Jaspersilus wrote:Hi chaps,
ok so thats a rain catcher, what does it catch rain for??????????

Bear Grylls invented them. It distills rain water into drinking water. For when you run out of p!ss.

Ha Ha, very funny, Im more of a Ray Mears man myself, if he can survive anywhere and stay that chubby hes the man for me!

So VND does that mean you dont know, or that its that obvious it would be embarrassing to tell me!

So here goes: I suspect it catches rainwater then filters it back into the washer bottle!

Please feel free to point and laugh!!

Id guess that too dude.

But I must confess that I dont know, and Ive never seen one before either.

Mk2's and mk3's had different heater boxes, mk2 had an intake both sides of the bonnet, where as mk3 had the intake only one side (as this car does). However, it still has the mk2 bonnet with the 2 cut outs, so Volvo blanked one side of it with the funnel so the rain could escape somewhere that it wouldn't get in the way.

There can only have been 6months max where that bonnet was in use with that heater box, I've never seen a car with a purpose built solution for the problem, most have been lost.

I'm sure I've got one of those funnel things somewhere, not sure about the scoop thing that the water falls into first though. The more I see the photos of that car the more I think it must be one of the last of that model left in that condition. It certainly deserves to be looked after and not modified in and irreversible way (without wanting to start up the modify vs original discussion again ). It certainly stands out because of it's condition in a far better way than if its was altered too much.

Nimminz wrote:looking good mate, its sooooo clean! Happy birthday too!

Get that practical test booked!

what did you use on the bumpers to get them so nice?

Autobrite Very Berry tyre gel been using it since its release a couple of years ago - amazing stuff!

Thanks for the further comments; interesting to know about the rain catcher too! I have tried not too alter it too much from standard, Injection sticker was because i couldn't find the correct Volvo badge (mine didn't have one?) sticker is actually NOS from the 80's haha! Towbar is a necesity for me! and the downpipe is similar to that from the Volvo accessory brochure as are the dual pin stripes/coachlines.

I hope to meet up with some other V300's soon too (plenty in the North East too compared to other areas in the UK!)

Thanks again.

Matt.

mattywatsit wrote:
I hope to meet up with some other V300's soon too (plenty in the North East too compared to other areas in the UK!)

Maybe it's cos we're all skint? Damn that North/South divide!

Your car looks a cracker mate! Will be good to see it some time.

Haha maybe your right! and yeah will will have to meet up for some pics some time.

Large update time!

I fitted a set of 15" wheels today to Vera!

A while ago i liked the look of the 440 wheels that have a sort of fan blade style (remind me of some Vauxhall wheels) and decided i would like to purchase some... one thing lead to another and i ended up buying a set off John (FlithyJohn) - he is a brilliant bloke! really knows his stuff and gave me a great deal due to the wheels needing new tyres.

I went and got 4x Nexen 2000's fitted yesterday at a fairly decent price, they are all weather tyres and seem to get good reviews. Our local tyre centre was selling them with the lifetime tyre gauruntee, where your tyres are covered against punctures and side wall damage, there is a lot of small print - but it actually seems quite a good warranty. When filling out the warranty card the garage asked for my numberplate, "C" he said "Ah that must be a private plate then" i just laughed and told him no, just an old car!

Managed to get Vera washed this morning and then the old GLT wheels taken off (now for sale as a set of 5 with really good tyres), whilst the wheels were off i had a good poke around for any rust and also rubbed down the rear break drums and front calipers and painted them in Matt black. The new wheels and centre caps were put on.

I have also purchased a fifth 440 wheel from eBay for a decent price with centre cap, just awaiting it being posted and then recieving it - i will get a tyre put onto it and use it as a matching spare wheel

I honestly love the look of them (FoggyJames - your 1988 360 Turbo was my inspiration.... aswell as a couple of other 300 series i've seen them on, incl. some of Johns).

Pictures speak 1000 words so they say... so here you go:





Thanks for looking Spare wheel is next, then some new headlight, side light and fog light bulbs then Cambelt...(debating doing it myself... we shall see)

Dude that looks a lot better.
Silver cars really suit silver wheels IMO.

Youve got to be pleased with that look man?

Looks stunning im very jealous! I wanted to the exact same thing for a while after seeing foggys too! Just wasnt prepared to pay what some people were asking.

looks a winner!

Very smart!

Have to say I think I prefer the earlier silver colour compared to the later smoke silver, looks more erm... silvery

volvosneverdie wrote:Dude that looks a lot better.
Silver cars really suit silver wheels IMO.

Youve got to be pleased with that look man?

Yeah I agree it's such an improvement over the GLT rims, very pleased with how it looks

Evoman wrote:Looks stunning im very jealous! I wanted to the exact same thing for a while after seeing foggys too! Just wasnt prepared to pay what some people were asking.

looks a winner!

Cheers mate, I think yours suits the 480 wheels actually! I didn't expect spending as much on tyres, and to be fair could have got budget tyres cheaper but the Nexens took my eye and tyres are pretty important afterall

SteveP wrote:Very smart!

Have to say I think I prefer the earlier silver colour compared to the later smoke silver, looks more erm... silvery

Thanks Steve, I noticed the large difference between silver's when looking at Ben/Liam's 343 the other night - im unsure which I prefer tbh The earlier silver is brighter but the smoked silver hides dirt well so doesn't need cleaning as often

Matty, i think id still like your wheels more.

I found some for £60 with tyres, but the guy stopped the replying to my emails, so of course i wasnt going to send the payment. Then he scrapped them coz I didnt send the payment!! :@