BHX recommissioning thread - 1979 Volvo 343 DL

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S10NPH
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Re: BHX recommissioning thread - 1979 Volvo 343 DL

Post by S10NPH » 20 Apr 2013 07:36 pm

Here are a few pictures from today's action.

New grille badge:
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Replacement NOS front stripes:
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Replacement NOS rear stripes:
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And a nice drive to the country:
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The car looks so much better with mud-flaps!
1977 Volvo 343 DL 1.4 Vario TUJ 247R
1980 Volvo 345 DL 1.4 PGH 590V
1981 Volvo 345 DL 1.4 ECR 312W
1985 Volvo 340 DL 1.4 Vario B168 DTU
1982 Volvo 245 GLT 2.3 Auto VKN 137X
1997 Saab 900 Convertible P290 DDF and 2018 VW Tiguan S10 NPH

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trabitom99
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Re: BHX recommissioning thread - 1979 Volvo 343 DL

Post by trabitom99 » 20 Apr 2013 09:05 pm

It looks superb!

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
360 GL Injection B200F MT5 (231) 348598kms 1988 (scrapped)
360 GLT B200F MT5 (302) 230000kms 1988

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Hell Driver
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Re: BHX recommissioning thread - 1979 Volvo 343 DL

Post by Hell Driver » 20 Apr 2013 11:29 pm

I like the period bumper stripes, really reminds me of the 70's when lots of the bigger volvos used to have them!
360 GLE Saloon (D 86)
360 GLS (A 84)
343 DL (W 80) :-)
340 GL 1.7 (G 89)
360 GLS (Y 83)
440 Turbo (J 92)
Transit Tipper 125 T350 (02)Alive Again!
Transit Tipper Smiley face Q reg
Mitsubishi Colt 1.1 (54)
R.I.P. 77 343 DL vario :-(

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S10NPH
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Re: BHX recommissioning thread - 1979 Volvo 343 DL

Post by S10NPH » 22 Apr 2013 06:47 pm

Hell Driver wrote:I like the period bumper stripes, really reminds me of the 70's when lots of the bigger volvos used to have them!
I wasn't sure about these, but they are an original accessory which the car has had from new, so I felt wrong getting rid of them. And having got used to them, the car looked a bit naked without them!


Quick question: the drivers' door handle has lost it's stiffness (pardon the innuendo), so it flops about and rattles when driving. How horrible a job is trying to repair the spring mechanism?
1977 Volvo 343 DL 1.4 Vario TUJ 247R
1980 Volvo 345 DL 1.4 PGH 590V
1981 Volvo 345 DL 1.4 ECR 312W
1985 Volvo 340 DL 1.4 Vario B168 DTU
1982 Volvo 245 GLT 2.3 Auto VKN 137X
1997 Saab 900 Convertible P290 DDF and 2018 VW Tiguan S10 NPH

MCHUDD
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Re: BHX recommissioning thread - 1979 Volvo 343 DL

Post by MCHUDD » 22 Apr 2013 07:55 pm

Hi Sion.
I will have a look at a spare one i have and let you know whats involved.
Cheers Mark.
sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69

macplaxton
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Re: BHX recommissioning thread - 1979 Volvo 343 DL

Post by macplaxton » 22 Apr 2013 11:32 pm

S10NPH wrote:Quick question: the drivers' door handle has lost it's stiffness (pardon the innuendo), so it flops about and rattles when driving. How horrible a job is trying to repair the spring mechanism?
Change handle and swap over the lock barrel.
72 DAF 44 Estate 78 Volvo 343DL Black BeautyImageImage
82 Volvo 343DL CVTImageImage 88 Volvo 340DL Diesel

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S10NPH
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Re: BHX recommissioning thread - 1979 Volvo 343 DL

Post by S10NPH » 25 Apr 2013 06:35 pm

I take it that means it's a horrible job. I won't replace the whole handle, I want to keep it original.

Another question - what does the cold-hot heater lever actually connect to? I ask because the lever is extremely stiff, so much so that I'm afraid it may snap. I have tried to lubricate the lever itself with a little WD40, but that hasn't helped.

I would therefore like to lubricate whatever it connects to, but I'm really hoping that's not a dashboard out job! Whatever it moves sounds very physical. The book of lies is no help whatsoever. Any ideas?
1977 Volvo 343 DL 1.4 Vario TUJ 247R
1980 Volvo 345 DL 1.4 PGH 590V
1981 Volvo 345 DL 1.4 ECR 312W
1985 Volvo 340 DL 1.4 Vario B168 DTU
1982 Volvo 245 GLT 2.3 Auto VKN 137X
1997 Saab 900 Convertible P290 DDF and 2018 VW Tiguan S10 NPH

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volvodspec
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Re: BHX recommissioning thread - 1979 Volvo 343 DL

Post by volvodspec » 25 Apr 2013 06:44 pm

that lever of the heater is connected to a cable that goes to the valve on top of the transmission tunnel; you can reach it at the passenger side. both the valve and the cable might need a bit of oil to lubricate. don't wait with this as eventually you can brake the plastic lever in the dashboard

as for the door handle, there really is no other option than taking it apart, it's probably a broken spring and that can be replaced from a donor. if it turns out to be the lever that's broken you can swap out the lock barrels, it's a 10sec job and nobody will know it's not original (make sure the donor is of a pre 1986 car as after that they came with the 1key system and those have bigger lock barrels).

