'82 343 DLS: beyond the arctic circle

[macplaxton]

Grrrrr! You mean MY82> (facelift) models

(apart from the DLs getting the full valance and the GLs getting Fog light holes)...........

AFAIK if the spare wheel well is in the rear, it'll have foglight holes. Got a D16 DL here with holes and and a B14 GL without...........

....or something like that.

[trabitom99]

Rupert's right. The B19-engined 343/345s were essentially 360s - with B19 engine, different steering rack, torque tube, 57 litre saddle bag tank, spare wheel well in the boot etc. These early 2 litre models never came to the UK.

AFAIK if the spare wheel well is in the rear it'll have foglight holes

On post '83 models yes, but earlier B19 cars came without holes/blanking plates.

I had another look at the tyres/wheel sizes. As far as I can tell, B14 343/340s never got 14" wheels as standard, including the special editions. Volvo did "allow" it though, as shown by the documentation I have which you need to show the German TÜV if you don't have the "correct" wheels fitted. Essentially, the following letter says:

"Volvo Car Germany GmbH confirms that there are no technical considerations against mounting the wheel / tyre combinations listed below on vehicles listed above."

... or words to that effect.



The tyre combinations they allow is interesting, including 195s with an asterisk to say that only summer tyres can be used, and that no snow chains should be fitted Odd is that they don't list 155-width tyres, and some of the combinations are weird as well, on which standard wheel would you fit a low-profile 195/55 tyre?

This second document is also interesting, particularly if you live in a country with the some of the strictest MOT-testing (TÜV) in the world and where documentation and paperwork (if modifying a car) mean everything. It's taken from an R-Sport accessory brochure from around 1980/1981 (click on the picture so you can see the full width):



It says that 14" alloys can be fitted to B19 cars if you carry an "ABE" with you ("Allgemeine Betriebserlaubnis" a manufacturer document) but no change needs to be made to the car's papers. B14 (TÜV) means that you need you go to the TÜV first (with all the necessary documentation), they say "OK" (hopefully), give you another certificate, and then you can go to the German DVLA equivalent who add it to the car's papers for you.

Complicated I think things have changed in recent years (no more "adding to papers" etc., manufacturer documentation is sufficient) but it still means fitting the wrong wheels to your car in Germany without checking back with the manufacturer first can invalidate your insurance.

Hi Tom.
I have the inserts for the fog spaces if you need them.
Cheers Mark.

Thanks for the offer Mark! I think I'm OK for foglamp bits ...

Cheers

Tom

[macplaxton]

These early 2 litre models never came to the UK.

I've not seen one, but it does raise the question about the pre-MY83 Smiths DLS/GLS speedo available in MPH.

AFAIK if the spare wheel well is in the rear it'll have foglight holes

On post '83 models yes, but earlier B19 cars came without holes/blanking plates.

Ok, so MY84> then ?

[macplaxton]

"Volvo Car Germany GmbH confirms that there are no technical considerations against mounting the wheel / tyre combinations listed below on vehicles listed above."
... or words to that effect.
[snip]
The tyre combinations they allow is interesting, including 195s with an asterisk to say that only summer tyres can be used, and that no snow chains should be fitted Odd is that they don't list 155-width tyres, and some of the combinations are weird as well, on which standard wheel would you fit a low-profile 195/55 tyre?

Having had a chance to look...in the Continental Tyres databook, I can find only a 195/60 R14. Recommend fit is for a 6J rim, but also permitted are 5½J (and 6½J, 7J) The Bridgestone databook agrees and also mentions the 195/55 R14 size on the same width range of rims.

Q: Is a VIN prefix XLB3xx500 not a B14 (50) auto (0)? Or does digit 9 not represent the transmission type?

[trabitom99]

These early 2 litre models never came to the UK.

I've not seen one, but it does raise the question about the pre-MY83 Smiths DLS/GLS speedo available in MPH.

There may have been laws in some RHD MPH countries saying that (temporarily) imported cars need to have their speedo converted as well as having their headlights changed? MPH speedos tend to show KMs as well, but not the other way around. Other than that, which countries drive on the left:


AND use MPH speedos
AND had a market for the 300 series? No idea. Malta maybe?

AFAIK if the spare wheel well is in the rear it'll have foglight holes

On post '83 models yes, but earlier B19 cars came without holes/blanking plates.

Ok, so MY84> then ?

Sorry, not "post MY83 models", MY83 models and onwards. Basically, the year the 360 came out, and Volvo stopped calling the cars 343/345. That's wenn the foglamp holes (with foglamps or blanking plates) were introduced.

Q: Is a VIN prefix XLB3xx500 not a B14 (50) auto (0)? Or does digit 9 not represent the transmission type?

I don't know, but well spotted That letter was sent to the new owner of my previous 1980 B14 Vario, after his enquiry as to what tyre sizes he was allowed to fit. The "papers" said 155 width tyres from memory, and I'd fitted 175 tyres on 13" period alloys.

Cheers

Tom

[V6 Man]

I've not seen one, but it does raise the question about the pre-MY83 Smiths DLS/GLS speedo available in MPH.

Indeed. The 2.0 litre models were not available in the Uk until after the dash change for '83MY, they weren't (to my knowledge) available in Africa or the Indian subcontinent, Australia didn't get them until '86MY and the Far East tend to use kilometers, so who the hell used miles as a method of measurement and got 2.0 litre 300's before the dash change?

