What to do....

[SteveP]

I've been facing a dilemma with my 300's of late... I'm at a crossroads on which way to move forwards and really don't know what to do!

First off, the 360 - it needs a fair bit of bodywork to get up to scratch. New sill, rear arch, two wings, at least 3 door skins and a full respray to make perfect. Then we're still left with a car that runs like a pig on LE-Jet. I don't have facilities to swap an engine, or even store one.

Secondly the 343 - it needs a bit of bodywork (nowhere near as much), but drives very well.

So.. should I, as the plan was, fix up the 360 and keep running the 343 as a DD, find a better 360 GLT saloon shell, or break it for spares and buy a 940 turbo whilst keeping the 343 as the project (ie. 360 running gear on carbs). I priced it up and a 940 turbo with some suspension mods would be cheaper than fixing the 360 up It just seems I'm fighting a losing battle against rust and deleted spare parts!

[jtbo]

We are living times that separate true 300 enthusiasts from those not so resourceful and capable, unfortainly it could be that I'm falling to latter category too, unless some space is found soon

[trabitom99]

How about running both? Run the 360 from October to April, taking the brunt of the bad weather, and when the welding starts getting too costly strip the parts from it and get something else.

From May to September run the 343, make it perfect, and watch it grow into a real classic

BTW: why does your LE-Jet run like a pig, can that be fixed?

Tom

[SteveP]

Trouble is running both is tax and insurance and MOT upkeep - I have to keep both cars on the road so they both need to be taxed and insured. I can't drive both at the same time, however...

LE-Jet always seems to run badly from cold, and IMO doesn't perform as well as it should for a 2.0 injection car. Fine when giving it full beans, but on light throttle inputs and pulls from low RPM it can be very sluggish. Even in perfect order, it wouldn't offer the performance I'd want for the fuel economy it returns.

Forgot to mention, the MOT is up in April for the 360 - so I have until then really to get it sorted/make a decision. Mechanically it is very good, though.

[trabitom99]

Trouble is running both is tax and insurance and MOT upkeep - I have to keep both cars on the road so they both need to be taxed and insured. I can't drive both at the same time, however...

Both cars taxed and insured at the same time is a bit of a luxury Are there no cheap lock-ups near you?

Have you tried speaking to your insurance company? I've got my 360s on one insurance policy, when one car goes off the road the cover is transferred to the other one. And I only pay tax for the time the car is on the road too.

That doesn't affect MOT due dates unfortunately, even though it's only every 2 years over here.

Tom

[Chris_C]

I havn't looked over the 360 properly mate, but if it's that bad, get yourself a decent shell. You've got all the fun bits, and theres a reason you sold the 940T for the 343.

You're only gonna get annoyed when you sell all your bits like the bodykit and wheels, and then want a 300 again (which you've proved before... you've done it twice in the time I've known you ffs with the 360/pug/360/940/343 timeline).

If the running gear is ok, do what you want and stick the running gear from the 60 into the 343. It'd take a few of us a weekend if we all get stuck in, rope in a helpful driveway (theres enough about that would let you do it for a weekend), new shell, and bodykit and wheels on that. Then worry about what engine is going in the 360.

[redline]

I think I agree with Chris , I know how hard it is not having a garage to work in ,

I was origionally going to suggest ( like Tom ) rent a garage for the 360 until funds allow you to restore it (but it may be beyond that ) and use the 343 as a daily driver.

other option strip 360 of all good bits and wait for a decent saloon shell to appear but again its a time/space thing get that on the road then start on the 343

[Ali]

Well... i'd say from a value and rarity point of view the 343 is going to grow into a classic. The 360 is nice but at the end of the day its a saloon which isn't all that rare in a colour that isn't particularly rare either. The things that make the 360 a cool car are the extra's, which are always transferable to something else anyway.

Based on that i'd say run the 360 into the ground, don't spend anymore on bodywork, if it fails an MOT do the rust repairs yourself, etc. Then spend the money on making the 343 mint as its never going to de-value and only requires a little bit of work to make mint.

Don't know what to say about keeping the 360 though, depends if you want to drive a 300 or 900 daily, guess its down to comfort vs fuel economy.

I vote for megasquirt on the 343! Started my car for the first time in 2months at the weekend, fired up first time and ran perfect. With that and a 5 speed box it should be pretty economical and then you've got the Megasquirt for any future engines, etc to put in the 343 like a B200e with running gear from the 360 on throttle bodies

[classicswede]

I'd keep the 360 but for now only do the minimum work to keep it road worthy. Any jobs like teh sill that has to be done do it propperly but non essetial stuff like doors leave as is. Doors are bolt on so could be swapped for better ones. At leaset parst you buy for it can be swpped onto another car apart from welding on the shell.

[Chris_C]

Hahah, I suggested he squirted and itb'd the 343 Ali... he gets all touchy and unhappy

Ali speaks muchos truth though, as do the others

[SteveP]

Don't really think MS and ITB's would be in keeping with the age of the car though - that's the only reason tbh.

Might as well keep it 'til April as its roadworthy 'til then, but I'm driving the 343 now anyway as it's much more undemanding and quieter on the roads I use daily (under 60mph).

I think I'd prefer the 343 with 360 running gear, but that there brings another problem of the facilities and resources... who knows

[Jason B]

well setup itb's would sound pretty awesome on a 343

[petefarrell360]

I was composing a longer reply, but gotta dash, so as I said to Steve earlier on MSN, the offer is there to him to come down and use my workshop for a few days and I can help him do what ever he decides. In anything other than summer and good weather, working outside is a PITA!

Pete

[Ali]

I know what you mean but I still think going carbs is just making life hard for yourself for no real reason, worse economy, etc. With a decent map on MS it'd be like a modern car in the body of a cool retro car! Suppose the fuel system wouldn't be up to injection standards though so more work hmm! and you'd have to sort out some kind of intake manifold so suppose its not that straight forward.

Sod it I vote for chop a coil off the front, i'll make you some lowering blocks, swap the spax over, polish the dish on the wheels and pimp it around brum like a true gangster

[filthyjohn]

If you do a big engine swap to the 343 lets make a meet out of it. I volunteer Pete to do the accommodation and catering!