343, wont heavy engine ruin it?
Posted: 01 Apr 2016 11:13 pm
Hello,
So I was reading how utterly wonderful the 340's are, nice weight ratio and all that. Until I got to drive one. And bam I realized what noone seems to mention when they are describing these cars: they love to understeer if you play fool!!!
Push it too hard and oh how it loves to dig the nose down and run to the closest post!
Of course it does that, altough even the 1.4 engine is so light, all the engines sit so far front in relation to front axle. Of ourse it is not that bad, you just have to watch out. But it is weird experience from a car which pulls itself with rear wheels.
Now to the point. I was fixed on the plan to ditch the 1.4 engine but as I have had some time with it, it kind of started to grow on me. I love what it offers, sounds nice, I hear it is not thirsty, matches good with the car...offers great driving experince. It is one of those combos which you see rarely, pleasure comes from something more than just burning rubber.
I had an idea, to put "decent" redblock under that bonnet. B234f, B230FB, B200FT, I love all those engines on Volvo 740. Now I am worried if those engines wont "break" that little car? Of course I would love that little lump of 1.4 would move car faster along, but not with the price of ruining the driving characteristics! As I mentioned, they like to understeer if pushed, what is your experience with even more weight in front?
Since you know, when the engine is not on the stand, we need two guys to drag 2.3l redblock around. But with 1.4, I almost manage to pick it up myself alone and move where I want. There seems to be lot of weight difference.
Thanks!
So I was reading how utterly wonderful the 340's are, nice weight ratio and all that. Until I got to drive one. And bam I realized what noone seems to mention when they are describing these cars: they love to understeer if you play fool!!!
Push it too hard and oh how it loves to dig the nose down and run to the closest post!
Of course it does that, altough even the 1.4 engine is so light, all the engines sit so far front in relation to front axle. Of ourse it is not that bad, you just have to watch out. But it is weird experience from a car which pulls itself with rear wheels.
Now to the point. I was fixed on the plan to ditch the 1.4 engine but as I have had some time with it, it kind of started to grow on me. I love what it offers, sounds nice, I hear it is not thirsty, matches good with the car...offers great driving experince. It is one of those combos which you see rarely, pleasure comes from something more than just burning rubber.
I had an idea, to put "decent" redblock under that bonnet. B234f, B230FB, B200FT, I love all those engines on Volvo 740. Now I am worried if those engines wont "break" that little car? Of course I would love that little lump of 1.4 would move car faster along, but not with the price of ruining the driving characteristics! As I mentioned, they like to understeer if pushed, what is your experience with even more weight in front?
Since you know, when the engine is not on the stand, we need two guys to drag 2.3l redblock around. But with 1.4, I almost manage to pick it up myself alone and move where I want. There seems to be lot of weight difference.
Thanks!