Introduction/Volvo 360 Questions

[JakeyG]

Hi Everybody I'm Jake, 17 from the South West and currently looking at Volvo 360s.

I currently drive a Volkswagen Lupo 1.4 16v, which is my first car and I love it, but I fancy something older with better tuning potential and have always had a soft spot for the 300 series. So i've settled on a 360, now just to sell my Lupo and find a 360!

I have someone coming to look at my car next weekend so with any luck, i'll take at least a deposit as he sounds pretty keen and i'll be on the hunt for a 360!

I plan to keep the 360 fairly tidy, and mechanically sound. But aswell as that will most likely want to spend some money on tuning - I have read a little into it and I saw someone got around 140bhp with a set of uprated cams and twin 40's or 45's. I have also seen turbo conversions being done.. Presumably if I start out with a carb model the Carburetor upgrade will be more straight forward and if I start with an injection model the turbo upgrade will be more straight forward.

I would appreciate it if someonce could shed some light on the matter, your advice and your experiences would be most grateful

Cheers, Jake.

[theo2468]

Yo, where abouts in the south west are you from?
You've pretty much got it the best ugrade for a 360 is a 2.3 turbo, preferably 240 engine instead of 9 or 7 series so then you can keep your heater!
Welcom bud

[JakeyG]

Cheers Dude!

Taunton, Somerset mate Are you a South-Westerner too?

Okay, I've seen that done too. A fairly straight forward conversion? Problem with that is I won't get insured on an engine converted car just yet, they're okay with tuning and mods just not conversions - which is a bummer. I know I can't have it all being a little whipper snapper but it's nice to have a bit of power

Jake

[theo2468]

Yeah I'm down in Cornwall!

[Evoman]

choosen a good car, cheap to insure, im 20 and it costs me £380 on my 360

[JakeyG]

Ah nice one!

Cheers mate I can't wait! Got a build thread or anything?

Jake.

[SteveP]

You've pretty much got it spot on! if you want twin carbs, a sexy noise, a thirst for fuel, around 140-150bhp for not a huge amount of work then go for a carbed model. If you go the turbo and more complex, but ultimately faster route then an injection car makes much more sense as it already has the higher pressure fuel lines, tank, pump etc

[JakeyG]

You've pretty much got it spot on! if you want twin carbs, a sexy noise, a thirst for fuel, around 140-150bhp for not a huge amount of work then go for a carbed model. If you go the turbo and more complex, but ultimately faster route then an injection car makes much more sense as it already has the higher pressure fuel lines, tank, pump etc

Oh god that makes things even more difficult! Haha. Seeing as I can't insure a turbo right now i'll probably go for a carb model. Thanks for the advice dude

So what is needed to reach that sort of power on a carb model? twin carbs, cams, air mods - induction kit or performance filter? Free flow exhaust?

[SteveP]

Twin carbs, cam and a less restrictive backbox should net you 140bhp. The backbox on these quickly gets quite restrictive as the later 360's have a weird double inlet design, so a straight through box would be better in this case. Problem is if you need to do any real motoring in it (ie. daily driver) it'll soon become expensive and you'll still get beaten by modern turbo diesels that are tripling the fuel economy you're getting Whereas a standard B230FT (2.3 turbo) out of a 940 on the standard turbo could get you about 180-190bhp with the standard turbo at 12psi and you'd get better fuel economy than a standard 360 injection because it's a more modern engine management system.

Food for thought!

[JakeyG]

Haha it's difficult stuff isn't it.

Okay, well first thing's first - Sell my car!!


Thanks for all the advice, it's most appreciated

Jake

[MCHUDD]

Hi mate and welcome.
Its great to see someone buying a car to drive that is older than they are
Good luck with finding a 360.
Cheers Mark.

[JakeyG]

Hahaha yeah, I've always wanted a car registered on my date of birth

Thanks for the welcome

Jake

[Nimminz]

welcome!

I changed from my first car, a 1.4 8v 206 to a 360 GLT injection, Never looked back! Only thing i miss is MPG

Worth evey penny, good luck with the hunt for a 360!

[JakeyG]

Yeah the MPG is gon' be a killer - My little lightweight modern(ish) 1.4 16v MPI gets nearly 300 miles of urban driving from £35.. a 360 won't match that!

[Nimminz]

I get ~250 miles out of £60 but i think there are still a few things to fix.

36 MPG's the highest i've heard out a 360 injection, not sure on a carb maybe worse

Still, don't let it put you off, paying 500 quid for your next car rather than 5000 quid, leaves 4500 for extra fuel