What to do....

Post by **redline** » 10 Jan 2008 03:33 pm

having said that

http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... php?t=5752

possible new shell for the 360 ?

Post by **SteveP** » 10 Jan 2008 03:56 pm

Hmm don't think that'll be a saloon, 1.4 saloons don't exist in the UK...

Post by **redline** » 10 Jan 2008 03:58 pm

I did wonder ,

may be wortha phone call

Post by **Ali** » 10 Jan 2008 07:15 pm

R5 turbo is pretty much that era

you know it'd be easy, just like turbo'ing the 360 but with twice the engine bay space lol

Post by **V6 Man** » 10 Jan 2008 08:35 pm

R5 turbo engine is also a bag of excrement with the worst design of exhaust manifold I've ever seen. God alone knows what perculiar baccy made into the Gauloise of the person that designed that thing!

Thhhhpayyynnetah, you know my opinion on the matter as we discussed it at length recently. The question still remains though, when are you dropping Michelle off so that I can keep her occupied whilst you make up your mind what to do.........?

Post by **pettaw** » 10 Jan 2008 08:56 pm

Its a difficult one. Given that both cars are getting rarer by the minute it seems and particularly a Mk2 in that kind of condition how much would you want to modify it? As its a bit of a rarity is it more interesting to keep it original? We're kind of coming to a similar dilemma in our family. We've got 4 300s between us and one of them hardly sees any use at all.

With the parking restrictions round our place, when it turns into a restricted zone we have to park it round the corner, so I guess we're gonna scrap it in a few weeks time, if anybody's interested in 1.7 parts

I would say if you're bored with the 360 then just run it into the ground and preserve the 340. Get yourself a 'modern' DD if you need to.

Post by **SteveP** » 10 Jan 2008 09:14 pm

Hmm... Andy may well have hit the nail on the head....

The nice things on the 360 are the accessories and removable parts (although all of the running gear is good and only 100k). But the shell is pretty poor tbh, and I don't think I'm prepared to spend so much to get it up to scratch - and then, in the mindfield of dubious bodyshops would a good job be done?!

Also, the 343 is really quite nice as it is - it needs some derusting (not serious at all) but it drives great. With a 5 speed box it'd be ok with the B14 tbh. Since it is nearly completely original (with the addition of some period accessories), it might be nice to keep as is. However, I don't know if it'd ever get used

As with a few others, the 300 isn't really an ideal DD car, so there'll hopefully be a bigger brick coming along at some point...

Post by **kaos** » 10 Jan 2008 10:27 pm

pettaw wrote:Its a difficult one. Given that both cars are getting rarer by the minute it seems and particularly a Mk2 in that kind of condition how much would you want to modify it? As its a bit of a rarity is it more interesting to keep it original? We're kind of coming to a similar dilemma in our family. We've got 4 300s between us and one of them hardly sees any use at all.

With the parking restrictions round our place, when it turns into a restricted zone we have to park it round the corner, so I guess we're gonna scrap it in a few weeks time, if anybody's interested in 1.7 parts

I would say if you're bored with the 360 then just run it into the ground and preserve the 340. Get yourself a 'modern' DD if you need to.

SHOTGUN the engine mounts+ sump+ bellhousing+ alternator &bracket+

Cheers:D

Post by **foggyjames** » 11 Jan 2008 04:01 am

Personally, I'd keep the 343 stock and mint, and let's have a meet to pimp the 360. Hold off on doing anything unnecessary (however pimp) and expensive to it until you've worked out exactly what you want to do, but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. I'm essentially limping mine through MOTs while I try to decide which way to take it re: bodywork. Boost and Squirt the 360, and I think you'd soon fall in love with it again. Sadly the stock B200 and LE-Jet don't make for an inspiring combination.

You could do what I'm planning to, and run (perhaps 2.3?) NA first (in my case, to iron out any issues with the EFI swap), then 'upgrade' to boost if you'd rather wait for me to iron out any issues (and to work out how the hell to route the downpipe on a RHD PAS car). I'd be happy to prep you a B230 of any spec. We've done enough of them

Also, if Farrell decides he hates us all (after one too many sleaze allegations, hmm?), you'd be very welcome to use our facillities.

Not that I can talk...my only operational and road-legal car isn't a 300

cheers

James

Post by **SteveP** » 11 Jan 2008 10:23 am

I do think after some peoples opinions that the 343 should really be kept stock, with a tidy up of the bodywork... I think I enjoy that car purely because it is original and feels very period.

The 360 is the tricky one. I would love it with boost and mint bodywork - but would I realistically be able to use it as a daily driver, or want to use it as a daily driver.... and having spent so much getting it up to scratch, that would seem a waste. The only other way is to buy another saloon shell and swap the bits over, and I don't really fancy that either due to time/hassle/more cost (kit resprayed, purchase of another car etc). Sounds like the easy way out but in reality it would be cheaper to buy a S70 T5 by that point, which would undoubtedly be a better car

I am truly grateful for the kind offers of space/engine building/a meet swap etc, though

Post by **redline** » 11 Jan 2008 12:36 pm

deffo for keeping the 343 stock but perhaps with as many period accessories as you can source , i.e rear window louvre

Post by **SteveP** » 11 Jan 2008 12:40 pm

redline wrote: period accessories as you can source , i.e rear window louvre

That's one I'm really after - it would look absolutely spot on, but alas - no luck as yet

Post by **foggyjames** » 11 Jan 2008 06:25 pm

No...I think an S70 T5 would be relatively miserable, actually. Get an R with the LSD, at least...or an NA. Mine is scary enough, and it has 80bhp less! Having said that, the T5 does have far more midrange torque...so if you think you can avoid driving it like a hooligan, it might be more relaxing. Who am I trying to kid...?!

I'm suggesting you *don't* tart up the 360.....keep it soldiering on for now, and delay the expensive decision for a year or two...i.e. whether to re-shell, or repair. You definitely do need to make it faster. That's somewhat cheaper...

cheers

James

Post by **SteveP** » 03 Feb 2008 06:43 pm

Right, well after fleshing them out ideas here... I ended up selling the 343 lol... still got the 360 and bought an S40 T4 for a DD.

ADVICE: Whoever is thinking of selling their dependable 300 and buying something sensible, don't bother

S40 has some sort of fuel filter/pump problem which manifested itself after 50 miles - so I can't even bloody use it yet!

Post by **foggyjames** » 03 Feb 2008 07:41 pm

It's true. For all of Nessy's faults...I'm not sure the S70 has actually been any more reliable

cheers

James