BHX recommissioning thread - 1979 Volvo 343 DL

[MCHUDD]

Hi Sion.
I still have my radio-cassette somewhere in my parts stash.
Cheers Mark.

[Chris_C]

We seem to have inverse problems Sion, I have the radio ready for my mk1... just no mk1

[macplaxton]

I've got a couple of 4 Microprocessors radio cassettes (suitable for 200 series low mount and 300 series >82MY), although one is missing a couple of pieces and they both need a slight bit of re-engineering in the radio department to work in Euro land (they were both US models)

[S10NPH]

Hi all

Sorry for the slightly delayed update - real life took over for an evening!

Anyway, at the start of Day 2 we decided to abandon our plan of attending the Suffolk/Essex VOC Section meet at Ipswich and concentrate on finishing our jobs on the car, especially as it looked a bit sorry for itself:


We painted the wheels to make us feel better, and I think they have come up rather nice:


We decided to be brave and remove the rear window in order to get at the rust underneath it properly. It was surprisingly easy to do:




Oliver had a bit of an exploration of the very dodgy looking weld on the passenger rear sill, and this is what he eventually found:


I suspect that this has been caused by the holes under the rear window.

Here's the general scene of most of the day. The grey paint you see on the rusty bits is Por15 rust preventive paint, which I'm hoping will protect it until they are properly attended to.


And some photos of just after we cleared up, hopefully you'll agree that the painted wheels make the car look lovely and fresh.

Have you got a close-up of the rust on yours? New wings will need a complete respray, and it can be hard to get the colour to blend in, if you don't start doing the whole lot while you're at it.

Here are some close ups, the drivers' side rust goes quite a way up the arch:


I agree with you that they are worth saving though, so I'll see what my body shop man says. I'm going to speak to him this week and organise the welding that's needed to the underside, and hopefully the issues around the window and boot seal too.

Thanks for all your responses about radios. I have my heart set on one of these, especially as it has FM. The one in PGH (my 1980 MY) only has MW/LW, which means I'm stuck listening to Radio 4. Were radio cassettes available for 1979 MY?

Now you need to purge your mind of these "MK" ideas Sion.

Well I have been told!!! I was trying not to be too anal, but maybe I ought to be, as of course I know that every model year was different (hence why I have a 1979 and a 1980!)

Sans clock too I've got a spare somewhere.

The clock that belongs in the car is safely tucked away in my shed, I haven't re-fitted it yet as I'm a little apprehensive poking about the dashboard. Do I just undo the screws above the instrument cluster and it pops out? I'm not too fussed about it at the moment, as the previous owner said he took it out to avoid a drain on the battery, and I tend to agree.

[MCHUDD]

Hi Sion.
Work seems to be coming along realy well.
You've done a nice job on the wheels.
If you want i can take a picture of my radio cassette and let you see.
Its much better than that one.
Cheers Mark.

[S10NPH]

If you want i can take a picture of my radio cassette and let you see.

Thanks Mark, yes please take a picture and let me see, if you don't mind.

[MCHUDD]

Hi Sion.
I will get one tomorow. PM me your e-mail address and i will send it to you.
Sorry i can't post pictures.
Cheers Mark.

[macplaxton]

Here's the 4 Microprocessor in the BB:


Sorry about the quality, it was dark outside.

[S10NPH]

Here's the 4 Microprocessor in the BB:


Sorry about the quality, it was dark outside.

I think that's very cool, but I think I'm after a more basic look (and I mean basic by 1979 standards!). As long as it has FM and isn't an aftermarket one like was in it, I shall be happy.

[macplaxton]

but I think I'm after a more basic look (and I mean basic by 1979 standards!). As long as it has FM

I know where you are coming from. Whilst I understand you are after a more basic look, you do actually mean "very swish by 1979 standards" if you want FM.

My dad used to have a 1980 Jaguar XJ12. The factory fitted standard radio was a Philips Turnolock AC460 radio (MW/LW) cassette with 4 speakers. To get FM, one either had to shell out a lot of cash for the optional Philips AC480, or just go the whole hog and buy a Daimler Double Six!

