Newbie - 340GL 1.4

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RobT_75
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Newbie - 340GL 1.4

Post by RobT_75 » 09 Nov 2008 10:51 am

Hello everyone

I've just joined the Volvo fraternity by purchasing a 340GL yesterday. It's a 1991 model with the Cat and 1.4. I managed to drive it home ok but the engine is idling a bit rough so I think it'd benefit from a tune. But it has a weber carb, which i'm not a fan of, and by reading stuff about 300s neither are most owners :)

I paid £300 for it and it has 11 months Mot and 6 months tax, with 59,000 miles on the clock, which I assume isn't a bad price to pay.

I'll post some pictures of it later once I've done some tinkering today.

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Chris_C
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Post by Chris_C » 09 Nov 2008 01:14 pm

91 GL's are awesome cars, should have lots of toys in it compared to most 300's, certainly more than a lot of GLT's ever got. I'm intriuged by the colour, there was one that was only available for the last 6months, and would be the twin of my 1.4.

The webers on the 1.4 are fine, and practically bullet proof, just watch the air filter housing bolts don't strip the threads in the carb top.

EDIT: Just realised you are the chap from the VOC forums! I thought the car was a 1.7? Weber on the 1.7 is dubious, but fine on the 1.4, as the carb was designed properly originally!
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RobT_75
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Post by RobT_75 » 09 Nov 2008 07:00 pm

Chris_C wrote:91 GL's are awesome cars, should have lots of toys in it compared to most 300's, certainly more than a lot of GLT's ever got. I'm intriuged by the colour, there was one that was only available for the last 6months, and would be the twin of my 1.4.

The webers on the 1.4 are fine, and practically bullet proof, just watch the air filter housing bolts don't strip the threads in the carb top.

EDIT: Just realised you are the chap from the VOC forums! I thought the car was a 1.7? Weber on the 1.7 is dubious, but fine on the 1.4, as the carb was designed properly originally!

hi, the advert for the car didn't state what cc and it turned out to be a 1.4 which will do me fine. glad to hear the webers are ok on the 1.4 then. i drove it earlier and seemed fine compared to yesterday when i picked it up. had to have it on choke to stop it stalling! a bit of tinkering should sort it.

it has indeed got the toys - heated seats, headlamp wipers, electric door mirrors etc. and the seats are superb, big and comfortable covered in soft velour. as soon as i saw it i knew i had to have it! you just have to play it cool in front of the seller though don't you :lol: body work is a bit rough, srapes down one side and rusty arches and front valance, but the main thing is it moves and is a lovely car to be in, interior is immaculate. not bad for 300 quid i reckon. the colour is a metallic grey. photos below are rubbish quality as took them in the dark but will get some more detailed ones later.

http://s346.photobucket.com/albums/p407 ... 6252878752

http://s346.photobucket.com/albums/p407 ... Lfront.jpg

the only other thing that's bothering me is there's a noise coming from the rear, what i assume is suspension bushes or knackered shock absorber, a sort of noisy bed spring sound. it got through the MoT ok but was probably an advisory, don't have the sheet to prove it unfortunately. without that it would be a very refined drive for a 17 year old car.

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srtames
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340, 1.4

Post by srtames » 20 Nov 2008 02:34 pm

welcome to the club. The weber iin the 340 s a pretty good carb but has 3 weaknesses viz 1.the idle jet solenoid sticks ruining the idle and2. if you leave the car standing more than 3 days ,it takes a lot of cranking to fill the carb to start. 3.the air cleaner bolts can work loose. Its best to cut off the end of the idle solenoid plunger to fix 1. and for 2 try pumping the throtlle before cranking. 3. retap the air cleaner screw to M5 threads..
Ive had mine for 10 years and 60k and its a very reliable car where nothing seems to wear out!

regards, Steve
1989 340DL,1397
1979 CapriGL ,1593

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RobT_75
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Re: 340, 1.4

Post by RobT_75 » 16 Jan 2009 05:26 pm

srtames wrote:welcome to the club. The weber iin the 340 s a pretty good carb but has 3 weaknesses viz 1.the idle jet solenoid sticks ruining the idle and2. if you leave the car standing more than 3 days ,it takes a lot of cranking to fill the carb to start. 3.the air cleaner bolts can work loose. Its best to cut off the end of the idle solenoid plunger to fix 1. and for 2 try pumping the throtlle before cranking. 3. retap the air cleaner screw to M5 threads..
Ive had mine for 10 years and 60k and its a very reliable car where nothing seems to wear out!

regards, Steve
I haven't posted on here for a while but am a regular browser of the forum, lots of interesting technical gubbins and amusing banter keep me coming back :)

Re my 340 it's been doing me sterling service over the winter. A few long trips loaded up with luggage and people and it didn't miss a beat. And I got around 33mpg on average which I though was reasonable considering it was fully loaded. I get your point Steve about pumping the throttle before start up. I often don't use for 5 days or so and it takes a bit of cranking to get the fuel through, nothing too excessive to worry about though.

Good car overall although not sure if the heated seats work. Should the whole seat heat up or just the squab/back bit?

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Re: Newbie - 340GL 1.4

Post by volvosneverdie » 16 Jan 2009 06:00 pm

Its nice to see a post thats reporting NO problems with running. :D
More of these please!
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Re: Newbie - 340GL 1.4

Post by jtbo » 16 Jan 2009 06:12 pm

Seat under you should warm up, but can't really remember if back rest had heating element, it is such long time I did actually drove mine at winter.
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Re: Newbie - 340GL 1.4

Post by nomead » 16 Jan 2009 08:57 pm

I dunno, mine seems to heat just the lower back area, not the seat... but is that intended, or just due to a broken heater element? Who knows.

About fuel consumption - I'm doing really badly compared to you. Did a longer trip to Helsinki (2x 170 km) and did 31 MPG (according to calculator - 9.0 l/100 km). Driving in the city gives about 19-22 MPG (13-15 l/100 km) - that's vario "efficiency" for you ;)
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RobT_75
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Re: Newbie - 340GL 1.4

Post by RobT_75 » 16 Jan 2009 11:30 pm

nomead wrote:I dunno, mine seems to heat just the lower back area, not the seat... but is that intended, or just due to a broken heater element? Who knows.

About fuel consumption - I'm doing really badly compared to you. Did a longer trip to Helsinki (2x 170 km) and did 31 MPG (according to calculator - 9.0 l/100 km). Driving in the city gives about 19-22 MPG (13-15 l/100 km) - that's vario "efficiency" for you ;)

Mine seem to heat just the lower back too, so maybe that's it.

Fuel wise the mpg I quoted was based on mostly motorway miles around the 60mph mark, and rural roads. Also, I drive like an old fart these days so that probably helps to eek out a few extra mpg :)

I do have one recurring problem though - intermittent squeaks coming from the rear. And a noise coming from the car is bothering me too :wink: I've traced it to the rear seat mountings where the seat folds down from. A squirt of WD40 and it's sorted thankfully, I hate annoying squeaks and rattles they drive me mad! It ruins an otherwise nice car to drive.

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