Newbie to Volvo's needs some info

[Johnny A]

Hi guys,

First post here so better introduce myself a bit. Big big Vauxhall fan really, don't panic too much because I love my old skool cars and don't like front wheel drive cars (hense my project being a RWD carlton).

Basically the missus is into her cars too and wants another 340/360 as it was her first car and she loved it to bits. But this time she wants a 3-dr and it to be modified, obviously this means me doing all the work to it!!

So a few questions answered would be great:

1: The 340/360 is RWD right, assuming I pick up a manual... is the gearbox bolted directly to the block and runs into the floorpan between the front passengers legs (like on most RWD cars)???

2: Best model out there in 3dr, what was it and how much would I expect to pay for one?

3: Right now I have to be brutally honest, I hate anything french.... I hear the engine's are indeed french.... which means I want to hit it with hammers.... But seriously, are they cack engines? reliability, economy, power output etc...????

4: Did any models have LSD's as standard?

5: Modifications, (suspension, poly bushes, uprated this that and the other), any good suppliers?

6: These cars enjoy rusting at all? Any particular points to look at?

7: My missus' old 340 didn't have power steering. She has little arms, did any models have PAS?

That's all I can think of for now, I will no doubt have more questions though.

If anyone has a 340 or 360 3-door in good order drop me a PM, would be very interested in buying it.

Thanks for your help chaps,

John.

[Bilbo]

hi
gearbox is at the back,only bell housing at the front!
no lsd's easily avail
power steering only on some models
360's have 2ltr volvo engine[i've never had a 1.4/1.7 with renault engine,so sont know much about them]
pay £10->1k depending on model etc[4 or 500 more realistic for good condition car]
poly bushes,uprated shocks etc avail here from members
tin worm[rust] is like most cars - the worst enemy - foot wells,front lip of bonnet and around windscreen have been problems on the 360's ive owned/got. nothing too major though.....other people have had problems at the rear arches[inner and outer]

hope this answers some qu's
happy new year

[pettaw]

Answer in quote.

Hi guys,

1: The 340/360 is RWD right, assuming I pick up a manual... is the gearbox bolted directly to the block and runs into the floorpan between the front passengers legs (like on most RWD cars)???

No, the gearbox is at the back, connected by a propshaft running at engine speed from the clutch backwards.

2: Best model out there in 3dr, what was it and how much would I expect to pay for one?

Depends what you want it for. If its drifting then a 1.4 won't be powerful enough and you'll either want the 1.7 or the 2.0 in a 360. The 2 litre is more powerful and more balanced but the 1.7 is more tail happy. Also bear in mind that the 2.0 will have more worn suspension because of the extra weight it has to carry. Equally a 1.4 is likely to have been better preserved.

3: Right now I have to be brutally honest, I hate anything french.... I hear the engine's are indeed french.... which means I want to hit it with hammers.... But seriously, are they cack engines? reliability, economy, power output etc...????

The 1.4 and 1.7 units are Renault units, but modded by Volvo. They've got a pretty good reputation for reliablility provided you look after them.

4: Did any models have LSD's as standard?
No

5: Modifications, (suspension, poly bushes, uprated this that and the other), any good suppliers?
Have a search round the site, there's bushes and front springs available at the moment as well as rear shocks. Front shocks are in development at the moment.

6: These cars enjoy rusting at all? Any particular points to look at?
Sills, floorpan, wheel arches. Front valance, bonnet, standard places really.

7: My missus' old 340 didn't have power steering. She has little arms, did any models have PAS?
All UK spec 360 models from 1987 onwards, pretty much had power steering and very little else did.

That's all I can think of for now, I will no doubt have more questions though.

If anyone has a 340 or 360 3-door in good order drop me a PM, would be very interested in buying it.

Thanks for your help chaps,

John.

[classicswede]

As to the renault engine the 1.7 imo is the better of the two. The 1.7 will rev to 8000rpm without going bang!

