New to the 300 series? READ THIS

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Speedy88
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New to the 300 series? READ THIS

Post by Speedy88 » 05 Mar 2011 01:25 pm

A lot of new members have come on recently asking questions that have been answered many times before. In future the idea is to link to this topic which will hold links required. Reply to this topic as you wish and I will edit this original post with new things.

Also, this is going to look a bit crap for a short while as I'm going to build it as I go along. Please feel free to think of questions that I've not mentioned as I'm sure I will forget most of them :lol:

Drifting and motorsport: Should I get a 340/360? What are the drivetrain strengths like for each?
Check out these topics first:
http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... =5&t=11462
http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... =2&t=11468

The 360 has a 2.0 VOLVO engine and is better for power and strength but you'll spend more on modifications. Plus insurance is likely to be higher due to the base model being 2.0L. You can't do a renault/valver swap on a 360.

The 340 comes with 1.4 and 1.7 RENAULT engines which is better on insurance when you're young and easier to do the 1.8 or 2.0 16V RENAULT/valver engine swap later on.

You can drift a 1.4 but you will need to weld the diff. If you don't know what this is, please go on DriftWorks and come back when you've found out.

The 360 uses torque tubes which will take pretty much anything, the 340 uses a prop with rubber ends and lacks a universal joint meaning they have to be perfectly aligned. After a Renault engine conversion you will eventually break a prop but it's very simple to just have a spare. Personally I've run my current one for 15,000 miles hard driving and it's been fine. There are no current alternatives to this. However, the 340 is much much cheaper to do an engine conversion on.

What bolts do I need for lowering blocks?
http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... 13&t=11399

Wait... where can I get lowering blocks?
Get your blocks off Dai from this page:
http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... f=8&t=1804

Do escort ones fit?
Escort ones DO fit but you'll need to grind off the bit that sticks out

How do I fit lowering blocks?
http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... =13&t=8890

Are there performance parts for the 300 series? Where can I get uprated shocks, bushes etc?
http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... f=8&t=1804

What is the wheel fitment on 300 series?
4x100, see here http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... =13&t=4058

Can I drift a CVT/Automatic?
No.
*Unless you're fritz/superman

How hard is it to do the CVT to Manual gearbox conversion?
Stop thinking about it. Now. One person did it. He regretted it. Sell the car and get a manual.

How much is my car worth?
It's hard to say really but most 300 series go for whatever someone wants to pay for them. As an average guide prices fall between £50 and £1000 for the range of wrecks to minters. It's rare a car falls at either end of that scale and most sit somewhere in the middle.

A modified Valver can go for £1200 but it needs to be pretty special. Just because you put some alloys on your 340, dropped a valver engine in with bike carbs and welded the diff doesn't suddenly mean it's worth £1200. It's not.

I want to do a valver conversion. What do?
Here is a link with some information regarding conversions: http://volvo340.wikispaces.com

You can either opt for 2.0 or 1.8, sporting 150 or 140BHP from factory. The 1.8(F7P) is raspier and has a shorter stroke but lacks the torque of the 2.0(F7R). The F7R has a more satisfying powerful feel and you'll be able to pound it up hills leaving most things in the dust. The F7R drinks like a horse though and you're more likely to break your prop. C'est la vie.

You will be really lucky to get hold of a real Williams engine as they only made 500 of the series I (this is the one you need, series II and III have a chain driven pump). However, you can build a Williams from a 2.0 megane block and the valver 1.8 head.

If you need parts for a Williams remember it's 1992-1994.

F7Ps can be used from any year between 1991 - 1998.

Turbo engine out of the 400 series
It can be done and they go in about as easy as a valver conversion. However many will just put a valver in instead as there are more mods available for them as well as the power difference. But if you want that baaaaaawr PSSssss then it might be the route for you. Make sure you put heatsheilds in though as a 340 burned to a crisp on the side of the M56 last year.


Having not found your answer here, go to the search at the top and enter a few different variations of what you're looking for (such as 1.4 drifting or leafspring bolts). If you try, we are more likely to help you rather than waiting for you to help yourself.
Last edited by Speedy88 on 08 Mar 2011 05:04 pm, edited 4 times in total.
'88 340 Williams (Sold)
'85 360 GLS - Drift project (Sold)
'77 Colt Sigma
'96 940 Drift project

volvosneverdie
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Re: New to the 300 series? READ THIS

Post by volvosneverdie » 05 Mar 2011 02:23 pm

Good work.
Propose a Mod delete my pointless comment and sticky for posterity.
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garth
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Re: New to the 300 series? READ THIS

Post by garth » 07 Mar 2011 07:29 pm

OMG awesome. Fair play.
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jon-ovlov
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Re: New to the 300 series? READ THIS

Post by jon-ovlov » 07 Mar 2011 07:35 pm

Awesome stuff. Sticky that shizzle!

