Lance, keep up the good and interesting work.
Your project brings back memories from when I put a Volvo B20E motor and 4 speed gear box into an 1954 Austin A40 Somerset in 1974.
The Volvo front cross member was slightly modified to fit still using Volvo top and bottom wishbones fitted with Koni shocks. The only part that was a pain was to have a sway bar and mounting brackets and steering box brackets made to suit. Rear engine/gear box mounts were also made to suit along with a custom tail shaft. A Volvo 144 rear end was used. The brake system was from the 144 GL with the booster on the left, the bar from the pedal to the booster on the left side was shortened to suit. The brake lines were new to suit. The wheel rims were removed from the centres and new ones were re manufactured, welded/riveted to the original Austin centres so that the hub caps could be used.
Apart from being lower by 75mm and having a wider track and tyres the car looked like any 20 year old Austin A40, not even getting a second glance from the motoring public until I put the foot down. Inside, the only obvious alteration was the position of the Volvo remote gear lever. The Austin steering mounted gear lever was removed.
First drive on a winding road it was a real bugger, with initial mild under steer instantly snapping into violent over steer. It was the worst handling car in the wet. It was inclined to do doughnuts even under a very light throttle when taking off from the lights, that upset other motorists! It was bloody dangerous! Handling was soon sorted out with softer front sway bar and firmer shocker settings. Softer rear springs with the shocks set to a firmer settings and a rear sway bar was fitted.
The Austin ultimately handled very well and had an extremely high "WTF was that factor" when pushed a bit.
I sold the Austin during 1985 soon after I bought a 360 GLT Volvo. The whereabouts of the Austin is unknown today but rumours surface saying it is still around.