As to the rust arches are not to bad to do by a good welder/body man. All the bolt on pannels can simply be replced is rust is present. The area you want to watch is bad rusing around the spring hangers and only a good welder fabricator will be able to sort this.

Pass is only realy an option on 360's but can with work be fitted to a 1.7. My Mrs is only tini and her car is the different 340. The steering is managable and with the right mods can be made quite light.

As to parts available what do you want?

[Johnny A]

Great response, cheers guys.

Gearbox at the back eh, clever idea... no wonder they handle well! Whats the best box available (strongest), could one for example handle 200ft-lbs of torque on a daily basis without poping?

Ahh so they do rust, as a Carlton owner i'm no stranger to it!!

I think I will be looking for a 360 with PAS then, the higher spec the better!

As for the engine I can see why even though it's french they don't blow up.... because they don't make much power! Was reading another thread and the 1.7 Turbo only produces 120bhp from the factory, deary me. I can see myself shoehorning a 2.0 16v Redtop Vauxhall engine in there ya know!! (156bhp straight up, returns over 40mpg too)

If I were to drop an 'XE' redtop in it sounds like a 2.0 360 in 3dr with PAS is the best bet as it's already geared to handle the bigger lump. Don't suppose there is many of them kicking about though?!?!?

I'm glad there is a tuning scene for these cars, a cringed a bit when I saw that they are using leaf springs on the rear! But glad to hear that with a grinder, welder and some generic coilovers it can be fixed.... phew!

I have to say i'm a bit disapointed that these cars are a bit of an untapped resource for the trackday and modifying scene, I mean with only a few hours worth of looking into the car's design I can see the hidden potential of these things underneath the 'old grandad's sunday driver' repour they have.

I may have slipped it into conversion that I'd like one for myself to the missus (but running a 2.0 16v Turbo Vauxhall engine - 300bhp with ease)..... she wasn't best pleased. So I guess for the time being at least I will do one for her.

Great stuff

[volvorsport]

well i think youll find theres plenty of tuning available for the redblock volvo so you wouldnt need to drop another heavy engine in after taking the old one out !!! .

the std gearbox should be ok at 200 ft/lbs - but even std ones do wear the splines off , and if you think replacing it is easy , its not since it has a diff attatched to it - i have my ideas tho .

the 1.7 turbo was seriously de tuned by volvo - the potential for around 150 bhp just with an MBC . there ya go lots of options already .

[Johnny A]

As to parts available what do you want?

Front and rear coilovers (rears replacing leaf springs)
Poly bushes on most suspension components bar the ARB's
Information on LSD's (Quaife?)
Clear front indicators
Smoked rear lamps????

The rest I could source myself, because it's not Volvo-based (exhaust pipe, engine mounts, a Vauxhall lump with bellhousing made up from a Carlton box, bucket seats with harnesses etc...)

Also looking on another thread, it appears that the 340/360 has a 4x100 wheel stud pattern (same as Vauxhalls) and around an ET35-38 offset. I just happen to have a set of Masitaly VT5's in 17", 4x100 and ET38 off an old Calibra..... perfect with a set of suitable spigot rings!!!

[Johnny A]

well i think youll find theres plenty of tuning available for the redblock volvo so you wouldnt need to drop another heavy engine in after taking the old one out !!!.

I'm just looking at it from a efficency point of view, the 2.0 16v XE is factory 156bhp.... extremely reliable, can be bounced off the limiter all day long and still go over 200K miles without breaking a sweat. Plus they are dirt cheap to pick up as plenty were produced. Also a healthy one will return over 40mpg on the motorway with ease.

Would need some stats on the Volvo 2.0 lump to compare though, was it a twin cam SFi?

