Hi from new member

A global place for general discussion (Volvo, V3M or non-Volvo related topics).
Please introduce yourself here, your Volvo 300 hobby...
NO technical support, parts requests or car advertisements here
Post Reply
User avatar
Ian Hutchinson
*** V3M DONOR ***
Posts: 65
Joined: 13 Jan 2008 01:37 pm
Location: Berkshire, England

Hi from new member

Post by Ian Hutchinson » 13 Jan 2008 02:00 pm

Hi All

I'm new to the forum and own a 90 340 1.4 5 door given to me by my daughter who cant cope with the lack of P/S. Her loss is my gain! (I know the car as I bought it for her last year)

I have owned quite a few Volvo's mainly 240's but also a 760 & 940. I currently have an immaculate 240GLT and a 240GL running on LGP.

I have started to rectify the serious neglect that the 340 has suffered over the last year and have been posting on the VOC forum (Im a regular there) - some replies pointed me in this direction - hence here I am.

Initially I thought that I might keep the 340 as a cheap local runarround and throw it away when it conked out but as it is growing on me (depite an embarresing break down last week!) I thought that I might do it up and use it for my daily 40 mile commute - its much better on fuel than my 240's. And anyway, I quite like driving it!

Now that Ive tightened down the loose carb and sorted out the HT leads etc all seems well re reliable running so far (famous last words).

If all goes well I may look to swap my 240GL for another 3 dr 1.4 340 later in the year...............

classicswede
*** V3M DONOR ***
Posts: 5461
Joined: 25 Apr 2005 06:52 pm
Location: Anglesey North Wales
Contact:

Post by classicswede » 13 Jan 2008 03:09 pm

Hi Ian,

Welcome to V3M

The heavy steering could have been overcome without going power.

Anyway her loss. My Mrs was wuite happy with hers even after learning on a modern peice of junk with power steering. She is now using her 240 estate (CHiP) for day to day driving (500 miles a week). You will probably know chip as Mike's subject in a couple of articles.

What do you need to do to the 340?
Dai

Please email me directly on dai@classicswede.co.uk

http://www.classicswede.com

phone/text 07824887160

Web shop http://www.classicswede.co.uk/

Image

User avatar
Ian Hutchinson
*** V3M DONOR ***
Posts: 65
Joined: 13 Jan 2008 01:37 pm
Location: Berkshire, England

Post by Ian Hutchinson » 13 Jan 2008 04:36 pm

Thanks Dai

Yes, Mikes 'how to' and related articles on the VOC forum are great - if only there were a series of 340 ones!

I am hoping that the 340's running problems are now sorted - Ive just returned from a 60 mile round trip and the engine is running fine - no more cutting out.

I am a little concerned about spares availablity as Ive read posts on various forums about Volvo not supporting this model now. Ive never had a problem sourcing anything for my 240's.

I dont think that the car needs that much work really. My list of things to do so far is:

1) A really good clean in and out!

2) Remove some bubbling on the N/S rear wheel arch - repaint

3) Touch up a number of small stone chips and nicks here and there

4) Replace the wiper arms (the caps for the mounting bolts have been snapped off the originals)

5) Replace the hinge pins on the drivers door (its dropped by a coupls of MM and is a little loose when you jiggle the door up and down)

6) Rub down and repaint the very rusty steel wheels

I guess Ive been spoiled with my 240's as there are loads of spares on ebay etc and the 200 section of the VOC forum is very popular - a query posted there usualy gets many replies within a day. Parts - especially trim - see harder to come by for 300's - the 300 series section of the VOC forum is a lot quieter - though Ive had some excellent advice over the past week re my running problem. Most of the VOC guys posting a reply made reference to this site.

Where this particular 340 really scores for me as a multiple car owner is that the tax and insurance are so cheap in addition to the fuel consumption being much better for commuting. On the less practical side of things I love its unfashionable looks, simplicity and even the way it drives. It is pretty inevitable that I will buy another one at some point! I wouldnt mind a 2 door 1.4....................

Expect lots of dumb questions as I get to grip with things!

Ian

User avatar
filthyjohn
*** V3M DONOR ***
Posts: 2693
Joined: 12 Sep 2006 09:07 pm
Location: Sunderland, Ringpiece Of England

Post by filthyjohn » 13 Jan 2008 11:16 pm

Welcome to V3M Ian.
I agree totally with you on the charm of the 340, they really get under your skin and it can be hard to like other cars afterwards. Give me a PM later in the year if you want to talk about a swap deal, as I've always liked 240s and my tidy blue 3dr 1.4 may well be surplus to requirements soon.
Cheers,
John.
'87 Nissan Sunny
'95 945 LPT
'90 340 3dr
'87 360 GLT
'87 765 TIC
'75 Manta A
'70 Rover P5 V8
'67 MGB GT
'62 amazon 2dr

User avatar
Ian Hutchinson
*** V3M DONOR ***
Posts: 65
Joined: 13 Jan 2008 01:37 pm
Location: Berkshire, England

Post by Ian Hutchinson » 13 Jan 2008 11:48 pm

Thanks John, good to hear from a fellow North Easterner - Im an ex-pat though having lived in the South since 1981 (god Im old...)

You have a PM
1990 340DL 1.4 - 1990 240GLT - 1987 340 1.4

User avatar
filthyjohn
*** V3M DONOR ***
Posts: 2693
Joined: 12 Sep 2006 09:07 pm
Location: Sunderland, Ringpiece Of England

Post by filthyjohn » 14 Jan 2008 12:01 am

PM replied Ian.
To be honest I find myself with thoughts of defecting to the south in a few years, or more likely some other country if they'll have me. Though things are getting better up here.
'87 Nissan Sunny
'95 945 LPT
'90 340 3dr
'87 360 GLT
'87 765 TIC
'75 Manta A
'70 Rover P5 V8
'67 MGB GT
'62 amazon 2dr

User avatar
Chris_C
*** V3M DONOR ***
Posts: 9600
Joined: 18 Jun 2004 11:53 pm
Location: South Coast, UK

Post by Chris_C » 14 Jan 2008 12:22 pm

Good to see you made it over here Ian ;) I didn't want to tell you just to join up over here, I'm a big fan of the VOC, but most of the VOC members with 300s are here (at least those that venture on the internet ;))
'89(G) 340 GLE B172k
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
Ex:
'89(F) 340 GL F7R (ex B172k) - Fake -> SBKV 300 Runner Up 08, 12; '91(H) 340 GL B14.4E - Kar; '88(F) 360 GLT B200E - Jet -> BKV 300 Runner Up 09; '89(G) 360 GLT B200E - Beast

classicswede
*** V3M DONOR ***
Posts: 5461
Joined: 25 Apr 2005 06:52 pm
Location: Anglesey North Wales
Contact:

Post by classicswede » 14 Jan 2008 01:39 pm

I'm on here most days but not so often on the VOC site. I may well document some of the job on 340's but mine is not a good example for a lot of things due to teh extensive mods.

Parts are going to be a problem but there are ways to overcome most parts. If you look on abay lots of things do come up for them.
Dai

Please email me directly on dai@classicswede.co.uk

http://www.classicswede.com

phone/text 07824887160

Web shop http://www.classicswede.co.uk/

Image

Post Reply