Also, found this link with a list of bits to engine swap a 340 to a valver (including 1.4), if its of any use. Save you writing another one!

http://volvo340.wikispaces.com/

Thinking of documenting my swap when I do it, to show 1.4 to valver work. That'll be in my thread though.
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Speedy88
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Re: New to the 300 series? READ THIS

Post by Speedy88 » 07 Mar 2011 09:15 pm

Thanks! I'll stick it in
'88 340 Williams (Sold)
'85 360 GLS - Drift project (Sold)
'77 Colt Sigma
'96 940 Drift project

magnumpi
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Re: New to the 300 series? READ THIS

Post by magnumpi » 07 Mar 2011 11:29 pm

About time too :lol:

Top work sm4
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Frits
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Re: New to the 300 series? READ THIS

Post by Frits » 08 Mar 2011 09:54 am

Speedy88 wrote: Can I drift a CVT/Automatic?
No.
Haha
:lol:
http://s94.photobucket.com/albums/l114/ ... I_4664.mp4

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Frits
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Re: New to the 300 series? READ THIS

Post by Frits » 08 Mar 2011 09:57 am

Frits wrote:
Speedy88 wrote: Can I drift a CVT/Automatic?
No.
Haha
:lol:
http://s94.photobucket.com/albums/l114/ ... I_4664.mp4
compliments for your work!

Edit: wow this turned out te be a really strange quote haha! I wanted to edit my first post, and give my compliments to speedy lol
Last edited by Frits on 08 Mar 2011 06:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Speedy88
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Re: New to the 300 series? READ THIS

Post by Speedy88 » 08 Mar 2011 05:02 pm

hahaha I stand corrected


edit - fixed it :wink:
'88 340 Williams (Sold)
'85 360 GLS - Drift project (Sold)
'77 Colt Sigma
'96 940 Drift project

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L14MNP
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Re: New to the 300 series? READ THIS

Post by L14MNP » 08 Mar 2011 05:25 pm

May be worth including that the B230FK/FT or B230 n/a swap isn't rocket science in a 360. The FI can be done for a smilar cost to a 16v 340 IMO.

Good idea btw. I can see this becoming a useful resource. :D
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Speedy88
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Re: New to the 300 series? READ THIS

Post by Speedy88 » 08 Mar 2011 05:48 pm

L14MNP wrote:May be worth including that the B230FK/FT or B230 n/a swap isn't rocket science in a 360. The FI can be done for a smilar cost to a 16v 340 IMO.

Good idea btw. I can see this becoming a useful resource. :D
Unfortunatly my knowledge only covers what I've actually done/seen. Could you (or someone else) give a brief overview in the same style as above?
'88 340 Williams (Sold)
'85 360 GLS - Drift project (Sold)
'77 Colt Sigma
'96 940 Drift project

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trabitom99
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Re: New to the 300 series? READ THIS

Post by trabitom99 » 08 Mar 2011 07:11 pm

Oooh yes, more info on 2.3 conversions please :-)

Cheers

Tom
343 GL Touring B14.1E CVT (155) 98000kms 1980 (sold)
343 L Junior B14.3E MT4 (155) 229000kms 1981 (scrapped)
343 DLS B19A MT4 (155) 167900kms 1982
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Re: New to the 300 series? READ THIS

Post by Chris_C » 08 Mar 2011 07:45 pm

Before I sticky this (as I'd imagine it to be locked and lacking in discussion, anything but the first post I see to not be stickied..)

Do we think this should go in the V3M How to section under technical resources? I could copy just the first post over and sticky it in there.
'89(G) 340 GLE B172k
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'89(F) 340 GL F7R (ex B172k) - Fake -> SBKV 300 Runner Up 08, 12; '91(H) 340 GL B14.4E - Kar; '88(F) 360 GLT B200E - Jet -> BKV 300 Runner Up 09; '89(G) 360 GLT B200E - Beast

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Re: New to the 300 series? READ THIS

Post by sven360 » 08 Mar 2011 07:57 pm

Put it where it will get read most often thereby saving the boredom of how do I lower/slam/weld diff etc,etc.......
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Re: New to the 300 series? READ THIS

Post by volvosneverdie » 08 Mar 2011 08:06 pm

Chris_C wrote:Before I sticky this (as I'd imagine it to be locked and lacking in discussion, anything but the first post I see to not be stickied..)

Do we think this should go in the V3M How to section under technical resources? I could copy just the first post over and sticky it in there.
Go balls out and stickie it in the gen AND tech sections?

unless thats a pita to do. :wink:
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