Hello and questions

Post by **Chris71** » 11 Jul 2007 08:38 am

Why just rear dampers?

Are they fairly easy to swap over?

Hmmm, the more oversteery 340 sounds like fun

What's special about the 340 redline I've seen mentioned? Is it as sporting as the name suggests or is that just optimisitc marketing?

Post by **Cornholio** » 11 Jul 2007 08:51 am

Chris71 wrote: What's special about the 340 redline... ...is that just optimisitc marketing?

Got it in one!

The Redline was a ghetto spec 1.7 with go-faster stripes and a spoiler. We also got red piping on the seats and a rev counter. Woo-hoo.

If you click the 'Redline' in my signature it'll open a PDF of the brochure.

Of course, there was one very special Redline. It will always have a place in our hearts. Rest in peace, sweetheart.

Post by **Chris_C** » 11 Jul 2007 09:29 am

Chris71 wrote:Why just rear dampers?
Are they fairly easy to swap over?

Basically

The rears are 4 nuts, and swap, where as hte fronts are a bit more involved. The rears can be done for a £20 ebay special, and an hours or twos work!

Post by **Chris71** » 11 Jul 2007 09:40 am

Haha, a rear wheel drive car with a transaxle over the rear, running nice firm new dampers on the back and 1980s struts on the front sounds quite fun in a sideways sort of a way

Damnit, I came on here to be sensible about cars

Post by **Cornholio** » 11 Jul 2007 09:55 am

If you want to be sensible, you may want to go here.

If you want a bit of fun and lots of helpful, friendly advice then v3m is the place to be.

Post by **Chris71** » 11 Jul 2007 10:27 am

Nah, sensible never really suited me

Did also think about another (slightly sensible) volvo though - a 480 "wedge". Probably more practical, but doubt it'd be as etertaining.

Post by **Cornholio** » 11 Jul 2007 10:43 am

480s are nice, apart from (among other things):

Unreliable electrics
FWD
Portable koi pond that is the boot (v. leaky)
May not be as good for load carrying

Having said all that, they can look lovely.

Post by **Chris_C** » 11 Jul 2007 10:17 pm

Cornholio wrote:480s are nice, apart from (among other things):
Unreliable electrics

FWD

Portable koi pond that is the boot (v. leaky)

May not be as good for load carrying
Having said all that, they can look lovely.

Understeery... but possibly boosty.... Oh, don't forget the smaller goldfish ponds in each rear footwell Gavin

Post by **Chris71** » 12 Jul 2007 08:18 am

Chris_C wrote:
Cornholio wrote:480s are nice, apart from (among other things):
Unreliable electrics

FWD

Portable koi pond that is the boot (v. leaky)

May not be as good for load carrying
Having said all that, they can look lovely.
Understeery... but possibly boosty.... Oh, don't forget the smaller goldfish ponds in each rear footwell Gavin

Smaller - do the 300's tend to leak as well? I have heard the 480 have problems sealing!

I suspect to be honest I'd get bored with one, the retro appeal (and potential for some fun with new shocks on there) makes the 360/340 a better prospect I reckon, guess I'll have to drive one to find out.

Post by **Chris_C** » 12 Jul 2007 10:10 am

Nah, I ment the 480 drains into the rear footwells as well as the boot, at least mine did. 300's I've only heard of leaking once tbh, I'm trying to remember.

Mine did... after Autoglass were too scared to put sealant around it after having broken 3 screens previously with sealant... but that was just them being special. It's really not a common thing.

Agreed to the needing a drive, just remember if it rolls everywhere, it can be fixed!

Post by **Chris71** » 12 Jul 2007 11:30 am

Are they combined spring/damper units or something? Would have thought you'd need a spring change (and correspondingly firmer dampers) to due excessive roll?

I'm amazed the 480 still leaks so much when they were still selling them in the mid to late 90's. The only real appeal of them is slightly better rustproofing and toys like AC.

Post by **trabitom99** » 12 Jul 2007 11:46 am

Chris71 wrote:I suspect to be honest I'd get bored with one, the retro appeal (and potential for some fun with new shocks on there) makes the 360/340 a better prospect I reckon, guess I'll have to drive one to find out.

It's a car that grows on you with time. Don't get too put off by heavier steering & gearchanges than you'd expect on a more modern car.

I've only had a leak once in a 300 - and that was when the boot lid didn't shut properly due to a bent, rusty hinge. They're a lot better at holding off the weather than 480's in that respect ...

Tom

BTW, how did the boot lid hinge get bent and rusty? I hung two mountain bikes from the lid and packed the boot full to the limit, so be careful with yer bikes

Post by **Cornholio** » 12 Jul 2007 11:58 am

None of my 340s have leaked. No, wait a minute, one of them had a leaky sunroof; I seem to recall smearing Vaseline around the seal.

Post by **trabitom99** » 12 Jul 2007 12:13 pm

Hmm, yes there're a couple of rust spots on the inside of my sunroof lid too, the seal's not so good (wind noise). But it doesn't seem to go into the interior, the run-off pipes seem to be doing their job OK ...

Post by **redline** » 12 Jul 2007 01:45 pm

Cornholio wrote: I seem to recall smearing Vaseline around the seal.

and how did you stop the sunroof from leaking Gavin

I took a sunroof out of the redline I stripped but never got around to fitting it , it was a glass pop up one but it was volvo badged ,

the roof in the GLE was wedged shut with a bit of wood if I remember rightly

wasn't it one of Petes 300's that had a swimming pool in the back ?