Good day everybody! The old fart IS still around.

I know I have been neglecting the faithfull but Deb and I have had a less than perfect year (apart from loosing her dad a year ago we have had 6 family funerals in the last 13 months) with rather a lot of "family business" to deal with..! even now we a spending a lot of time away from Suffolk so if I delay in my replies I apologise.

Gasket kit UPDATE:-

The first batch I produced have now all found homes and I am about to produce a second batch! In the last year postage costs have risen and the new stock of s/s capscrews that I have ordered today have risen by 21% - so costs will have to rise! (don't worry Carl/Chris/Tom/Meintag) all existing enquiries remain at "published" prices. Oh! packaging has gone up too (blame Staples).

The other "problem" has been my own fault - the simplest way to pay for kits has been Pay/Pal - but their charges has meant that when using them I have actually lost a few p on each kit (I havn't minded as the intention always was recover costs only and not make a profit and in truth I don't see anyone else rushing to fill the Volvo spares vacuum - there simply isn't the numbers of 300s for a business to consider production)

I still have good stocks of cu washers, gasket material, 12.9 steel capscrews and s/s washers so "2nd batch" price increases won't be too much.

I have decided on the following pricing structure which will allow me a little leeway to cover p/p charges and allow for any postal increases during the "2nd batch" - I hope not too many bods object - but fell free to pass your comments on.

Diff cover gasket,
x2 drain/filler plug washers,
s/s capscrews,
s/s washers,
Instruction sheet,
Delivered to a UK address.
£9.50

Diff cover gasket,
x2 drain/filler plug washers,
12.9 steel capscrews,
s/s washers,
Instruction sheet,
Delivered to a UK address.
£7.50

Diff cover gasket,
x2 drain/filler plug washers,
Instruction sheet,
Delivered to a UK address.
£5.50

A final thank you to all those who have found homes for my kits - they seem to have been well received - for which again thanks.

All the best to you all - MAC.

Mac, seriously... you spend time doing this, as far as I'm concerned

a: you don't need to ask to cover your costs,
b: you are doing us all a huge favour
c: you don't charge for your time
d: you can't get any gaskets from factors for that price, let alone Volvo
e: you have already done me enough favours for me to know you are a generous bloke, which is confirmed by every person who knows you, so I'd happily pay a bit on top anyway!

I think you know where I stand!

I'll absolutely second that!

One of the coolest things was coming home for Christmas to find mac had sent the Volvo Colouring Book to my mum's place for my little girl. Great bloke!

Tom

I'd definately suggest doing the bolts as well. I was one of the original test subjects for the gasket so didn't replace the bolts at the time. A couple of them rounded slightly and one of the top ones didn't go in as tight as it could of, which is why I'm finally getting round to renewing them now So my advice - save yourself hassle and get the whole kit, it's well worth it!

Chris' comments enthusiastically 'thirded'. Feel free to make yourself a little beer money Mac - we certainly won't begrudge it!

cheers

James

i'd probably take a full kit soon enough as i get round to relaceing the bloody gearbox fluids.

Will you be doing other gaskets as the time comes?

i have a brand new and sealed webber carb top plate gasket here. so could maybe be inclined to produce them.

Wow ! I don't have read this before...

I second Chris_C at 100% ! I'm very pleased with you Mac, awesome !

If you need whatever I can do from here, only tell it ! Pieces or something ! And if you need more money to cover the rises please tell it to me too !

Greetz from Spain !

ive gone and contacted certain companies, and hope to have a reply soon, i could be getting a abtach of 20 gaskets amde up[ or a 100meter roll of gasket material and making them myself. so watch this space.

Gaskets at home ! Quick and all in perfect condition !!

Thanks Mac

Carl's come round this morning with mine, wow. Mac, I love the packaging... they look awesome like that, and it's kept them in perfect condition. You could happily have them in a box at a show and make a bomb! Well, probably not knowing you, but I'm really really chuffed.

I'll see if I can pick up the oil today, then give it a go when I get a spare minute! Thanks again Mac.

"Chris_C in gearbox and diff oil change shocker"

Chris_C in "car just decided it's had enough of life again, so it probably won't get done" actually... thats a useless headline, it's not shocking at all, my car always decided to break just before the MOT..

I have been looking at what gaskets are still available for the 300 g/box and diff.

As of this morning:-

Front cover to case (340/60 M45R/M47R) 1340989 Available £4.55
Top cover (M45R) 1340988 Available £4.85
Top cover (M47R) 1340991 Available £5.50
Case to 5th.gear housing (M47R) 1340992 Available £5.30
G/box to diff. (M45R) 3212291 No longer available.
5th.gear housing to diff. (M47R) 1340993 Available £5.00
Diff.cover. (all) 3462511 NLA (we all know that).
Driveshaft seal (rubber) 3293186 No longer available.

G/box filler plug (-86) 960632 No longer available.
G/box filler plug (87-) 1381504 No longer available.
G/box drain plug (all) 1381498 Available £4.10
Diff filler plug (all) 3224662 Available £0.95
Diff drain plug (all) 2392717 No longer available.

G/box input shaft seals (all) 3292446, 3296193, 3294584,
All no longer available.

The prices shown all exclude vat.


I have today ordered one of each of those still available so we will at least have a "master" sample to produce from should it become necessary in the future.

your local dealer should still be able to get these but if not contact:-

M.R.King & Sons Ltd.
46 Quay Street,
Halesworth,
Suffolk, IP19 8EY

Parts dept.
Paul Miller
01986 834517

www.mrking.co.uk

e-mail enquire@mrking.co.uk

I have spoken with them this morning and they are happy to be contacted.


Mac.

Mac, is the drive shaft seal the same as a cam/crank oil seal only bigger? If so, with internal + external diameters and width, that shouldn't be too much of an issue should it?

CV boots are an interesting one you've mentioned there Mac. My 343 had all four split (which I discovered at 9pm...the day before the MOT...I finished swapping the shafts off the 360 at 3am ).

Various attempts have been made to source replacements. I'll give George Mitchell a call - I think he knows all the people who were looking, so will be a good source for a 'summary'.

cheers

James