B Reg MK2 360 Saloon

A place to describe in details your 300, close to or in genuine condition
The purchase, story of the car, repairs...
derskine
Posts: 199
Joined: 29 Sep 2013 10:38 pm

B Reg MK2 360 Saloon

Post by derskine » 03 Nov 2015 01:17 pm

Yesterday I swapped my Polo GT for a MK2 360 Saloon.

My Renault 18, which is my daily driver at the moment runs out of MOT on the 1st of December and needs both sills and a rear arch replaced. So, in the mean time, I really needed a car to get me through the winter.

I was hoping to get a 240, but when this became available as a straight swap for a car I didn't use, I had to go for it.

This is currently the only picture I have, as it was dark when I took delivery of it last night.

Image

It's not without its faults however.

So far I've observed:

1st gear is extremely difficult to find, and 3rd and 5th aren't particularly easy - a few people have suggested on the Facebook page that this will be a snapped gear selector rod that I'll need to weld back together after removing the gearbox and torque tube - no biggy though really - I would rather this than a knackered gearbox.

The heater blowers don't work. I have a spare motor and a spare switch, so that should be straightforward too.

The only rear light that works is a number plate light, I assume this is going to be the connectors under the drivers side dash though.

There's also a substantial dent and a piece of the drivers wing missing. I'm in two minds whether to repair this or just get another wing.

It also has a welded diff, which I could do without, but I'm told a 340 diff will fit so that's not an issue as I know where there are a few sitting.

I'll no doubt uncover more niggles once I get a look in daylight/get it up on the 4 post.

I still have my 340 too, of course.
1984 Volvo 360 GLE Saloon
1987 Volvo 340 1.7GL

Additionally -

1966 Ford MK1 Cortina
1971 Hillman Imp
1984 Renault 18 GTD

MCHUDD
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Posts: 2537
Joined: 18 May 2006 03:43 pm
Location: BELFAST UNITED KINGDOM

Re: B Reg MK2 360 Saloon

Post by MCHUDD » 03 Nov 2015 02:31 pm

Hi mate.
Even with the faults, i think you got the better deal.
Cheers Mark.
sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69

derskine
Posts: 199
Joined: 29 Sep 2013 10:38 pm

Re: B Reg MK2 360 Saloon

Post by derskine » 03 Nov 2015 02:48 pm

I was quite attached to the Polo as had owned it a while but this is much more usable, and I've got a real soft spot for the 300 series.
1984 Volvo 360 GLE Saloon
1987 Volvo 340 1.7GL

Additionally -

1966 Ford MK1 Cortina
1971 Hillman Imp
1984 Renault 18 GTD

Ride_on
Posts: 2262
Joined: 26 May 2009 05:34 pm
Location: Belfast, N. Ireland

Re: B Reg MK2 360 Saloon

Post by Ride_on » 03 Nov 2015 09:19 pm

Funny the gearbox characteristic is s normally that 2nd is a bit stiff. If the selector rod is snappped you won't get any gears, but if the bell housing location rod is cracked the gear lever will be floppy. This is more common and a quick fix is to cut an inch or 2 in front of the gear lever hole and weld it from above.

The rod is welded to the lever mounting plate and the plate cracks around the weld. It's fairly easy to weld.

Heater blowers is often the resistor module thermal cut-out inside the ventilation box. It can be shorted but this creates a fire risk, see Vauxhall Zafira on watchdog. Mac is doing these refurbed.
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

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SteveP
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Location: Coventry, UK

Re: B Reg MK2 360 Saloon

Post by SteveP » 03 Nov 2015 11:16 pm

Ride_on wrote:If the selector rod is snappped you won't get any gears, but if the bell housing location rod is cracked the gear lever will be floppy. This is more common and a quick fix is to cut an inch or 2 in front of the gear lever hole and weld it from above.

Heater blowers is often the resistor module thermal cut-out inside the ventilation box. It can be shorted but this creates a fire risk, see Vauxhall Zafira on watchdog. Mac is doing these refurbed.
^^ What this guy says :) Where the hell are you finding all these? Quite an unusual car.
1989 - Volvo 360 GLT
1985 - Volvo 360 GLS
2008 - Volvo S60 SE Lux

derskine
Posts: 199
Joined: 29 Sep 2013 10:38 pm

Re: B Reg MK2 360 Saloon

Post by derskine » 04 Nov 2015 08:45 am

We have a page on facebook called "Retroshite" and various people message us offering cheap cars, this was one of them!

I'm not sure what the gear issue is all about, I can't see any linkage being noticeably snapped and it goes into gear fine with the engine not running. I tried adjusting the aluminium bracket under the gaiter but it didn't really seem to help.

It's really only 1st that's the issue, It'll go in if I double declutch.

It doesn't crunch so I'm not really thinking it's the synchro either.

I dug up an old thread here that suggested clutch plates can get stuck on the bellhousing splines if the car has been sitting a while, and might just need an "Italian tune up".


I also sorted the blowers, the fan was a bit seized, so I took it out, put the spindle in a drill chuck and spun the fan whilst spraying grease into the bearing.

I'll get some better pictures tonight, it's not all that bad, apart from the nearside wing it's pretty solid.

