lowering a 1986 340 1.4

Post by **redline** » 28 Nov 2004 10:59 am

Hi Ali , welcome to the group , I am surprised you would need to lower the rear end with the weight of that install in the boot sm77

, The weekly tescos run must be a bitch, where do you put your shopping LOL.

Post by **Ali** » 28 Nov 2004 12:26 pm

lol, as im only 18 and still living at home i dont do the weekly shopping!

Never really had a problem with space, just use the back seats to carry stuff to and from uni, it does help to keep the rear end pinned down in the wet though! Thanks for the link james, just still worried about insurance, i'll give them a ring in the week because im not sure if it was just that they couldn't give an online quote for modifications or if they don't cover them at all. Anyone else with cis (co-op) insurance company and know about their mod policy?
cheers
Ali

Post by **foggyjames** » 28 Nov 2004 02:18 pm

Yeah, insurance is a PITA. That's the only reason I don't have a 225 bhp turbo lump under the bonnet... Lowering shouldn't make them freak out too badly, so try giving them a call...they tend to be more reasonable on the phone.

I talked to Dave (DBS) last night, and he doesn't have any lowering blocks in at the moment, but he can get them....so you have plenty of time!

cheers

James

Post by **Ali** » 28 Nov 2004 03:09 pm

cheers james, any ideas on prices? Does he supply the front springs aswel because ive found them for £60 on needforspeed.com but their delivery is a bit pricey. I'll keep saving anyway, my mates corsa insurance only went up £90 for full exhaust system, lowering and rear lexus lights but that is with a different company so hope mine isnt over around the £50 mark. Just don't know how long im going to keep the car because its going strong at the moment with 90k on the clock and 12months mot but all the hoses are looking a bit past it and it could be £150 down the pan if somthing major goes wrong with the car! Always an engine conversion anyway

! Any ideas on how easy a 5speed gearbox would go into the the 340DL? Top out around 95mph just because of lack of revs! Do have a few hundred rpm left but dont want to blow anything!
cheers
Ali

Post by **foggyjames** » 28 Nov 2004 03:32 pm

How good is the bodywork? If there's any real rot, forget it and buy a 5 speed one! It's not a tough job, but then 5spd cars are so common....

Just replace the hoses....they'll only be cheap! 90k is reasonably low mileage.

Dave doesn't do the springs, and those at £60 sound like good value. I think he was talking about the £40 region last time I enquired, but that was several years ago.

I think most of the £90 was 'fool tax' for getting lexus lights

cheers

James

Post by **SteveP** » 28 Nov 2004 03:36 pm

Get a 360

But I don't think it would be too difficult to change the box to a 5 speed... they're easy to get hold of too. From what I saw of your 340, it looks in damn good condition bodywise.. so it might well be worth doing. Rust is the only weak link really, and as its 3 door you dont get the nasty rear door window seal rust!

Springs are interesting, £60 doesn't sound too bad.. I'm trying to convince myself that I should get suspension stuff myself!

Steve

Post by **Ali** » 28 Nov 2004 04:51 pm

lol, yeah hope so, and they might have added a fair bit for the exhaust system, counting it as a power modification. The car hasnt got any rust from what i can see, chrome trim is fading in places but not a real problem. Whole body of the car is in good condition which is why i have considered the 5speed transmission or perhaps a 1.7 conversion but i dont want to lose reliability. Any ideas if the 2L injection from the 360 would fit into the 340? Pressumably there is a fair bit of electronics and prop shaft etc wont cope with the extra power. Can't be that hard to find a rear ended 360 from a scrappy. Also thought about the R5 Gt turbo idea but means new manifold etc and insurance

Did you ever get anywhere with the bodykit replica's James because i would definately be interested in the future, iv spotted a few golf mk2 wide arches with skirts built in on ebay for cheap and wondered if they could be made to fit, even if they're too long just chop and smooth them back together!
Ali

Post by **foggyjames** » 28 Nov 2004 04:58 pm

Good timing...Look at the post (yesterday) in 'Offers'.

