Greetings I am in need of information of hood changes to the 1967 Duett. To be exact the chrome 3 pc. on the nose of the hood. I ordered a set listed covering up to 1966. Not knowing that they would not fit my 1967 hood. hole spacing is different and the shape is slightly different. The originals are chromed pot metal wings, and chromed stamped center piece. My research has found only pcs. listed for 1958 to 1966. There must be a reason, does anyone know a work around short of changing out hood that is restored and painted to match the car.
Thanks in advance for any and all help

Part nos for the B16 and B18 544 and Duett front/side trims are the same. Left 96966 and right 96967. The centre cap or "Emblem" as Volvo calls it is 96968 for the B16 and 666891 for B18. The later one for the B18 is a stainless pressing. The B16 one is, I guess a casting the same as the 2 side pieces, note 3 consecutive part nos. As the same parts were used for both the PV and P210 there would be no reason for Volvo to change anything. The stainless cap overlaps the side pieces so there would be a bit of wiggle room as far as fitting goes but the moulding shapes do fit together quite well. There is quite a big gap between the 2 side trims.
The reason you see 1966 as a cut off is because that's the date considered to be the end of the PV. Most Duetts after that date were made to cover contracts by commercial organisations like Swedish Telephones etc. Quite a few were vans.

I understand the cut off date issue. But the new chromed wings seem to have shape issues comparing them to the originals and to the shape of the hood. Also the holes don't line up.

Can you manage photos showing the difference? That would be useful. Where did the repros come from? Maybe they have an answer.

Most of the reproduction emblems or in this case, nose trim moldings are problematic, although I would have thought the 544 front nose trim would have been 1 that wouldn't suffer from the usual problems.

If I understand you correctly, the holes aren't lining up and the only thing I can think of is the problem of shrinkage when cheaply duplicating some of the cast pot metal emblems and you may have to modify the holes or drill new holes in the hood or the side nose trms to make the repros work. I haven't had the (dis)pleasure of trying to install 1, nor have I sold 1 to any customers at this point, so no direct experience with them.

Most of the reproduction emblems are copied by making simple molds of the originals and cast with pot metal. When the castings cool down, they shrink, thus changing critical alignment points. The proper way to make the pot metal repros is to make oversized molds to compensate for the shrinkage.

Also, some of the original emblems fit on curved surfaces and have to bend slightly. Try that with the repros and they usually break. The originals could flex and appeared to made of aluminum. I sure wish they could make them using the original process.


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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502

The original wings of the nose trim were cast pcs. and the repos are chrome plated and formed sheet metal. I may end up just trying to get my originals re-chromed.

You might check Swedish sources. IIRC, the Duett was manufactured until 1970, so there may have been changes that were made to your year model car, but not reflected in what's available in the US for cars exported after 1966.

Same for the 122 - they stopped importing 122 to US in 1968, but they were still made and sold in Europe until 1970 with changes that never appeared on the 68 and earlier models exported to the US. (different brake booster setup, column ignition lock and steering cowl, and hood trim deletion, among others)

Have you tried looking at GCP's catalog?

CVI shows this, but doesn't state the year - maybe this is what you bought

http://www.cvi-automotive.se/en/articles/2.14353.55910/bonnet-front-trim-set-pvdu-b18

For sure, they'd be able to help you find the correct parts.