I've not checked the ignition timing yet (but ruling out the fact that my ignition is massively retarded) I feel like there might be something wrong with my 360. I don't expect it to be a rocket ship, but the car seems abnormally slow for a car of it's weight, power and size. The engine seems healthy, it's quite, doesn't appear to have any flat spots and doesn't drink oil or water. However it is really really slow!

It's just my last car was a Sierra 2.0i which is on paper basically a direct match for the 360. 0-60 in about 9-10 sec, 110-120 BHP, around 1200kg ect ect but compared to the way the cars go the Sierra pulled much harder and was a much quicker car. For example where I live there is a certain stretch of "private" road which consists of a roundabout and an incline in the road, there is a bridge that crosses said road. This is know locally as a bit of a bench mark! The Sierra would do 100-105 MPH, the Volvo struggles to pull 85 MPH at the same point??? Admittably the Sierra was fairly stripped and did have a 4branch and exhaust, but seriously this wouldn't make much if any difference.

On a positive note the Volvo is a much better skid car than the Sierra, much easier to control and the steering has fantastic self centering properties lock to lock baby!

Any ideas Robin

injector refurb man?

could be ignition timing.

where ya live mate? that stretch of road you have described sounds exactly like a bit of road near me. also used as a benchmark to alot of people. lol

monka wrote:could be ignition timing.

where ya live mate? that stretch of road you have described sounds exactly like a bit of road near me. also used as a benchmark to alot of people. lol

I live in Torquay

ah, no were ear southampton then, lol

what year, model, miles?
How well serviced? Only EO parts?
PS?
What fuel?

Have you done some timings of 0-60 for example? I'd almost put a bet on it being LE-Jet going crappy...

what year, model, miles? 1987 360 GLT injection (the odo is broken at 99k so inexcess of that) +99,000 miles.

How well serviced? Very well from what I can see, the previous owner had it done every year, got stacks of history.

Only EO parts? Pattern a far as I can see.

PS? sorry?

What fuel? just regular unleaded, usually shell or sainsburys

SteveP wrote:Have you done some timings of 0-60 for example? I'd almost put a bet on it being LE-Jet going crappy...

0-60 I would say feels like 11sec (The Sierra was timed on timing gear and that did 0-60 in 9.4 sec, and as i said before it feel sluggish and doesnt pull hard) Does the LE-jet system often go sh!t with time?

PS = power steering. I'm gonna bet no, given 1987.
EO I'm guessing is original equipment parts (Bosch for ignition components?).

Timing doesn't really drift...it's fixed. It either sparks, and sparks well...or doesn't.

They're not particularly fast as standard, to be honest. A former flatmate had a 1.8 CVH Sierra, and I reckon that was a good match for my carb 360. Injection ones are a bit quicker, but they're not that rapid. How quickly can it top the Hamelin Way? (which, for any officers of the law listening, is my pet name for the summit of Elvington Airfield. Honest).

I'll be back in the bay next weekend if you want me to take a look at it. I have an LE-Jet test kit I can put on it, if you want.

cheers

James (who spent his first 18 years in Galmpton)

foggyjames wrote:Timing doesn't really drift...it's fixed. It either sparks, and sparks well...or doesn't.

I put one out once Foggy on a redblock, though granted that was driving at pace through a ford. It's not something to be discounted, that moved the cam wheel and the dizzy layshaft.

Even that wouldn't normally upset it much, given that the timing it set by the flywheel. The rotor might be a bit off the ideal position, but just look at the variation in spark angle across the map...

cheers

James

The dizzy doesn't, the cam does...

Granted it's unlikely, but mine could hardly pull herself along after it happened. (and as such, doesn't sound like the OP's problem!)

True I call it the Ozzy approach to car tuning

More boost than you have fuel for: Check!
Cam out by at least one tooth: Check!

Just kidding bud, if you're reading

cheers

James

The 87 GLTs should be quicker than 11s IMO, but mine was a slouch too with wrong tyres, wrong exhaust I think made the main difference. I did also put in semi-synth oil, Bosch super 4 plugs, a decent air filter and the correct thermostat. Its a bit more revy than my 87 carb GLE, but the B200K had more compression and loads of torque, in comparision the 87 GLTs felt a bit slower than their older high compression GLTs, but not 11s slow.

EO.. sorry I meant OE.. Orginal equipment. Aftermarket exhaust will not do you any favours on power, especially if they bodge in a 340 one that is a smaller diameter.

I can't think of anything major, but if you have a load of poor quality parts you will get poor quality performance. eg air filter, plugs, dirty engine. Mixture does need set on these at the AMM.

I think the dizzy on computerised ignition models, if it is so far out to have an effect it probably won't work atall. Ignition timing stability should be rock solid on these.

Binding brakes? Valve seats? cam timing?

Can't think anything else at the moment.. power problems mostly down to air restrictions in or out or wrong fuelling. Ignition problems likely to cause other problems.