Going to look at 360GLT tomorrow - advice please

[Nimminz]

Hi,

I've found a 360 GLT '88 and will be going to have a look tomorrow.

What in particular should i be looking out for?

Rusted sills
Rusted jacking points
General stuff you look for in any car

what else, prone to going on these?

Thanks
Matt

[pyro]

heyhey

yea the pretty basic stuff you look for in a car, cambelt changes, oil, services etc etc

WHeel arches can fluff up a bit, the front valance is pretty prone to becoming little bits of brown flakey metal.

Ben

[volvosneverdie]

what he said.

check the cam belts been done.

front and back jps, sills generally, back numberplate pannel can go, valance, arches, doors beneath the glass can go.
just check for rust in the places you can see.
if poss, start it and check the cluch. its a much bigger job to change in a 360 thatn a 340.

im guessing its that blck one up in lancs?
looks alright from the photos mind.

[Ride_on]

They are pretty robust, but will suffer from lack of service/wear and corrosion. Given that the youngest 89 GLT will be 21 years old now there is plenty of scope for problems. Many people just don't fix problem as they occur and sell it when there are too many. The initial bad appearance of the car can be a good guide to its care if its really tatty, otherwise don't believe a clean car is good either. Generally suspect everyone.

Rust is the main worry. If sills or jacking points are gone I would seriously consider walking away unless you want to 'restore' the car. Usually that will just be the tip of the iceberg, but you could be lucky and get a few more years out of it with a weld up job. An untreated weld will not last either.

Usual engine stuff - mayonnaise in the oil cap, leaking cooling system, alot of oil on the engine.
When it starts that should be no blue smoke/black smoke, it should run on all cylinders from cold start, it should start quickly.
Ask about cam belt last change, check pulley belts are not cracked up/bits missing.
General service condition - if its been run into the ground you will need to spend alot of time sorting general faults + consumables
Loose gear stick (cracked staybar weld), fells like a Fiat Panda gearstick..yuk
Does it handle firmly..Worn shocks, suspension bushes, bent axle?
Tyres/wheel condition (vibration at 60..probably bent alloys..inner rim)
Electric windows go fully up and down, central locking (check all buttons open and close)

Mostly none of the problems are terminal, just something to negotiate on price but you also need to consider your ability and time for repairs if its tired.

Finally on a test drive, drive mostly 'normally', don't push it hard, you want to listen for problems and feel the car in steady conditions. But also, if ok with the owner, give it the boot occasionally and rev it up to the red and only after its fully warmed up. On a quiet road Look in the rear view mirror for blue smoke at full revs.

[Nimminz]

Thank you all for your advice.

Its one in middlesbro, seen it here: http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=98051

He's sent me full specs and some photos, doesn't look too rotten, but i'll give it a proper look. i won't be able to test drive it myself but my dad will.