not found the 1st year for disks. Was 1969 and the 1800E, the changeover year/model?

Looks like the simplest way is to have the rear drums redrilled! The hubs look plenty meaty!

On a slightly different tack...I know a disk brake rear end swap in a 66 is quite involved due to the very different suspension link arrangement).

What I haven't seen discussed is swapping of the disk brake rearend components (axles, bearings, and brake assemblies) into an earlier Dana 30 axle housing which, I believe, my 66 should have. Anyone ever try this, or even better, anyone got the parts to compare (unfortunately I haven't ran across them yet to personally measure side by side.

Thoughts or suggestions??

Thanks in advance.

Mike

Anyone know if IPD is still working on the trailing arm kit to convert the older 122 to the newer 67+ rearends?

Paul

Yeah, as good as the brakes are on the sedan, I dismissed the axle change pretty much out of hand. Doesn't hurt at all that the special parts to be made were just something I am not prepared to live with for the next many years!!

Kinda the same with the axle conversion approach. Even if the parts all fit, I end up being "married" to parts that were none too plentiful in the first place... 35 years ago!!

I'm going to check with my local machine shop on redrilling the rear drums. The rear drums have a very beefy flange design that looks more than adequate for a redrill... Especially to a smaller pattern.

I sure like the wheels and the deal I can get is just terrrific!! 6 wheels for $100!

Thanks Guys

Mike

I'd agree that re-drilling them would probably be fine. If the new holes were put between the old ones, there might be some strength compromised though...

The machine shop would know best. I'd bet it would be OK though. Let us know how it goes. Also, be sure you have a source for your front parts... they can be hard to find too.

You might be able to get the front rotors re-drilled too for that matter...

--
-Matt I ♥ my ♂

Jeeze, Matt, I never thought about disc availability! Are 1800 disks in shorter supply? Mine are essentially unworn.

If the dang DRO was working on the mill at work, I would be done already!!

Thanks

Mike

I'm not sure about availability new... but if they are available (probably are) you can expect to pay dearly for them.

I don't know... but you *might* also have to use the 1800 calipers... I don't know. My plan was just to replace everything twixt the ball joints with bits from a donor car that I've got...

Someone else should be able help more on just what parts are required.

--
-Matt '70 145s, '65 1800s, '66 122s wagon, others inc. '53 XK120 FHC

Lookin at the parts manuals, I show the only part differences in the 122 and 1800 front suspensions in 65 to 70ish era is the disc itself.

Skandix has bare disks for $145.

The original Swede discs are reputedly better metalurgy than any repop though! Mine have 90,000 and measure MAYBE .005" under new tolerance. Doesn't seem possible they have never been turned, but Volvo discs don't wear badly it seems. My pads are marked as Volvo parts and they have about half the original pad remaining. MAYBE!!!!

Mike

If you had a 67+ sedan or coupe an 1800E axle would be a bolt-in (AFAIK). Since it is an earlier car, it will take a little fabrication. And 1800E axle will be the easiest, a 140 axle will take a little more welding. I once put a 142E axle underneath my '63 122S, it involved uctting and splicing the top link with a 122-style end for the body and a 140 style end for the axle. The lower link worked as is, and the panhard rod mount had to be cut off and swapped to the other side (a step you could skip with an 1800E axle).

Then there is the issue of the various driveshaft flagne sizes. 1800E's will almost always have the largest size, 122 sedans will usually have the middle or smaller size (depending on year and who know what else).

--
I'm JohnMc, and I approved this message.

Yea, the fronts would be pretty easy if you had the right parts off the donor car.

But at the rear... I think your only option would be to swap out the entire rear end from your donor car, which would involve cutting and welding new suspension mounts on teh 1800e rear. Not worth it just to be able to fit the turbo wheels. But if you like the idea of having four wheel disc brakes, then it becomes more viable.

And no... there never has been a drum brake Volvo with the late bolt pattern.

All that said, though the turbo wheels do look great, you have LOTS of alternatives with that early bolt pattern, and you would surely find something you like if you looked around.

Geez... looking at the ad you posted. That sounds like a pretty decent deal. Especially if it's Canadian dollars. That comes out to about US$5700 for a completely sorted race car... Pretty inexpensive way to get into the hobby...


--
-Matt I ♥ my ♂