Howdy folks,

Here's a quick project thread for my summertime plaything - a 1980 (mk1) 345 DL manual in 139 Blue (Mist Blue...?)

The car came up for sale (http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... f=8&t=9895), and I decided to buy it as a stop gap while my 'main' mk1 project car slowly makes its way back from the bodyshop (full restoration and re-spray) and in due course to the road. I was fed up of not having a roadworthy 300 in my life! The general plan is to fix a few of the problems, then run it around for a few months, probably pop a new MOT on it (October), then sell it.

The car had a few things wrong with it, and I think John was struggling a little to keep on top of it. So far, I've fixed the following...

#2 Spark plug thread damaged, causing plug to blow out. Thread insert installed (on the second attempt...the first was too short!)
Mid box holed (half the box missing). Second-hand replacement mid-box fitted.
Split breather hose resulting in huge vacuum leak. Pipe shortened to remove split section.
Driver's exterior door handle non-operations. Link bar shortened to take up slack.

Still to do...
Seal a couple of minor exhaust blows
Replace half-shafts (torn CVs and resulting noisy joints)
Look at the carb - the throttle stop on the choke linkage needs adjustment, making cold starting tricky, and it's still not right when warmed up...suspect further smaller vacuum leak(s).
Replace shock absorbers (presumed to be original) all-round...it rolls like hell!

I also need to do something about the wheels / tyres. It's currently running on three late-model 13" alloys and one steel, as the tyre on the fourth alloy has a nasty puncture. All four appear to be horribly out of balance, to boot! I'm planning to fit my 13" R-Sport alloys, but those won't be for sale with the car (as with the spoiler shown below), so I still need to have something usable to leave it on come sale-time. I suspect I'll replace two tyres on the late-model 13s, and get all four balanced...unless the buyer will be fitting their own wheels. I guess I'll get the R-Sport rims fitted, then worry about the rest come sale-time.

The body is very good for saying it's a 30 year old car, but the new owner will need to decide which direction to take it in. Rust-wise, it's really very good indeed. It's suffered a few battle scars (the owners before John were elderly, and it met the garage door frame a few times), and would take a lot of work to make it absolutely straight...but it's really not at all bad. My feeling is that the damage is not really severe enough to be worth spending the money on making it perfect. The patina suits it! I think localised re-painting in a few areas where it's suffered paint damage (and in places touched in previously), and it'd tidy it up a treat. I might even do that myself if I get really bored!

Finally...pictars!

The day of the purchase...


Exhaust issue:


Repair on the replacement mid pipe (the sleeve broke clean off, so required re-welding). Note the visible leak!


And the money shot...earlier today I got a bit bored, so decided to paint and fit some R-Sport spoiler hotness.


I've been out of the game for 18 months or so, but (in spite of me not holding the camera still in low light) I think that last pic is what inspired Mark Morrison to write "Return of the Mack" (in a vision, I presume) A better one will hopefully follow tomorrow.

There will be updates...

cheers

James

That last pic has optimum win.
And the (not an) exhaust pic is amazing. Where's all the Box gone?!

Looks good though doesn't it man. All things considered. I'm def with you on the patina. Suits it down to the ground. (which is a long way considering current ride height)

You've also spoken the fatal phrase dude.
Stop gap.
I think I'm currently driving the stop gap car that I took on while a stop gap GLT was being welded up to give me time to save for a nice mk2/1.

It's hard to part with a stop gap car.


Nice to have you back mr Mk1-rill.

Thanks Ben...I think it's awesome!

The mid box failure was impressive. Top marks for commitment, I think!

I cannot rave enough about how epicly great the Halfords / Holts made-up-while-you-wait rattle can is. The colour match is good...but the main thing is the spray pattern. It's a thin line, like from a gun. It makes painting things a TON easier. Great product. I called my mate who works for Holts in R&D earlier and told him he's a genius!

I will have to part with this in due course...I don't have space for it! Right at the moment my V70R is sat on Rupert's drive. The bidding has already begun...

cheers

James

Bidding on the 345?
Blimey, that was quick.
Think the amount of people fighting for it may end up being directly proportional to the number of pics you get up in this thread.

Enjoy the summer in it man.
I think you should raffle it on V3M when the sad day comes.
£20 a ticket, 25 tickets.

I'm not sure you're allowed to raffle things unless you're a charity....remember those people who got into trouble for raffling their home a while back? I'm a generous man, but there's some money sunk into this car which I'd like to recoup...!

Chris is making tempted sounds, and there are several others. What usually happens is that approximately 10% of the interested parties actually come through, so if that's 5 people, you can see my concern!

I'll take the camera to work tomorrow, and see what I can snap. Next jobs will be a bloody good polish (maybe a compounding / cutting session, depending on what the abrasive polish does) and fitment of the R-Sport wheels. I'm not planning to do a lot to this car...just tidy up the mechanicals, and enjoy it for a bit.

cheers

James

What a beauty and the colour is very fitting to era, that will make excellent collectors car

That exhaust fail is indeed impressive, it is like something has been exploded in a box

If we work out a copy of that front spoiler I'll be even more tempted... She looks gorgeous!

Looks great! We do really need to copy the front spoilers.... it actually makes Mk1's look nice from the front (I'd desperately want a Mk1 343 if I could get hold of a front spoiler!)

That exhaust is laughable, no wonder it was so bloody loud!! I have to say it does look remarkably rust free which for a 30yr old car is very impressive - some half it's age have been much worse. Seem to recall it has about 100k on it too?

foggyjames wrote:I'm a generous man, but there's some money sunk into this car which I'd like to recoup...!

Really? Surely it's only collection costs and exhaust parts which were essentially free from a donor You can't count the things you're setting up and not selling with the car Regardless of the R-Sport wheels, it'd be easy to find some period more common wheels for that to suit, probably still in 13". I'm thinking ATS Classics in silver??

yeah the oettinger / r-sport frontspoiler sure is beautifull!!
i'm still on the search for one to mount on my 343

the 343's and 345's are a full inch higher than any 340/360, mainly due to the 70's fashion i think..

nice car foggy , yours it the same modelyear as mine, the oldies with the short bumpers look the best

I meant the car stands me at about £350 including tax and the (late-model) alloys. I'm not looking to recover collection costs, nor make any money on it, but I don't fancy handing over £350 to charity either...that was the joke I was going for!

I am planning to get the spoiler copied, so if we can find a reputable fibreglass place, I'd be happy to get one made. The other option is to go DIY, but I'm a bit nervous on something so rare.

Hoping to take some better pics in a bit...

cheers

James

I believe we have a couple of non-believers in our midst, brothers! I heard a rumour that there's a suspicion of Photoshopping involved. The cheek of it!

Just to prove the point, I present you with a better picture of the fitted spoiler....



Note the temporary replacement indicator repeater. I'm off to see if I have any spares here, or if they're all at my unit...

cheers

James

Looks great, however the surroundings would suggest you were dogging

SteveP wrote:Looks great, however the surroundings would suggest you were dogging

Thats a lot better that 'being dogged' at least.

I believe it's a popular spot for that...and I was a little nervous, as it was about 8:45pm when I took that. I didn't stay long...

cheers

James

FFS that looks good with the spoiler on

You git. You just want me to give you monies don't you.