G89 VFW (Project) Time for some TLC

A place to describe in details your 300, close to or in genuine condition
The purchase, story of the car, repairs...
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Hell Driver
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G89 VFW (Project) Time for some TLC

Post by Hell Driver » 06 Sep 2009 01:45 am

It's time to get VFW back on the road after 6 years of SORN! I bought it in 2001 as a second car as my 1977 343 CVT was getting very very rusty again and the new sills I'd had welded on in 1992 were mincemeat :roll: . My intention was to take the '77 car off the road till I'd got time to restore it properly. After driving the 1.4 CVT for 10 years, the 1.7 manual felt much quicker and I must admit the '77 car was put on the back burner (later to be stolen to order by a gang of ruthless classic car thieves, or was it the scrap prices rising!? :().
Anyway I drove VFW for a year or so till someone gave me a LHD 440 1.7. This seemed even quicker than the 340, probably cos your sat with you arse on the floor :lol: . One day I was driving through Barnsley and I saw a red 440 Turbo, that really was faster :D. So i became a traitor for a few years and the 340 sat under blankets in the garage becoming home to mice and spiders. However, that all changed in May. By then the 440 Turbo was also gathering dust due to a seized rear caliper, loose drive shaft boot, no M.O.T and the birth of Jack now 4 1/2 :D.
I spotted the green 360 GLS on ebay and I woke up and found myself in 1983 :o
In making room for it in the garage I had to get VFW out, having promised to the wife that it would be gone soon :?
Somehow I still appear to be getting away with having 3 old volvos and 1 wife, not sure how long this can last :)

Back to the car, it's a

340 GL 1.7 in dark grey metallic
First reg 20/10/89 (20 years old this year!) bought new from Deacon Motors, Lincoln
Former keepers 5, around Grantham, Lincolnshire, maybe Nottingham and Harrogate
Bought by me 14/11/01 for £500 @ 123046 miles (from a traders advert in autotrader for £595)
Taken off road 01/12/03 @ 131,060 miles

I'm hoping to get it an M.O.T., keep it original for now (except wheels), use it as an everyday car and maybe use it for towing a lightweight caravan next year (already got towbar and electrics). Maybe some point in the future I'd love to do some of the mods, engine, suspension etc. 8)

Here's some pics
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Just before the car was taken off the road it failed it's M.O.T on various things, but the engine was running perfectly. Over the 6 years in storage it has been started a few dozen times, moved about and small amounts of petrol put in. The first 3 years it was outside on and off but has been dry stored for the last 3.

Jobs done so far

MAY
Over the last few times of starting, the engine developed a 'misfire' so I did a bit of work to try and get it running better. Changed the distributer cap, rotor arm, HT leads, in line fuel filter (old one very mucky). All these needed to be done as all parts were old and a service was needed anyway. Just when I thought I'd fixed it, back came the misfire. As of tonight, when I started it the misfire was back. Revved it hard a couple of times and it's running fine now. Maybe the very low fuel level in the tank is causing debris in the fuel lines? Will have come back to this later I expect.

TODAY
Rust assessment. Time to get the screwdriver of doom out sm43. Not too bad. Sills intact but floor edge mostly gone. Jacking points pretty good (never use them anyway!) Some previous patches to nearside floor only. Rear cross member (in front of fuel tank) gone at ends (mentioned on M.O.T failure sheet in 2001, can still see yellow chalk marks!) Wheel arches remarkably good all round but some holes in front offside inner. All suspension parts, brake parts, rear axle, etc look very rusty, hope its all holding together! Front wings good but front valance very very bad due to leaking radiator (advisory on 2001 M.O.T.)
Tonights big question, has anyone had any experience with welding the rear cross member near the fuel tank? I don't like the idea of blobs of red hot metal and petrol fumes coming anywhere near each other :shock: . I'm thinking of taking the tank off, the filler neck used to leak anyway, and the tank probably needs cleaning out as well. Any tips on fuel tank safety greatly appreciated :D
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 :-(

volvosneverdie
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Re: G89 VFW (Project) Time for some TLC

Post by volvosneverdie » 06 Sep 2009 08:56 am

Looks bang-tidy mate.
Well worth the effort for the revamp.
Though weldy petrol explodey does sound a bit worrying.
Any idea what direction you're gonna take with the wheels man?
Trad Volvo, or aftermarket deepdish bling?
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volvodspec
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Re: G89 VFW (Project) Time for some TLC

Post by volvodspec » 06 Sep 2009 10:41 am

Hell Driver wrote: has anyone had any experience with welding the rear cross member near the fuel tank? I don't like the idea of blobs of red hot metal and petrol fumes coming anywhere near each other :shock: . I'm thinking of taking the tank off, the filler neck used to leak anyway, and the tank probably needs cleaning out as well. Any tips on fuel tank safety greatly appreciated :D
remove the entire fuel tank; if you need to weld on the left chassis beam pull out those synflex fuel lines too.
only way to be safe :D

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Hell Driver
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Re: G89 VFW (Project) Time for some TLC

Post by Hell Driver » 06 Sep 2009 11:12 am

Thanks for that, thought tank off would be the best idea, lucky it's virtually empty already (probably the most dangerous state) welding required on the side without pipes but I expect the screwdriver will reveal holes on both sides :lol:
I've got a set of 440 alloys from the now scrapped LHD car, 3 of the 4 original alloys from the 440 Turbo (one got kerbed during a brake fade incident :oops: ) (The 440 is currently on a set of big Renault Grand Scenic alloys :o ) and I've got a set of Vauxhall Cavalier GSI/Calibra wheels which looked good on the 340 when I last used it on the road. Going to try the 440 alloys (non turbo ones) as I've not seen them on it yet. Will post some pics later.
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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Bobelix
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Re: G89 VFW (Project) Time for some TLC

