Hi, I'm new here. I have 2 340's, my grandad's old 1990 Dark Grey 1.4 hatch currently being restored and a 1988 1.7 GLE saloon 'Limited Edition' (full leather, one of 300 built to celebrate 1million 340's sold), which is currently in need of some paint but is generally solid, in dry storage at the mo)

Hi and welcome to V3M, glad you've found us, a 300 enthusiast it seems!

Excellent stuff, two very interesting cars, nice to see you're restoring the 1.4 hatch.

I see from your other post that it's a major work going on! Is that due to corrosion or accident damage? Good luck and if you can get any pictures of it in progress at the bodyshop they'd be interesting to see.

Pete

petefarrell360 wrote:Hi and welcome to V3M, glad you've found us, a 300 enthusiast it seems!

Excellent stuff, two very interesting cars, nice to see you're restoring the 1.4 hatch.

I see from your other post that it's a major work going on! Is that due to corrosion or accident damage? Good luck and if you can get any pictures of it in progress at the bodyshop they'd be interesting to see.

Pete

For some reason - a seal perhaps? - the 1.4 inner rear panel had rotted, probably causing the other parts of that area to suffer. Is this not a very typical grott spot? It need a front valance, front wings and paint too, apart from that the doors, sills, arches atc all solid-as-a-rock

Most areas on the 300's are vulnerable to be honest as they just weren't as well treated against rust as other Volvos sadly. The rear panels are known to rot out, I've stopped the start of it on one, and it's been replaced on another car of mine. The front valance is just poor design, it traps the water!

It's amazing how the cars differ to what sort of life they've had and where they are normally parked. One car I have has the sills rotted out completely, but the rest of the car seems pretty sound, another is suffering on one side only, possibly where it was lower to the kerb or something and trapped the water or got passing salt etc in winter? Yet another has stood outside all it's life, done minimal mileage and is completely rot free! I believe that was down to being parked facing uphill, so the water ran out of all the usual holding places and traps.

Good luck and it seems as though you're keen and committed to the 300's.

Pete

Progress report on the resto of my 1.4 Hatchback....
Inner wings (facing outers) painted in anti-rust paint, new wings fitted, new crossmember/valence, lower rear valence fiitted, inner rear panel fitted, 2nd hand rear panel parts cut and ready to weld in
Work to take place this weekend, rear panel welding to finish, car to be re-primed....
Photo's will follow when I fix my scanner!

Sounds like it's getting the full treatment and should be a car that will last once all this work is completed! Looking forward to seeing the pics.

Pete

Ready for paint now, paneled, primed and base-coated!