[volvorsport]

well the 2.3 makes 140 in fuel injection guise , and thats a straight swap over . multi point lh and k jet was used but only lh2.2 in a 360 .

if your picking on a 2litre then you can either go down the old skool way of twin carbs and peppier cams etc , easily make over 200 bhp .

stick a B230e/ft out of a 740 and you can be anywhere upto 250 bhp with a chip .

[SteveP]

I may have slipped it into conversion that I'd like one for myself to the missus (but running a 2.0 16v Turbo Vauxhall engine - 300bhp with ease)..... she wasn't best pleased. So I guess for the time being at least I will do one for her.

I guess it's Vauxhall engines that you know... but... what's wrong with a Volvo turbo lump All bolts up with minor fabbing, and 300bhp is relatively easy to produce even with an 8v redblock engine, in 2.0 or 2.3 form.

Welcome anyway! Great to see some more enthusiasm for the model

[redline]

will it be a volhall or a vauxvo ? , welcome Johnny A from another volvo vauxhall fan who now drives a Golf



I sold my redline




earlier this year and had a calibra for the summer which I have also now sold



the cali was great fun with fantastic acceleration and top end for a 2.0 but not really practical for karting three kids about in .

[Johnny A]

I guess it's Vauxhall engines that you know... but... what's wrong with a Volvo turbo lump All bolts up with minor fabbing, and 300bhp is relatively easy to produce even with an 8v redblock engine, in 2.0 or 2.3 form.

Yep know them Vauxhalls like the back of my hand. I don't want to fit a turbo lump to this one chap, only if I were to own one thats all.

well the 2.3 makes 140 in fuel injection guise , and thats a straight swap over . multi point lh and k jet was used but only lh2.2 in a 360 .

2.3, is that 4 or 5 pot engine? Fuel economy from this lump?? Reliable??

if your picking on a 2litre then you can either go down the old skool way of twin carbs and peppier cams etc , easily make over 200 bhp

Great for power, totally useless for economy though which is half the concern chap.

[volvorsport]

its not just the engine that governs mpg , aerodynamics , tyres , gearing etc etc .

it should return 30 mpg and more depending on how you drive it .

the 2.3 is the big brother version of the 2 litre - in fact the 2 litre was the smaller version made to fit in the 360 .

and now to the reliability , erm , looked after will put about a million miles on it before it needs rebuilding!! LOL

My point about the engine swap is that you wont be gaining much(if nothing) with the XE , even if you can get the OE manifold to fit .

[Bilbo]

the 2ltrs just run and run........

xe motors do rock though maybe 1 of the escort 1/2 ex manifolds could be used too ?? my m8 had 1 in his chevette and it was a flyer,though the flywheel came loose on 2 occasions so he sold it

[Johnny A]

its not just the engine that governs mpg , aerodynamics , tyres , gearing etc etc .

it should return 30 mpg and more depending on how you drive it .

the 2.3 is the big brother version of the 2 litre - in fact the 2 litre was the smaller version made to fit in the 360 .

and now to the reliability , erm , looked after will put about a million miles on it before it needs rebuilding!! LOL

My point about the engine swap is that you wont be gaining much(if nothing) with the XE , even if you can get the OE manifold to fit .

I managed 45mpg on a combined motorway and a-road run with an XE in a Vauxhall Nova (about as aerodynamic as a brick, or Volvo 340 really), 196/16" tyres, sitting at about 3400rpm (70 ish mph most of the time). The Nova weighed in at 930kgs (about 100kgs less than a 360) thanks to me having loads of ICE in the boot.

I just like sticking to what I know, so far the 2.3 offers less of what an XE could in every aspect (not much less) bar fitment... which is a few bespoke engine mounts and a custom prop which is simple enough. Not to mention the added quality of it being unique.

Using the XE exhaust manifold/downpipe is fairly easy... but a bit time consuming... I had to do a 4-1 version for my Carlton (Runs the 2.0 16v Turbo.... with the turbo replaced with an Eaton M90 blower). Basically me with a grider and a MIG