Another very common part has gone unavailable. The rear shock mounts/bushes. They rot very commonly and are a very easy MOT failure item. So much so that they were quite often a stock item at the bigger dealerships, but unfortunately part 3344976 is no longer available.

Does anyone know whether the alternative suppliers will have them?

Mine were an advisory on my MoT, still havent got round to changing them!

You could take the opportunity to do your dampers too, which will obviously come with the bushes?

Sounds like a job for polybushes. Most shock kits also come with mounts. I bet they're a pretty much universal part.

cheers

James

My KYB dampers came with bushes, but they weren't a very good fit hence the reason the lower one's didnt get done and got an advisory.

I'm sure Dai could sort something out for the poly bush option though.

hi guys!

been away for a while but am back today.

This parts availability thing was one of my big concerns when Ford took over. Ford is seriously tight with money and parts supply and doesnt see the point of supporting older models. Their attitude is to force people to buy a new car. From an economic point of view fords policy makes more sense, cars keep terminating so people have to buy new ones. Volvo long service life wont earn the company as much money. In fact, there was a riot in stockholm in 1940s when a pv444 was attacked by a demonstrating group of dealership complaining that volvo was causing them to loose money as the cars were lasting too long. However, volvo did survive alone till 1999 when Volvo AB decided cars werent profitable enough.

Volvo within Ford, and with new models is a separate discussion but I cna confirm all is well for Volvo as development budgets are up and volvo has more cash to develop newer niche models. Ford is also learning from volvo re production, vehicle testing, crash testing, four wheel drive technology, hybrid technology and gearboxes - the last 4 are all Ford Excellence centres located at Volvo in SWEDEN


However, on the parts note, genunine classic parts has been setup to support all volvo models and has access to numerous suppliers etc to make replacement parts. In some cases, this is the original supplier. For example, due to demand they are now supplying new rear screens for the p1800 or was it the 1800 ES - either way they have started making new parts when volvo doesnt.

Whilst PV and amazon cars are ok, and the 2,7,9 have a big following, there isnt such a large number of 300s on the road hence the faster reduction in their parts supply. I'd contact genuine classic parts GCP.se to aks them about making these gaskets for us as they do this for other models.

It does seem that we are going to need to source other typical "classic" car parts fabrication companies for our cars in the future. It looks like the cushy easy parts availability of volvo is ending due to ford ownership. owners clubs like this one will also need to share more info on how people made their own replacement parts ( eg heater blocks etc ) so people can make their own.

However, we need to stockpile more parts each as spares and look to alternatives from the wealth of companies that supply classic cars or race cars. Prototyping companies are good as can make small batches but the consequence is the increased cost to us all.

Remember, some parts are the same as the volvo 66 and can be got from the daf owners club - who are sponsored by the Van Doone ( Daf ) family and make almost all the parts for Dafs still. so CVT box parts arent a worry.

We could campaign to Volvo president Hans Olsson ( he was CEO until last year - now ford guy is in charge ). Volvo UK arent to blame, they are merely the guys who import Volvos in this country.

You need to get all the volvo clubs worldwide together on this one - everyone!!! get a MASSIVE petition and make it clear

"Whilst we appreciate the current financial situation has prompted this move to reduce parts availability, volvo and ford need to realise their companies core values. Volvo has a significant and large number of customers who are loyal to the brand due to the products longevity, durability and excellent parts availability. Due to the number of volvo clubs worldwide, there is significant number of people loyal to the brand who also own and maintain older volvo vehicles. By cutting parts supply you are alienating these owners and potentially terminating their loyalty to the brand. At a time critical for ford and volvo, when volvo is trying to increase sales to over 600,000 models a year, you cannot simply appeal to new customers whilst simultaneously loosing the loyal fans who also contribute to your annual sales by buying new models."

When working at volvo, I know that ALL parts were supplied for 21 years following the date of last vehicle production. Only after 21 yrs did the parts supply of certain low demand parts begin to fall.