The only thing I can think of is that maybe they were made as optional extras in case anyone in the Uk opted for the R Sport add on kit, assuming it was a valid Uk option at that time

And now the edit........

I've just realised that cannot possibly be, because who would add the R Sport kit to a 1.4 given that's all we got.........

So, new theory;

Were they made simply as an optional extra for Uk buyers who wanted a fancier gauge cluster?

[trabitom99]

It could well have been a legal thing. What are the UK laws like on insuring and taxing a LHD car? I guess the lamps need to be changed .. but probably not the instrument cluster.

Maybe B19 343s were available on "special order" for the UK market? Who knows ...

And again, don't forget Malta - or do they use kms as well? There are lots of RHD ex UK cars driving around there, even London's "bendy buses" ended up there.

Tom

[macplaxton]

...No idea. Malta maybe?

I've no idea either. I've been racking my brains and I thought every normal country had gone metric by then.

Only place I can think of is Ireland, but farmers (ahem) weren't really partial to splashing out expensive tax on big cc engines. Diplomat & Tourist sales? Special bargain basement deal from Smiths?

Q: Is a VIN prefix XLB3xx500 not a B14 (50) auto (0)? Or does digit 9 not represent the transmission type?

I don't know, but well spotted That letter was sent to the new owner of my previous 1980 B14 Vario, after his enquiry as to what tyre sizes he was allowed to fit.

The reason I notice is the VIN decode here http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/vin_300.shtml (and on VIDA/VADIS I think) says the number "9" indicates CVT, but every one I've seen has been "0". My B14.0E is a 50 and my B14.2E is a 50 on the VIN plate.

What are the UK laws like on insuring and taxing a LHD car?

UK should have headlamps change and foglight (if of an age it is required) fitted. Speedo you could get away with sticky labels. (Used to see them all the time on Jap import motorcycles). There may be other things, but I can't remember.

[trabitom99]

9 months of standing still aren't too great for any car I guess, so on go the plates and after a few small checks and a bit of minor work (a new gas-filled strut for the rear hatch: Triscan 87102711, some bulbs, a replacement windscreen washer pump), a mate and I set off with the DLS for a 450km round trip. The longest journey since I got the car, nearly 6 years ago

Pump (now the windscreen washers squirt again):


Hatch strut [fitted the LHS only, as the ball joint of the aftermarket part doesn't unscrew to accommodate the boot light on/off switch]:


Air in the tyres:


Breakfast:


Pretty German town:


But then: oh dear! The fuel and temperature needles start to drop, the horn sounds weedy and after a stop, the car won't start. Empty battery!

Out come the tools, and oh dear again, this doesn't look good, the carbon brushes are definitely under the 5mm minimum:


and look at what's left of that bearing!


Coaxed the carbon brushes out a little bit more, push started the car, and limped back home. It was enough to charge the battery again (and we measured 13.5V - 15V arriving at the battery today), but clearly some work needs to be done.

This early B19-engined car still has an external voltage regulator fitted to the inner wing. According to the green books, 60 cars further down the production line (B19 cars from CH 629518) would already have been fitted with a carbon brush kit, that has the voltage regulator (charging relay?) already integrated.

My question is this: do you think a later-type alternator will work without any trouble? The green books and the Bosch online "ecat" catalogue seem to think so.

I have a Bosch 0 120 400 932 fitted (apparently only manufactured until May 1982), this was superceded by Bosch 0 120 489 065 and should be more readily available (manufactured till 2012). Both were fitted to Volvo 240s of that era.

Does anyone have an opinion on these external "voltage regulators", does it make sense to go for an alternator with an "all-in-one" carbon brush kit? There is only one (3-wired) cable leading from the plug fitted to the carbon brushes to the external regulator. I'm sort of hoping the replacement alternator will be "plug and play", cheaper, and more reliable in the long term.

I'm looking forward to your opinions

Cheers

Tom

[macplaxton]

Cor blimey! That bearing is just a tad on the dry side!

[trabitom99]

I'm not sure, but I think the alternator housing is cracked too ... And there must be some kind of backing plate missing from that bearing:

Here's another pic:


Tom

[trabitom99]

Well, I'm going to give it a go with the follow-on Bosch part, with the built-in electronic voltage regulator. Here's a pic comparing the two parts:



The connections look the same - and it's a lot easier to find a replacement carbon brush kit in future than for the "old style" generator with the seperate voltage regulator mounted to the wing. The part's in the post already, I'll report how I get on.

Cheers

Tom

[Chris_C]

That bearing pic is both scary and epic in equal quantities. Definitely looks like it's eaten a chunk of the casting, there isn't enough seat for it and on the bottom of your first pic it looks like a rattle fit which it shouldn't be!

[trabitom99]

Well, I'm glad we made it home The new part should arrive tomorrow, I'll probably fit it some time next week.

Cheers

Tom

[Ride_on]

The mountings look the same as a B200K/E. I just got a reconditioned 55A replacement for my 45A B200K unit (reconned after 200k miles) for £35 delivered. There are a few of these on eBay and not much demand. I just waited for one to go 'make offer' and jumped in with a cheeky bid.

I'd send you mine but I'm sure you could find one locally.