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New 340 Owner
Posted: 30 Jan 2012 11:06 am
by Ron Bones
Hey all, I just picked up my first ever 340 yesterday with good and bad results.
The good ones are; I'm finally back in a RWD drive after pottering about in a shitty VW for 6 months,
It's got a welded diff, which is fun!
Its generally a cracking little car, much better to drive than I ever expected one to be after last having a 200sx, an MX5 and a chevette, the 340's every bit as fun.
It's very solid and did a 200 mile trip yesterday with no flaws.
The bad ones; The Mr's loathes it so I wont be keeping it
So this could prove to be a very short lived affair, but I've really fallen for the car so I've got two options, change the diff so the Mr's doesn't mind driving it (its our only car) or just swap for a standard one and let someone else have all the fun in this one
Its quite the conundrum!
Re: New 340 Owner
Posted: 30 Jan 2012 11:22 am
by theo2468
everyone likes pics my friend, get it up!
Re: New 340 Owner
Posted: 30 Jan 2012 11:36 am
by Ron Bones
I'm on the case!! Just let me finish my breakfast then I was going outside to empty out all the spare wheels that are in the back, a gearbox and spare welded diff, Landy shocks, some blocks and god knows what else!

Re: New 340 Owner
Posted: 30 Jan 2012 12:16 pm
by SteveP
If the car is otherwise tidy, especially rust wise - I'd just swap the diff. Good cars aren't as easy to find anymore. Agree about the fun factor, I've had two MX5's too and the 300's are nearly as fun, even if nowhere near as capable
Re: New 340 Owner
Posted: 30 Jan 2012 12:29 pm
by Ron Bones
SteveP wrote:If the car is otherwise tidy, especially rust wise - I'd just swap the diff. Good cars aren't as easy to find anymore. Agree about the fun factor, I've had two MX5's too and the 300's are nearly as fun, even if nowhere near as capable
Yes it's very solid. Solid as a rock in fact. The sills are good, the jacking points. There was no interior in the back so I could get a real good look in there, its all good, No rust under the bonnet. All in all a very good example I think. It looks a bit shabby, the red paint is flat and is got a couple of battle scars but nothing major. I'll stick up a wanted add for a standard diff and see what happens. I'd love to run it as it is but I cant let my girlfriend learn to drive in it. It's not fair, she'd have a scare and it would probably put her off, its just too twitchy and tail happy for a learner. I'm sure it will still be fun with a standard diff, it's currently dropped 60mm at the front on MR2 springs and it feels well planted with little roll, I've got blocks and landy shocks to chuck on the back, get some nice wheels and we'l be away.

Re: New 340 Owner
Posted: 30 Jan 2012 02:11 pm
by valman
depending on where you are in the country, id gladly swap my non welded 4 speed for your welded 5 (or 4)

Re: New 340 Owner
Posted: 30 Jan 2012 02:20 pm
by Chris_C
Ron Bones wrote:I've got blocks and landy shocks to chuck on the back, get some nice wheels and we'l be away.

Don't put series dampers on if you are worried about it being twitchy, they pretty much lock the rear axle.
Re: New 340 Owner
Posted: 30 Jan 2012 02:29 pm
by valman
Chris_C wrote:Ron Bones wrote:I've got blocks and landy shocks to chuck on the back, get some nice wheels and we'l be away.

Don't put series dampers on if you are worried about it being twitchy, they pretty much lock the rear axle.
x2
also if theyre quite chunky units you will have clearance issues with the tramp bar mounting bolts as can be seen here:

Re: New 340 Owner
Posted: 30 Jan 2012 05:42 pm
by Ron Bones
Thanks for the advice! I'll take it all into consideration. I'm in no rush to drop the back, its sitting quite nicely as it is! Main hurry is getting this diff sorted! I posted a reply on my wanted add valman!
Re: New 340 Owner
Posted: 30 Jan 2012 05:57 pm
by MCHUDD
Hi Ron and welcome.
I would just change the diff to a non welded one.
The MRS will then see how good a car it is and beg you to keep it.
Cheers Mark.

Re: New 340 Owner
Posted: 30 Jan 2012 06:12 pm
by Ron Bones
Thanks Mark!! Fingers crossed she will. Lets hope I can get hold of one!
Re: New 340 Owner
Posted: 30 Jan 2012 06:57 pm
by tim-andre
tell your mr's to either walk or drive with the welder
... or the lame way, change the welder to an open diff
