L14MNP wrote:Most of the internet types interested in 300's will be found on Driftworks and TrampD too I would imagine.

In my case that's mostly what has killed my interest in writing as every other topic is about same stuff. Valvers, Land Rover shocks, stripping the interior etc... scrapping the shell after hitting some curb.. Variation in building and maintaining 300-series has declined here even though the total interest among 300-series has risen. That's one reason why I have found 300power.com and couple Finnish Volvo forums more interesting lately.

Of course I can't blame anyone, I should write something interesting my self as the forum is a sum of it's members..

it's the same story on V3C forum imo, only difference is that the "drifters" can still be counted on 2 hands over there interesting projects such as a proper performance/rally build or restauration aren't that much around lately or work on those is at a standstill / very few updates

I think it is as someone previously mentioned that as a lot of us aren't driving 300's everyday there aren't as many general day to day problems that come up, also alot of the main members were also students (I was at the time!) so had plenty of free time to be buggering about with cars.... unfortunately that's no longer the case

I know that since my project to get the 340 GL back on the road was complete, I've not been so active. It's still taxed and tested and insured but I've not used it much since the summer, and although it's very tempting to go out in the snow, the demon salt will undo all my hard work! What also slows me down is having to get the truck off the drive, then the wifes car. All to do in reverse to put it back! Must admit it's been enough work just to get the truck going without moving others about in all this snow!

The 360's still ready for the road but that's certainly not going on salty roads!

The Mk1 project is still just a twinkle in the eye, although probably my main reason for posting now, to find parts. I've still got a lot of decisions to make before I start, so maybe in the new year I'll start a thread for it.

When I used to have my first 343 I was a student, had no other vehicles, no house, no wife and offspring etc and it was true, a lot of my time (and cash) was spent keeping the thing on the road...but then again it did get a lot of hammer, I used to do 12,000 a year in it at times, carrying my stuff around the country, then towing a trailer for my gardening work and during my house restoration. I congratulate anyone who still runs one as their only vehicle and does many miles a year.

At some point I will digitize the many photos of SDT 344S and do some sort of thread thingy on it.

Hell Driver wrote: At some point I will digitize the many photos of SDT 344S and do some sort of thread thingy on it.

this sounds very cool.

volvosneverdie wrote:

Hell Driver wrote: At some point I will digitize the many photos of SDT 344S and do some sort of thread thingy on it.

this sounds very cool.

I agree would be very interested to see that

For me as I'm no longer running a 340 at the moment I'm tending to post less. Between that and just not having the time.

I have always noticed that the forum has quite and busy spells. Things maybe slowing down but not a worry. I do also find that most topics have been convered before at some point.

I am looking to go back to a 300 but as a second car. 20'000 + miles a year is a lot to ask from a 300. One purchasing Vicky's 340 for £25 @89,000 it came off the road at 205,000 after around 4 years of daily use and final year as second car. Just about everything had been replaced mechanicaly but the sreaded iron oxide set in.

Hell Driver wrote:When I used to have my first 343 I was a student, had no other vehicles, no house, no wife and offspring etc and it was true, a lot of my time (and cash) was spent keeping the thing on the road...but then again it did get a lot of hammer, I used to do 12,000 a year in it at times, carrying my stuff around the country, then towing a trailer for my gardening work and during my house restoration. I congratulate anyone who still runs one as their only vehicle and does many miles a year.

Nope, not congratulating, loony bin appointments. Fake does 15-17,000 normally, as well as the motorsports stuff. I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to be able to do it for though.

classicswede wrote:I am looking to go back to a 300 but as a second car. 20'000 + miles a year is a lot to ask from a 300. One purchasing Vicky's 340 for £25 @89,000 it came off the road at 205,000 after around 4 years of daily use and final year as second car. Just about everything had been replaced mechanicaly but the sreaded iron oxide set in.

Awww, I got robbed Fake was £80 @ 16x,000, but as I only bought her for spares I chopped the tax in straight away so she was basically a tenner with a set of brand new tyres which saved me the £160 I needed to spend on Kar.

I find I'm doing constant mods and upgrades to Fake but just arn't getting time to document them. I've designed a heater box that fits into non flipped manifold Valvers and the same box also has the air cleaner in. Both draw air from the snowcap now.

I've sussed the diagnostic port on the Fenix ECU and have got readings from it (granted only into a terminal atm, havn't had time to take that further) but have been doing more on the ChrisChip and an onboard LCD readout from the ECU.

On top of that, after busting a prop a fortnight ago I'm trying to put some machine time in and design some upgrades for the 340 manual prop.

All in less time than I used to have...

I did 20,000 hard miles last year. Broke down once and snapped things many many times

Sure it let me down when I was using it as a business vehicle, but it was getting a good deal of abuse. Lots of stop start driving. I continue to use it as a daily because otherwise what's the point in owning it? I'd rather be pissed off on the side of an A-road 1 in 500 times rather than bored and depressed staring out of a modern shitbox that's costing me craploads per year to get a mechanic to tell the computer to say yes.

Do you go to inventing college,Chris????

Sounds pretty impressive all that carry on.

I can't even get the works Transit to start

Chris_C wrote:I find I'm doing constant mods and upgrades to Fake but just arn't getting time to document them. I've designed a heater box that fits into non flipped manifold Valvers and the same box also has the air cleaner in. Both draw air from the snowcap now.

I've sussed the diagnostic port on the Fenix ECU and have got readings from it (granted only into a terminal atm, havn't had time to take that further) but have been doing more on the ChrisChip and an onboard LCD readout from the ECU.

On top of that, after busting a prop a fortnight ago I'm trying to put some machine time in and design some upgrades for the 340 manual prop.

All in less time than I used to have...

God, some people are SO lazy.
Hows that Turbo coming man?

Chris, you are quite amazing, when you keep quiet there always happens some very interesting stuff, keep it up

Ha, it's no where near as impressive as it sounds

My job is to basically be a mad professor inventor type of chap. I get a lab with white coats, whizzy whirly things and lathes, mills, soldering irons etc I just like making things tbh, but always take on a million too many of said things so they all take ages to get done I've a couple of non Volvo electronic projects on atm too, but hopefully I'll get somewhere with them all soon. Once they are working to a level I'm happy with I'll offer up some kits or something similar.

EDIT

VND wrote:God, some people are SO lazy.
Hows that Turbo coming man?

It's nearly xmas...

I think the only reason I manage to get on with Fake is I'm forced to use it daily and the Turbo has been on hold now for a loooong time. Realistically, once Fake is finished I intend to ship the Kar over here and get involved.

Chris_C wrote:Ha, it's no where near as impressive as it sounds

My job is to basically be a mad professor inventor type of chap. I get a lab with white coats, whizzy whirly things and lathes, mills, soldering irons etc I just like making things tbh, but always take on a million too many of said things so they all take ages to get done I've a couple of non Volvo electronic projects on atm too, but hopefully I'll get somewhere with them all soon. Once they are working to a level I'm happy with I'll offer up some kits or something similar.

I think the acceptable term is:
"Boffin."

He who makes things out of component parts using skill and or magic that other man cannot fathom.

Chris the boffin once told me all things powered by electrickery are actually powered by smoke and once it escapes it's bust.

I fear he may be correct.