I'd stick with the 1.4. Sounds like it might be worth doing a 5sp swap. You need the box and the shorter prop shaft..probably a few other bits. You'll have the lower ratio diff, so better accelleration / poorer economy / top speed. Someone on here (Riverflow?) did this swap not long ago, so maybe more precise details could be found...

You have to alter the turbo positioning on the R5 turbo engine (1.4) swap....but the main problem is finding one that isn't totally wrecked. If would probably be better to have the standard engine rebuilt with turbo bottom end (lower compression), head and manifolds.

The 1.7, or even the 360 2.0 motor woudl indeed fit, but that's a lot more work. If you want a 360, buy a 360....there's a very nice B200K model on ebay at the moment.

I think 'Special's wheelarches are Golf Mk2 items...

cheers

James

Post by **Ali** » 28 Nov 2004 05:43 pm

Yeah but there's nothing special about having a 2L in a 360, they made it like that

does seem like too much hassle though, i think i'll concentrate on saving for lowering at the moment but hopefully if your plans work out then id like to get a full kit in the end. Iv also thought about smoothing out the lock on the boot but not sure how easy it would be to solenoid it, my other problem is the red/pink paintwork and getting it to match! Not sure how "right" this would look though, not the smoothest car in the world to start with!
Ali

Post by **foggyjames** » 28 Nov 2004 06:46 pm

The Volvo redblock engine has way more potential for tuning than the Renault lump, so it needn't stay standard

If you wanna smooth it - go for it! We tried a solenoid from a mk3 fiesta on my flatmates Micra. Paint matching...hmm..well yes, might well be a problem....good luck!

cheers

James

Post by **Ali** » 28 Nov 2004 08:06 pm

Just thought its an easy cheap subtle touch, quite liked the look of that bonnet vent cover aswel, almost a subaru vent lol, looked at a tiny badboy lip but due to the way the bonnet opens i think it would hit the front grill. Any ideas on how to get the bloody rear bumper off because iv ended up angle grinding my tow bar off flush with the bumper but really id like to get rid of it altogether
Ali

Post by **SteveP** » 28 Nov 2004 08:13 pm

Rear bumper is bolted on with four bolts and clipped to the sides, most likely with 4 very rusty bolts (or so mine were) and were a totally bugger to get off. It is quite awkward, towing eye gets in the way on one side, exhaust the other side.. sure you can't put up with it grinded off?

Bonnet vent scoop is nice.. haven't seen one though in the UK, certainly would like one! Badboy lip? don't do it!

Steve

Post by **petefarrell360** » 28 Nov 2004 08:18 pm

Hi Ali, The rear bumpers can be a nightmare to remove, especially if you have a towbar fitted. If it is a genuine Volvo towbar, it is normally bolted through the base of the boot on some plates and then the chassis aswell, after fitting the bumper to the towbar! If there are not extra plates and bolts in the base of the boot it may just be connected as normal, as SteveP says, what happens normally is that the bolts rust, causing them to snap! They hold a metal bracket onto the chassis just behind the rear wheels. There are four bolts to remove, though if they look rusty get hold of some new ones first, or you could be bumperless!

Pete

Post by **foggyjames** » 28 Nov 2004 08:30 pm

My towbar is bolted to the rear suspension mounts...genius....

cheers

James

Post by **Ali** » 28 Nov 2004 09:13 pm

Yeah ive got four bolts in my boot, which takes a fair bit of work to get to! Ive undone these but cant find the others underneath, i think i'll stick to your advice and just leave it how it is, was a right bugger to angle grind off as i didnt expect it to be solid metal (thought it would just be thick walled tubing!) Even if i remove it fully i will be left with a square cut out of my rear bumper where it used to be so maybe just painting the end grey may blend in better.
Ali