I was hoping the wheels would be 14" so I'd have some tyres for my Leos but alas they're 13s :(
1984 Volvo 360 GLE Saloon
1987 Volvo 340 1.7GL

Additionally -

1966 Ford MK1 Cortina
1971 Hillman Imp
1984 Renault 18 GTD

derskine
Posts: 199
Joined: 29 Sep 2013 10:38 pm

Re: B Reg MK2 360 Saloon

Post by derskine » 06 Nov 2015 09:19 pm

Image

:mrgreen:
1984 Volvo 360 GLE Saloon
1987 Volvo 340 1.7GL

Additionally -

1966 Ford MK1 Cortina
1971 Hillman Imp
1984 Renault 18 GTD

Ride_on
Posts: 2262
Joined: 26 May 2009 05:34 pm
Location: Belfast, N. Ireland

Re: B Reg MK2 360 Saloon

Post by Ride_on » 06 Nov 2015 11:18 pm

Like I said it won't be the selector rod, have you checked the location rod. Pull off the lever gaitors and look at the plate in front of the gear lever.
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

derskine
Posts: 199
Joined: 29 Sep 2013 10:38 pm

Re: B Reg MK2 360 Saloon

Post by derskine » 07 Nov 2015 08:48 am

It seems to have free'd up now, perhaps it was through lack of use? (Had been sitting a while).
1984 Volvo 360 GLE Saloon
1987 Volvo 340 1.7GL

Additionally -

1966 Ford MK1 Cortina
1971 Hillman Imp
1984 Renault 18 GTD

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bogbasic
Posts: 1861
Joined: 21 Nov 2004 10:12 pm
Location: New Malden, Surrey.
Contact:

Re: B Reg MK2 360 Saloon

Post by bogbasic » 07 Nov 2015 02:55 pm

Wicked when problems just go away - I'm hoping my exhaust does the same ;-0
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!

Ride_on
Posts: 2262
Joined: 26 May 2009 05:34 pm
Location: Belfast, N. Ireland

Re: B Reg MK2 360 Saloon

Post by Ride_on » 08 Nov 2015 03:13 am

You said that 1st was hard to find. The 300 gears should be very positive, especially the 360. If you remember something the Fiat Panda, they where hard to find gears. When the location rod plate is cracked it feels like a normal fiat panda gear lever.

Now you are say it is freeing up as if it was stiff to get in. Stiff gears or cunching gears can be due to clutch not disengaging properly if the disk is sticking on the splines. Rare but can be down to corrosion or a badly made disk.
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

derskine
Posts: 199
Joined: 29 Sep 2013 10:38 pm

Re: B Reg MK2 360 Saloon

Post by derskine » 08 Nov 2015 06:49 pm

The gear change on my 340 is very good. This doesn't feel quite as good, but, it does go into all gears now.
I thought it might be the clutch plate sticking onto the splines, the car hasn't been used much this year I don't think.

You can dream Jon, though, I can't really talk as I need a drivers seat belt, to fix the passengers electric window and find a new drivers wing. If only these would also fix themselves!
1984 Volvo 360 GLE Saloon
1987 Volvo 340 1.7GL

Additionally -

1966 Ford MK1 Cortina
1971 Hillman Imp
1984 Renault 18 GTD

derskine
Posts: 199
Joined: 29 Sep 2013 10:38 pm

Re: B Reg MK2 360 Saloon

Post by derskine » 12 Nov 2015 04:16 pm

Fitted some lowering blocks and cut the front springs the other day.
One slight issue, offside handbrake cable is rubbing off the back of the rim, I'll try cable tying this up but it's been suggested this may not happen with 14" wheels that I'll be fitting soon.

Also got a bit of a rough idle, once warmed up it seems okay.
Idle control valve? Inlet gasket leak?
1984 Volvo 360 GLE Saloon
1987 Volvo 340 1.7GL

Additionally -

1966 Ford MK1 Cortina
1971 Hillman Imp
1984 Renault 18 GTD

derskine
Posts: 199
Joined: 29 Sep 2013 10:38 pm

Re: B Reg MK2 360 Saloon

Post by derskine » 13 Nov 2015 07:43 pm

Today my daily Renault 18's timing belt snapped.

Image

Wasn't too worried as got towed back to the unit and jumped in the 340.
That also broke down and wouldn't start again, managed to get it started and nurse it back to the unit, cutting out a few times on the way.

This meant I had to tax and insure the 360 to get home.

Image

Good old red block got me home without issue.
Talk about Friday the 13th eh?
1984 Volvo 360 GLE Saloon
1987 Volvo 340 1.7GL

Additionally -

1966 Ford MK1 Cortina
1971 Hillman Imp
1984 Renault 18 GTD

Ride_on
Posts: 2262
Joined: 26 May 2009 05:34 pm
Location: Belfast, N. Ireland

Re: B Reg MK2 360 Saloon

Post by Ride_on » 13 Nov 2015 09:27 pm

Is this a UK car, carb?

Could be air leak or some carb issue, Should keep plodding on whatever. the only problem I ever had was a dirty renix coil made it difficult to start.

Gear change should be better than the 340. Not sure what happens if you don't fix a cracked location bar.
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

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