1966 Volvo Amazon Wagon - just getting started

I like this idea:

http://www.roosengineering.ch/docs_/archiv/presseartikel/volvoP1800_s.pdf

Wouldn't be cheap by any stretch, but damn would it be cool.

Ian F wrote: I like this idea: http://www.roosengineering.ch/docs_/archiv/presseartikel/volvoP1800_s.pdf Wouldn't be cheap by any stretch, but damn would it be cool.

I so so hate you right now. Started researching on this and it better not waste my time.

How can the Aston motor weigh 30kg more than a Volvo B18/20 motor?

This does not sound like multiple steps forward after deducting this step backwards and we're going to need multiple steps forward to offset the cost of the unobtainium motor.

bentwrench wrote: How can the Aston motor weigh 30kg more than a Volvo B18/20 motor?

Have you seen an Aston motor? They're freakin' huge. Whole lotta iron there.

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: I so so hate you right now. Started researching on this and it better not waste my time.

Imagine how I feel - I drive by an Aston Martin restoration shop every day.

Sorry guys, I gotta take a shot at a sacred cow here.

Aston is the MG of exotic cars. While admittedly clever packaging of old technology in an elegant (beautiful) envelope, that is all there is. The cars are beautiful, but really never pushed anywhere near the cutting edge of of technology unless you confuse complexity with technical achievement. Their claim to fame is that they did great with old stuff. Proof of this is the fact that the Aston engine is 30 kg more than the Volvo unit. The main ingredient that it brought to the party was not power, but rather complexity.

I would put a flathead V8 in there before the 4 banger Aston.

If I wanted a 4 banger, I would look at the Zetec or better yet, yank the drivetrain out of a Solstice.

I wonder if there's length enough for a BMW six.

Dan

914Driver wrote: I wonder if there's length enough for a BMW six. Dan

If you could figure out a way to run the engine upright - maybe - but otherwise it would be no better than a V8 and make less power. Like a V8, the exhaust ports exit into the front suspension.

In reply to NOHOME:

Yeah, yeah... I know... but it looks cool. It's like the guy who stuffed a Jag DOHC 6 into a Midget. It's impractical as all get-out, but damn does it look good.

OK, so it's been awhile, but I finally got my drive train figured out. I picked up a 2000 z28 with the ls1/t56 as a donor car. So I'm going to pull the engine and transmission, can you guys think of anything else I should pull from the car for the project?

Welcome back. Looking forward to seeing how you go about doing the LS install in this platform. As you know I am doing something similar.

NOHOME wrote: Ian: The Miata chassis swap would probably be the smart way to go. The Miata would bring all the suspension hard-points and also the pedal cluster controls. Just as useful would be the tunnel structure (need to stretch a bit) along with engine mounts and maybe even radiator mount structure. Two reasons I did not go down that route: Firstly, Miata tub in any kind of usable condition are very rare in Canada. It would still need to be swapped to a V8

I read the last post I made to this thread and had to laugh because this is where I is at...

I have purchased the components to do the Miata conversion, and in fact an LS swap would be quite easy at this point.

In the spirit of inspiration, I saw this outside a shopping center we frequent just yesterday - the most stunning restoration of an Amazon I've ever seen. Minnesota tags in NC - hung around to talk to owner, but couldn't wait long enough.

[URL=http://s937.photobucket.com/user/MichaelYount/media/Various%20Other%20Cars/122drivers_zps2b2f204e.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s937.photobucket.com/user/MichaelYount/media/Various%20Other%20Cars/122frontquarter_zpsbb6797fe.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s937.photobucket.com/user/MichaelYount/media/Various%20Other%20Cars/122REAR_zps4efe77a8.jpg.html][/URL]

When you get yours finished, I have a miata, 2000 6 speed z28 and a 67 volvo wagon in my basement at work.

In reply to tallpaul:

I'd hold on to your donor vehicle while you are figuring out how to fit that engine in there. The front upper control arm mounts on the Amazon are really tight and fitting that LS motor in there will be tight. I'd love to see you do this as I have an Amazon wagon too that I want to repower but after seeing some V8 build threads it looks like a TON of custom work.