Ricky the vario

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classicswede
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Ricky the vario

Post by classicswede » 05 Jul 2013 10:52 pm

I had been looking for another 340 for a while but had some criteria that had to be met.
1.4
5 doors
prefer no sunroof,
not white or red
solid body
cheap.

Then came along Ricky that fitted all of the above but was a Vario! I do like Autos but was looking to build a nice fast road car again so manual would have been preferred. Swapping transmission would not have been to big a job so I had some thinking to do.

This how Ricky arrived after my dad had a nice long 960mile day trip picking up a 1.7 for Bogbasic and then collecting Ricky.


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Bonnet earth strap broken as usual
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Body needs a very good clean
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Rear wheel arch needs treating before it gets any worse
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As does the door below the mirror
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Front wing is a bit flakey but can be saved
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Dai

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classicswede
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Re: Project Ricky the vario

Post by classicswede » 05 Jul 2013 11:00 pm

Now that I have had time to think about it my plan is to keep Ricky as a vario as long as I can keep the system working.

Mac has provided me with his useful guide on how to service and maintain the CVT, some interesting reading and essential info for a vario newb


My plan is to now put together a full service schedule and give it a full stage 1 service so that I then know exactly where I am at.

Next step will be the LPG conversion so that it can run on real fuel.

Then transfer over the wheels and some of the suspension from the dead 1.7 and use it to try out some of the more recent parts for myself. It will also be a test bed for some of the up and coming parts.

Hopefully in a couple of weeks I shall have actually made some progress.
Dai

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bogbasic
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Re: Project Ricky the vario

Post by bogbasic » 06 Jul 2013 09:51 pm

Wicked motor!
1988 340 1.4 GL, 218k, 5 door (Grey Bess). Gone to CBA.
1991 340 1.7 GL, 64k, 5 door, petrol blue (Deep Blue).
1988 360 2.0 GLE, 140k, 5 door, ocean blue metallic (Blue Bess).
1989 340 1.7 GL, 108k, 3 door (Red Ness).
More info here!

classicswede
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Re: Project Ricky the vario

Post by classicswede » 06 Jul 2013 10:00 pm

It is,

and very well speced

electric windows
electric mirrors
and everything has been etched with the registration including the hub caps!

Same colour as yours?
Dai

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bogbasic
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Re: Project Ricky the vario

Post by bogbasic » 06 Jul 2013 11:12 pm

Hello, yes it is the same colour and the wheel arches are much better than mine.
1988 340 1.4 GL, 218k, 5 door (Grey Bess). Gone to CBA.
1991 340 1.7 GL, 64k, 5 door, petrol blue (Deep Blue).
1988 360 2.0 GLE, 140k, 5 door, ocean blue metallic (Blue Bess).
1989 340 1.7 GL, 108k, 3 door (Red Ness).
More info here!

MCHUDD
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Re: Project Ricky the vario

Post by MCHUDD » 07 Jul 2013 11:08 am

Hi mate.
Glad to see this is to be saved. Good luck.
Cheers Mark.
sm4 sm4 sm4

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S10NPH
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Re: Project Ricky the vario

Post by S10NPH » 07 Jul 2013 11:55 am

Great, glad you saved this one, I really liked the pictures of when it was for sale. Have you got any other 340s? I've lost track, I know you had my aunt's old car G996 FJC a while back.
classicswede wrote:and very well speced

electric windows
electric mirrors
Too posh for me!
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

classicswede
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Re: Project Ricky the vario

Post by classicswede » 07 Jul 2013 03:16 pm

I still have FJC but it is in a very sorry state. Got let down by a body shop who just left it parked in the grass for a year! I have a spares 360 that I am keeping as a jig but all the other 300's have been sold or stripped for spares.
Dai

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Alex Laidlaw
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Re: Project Ricky the vario

Post by Alex Laidlaw » 09 Jul 2013 12:14 am

Glad to see Ricky's new owner is a bit more proactive at putting up a project thread and fixing the problems he had since I bought him! He's a good old motor and served me well. Sadly I think I need to get something a bit more boring for a while until I have some time to work on a project car again, DPG has sat in the garage for nearly 3 years now with the F7P running and a weekend or two away from being ready to be back on the road!

classicswede
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Re: Project Ricky the vario

Post by classicswede » 10 Sep 2013 09:55 pm

Ricky has sat unused over summer :cry:

The past couple of days I've had a bit of time to make a start on things. I've given him a quick clean and investigated some of the rust issues a bit further.

The washer jet pump had stopped working so for now I'm using the rear window pump but will change the duff one tomorrow.

MOT is booked for the morning so we will see how it goes.


One thing I have noticed is the idle goes lumpy when you hold the brake, is that normal?
Dai

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Chris_C
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Re: Project Ricky the vario

Post by Chris_C » 11 Sep 2013 10:34 am

Sounds like a vacuum leak in the servo to me Dai, I've not noticed it on any of mine, but it's been a long time since I had a 1.4. They make so much vacuum though I'd have thought they'd be the most resilient.
'89(G) 340 GLE B172k
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
Ex:
'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

classicswede
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Re: Project Ricky the vario

Post by classicswede » 11 Sep 2013 11:12 am

MOT passed this morning :D

I had a feeling the servo might be leaking, I'll have to test it and swap it if need be. The brakes feel to be working as they should.
Dai

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Alex Laidlaw
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Re: Project Ricky the vario

Post by Alex Laidlaw » 12 Sep 2013 12:03 am

Good to hear he's back in use. As I understand it the CVT has some kind of engine braking effect that is switched by a brake pressure switch (see no. 5 in here http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... =39&t=3803). As I remember it the idle in Ricky always changed when you stood hard on the brake, but it sounded like a on/off type switching effect. If that's not normal for a vario then I'd guess it'll be a vacuum leak causing this.

I never liked the brake pedal in Ricky but couldn't put my finger on why, they never changed from the day I bought it, despite several attempts at bleeding them. I think it might just be only having two pedals and lack of control over engine braking that made me a lot more weary of stopping it that my manual one!

Still got those final transmission spares for you as well.

classicswede
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Re: Project Ricky the vario

Post by classicswede » 25 Sep 2013 10:00 pm

The headlights main beam had stopped working, turned out to be the earth wire on the stalk had fallen off. A new bolt in there and all fixed.

I've had a quick look at the belts and they are in very good shape. Done 800 miles so far and all has been well. A full fluids change is high on the list.

I hope to get Ricky into the body shop this year to tackle the rear arch and drivers door bottom before things get any worse.
Dai

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classicswede
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Re: Project Ricky the vario

Post by classicswede » 30 Sep 2013 06:57 pm

Been doing a few small jobs on Ricky and also started at looking at the high revving.

I had to adjust the clutch shims as the gap was just over 2mm, I have got it down to 0.9mm with the shims I had.

No the high revving, I started with the first step in Anjo's guide and its not good. The two hoses to the gearbox are leaking to each other so there must be a torn membrane. Can they be repaired or do I just need to swap complete unit? I have some spares ones here but if it can be fixed I might prefer to do that.
Dai

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