.. How and where do you engage overdrive?? (manual trans)

Have a 1968 Volvo p1800s (stock). Was wondering where the overdrive switch/Button is located. Also how do I know if it is engaged? Was also wondering what the bolt pattern and offset is for the 68 1800s? I saw some American racing wheels (torque thrust) on a volvo racecar and was wondering if they fit to stock volvo bolt pattern..They were very sweet looking.. Also saw some mag wheels from what looked like a 740 84? on a 1800.. Bolt pattern the same?

Any help would be appreciated..
Neil 68 p1800s

Yea.. what Phil said. I've heard that overdrives were optional... but I've never seen a 1800 that didn't have it. If the tranny failed though, someone could have retrofitted a non OD tranny.

As for the wheels.. again, what Phil said. The cutoff year between what fits and what doesn't fit your car varies from model to model. Basically, if its got rear drum brakes (as you do.. cut off for 1800 came with the injected cars in '70), you have the early bolt pattern. All Volvos with rear disc brakes have the later bolt pattern, and wheels from them cars won't fit.
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-Matt I ♥ my ♂

Overdrive is controlled by the stalk on the right of the steering column, opposite the turn signal stalk. Pull or push in any direction momentarily to engage the OD and again to disengage it. There's a light in the lower dash to the left of the ignition switch that indicates when OD is selected. OD is only available in 4th gear.

At least, that's the way it came from the factory...

Bolt circle for the wheels is 4-1/2", same as most Fords, MoPar and AMC cars of the period (and many current ones). Wheels from the 1800E/ES, 140-series and newer Volvos will NOT fit.

My bone stock (except for aftermarket rust and dents) '71 1800E has a stalk opposite the turn signal, but it flips up and down like the turn signal, like a big toggle switcyh. Up is on, down is off. Unless I have that backwards, I haven't driven it lately. I thinik the relay equipped cars were perhaps the 72- models - they revamped things slightly on the E when they introduced the ES.
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I'm JohnMc, and I approved this message.

On my '71 the OD is operational when the stalk is in the lowered position. You might also get in the habit of using the clutch when doing an engagment state change. Saves some wear and tear on the moving bits.
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1994 Volvo 940 n/a Wagon; 1971 Volvo 1800E;

The early 1800s have a toggle switch on the dash, the middle ones have the momentary stalk, and the late ones have a stalk that's a toggle.