Anyway, this one you posted above:


I think is a Volvo AR-5170NK, but it only goes to 104FM. You are better off with the AR-5175Q, which goes to 108


They also did a triple band version of the first one (MW/LW/FM104) and a quad band version (MW/LW/SW/FM104):


There was one MW/FM radio with only mono 1x5W output, the rest of the FM ones had 2x5W stereo output.

[Hell Driver]

That red paint looks remarkably good, not faded like usual. Kept in a garage all the time? If you save/reconstruct the front wings, it might be worth leaving the bottoms open so that water/mud can't collect in them (depends how much of the lower inner wing has gone and whether you intend to avoid winter weather). I eventually attached metal plates over mine (long gone '77 343) and closed them in again and reshaped with filler. It was a real bodge up but very solid (solid filler ). I had no welding equipment and used self taping screws Although the finished effect was reasonable, being low on the car, but it was very hard to recreate the exact contours once the original metal was gone. I drove around for several years with the lower part of the wing missing!

Keep up the good work!

[MCHUDD]

Hi Sion.
Pictures are on there way of the radio cassette.
Sorry i can't post pictures. The genious of the Toon normally does that for me
Cheers Mark.

[jtbo]

Would love to have such radio, I even have original Volvo speakers at front footwells, stereo I think they say

Also I'm bit envy of your weather, we have still around 2 foot of snow here, storm winds with subzero temps, this thread does make great inspiration and I would love to work more of my 343, but too cold really

[trabitom99]

We painted the wheels to make us feel better, and I think they have come up rather nice:

They look superb Well worth doing to get you motivated

Here are some close ups, the drivers' side rust goes quite a way up the arch

Hm, they are a bit further gone than mine were, and I had to take the stripes into consideration as well. I'll call the chap I know who has Mk1 wings, but he wanted a lot of money for them IIRC.

Thanks for all your responses about radios. I have my heart set on one of these, especially as it has FM. The one in PGH (my 1980 MY) only has MW/LW, which means I'm stuck listening to Radio 4. Were radio cassettes available for 1979 MY?

After trying three different types of radios in my '80 343, I'll agree that looks the absolute best. I currently have an OEM stereo cassette from Volvo in it, but it just doesn't look as good in the dash as the one you've posted there. I can live with the feeble mono-ness of it, no problem.

The clock that belongs in the car is safely tucked away in my shed, I haven't re-fitted it yet as I'm a little apprehensive poking about the dashboard. Do I just undo the screws above the instrument cluster and it pops out? I'm not too fussed about it at the moment, as the previous owner said he took it out to avoid a drain on the battery, and I tend to agree.

Have you found out how to change the setting of the clock? I would never have known if I hadn't had the manual

Tom

[S10NPH]

Thanks for your replies Tom, and I forgot to thank you for the pictures of your wings, which were really helpful. I have sent some pictures to my bodyshop, and I'll see what he thinks about them (and the rest!). Thinking about spare body parts, has anybody heard of this place: http://bit.ly/we6FhS ?

I completely agree with you about the radio, that is the look that I want. I know Mark has one with a radio cassette that he has sent me pictures of which is a possibility if I can't find what I want, but I think I have decided I'd rather a simple Volvo AM/FM or LW/MW Volvo radio, so does anyone have a spare one available please? I'm looking for Volvo AR-5170NK or AR-5175Q as Macplaxton says in his post, or I'll even cope with the MW/LW equivalent like I have in my 1980 just to be sure of the right look.

And yes, I do know how to adjust the clock, but I did have to look at the manual for my 1980 model also!

What colour is the parcel shelf in your red one? My car has a beige interior but a dark grey parcel shelf, and I wondered whether they ever supplied beige ones?

One thing I previously forgot to mention is that there was a box of goodies in the boot, including the original box for the bumper stripes (wth the remaining white stripes in it which would have gone where the number plate is if it was a 76-78 model). There are also 2 spare wheels, for some reason.

That red paint looks remarkably good, not faded like usual. Kept in a garage all the time?

Yes, it was a bit faded until I t-cutted it, but it was garaged all its life in the same garage (the old fellow who owned it was still at the same house as when he bought it).