15 years is not bad, 10 is pathetic!!

working for another car company as I do now, I know the impact that a lot of angry customers can make. 10 years is much better than the japanese brands but still is rather poor!!

Get ALL the volvo clubs together on this and COMPLAIN big time to Volvo Sweden.

A unified petition will have a lot of impact - after all we are the customers who buy things and keep volvo working!

On another note, yes, tech drawings can be gained from the archive.

However, for a diff gasket, as Mac says we just need one to copy and some suitable material to make it.

There are companies who make this sort of thing in practical classics, performance car etc etc.

There are even companies that make bespoke head gaskets

there is evidently a market for the diff gasket for people here ( and I also need three!!! )

Shall we get together and complain to Volvo Sweden? YES but lets also work together will all the clubs to get contacts for replacement parts

Im sure we can continue to enjoy our volvos - remember, people manage to keep BMC cars on the road!!! We just need extra dedication as parts might not be so easy to get. Lets not scrap a car for the sake of not getting parts

look forward to hearing your thoughts...

Shimon

Some interesting points, and I'd agree that we'd have to merge together our views with VOC etc to get any kind of impact.

However, as mentioned before - I don't see the Ford take over being relevant whatsoever to Volvo parts supplies for their older models. Their parts supply for their own old models is already good.

Thankfully alot of the parts can be fabricated for not alot more than dealership prices (sometimes even less)!

hi steve,

unfortunately Ford buyout is relevant as although they cant do anything about current supplies, distribution etc, they can cut the budget on replacing the parts once supplies get depleted.

eg there might be 50,000 sump gaskets left for the B14 but ford can block the replacement order ( or something more general for all parts over 15 years old ) once the supply is depleted.

all will be cool whilst we have the current supply, its the lack of replacement parts for the warehouse which is the problem

also. when at volvo, volvo has a dedicated workshop that still presses panels for the older volvo. The day I was there, it was 780 front wings in the morning and 240 in the afternoon. It would be interesting to know what the extent of this 15 year rule is and if Genunie Classic Parts now have control of this panel shop.

Volvo set up GCP and is still involved - to me it looks like a move by Swedish volvo guys ( the board eg Hans Olsson before he retired and became a consultant to the president ) to ensure volvo parts are still available without it being part of volvocars and therefore subject to the scrutiny of fords accountants. All parts supplied by GCP are either made by them or ordered by volvo - so either way from Volvo accounts, they simply earn from this if they supply a part.

I'll do some digging at volvo and try to get some more info for you guys and also for my piece of mind.....

all the best

Shimon

here's the blurb from GCP

"Genuine Classic Parts AB is a young dynamic company
which has its roots in the collaboration between Volvo
and JB Bildelar who formed the Ecris environmental
research project.
The Ecris project created many new concepts in the
automotive after-market business. One of these led to
this business idea of providing vintage Volvo Cars with
replacement parts when the factory has discontinued
its service.
Our business is the rational supply and marketing of
spare parts for outdated models and products world
-wide in co-operation with the factory and the Volvo
owners clubs. Our organisation has the support and
approval of Volvo AB. We are thus authorised to
assume responsibility for stocking and marketing
Genuine Volvo Parts for older cars and veteran
vehicles world-wide.
We think we have the right organisation to sell and
distribute low volume parts to owners of veteran cars
and have the resources and warehouse capacity
enough to manage the marketing of this parts range
in a professional way.
As confirmation of Volvo's confidence in this business
they have now entered the company as a minority
shareholder.

We are centrally located in southern Sweden, close to
all major communication routes."

Trouble with the argument that this is Ford's fault is...Ford's supply for it's OWN classic cars is excellent. Maybe they're guilty of not treating Volvo equally, but they look after their own brand ambassadors.

I totally agree we should contact the VOC, FOTV3, etc, etc, and get a mass petition together.

cheers

James

yup, clubbing together is the way forward (there was a pun there somewhere, unintended I'm sure ) Calling Wouter Lets see if we can get all the clubs in Europe in on this thing as well as the UK based ones and petition Volvo in Sweden direct (VCUK will just do as they're told)