1979 Volvo 343 DL - recommissioning

[HillmanImp]

Looking good, not sure how I have missed this excelsior thread. Keep the updates coming please.

[345DL]

No problem - I will keep the updates coming!

 

Today we did some playing around with the welder and grinder. I was occasionally able to weld a nice steady bead, but at other times not, so I wasn't brave enough to try it out on the car yet. I'll try to practice some more tomorrow.

 

One thing we did manage to do to the car is remove the passenger side wing. According to the Haynes manual, it's a simple DIY job and you just need to remove the bolts. Easier said than done, because there's one rogue bolt deep in the A-pillar which was almost impossible to get to. It took us a good half hour and a lot of swearing, and we were puzzled that Volvo would design a car where it was impossible to remove the wing without taking off the door. Eventually, with all the other bolts loosened, we managed to pull the wing enough to give us space to get a thin socket into the gap.

 

Anyway, under the wing, all was not so bad. We were expecting the worst and huge holes, but it's actually quite solid and just needs a little patching around the endges:

 

This is after some cleaning with the wire grinder:

 

And the inner wheelarch itself is actually not as bad as it initially looked, because it has already been welded with shiny new metal from the engine bay, and all the rust that was showing is just the old metal that hasn't been cleared away. It should just need a very good clean, painting and waxoyling:

 

We did however find a new hole in the rear passenger wheelarch, caused by water seeping down the little hole in the corner of the rear window:

 

Tomorrow, I am hoping to change a coolant hose and thermostat on my '80 345, and practice some more welding. If I'm brave, I might try to patch up a little of the edge of the wheelarch.

 

Sorry to divert from shite for a moment, but what's your opinion on the new S60? Is it really a 'naughty' Volvo as was advertised?

I absolutely love my S60, it's a brilliant car. I'm not sure how naughty it is, particuarly as it's a diesel which averages 51.8mpg, but it's a hoot to drive, has plenty of power, cruises effortlessly, and has extremely precise and beautifully weighted steering. The gadgets are all really useful too - bluetooth handsfree phone, ipod, 180 degree front camera etc.

[345DL]

No problem - I will keep the updates coming!

 

Today we did some playing around with the welder and grinder. I was occasionally able to weld a nice steady bead, but at other times not, so I wasn't brave enough to try it out on the car yet. I'll try to practice some more tomorrow.

 

One thing we did manage to do to the car is remove the passenger side wing. According to the Haynes manual, it's a simple DIY job and you just need to remove the bolts. Easier said than done, because there's one rogue bolt deep in the A-pillar which was almost impossible to get to. It took us a good half hour and a lot of swearing, and we were puzzled that Volvo would design a car where it was impossible to remove the wing without taking off the door. Eventually, with all the other bolts loosened, we managed to pull the wing enough to give us space to get a thin socket into the gap.

 

Anyway, under the wing, all was not so bad. We were expecting the worst and huge holes, but it's actually quite solid and just needs a little patching around the endges:

 

This is after some cleaning with the wire grinder:

 

And the inner wheelarch itself is actually not as bad as it initially looked, because it has already been welded with shiny new metal from the engine bay, and all the rust that was showing is just the old metal that hasn't been cleared away. It should just need a very good clean, painting and waxoyling:

 

We did however find a new hole in the rear passenger wheelarch, caused by water seeping down the little hole in the corner of the rear window:

 

Tomorrow, I am hoping to change a coolant hose and thermostat on my '80 345, and practice some more welding. If I'm brave, I might try to patch up a little of the edge of the wheelarch.

 

Sorry to divert from shite for a moment, but what's your opinion on the new S60? Is it really a 'naughty' Volvo as was advertised?

I absolutely love my S60, it's a brilliant car. I'm not sure how naughty it is, particuarly as it's a diesel which averages 51.8mpg, but it's a hoot to drive, has plenty of power, cruises effortlessly, and has extremely precise and beautifully weighted steering. The gadgets are all really useful too - bluetooth handsfree phone, ipod, 180 degree front camera etc.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

I like these early ones, I'm strangely drawn to them. Lovely car and I'm glad it went to an enthusiast.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

I like these early ones, I'm strangely drawn to them. Lovely car and I'm glad it went to an enthusiast.