DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 340 and 343

[PETRUN_343]

Hello, I am new member in the forum. I have a volvo 343 to 1979 that i take from my father. I will want to know if it have mechanical different from 340.
MY 343 have a B14 but this engine attach very low power, so i want to change it . I thought to put an engine from remault 5 gtt. is it the same mount from B14? this modified is difficult?
althought, my gearbox have 4 gear, I can change it with a 5 gear from a 340,(it have the same base)? also I see that many owner of 340, put on his volvo, williams engine.16V 1.8 or 2.0 . can i do it to 343.
have you propose any other modify, or link with similar anwer ? if it is possible, I will speend little money.

thank for your time and your advice
PETER

[Ride_on]

340 is generally the same as a 343/345, Volvo dropped the last number to specify the number of doors around 1982. There are alot of small differences between each year, but mostly mechanical stuff should be transferable.

Gearbox - change the gearbox+diff for 5 speed versions (diff is shorter on the 5 speed)

I know more about converting 360s, but If you search the forum you can see threads on using other Renault engines.

[PETRUN_343]

thank you for information, I will continue to serch in point of my volvo. I believe that I can find, at the end,a solve at my problem .

[MCHUDD]

Hello Pettron.
Many people change there engines to bigger ones but it is not nesserary.
You have an old car so why not keep it as it is.
Some people put the Renault clio engine in and that gives it more power
Good luck with the car
Cheers Mark.

[PETRUN_343]

hello Mark,

i want more power, for this reason I thought to put in my car a bigger engine than it has. But, the transfer system that it has, i don't believe that it is suitable for this conversion. either i thought to put the engine from renault 5 GT, which have the same cubes from my engine.
thanks for your opinion .

cheers peter

[volvodspec]

Hello Peter,

what conversion is easyer really depends on wich side of the car the steering wheel's at..

firstoff the Cleon-engine's, as that's what's currently in your 343.
in a LHD car, the R5GTT can be fitted; but only with a custom exhaust manifold.
in a RHD car, it can also be fitted, with a custom manifold. but it is much harder to rout the piping as you also get the steering collumn in the way on the right side of the engine.

then there's the Renault F-serie engine family, to get an F-series engine to fit in your 343, you need a 1.7 powered 340 as a partsdonor because mounts, sump bellhousing etc. are specifically for a 300 (in youre 343's case you also need the front engine mount beam and anti roll bar).

in a RHD car, the F-series 16v clio engines (1.8 or 2.0) drop straight in, and there are much easy solutions to the intake manifold (flip the injection manifold; or put carbs on it)
in a LHD car, the F-series 16v clio engines (1.8 or 2.0) are a pain in the ass because you have the brake master cylinder in the way of the manifold, even with a carbed setup. there currently are no technically ok conversions wich have solved this problem as far as i know; but it is possible if the build is in the right hands.

besides the broad cylinderheads of the 16v's, you can also look at a 8v F-series engine from volvo 440/460/480, in both LHD and RHD a 1.8 and 2.0 non turbo drops straight in with no problems, again offcourse if you have a 1.7 340 as engine partsdonor..
the F-series 8v turbo versions are a different story; LHD it's a "piece of cake" to fit it, you can even keep the original exhaust manifold. on a RHD it's also possible, but again.. steering collumn is a pain

hope this helps:)

[PETRUN_343]

thank you for your information,which is very important for me. my car is LHD. which engine do you believe that its better??

cheers Peter