Volvo 340 DL 1.4

[derskine]

I've been interested in this car for a while, in particular more recently I've been starting to miss the 340 I scrapped at the beginning of the year.
It doesn't help that FOAD and Mrs_FOAD have a 340 and a 360 that I see quite a lot.

FOAD took pictures of it a couple of years ago,



A few months back I went with Nisfan to see it, the old guy that had it was a little strange, he said he would sell it but since it was only fit for scrap I couldn't see it before buying it. I bailed out then as I didn't have anywhere suitable to work on it.


Fast forward to yesterday and I decided I had to buy it.
I went down after work and offered the guy £120, he said £150 and told me to come back at 11am tomorrow (today).
He also told me it didn't come with the registration plates as people typically buy a scrap car, put the plates on a different car and rob a bank, he came across very strange if a little paranoid and eccentric.



I picked up Nisfan at 10:30 and we headed down to the local scrapyard's car park where I said I'd meet the tow truck.
FOAD also showed up in his latest v6 auto shite.

We also learned that the car had covered 183k and had a replacement engine fitted.



FOAD proceeded to demonstrate the capabilities of his new shite.



Whilst Nisfan had the job of hammering the drums to unseize them.



And this was what were were left with once we got it out of the guys yard.
It really is a proper shed bodywork wise.





However I wasn't concerned, I know that the mechanical parts are worth strong money for what they are having previously stripped one of these, so if it did turn out to be a basket case I'd get my money back.

It was then winched up onto the recovery truck.





We got it back to the unit and tried to push it down the ramps of the recovery truck, it wasn't budging, the winch had successfully dragged it up but for obvious reasons that wouldn't work to get it off!
We decided changing the wheels would be the best idea to get it off.









The underside was surprisingly not as bad as we had imagined.



And with that it rolled off the back of the truck no problem.



Priorities were then immediately switched to seeing if it would run.
For some reason the giffer had cut the positive battery lead, so a solution was devised.



I also tipped some petrol down the carb after removing the air box.



And rerouted the fuel tank to the inner wing



Surprisingly it fired up pretty easily!



There was an issue though, the throttle cable was seized inside the casing which led to this



This was rectified by muchos plus gas inside the cable casing.

Next, so that the bonnet could be closed without welding a pair of mole grips to it, an updated* makeshift battery clamp was devised from a jubilee clip.

Believe it or not it drove perfectly except for the brakes being a little crap (though they did work!)







Even both headlamps work fine.



It did break down though, and wouldn't start but after walking away and leaving it for a bit it did start - but has developed a bit of a misfire.







This will most likely be getting restored but there is a lot of welding to do.









One bonus however was a bag of CDs that was left in the car that were surprisingly tasteful.



There is also a pair of hedge trimmers, a petrol one and an electric one.
Unfortunately I don't own a hedge.

Big thanks to FOAD for being the photographer today and Nisfan for helping out.

 

Edit: Dramatically I've discovered the current status of this car is scrapped. I'll most likely find a better 1.4 shell now.

[EssDeeWon]

I never knew the bonnets on these tilted forward 

[HillmanImp]

How bad was the one you scrapped to be saving this one?

 

Hats off like, it looks GR8

[HillmanImp]

I never knew the bonnets on these tilted forward 

 

Just like a Hyundai Pony, everyone knows that.......

[derskine]

How bad was the one you scrapped to be saving this one?

 

Hats off like, it looks GR8

It was much better than this one!

I thought it was the worlds most rusty 340 but this definitely takes gold.

Also the Renault is almost finished so I need something to do.

[skattrd]

Want levels for an elastic band auto one of these are rising rapidly ... Awesone work chaps 13.7/10

[HillmanImp]

It was much better than this one!

I thought it was the worlds most rusty 340 but this definitely takes gold.

Also the Renault is almost finished so I need something to do.

 

If you pull it off, you are a hero. I can see the appeal of that. Saving an unloved car from the precipice of certain death. 

 

[Jim Bell]

Thats the worst one I've seen thats still moving under its own means.

 

Whoever plans to rob a bank in that, is a brave man.

[derskine]

FOAD says it drives better than his 1.7 which is on the road!

[Shep Shepherd]

Compared with your Volvo, mine want for nothing! Good luck with it 

[HillmanImp]

Thats the worst one I've seen thats still moving under its own means.

 

Whoever plans to rob a bank in that, is a brave man.

 

Was chatting to my mate at the NEC today. A chap he knew in Hull (I may have known him, I can't remember) once owned a Fiat Panda and was talking to some bloke in the pub one day who said he could service it for next to nowt. 'This is GR8' thought the Panda owning fellow and gave it to the random to service.

 

He got the 'serviced' car back. Seemed exactly the same but what did he know. Next day his house gets raided and he gets arrested for armed robbery. He had given the car to a random guy to service it who had then robbed a bank with it.

 

Or at least that was his story.

[Skizzer]

 

 

 

This is on the way back after the bank job, right?  And in the next frame, Bodie's Capri is going to come sliding into shot behind you.

 

Flippin brilliant work all round.

[DS20]

I am full of admiration, and can't wait for the resto-thread.  

[outlaw118]

That is epically SHITE.

Well done, best of luck.

[2MB]

That is absolutely fucked! Please keep as much of the crust as possible when it makes it back on the road

[danthecapriman]

Christ, that looks ripe!

 

Fair play for saving it though.

[cms206]

Fuck me man, I thought that Y-reg 345DL I got this week was pretty tired but that red thing looks absolutely cunted! Well done, SHITE KID ON VOLDAFS FTW 112%/10

[derskine]

It's actually worse than it looks in the pictures...

[quicksilver]

That's so epically knackered it makes CMS's blue one look like a concours winner!

[drum]

You like a challenge Derskine, that's a total shit heap.

Hat doffed.

[dollywobbler]

Scotoshite Volvo Masochists strike again! Incredible.

[purplebargeken]

A billion out of ten for sheer stupid bravery in rescuing it. No doubt the 300 forum will explode with excitement. 

[Sudsprint]

Those pics of it are fantastic.

 

Honestly, I have paid good money to walk around many a Tate Modern photo exhibition and these are better.

[derskine]

Yes that's a credit to FOAD, he has a knack for it!

[DodgyBastard]

I think a trip here is in order...

 

DSCF6026 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

DSCF6021 by srblythe, on Flickr

[derskine]

Yeah!

[twosmoke300]

As a mechanic I find forward hinged bonnets to be the most spiteful design possible. Such a simple way to make access much more awkward and remove as much natural light as possible.

[derskine]

Yeah, I'm of the same opinion, they're shit but for some reason just cooler.

[HillmanImp]

As a mechanic I find forward hinged bonnets to be the most spiteful design possible. Such a simple way to make access much more awkward and remove as much natural light as possible.

As someone who owns a GT6, i disagree

[Split_Pin]

There's a whole lotta 300 series love going on in the_scotch at the moment, I think the noble 700's crown is about to be snatched!

 

I saw that first shot of it and thought it looked grim but then switch to the later ones of it being driven! Brillant stuff. After seeing your work on the 18 I'm sure you'll have this ship shape again.

 

Nice pics too.