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S10NPH
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Re: BHX recommissioning thread - 1979 Volvo 343 DL

Post by S10NPH » 25 Apr 2013 06:53 pm

Great, thank you, I will have a go over the weekend.
1977 Volvo 343 DL 1.4 Vario TUJ 247R
1980 Volvo 345 DL 1.4 PGH 590V
1981 Volvo 345 DL 1.4 ECR 312W
1985 Volvo 340 DL 1.4 Vario B168 DTU
1982 Volvo 245 GLT 2.3 Auto VKN 137X
1997 Saab 900 Convertible P290 DDF and 2018 VW Tiguan S10 NPH

macplaxton
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Re: BHX recommissioning thread - 1979 Volvo 343 DL

Post by macplaxton » 25 Apr 2013 10:50 pm

S10NPH wrote:I won't replace the whole handle, I want to keep it original.
Hey, I know you love original...but there is a practical limit to this ideal. Dried up and cracked Michelin ZXs? - er no thanks.

Do you spend time drilling out the handle pivot rivets to get the springs off? (those wotists in the very foreground of pic 1) (In which case you have to drill 4 rivets out as you have to rob some replacement springs from somewhere.
Image
Then you lose your original rivets and all the time you know there are non-original bolts hiding inside the door which no-one can see.
Image

Or do you just find the correct handle for year and swap the lock barrel over?

sm25
S10NPH wrote:I have tried to lubricate the lever itself with a little WD40
volvodspec wrote:and the cable might need a bit of oil to lubricate.
WD40 is useless for a lot of things. Lubing a cable would be one of them. Go down the bicycle shop (should be plenty round your way :) ) and find something more lubey-like and more useful for cables.
72 DAF 44 Estate 78 Volvo 343DL Black BeautyImageImage
82 Volvo 343DL CVTImageImage 88 Volvo 340DL Diesel

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Hell Driver
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Re: BHX recommissioning thread - 1979 Volvo 343 DL

Post by Hell Driver » 26 Apr 2013 12:22 am

My old MK 1 was full or 'original' repair parts....some of them even dated back to the 1970's, like the old socks and paper towl stuffed in to the footwell/screen heater when the heater control broke...on/off was socks in for summer and out for winter :lol: The mechanical voltage regulator went haywire in the mid 90's and my Dad made an electronic one. The sills were repaired with teatime assorted biscuit tins in the late 80's and the downpipe was once fixed with a Tango can. (temparary repairs of course!). When the front panel (without headlamp wiper holes) finally rusted to nothing and I was forced to change it to stop the lights falling out,, the replacement one had the holes....as long as I kept the car going, that was all that mattered in those days!!!

Eventually you'll forget about the non-original bolts holding the springs in when some more pressing emergency occurs!
360 GLE Saloon (D 86)
360 GLS (A 84)
343 DL (W 80) :-)
340 GL 1.7 (G 89)
360 GLS (Y 83)
440 Turbo (J 92)
Transit Tipper 125 T350 (02)Alive Again!
Transit Tipper Smiley face Q reg
Mitsubishi Colt 1.1 (54)
R.I.P. 77 343 DL vario :-(

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S10NPH
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Re: BHX recommissioning thread - 1979 Volvo 343 DL

Post by S10NPH » 26 Apr 2013 08:25 am

Thanks for putting up the pictures Rich, that's really helpful for me to see what's involved. I can cope with replacing bits you can't see with non-original ones, obviously. But I take your point that the door handle spring is difficult to refit and a replacement unit would be easier, but I'm hesitant to do so as apart from the spring my door handle and seal are in very good condition. I'll pop the door card off one day and have an exploration inside.

I have some proper lubricating oil which I will use.

I always like the stories you have about your old car Andy, you do keep promising to put up some more pictures...... :lol:
1977 Volvo 343 DL 1.4 Vario TUJ 247R
1980 Volvo 345 DL 1.4 PGH 590V
1981 Volvo 345 DL 1.4 ECR 312W
1985 Volvo 340 DL 1.4 Vario B168 DTU
1982 Volvo 245 GLT 2.3 Auto VKN 137X
1997 Saab 900 Convertible P290 DDF and 2018 VW Tiguan S10 NPH

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Hell Driver
Posts: 1415
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Location: Doncaster UK

Re: BHX recommissioning thread - 1979 Volvo 343 DL

Post by Hell Driver » 26 Apr 2013 01:08 pm

I know, need to scan some in!
360 GLE Saloon (D 86)
360 GLS (A 84)
343 DL (W 80) :-)
340 GL 1.7 (G 89)
360 GLS (Y 83)
440 Turbo (J 92)
Transit Tipper 125 T350 (02)Alive Again!
Transit Tipper Smiley face Q reg
Mitsubishi Colt 1.1 (54)
R.I.P. 77 343 DL vario :-(

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