trabitom's Mk1 343 GL Touring

[volvosneverdie]

my 'coupe blindness' is begining to fade a bit now.

Just like to say that your car is also flying the awesome flag very high in these pics Tom. Loving the wheels obviously, and the supersweet stripes (look so good under the window baseline sweeping up at the back!), and the reg too. is the 343 registraition equivelant to a UK 'private' reg?
surely be too big a coincidence to matched randomly???!

[trabitom99]

Thanks for all your comments Work done so far:

* new tyres on GT alloys
* complete new exhaust from the downpipe on
* gear linkage adjustment
* new gear selector lever (now the microswitch works, and the PRND symbols are lit up)
* new gas struts on the tailgate
* engine & CVT oil change
* new CVT belts

but still on the list for the MOT is:

* replace a split bellows on a rear driveshaft
* replace the windscreen washer pump
* find out why the main beam doesn't work
* welding (rear wheel arches)

and then, maybe next year

* replace clutch (it engages properly, but it's on it's last, thinnest shim)
* find out why the clutch disengagement valve doesn't work (well, it would work, but doesn't recieve any vaccum) which means revs need to be low (no choke) when changing gear
* find out why the heater is always slightly on (freezing in winter, boiling in summer)
* fit a rev counter
* detail work like replacing the front bumper corner (how the previous owner managed to bodge a Mk1 Golf bumper corner on there, I'll never know)

...and the reg too. is the 343 registration equivelant to a UK 'private' reg?
surely be too big a coincidence to matched randomly???!

Yeah, a "private plate" Very cheap over here, you pay one flat rate for it no matter how "interesting" and potentially valuable the plate is. If it happens to be available, it's yours for an extra tenner when you register the car. Unfortunately, you can't take it with you when you change the car (but I tend not to change my cars anyway )

Tom

[Chris_C]

Yeah, a "private plate" Very cheap over here, you pay one flat rate for it no matter how "interesting" and potentially valuable the plate is. If it happens to be available, it's yours for an extra tenner when you register the car. Unfortunately, you can't take it with you when you change the car (but I tend not to change my cars anyway )

So a cars reg changes when it gets sold?! That must make it much harder to track "forum cars"

[trabitom99]

So a cars reg changes when it gets sold?! That must make it much harder to track "forum cars"

Not necessarily. If you sell a car, and the previous owner lives in the same area and wants to keep the reg then the car can keep the number. But that's not the norm, many people like to put their birthdays on for example ...

But you can't take the number with you, it's still associated with the car for 6 years or something, even if it's reg has changed in the meantime ...

[trabitom99]

OK, getting down to some serious work now for the MOT, with kind help from the DAF IG:

* replace the windscreen washer pump
* find out why the main beam doesn't work
* welding (rear wheel arches)

Erm, there's a bit more welding required than "just" the rear arches:

Both front wings are pretty shot:


I actually have a replacement for the front LH side, but I don't want to lose the stripes Also the rest of the paint is quite faded so newly resprayed front wings might look pretty odd if you don't do the rest of the car as well. Maybe I'll do that in a few years' time if I ever get hold of those Touring stripes.

The inner wing however is really good!

It looks like they've been dinitrolled (or equivalent) in the past, and it shows. Only minimal rust.

might have recieved a bit of a knock (bottom left) once in it's lifetime ...

More welding:


Swapped the washer pumps over
old, and seized up:

new:


Replaced the air filter with one from K&N - I've heard mixed reports about whether they make any difference or not, but I thought I'd try it out anyway


The non-working main beam was due to the switch stalk (not the relay) - swapped it for a new one. Replaced the wiper stalk as well - now the intermittant wipers work - added bonus

More work to be done this week on the rear arches (urgh)

Tom

[volvosneverdie]

good work tom.
This is why we drive volvos.

They're fixable!

[Chris_C]

That is amazing... actually shiney metal - on an inner wing!

[SteveP]

Very tidy inner wings...

RE: the stripes, you should be able to get them made up - I'd make a template from the ones on the wing

[trabitom99]

Yeah I was (pleasantly) surprised about the inner wings! But there's still the RH side to take a peek at, not sure what to expect there. And then there's the inner rear wheel arches, the LH side isn't so good ...

RE: the stripes, you should be able to get them made up - I'd make a template from the ones on the wing

Not really sure where I'd go to to get them made up, but you're right, I'm sure it's not impossible to do ... But I want to avoid having to do a partial respray ATM - it'd cost more and then I'd have gleaming new front wings (with no stripes) and 29 year old paint from the doors backwards. Maybe one day I'll have it done "properly" and have the whole side done, but that's not really an option at the moment.

Tom

[trabitom99]

OK, the LH side is now welded up, filled, primed and ready for painting:

Check out the beauty near the rear wheel arch!

For those more interested in the wheel arch:


LH front wing:



Another worry was what to expect when taking the front spoiler off - another nice surprise, the front valance is in good nick!



Original 70's accessory - the chrome tail pipe extension

adds +25 bhp at least!


To be continued ....

[volvosneverdie]

oooooooh.
I like the shiny thing.

[trabitom99]

oooooooh.
I like the shiny thing.

Exciting, isn't it

Tom

[volvosneverdie]

Tottally.
Good find man.
There cant be many official Volvo 343 chrome tailpipe extentions left still in origonal packing.......

[Cutler]

that really is the only way to benefit from the bild-zeitung (besides using it as toilet paper).

[trabitom99]

that really is the only way to benefit from the bild-zeitung (besides using it as toilet paper).