ABC, it's easy as 345... VOLVO CONTENT

[345DL]

I really like this car (but then I would, wouldn't I!).

[cms206]

HOLY THREAD RESURRECTION BATMAN!

 

Not much to report. Fixed the LW/MW radio, fitted a VW Polo wheel to keep it mobile, jetwashed the boot carpet, G101'd and washed the car itself, went a brakeless blezz round the yard and found giffer trinkets. Welding allegedly starting this Saturday so hopefully a proper update soon.

[Jim Bell]

That Nissan ice scraper must be worth at least three pounds.

[Bone]

21 please

[Split_Pin]

Quarter lights and wrong way wiper loveliness right there 😀

[Eddie Honda]

Jings! Some actual progress?

[dugong]

Class.

[cms206]

345DL progress stalled again. November 5th marked one year since I bought it and I've still not managed to get my tame welder near it.

 

Naturally I did what any right thinking shiter would do. I bought a 343 to go with it - a decadent GL with rubber band propulsion system.

 

Apologies for the shit pics - I shall attempt a post-collection message of sorts tomorrow at work, with camera pics.

[Inspector Morose]

Fuck me, that's ace. Right transmission too.

[cms206]

Fuck me, that's ace. Right transmission too.

It was very cheap, very low mileage, more or less one owner, all bar the last service it had were carried out by a Volvo main dealer and despite a few rough bits it seems fairly straight and drives GR12. Year's test on it too.

[Inspector Morose]

You know you'd rather have a BX.

[dollywobbler]

Astounding.

[Split_Pin]

The correct* course of action, of course! Ive never seen/heard one of these Variomatics in the metal, only a Youtube video. Very unusual!

[derskine]

That's decent.

Looks like it's been reversed into a bollard like mine has.

[hairnet]

Madness

 

But good madness

[trigger]

WAT! That looks pretty smart dude.

[Alexg]

Nice one. Did I see this on eBay?

[sloth]

oh fuck i know of a 360glt, and i have a 2.3 high comp engine. this thread is making me think bad things, seen as theyre rare as here...

[binhoker668]

I had a 340DL about 10 years ago - and it was ace!  Never a problem with it - until it completely died/rotted....

One of my favourites so far and would defo have another...

[JohnK]

I had that 343 on my watch list, looked a good buy and sensibly priced too!

[Eddie Honda]

Always start in N.

 

Revving / having the choke out or anything above 900rpm in P and you'll be burning the fucking clutch out.

[cms206]

Always start in N.

 

Revving / having the choke out or anything above 900rpm in P and you'll be burning the fucking clutch out.

I seemed to recall reading that somewhere. It stuck so N it has been. Currently it's main issue is that there is absolutely no heat in the cabin and no demisters which means I'm currently upside down in the passenger footwell shouting at it. Do they have a heater tap?

[cms206]

So... last Saturday was my stag do. A bunch of friends and relatives (including some shiters from this very parish) attended. We sampled electric go karts which meddled with my head a little. Drinks were had by some, but not me. I had to keep a clear head. Also, I don't drink.

After a white we retired to one of my favourite eateries in Glasgow, where talk turned - as it normally does - to cars. I saw a car. I showed the table. I was poked in the ribs until I phoned. No answer. Boo and indeed hiss, but perhaps a lucky escape.

Following morning... "Hello, we missed a call from you last night?"

Arses. It is the seller of the car.

The story was relayed; the car had been new to an old boy in the town who had passed away in the mid 1990s; his wife took over the car, gave up driving and parked the car up in 2010; she has since been taken into care with advanced dementia, meaning the family had to sell the house. This they did, safe in the knowledge that they were doing the right thing... except they didn't know that her car was still lurking in the garage. It was passed to a local workshop to dispose of as it was "an old car".

The car had been presented for MOT in early November but failed on handbrake adjustment and two sidelight bulbs which have since been replaced, meaning it had a full MOT until November 2016. The mileage appears to be a genuine 32561miles, with full Volvo service history until 31275miles. The workshop had a man interested but he didn't return with the folding so it was still available. "... and before you start bartering, the lowest I'll take is £350."

I sent a deposit and made arrangements to collect.

Sunday morning rolled around, and Mr RML2345 from out of The SVM showed up in his Volvo AX for transport to Mr davidfowler2000's abode, from where we shall adjourn into a proper Volvo for the 300ish mile trip to Hornsea, in That Yorkshire.

Yorkshire happened.

A vision in blue appeared. And it was blue.

B719 WAT by Andy Campbell, on Flickr

B719 WAT by Andy Campbell, on Flickr

A quick poke and prod happened. Keys were handed over for a test drive. I can't honestly say what I was expecting about Variomatic but it's still got me lost and all seven of the mechanics in our workshop and the workshop next door want it over the pit to see how it works.

Shamefully I have taken very few pictures of it so far, so have a dashboard shot. Very chunky.

B719 WAT by Andy Campbell, on Flickr

Fuelling occurred. Dave hasn't sent me the pez station pic yet but I will update as soon as I have it.

Undeterred by the lack of a petrol station shot, we headed north.

Returning north... by Andy Campbell, on Flickr

 

B719 WAT by Andy Campbell, on Flickr

The northbound leg was just over 300 miles 'cos the A1 was shut after J50 and we ended up doing a tour of the north of England in the dark. Fuel economy was 40.7mpg which I'm not at all grumpy at 'cos I expected it to be utterly shit on fuel. It never coughed, never spluttered, never faltered; it runs sweet, pulls well and felt remarkably free - although it has FVSH, it's last service at 31275miles was on January 14th 1998. It's now done 1600 miles since 1998.

Issues... it has a few. Both door bottoms are a little crusty, both nearside wheelarches could do with tidying, it's covered in tiny microblisters, the rear bumper has a dent in it which I reckon was the reason the old dear stopped driving and it has no heating at all. None whatsoever. All the pipes appear to be connected but there is no warmth in the cabin and the demister motor is inoperative. Ideal* for mid winter. I suspect there'll be more updates on this one than on the 345 for the time being anyway as this is on the road but I've not given up on the 345 yet.

[cms206]

Nice one. Did I see this on eBay?

 

It was indeed, a classified ad.

I had that 343 on my watch list, looked a good buy and sensibly priced too!

Glad no-ones toes were stepped on

[derskine]

Re the heater blower.

My 360 had been sitting a while and the fan had totally seized up.

If you take the heater box off (it's 4 screws), you will be able to see if you can spin the fan.

I sorted this by putting the fan in a drill chuck and spraying spray grease into the bearing whilst spinning with the drill.

If that's okay then it's probably the heater resistor/thermal cut out switch within the heater box.

[davidfowler2000]

EE! BLOODY HEATERS! BASTIDS!

[skattrd]

That's awesome mate.

As said on FB, if you ever want shot give me a shout, I've wanted a 340GL with rubber bands ever since I was a kid.

[JohnK]

Glad no-ones toes were stepped on

I would have been interested in this one if it had been a manual. There's a manual one for sale near me currently on eBay but I don't think it's worth the £995 asking price.

[Eddie Honda]

I seemed to recall reading that somewhere.

 

It was probably me lasting whispering* in Barry Scott manner.

 

I'll dig out the heater layout thingy later. I may have a back bumper if that stainless topper is okay.

[Vin]

8) Noice. Hull registration on that, so it hasn't travelled far in it's life. Until now.

 

I haven't been to Hornsea for years. Used to go there a lot when I was a kid when we lived in Hull, as my Mum used to like to go to Hornsea Pottery...