Post by Bobelix » 06 Sep 2009 11:47 am

Lookin good, how on earth do you get round the wife though :shock: Can't wait to get another 3 series :wink:

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Speedy88
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Re: G89 VFW (Project) Time for some TLC

Post by Speedy88 » 06 Sep 2009 12:55 pm

You can weld fuel tanks and around them. Get some nitrous oxide and blast it down the fuel filler cap. This makes the petrol temporarily too cold to light even though NOS is even more flammable. Anyway, I've seen it done and then this guy also did it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD4KiQEnxwQ

edit: thats CARBON DIOXIDE. Silly.
'88 340 Williams (Sold)
'85 360 GLS - Drift project (Sold)
'77 Colt Sigma
'96 940 Drift project

volvosneverdie
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Re: G89 VFW (Project) Time for some TLC

Post by volvosneverdie » 06 Sep 2009 01:14 pm

Speedy88 wrote:You can weld fuel tanks and around them. Get some nitrous oxide and blast it down the fuel filler cap. This makes the petrol temporarily too cold to light even though NOS is even more flammable. Anyway, I've seen it done and then this guy also did it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD4KiQEnxwQ

edit: thats CARBON DIOXIDE. Silly.
That sounds chicken oriental!

i.e. mental.
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Hell Driver
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Re: G89 VFW (Project) Time for some TLC

Post by Hell Driver » 06 Sep 2009 11:22 pm

Think I'll take the tank off, don't fancy the CO2 method :shock: , although it might be a good precaution when removing a tank in case of sparks caused by metal to metal, spanners etc but I'm using a pit and as CO2 is heavier than air it could be potentially lethal . Will follow the Haynes manual!

Got some wheel pics, don't think the 16" renault wheels will fit a 340 with the tyres that are on them. Maybe with very low profile tyres? The Vauxhall wheels are ok, had them on before (spacer required for front due to fouling if I remember rightly). Need to get other wheels out for a look tomorrow. Been busy getting a caravan today, 1989/90 model, just right for the car :D Any one got any good caravan mods? :lol:

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Example of the rust, pretty typical for the age and mileage I would think? My old 77 343 was far, far worse at 13 years old and less miles though.

Image
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 :-(

volvosneverdie
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Re: G89 VFW (Project) Time for some TLC

Post by volvosneverdie » 06 Sep 2009 11:29 pm

Those Vauxhalls actually look pretty good!
maybe its the cool rubber, im not sure.
But they look a lot better against the car than they do on the floor!
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magnumpi
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Re: G89 VFW (Project) Time for some TLC

Post by magnumpi » 07 Sep 2009 09:46 pm

volvosneverdie wrote:Those Vauxhalls actually look pretty good!
maybe its the cool rubber, im not sure.
But they look a lot better against the car than they do on the floor!

I've always like those rims off of the Calibra/Cavalier 16v's. think they will look good on the 300 if they fit properly.
89 3dr 340DL in Battleship grey with Ultralights and Williams power
Whats the matter with the car i'm driving can't you tell that it's out of style?

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Hell Driver
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Re: G89 VFW (Project) Time for some TLC

Post by Hell Driver » 08 Sep 2009 09:37 pm

I used to have them on that 340, they were fine, just needed spacers on the front and got to be careful with tyre sizes or they rub on the front strut, can't remember any problems with rubbing elsewhere (Suspension is standard height) but will have to check again when I fit them. Will prob. spray them silver again (had them sand blasted before I did them gold and fitted them to the 440 so they are free from corrosion, but a couple the tyres keep going flat despite having them checked and re-fitted. I think they look good on 340s cos they are solid and strong looking. Don't really know much about other types of wheels, sizes etc but theres a lot of good advice and ideas on the V3M forum :D
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 :-(

volvosneverdie
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Re: G89 VFW (Project) Time for some TLC

Post by volvosneverdie » 08 Sep 2009 10:20 pm

Hell Driver wrote:Don't really know much about other types of wheels, sizes etc but theres a lot of good advice and ideas on the V3M forum :D
if its one thing we know man, its wheels. :lol:
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Hell Driver
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Re: G89 VFW (Project) Time for some TLC

Post by Hell Driver » 17 Sep 2009 10:52 pm

Ten days later the rust fighting continues.....
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Previous old repair patch needs re welding in places
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Still got the fuel tank to take off and two small patches to weld on the cross member.
Looking ahead to the next jobs after welding, anyone know the best place to get a new radiator from? been quoted £125 + VAT for new :shock: from where I normally get parts (would like new as engine will be working hard, towing a caravan; when not going sideways :lol: )A good second hand one would be OK. Plenty of scrap yards around here so may take a look, who knows, I might even come back with another 300 :)
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 :-(

volvosneverdie
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Re: G89 VFW (Project) Time for some TLC

Post by volvosneverdie » 17 Sep 2009 11:16 pm

Plenty of folk have got good 2nd hand rads knocking round.
Put an ad up in the wanted section and I'm sure someone will sort you out.
They come up on eBay at anything from twenty quid to a hundred and twenty for new stock, depending on how lucky you get.
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Hell Driver
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Re: G89 VFW (Project) Time for some TLC

Post by Hell Driver » 17 Sep 2009 11:31 pm

Thanks mate, will have a go
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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