Please check rear gearbox mounts on 340's!!! *Disaster!!!*

[340GLT]

This is a must for people, check the condition of the crossmember holding the rear of the gearbox in on a 340.....
Mine was from all accounts solid, until yesterday. Pulled out of a junction at low speedand heard a noise like prop coming off, although just about still had drive but only just, so pulled over and looked under car o be greated with the back of the gearbox 10mm from the floor, rear crossmember had rotted enough to allow the bolts from the bush to be pulled out on one side and to pull the bush from the box on the other side....
Pics to follow.........

[jtbo]

Ah, this is issue in 360 too, mine had it in quite bad shape so I did bought new one from Volvo, of course now it is no more available so it is something one needs to figure out how to fix.

What they did sell on Volvo was bit different than original, it is kind of tube shaped and has zink coating so should last quite well. Stupid thing was that garage did refuse to paint it when they did install it, so at some point I need to take it out and do job properly.

In 360 there are also two some kind of alloy parts that go between that crossmember and gearbox, these can also fail with abuse.

Most cars start to be in age where that part should be taken out, cleaned and repaired if needed as they can corrode quite well without showing too much of it to outside and then fail without warning.

[kaos]

i have one of a 5 speed. hangin in the scrap pile

[classicswede]

Is definatly one to check and make sure the rubber mounts are in good shape at the same time.

[340GLT]

The design on the standard 340 tbh is crap so i'm making my own.....
Adam

[jtbo]

I agree, that is also probably reason why Volvo did revise that spare part design, which is better, but still not as solid as it could be.

Interested to see what kind of design you come up with Adam

[pistonpen paultje]

Also check the rubber. I had my CVT laying on the floor, a while back.

[pettaw]

I remember reading that George Mitchell of FOTV3 has these available.

[340GLT]

Well first two shots show whats left of the crossmember, then damage to prop, and last pic is current view out of my study.......
Adam

[volvosneverdie]

2009/DSC00102.jpg[/img]

Woah dude.
Whats that saloon in the bottom left.

Is there pics up anywhere?

Looks canny interesting.

[340GLT]

Haha, its a secret, the bottom right saloon will be cut up and added to my T5 project....
Bottom left is an E30, 316 with a 1.8 e21 lump in it, for sale if you want it....lol
Adam

[340GLT]

Right here is my solution to the rear crossmember problem. Some 340 gearboxes have the holes in the side of the diff casing to accept the 360 rear box mounts, mine didnt but you can easily drill and tap the holes, with that done i saw the 360 mounts as a better design, however bushes in mine were knackered so i made these, poly bushes in a steel tube welded into a plate i made. Plate is made of 3mm mild steel, i then turned up a centre out of aluminium to support the bolt. This will then bolt to the diff casing and then up to the 360 box mount.
Oh the chassis of a 340 doesnt have threaded holes to accept the 360 mount, so i drilled through the pilot holes that are there and bolted up through the boot floor.
Hopefully refit later.....
Adam

[volvosneverdie]

Haha, its a secret, the bottom right saloon will be cut up and added to my T5 project....
Bottom left is an E30, 316 with a 1.8 e21 lump in it, for sale if you want it....lol
Adam

well of course i want it dude. Its black, shiny and mysterious.
Fortunately (for me), I cant afford it. Couldnt Insure it, and couldnt handle it.

Otherwise id be one happy dead body.

[Chris_C]

That looks like a neat solution Adam. I can't remember the 360 mounting, but do those 90 brackets attach the box straight to the floorpan, without the 2ft long girders?

[340GLT]

No they bolt to a similar style crossmember but its bolted in by 4 bolts not 2 so thats more of a csa and its a sturdier crossmember.
TBH the main reason for doing it this way is i dont like that if one rear bush on the 340 fails the box can drop, that not possible with the 60 mounts.
Adam