340 Rallying - it's all over !!!

Nov 10th, 2006, 21:02

We completed around 1050 miles of this year's 1100 mile Lombard Rally.

The only problem we encountered prior to the last day was the sumpguard coming detached after every other stage.

The first stage of the last day was through Malcolm Wilson's famous Greystoke forest.

We completed it without a problem but at the next stage, Lowther Park, we were not allowed to start as we were leaking petrol and oil.

We waited for a service crew to turn up, but after a long wait we decided to drive to a service crew in Brough instead.

They dropped the petrol tank and filled the hole, it looked as though we had hit something very hard and sharp in Greystoke forest - I mentioned the leaking oil from the diff, but as this was minimal (and a common problem with 340's) it was decided that nothing needed to be done.

On our way to the finish in Blackpool the reason for the minimal leak from the diff became apparent - we had already lost all of the oil !! the car ground to a halt on the hard shoulder of the M6, our rally was over.

I now have a 340 that I am about to scrap, anyone interested in the roll cage before I stick it on E-Bay ???

James_N · Nov 10th, 2006, 21:04

Ouch, 1100 miles and it goes 50 miles from home! Hard luck mate.

Sterling effort though

LankyTim · Nov 11th, 2006, 02:30

Cant you stick a new diff in it and keep ralling it?

Nov 11th, 2006, 08:26

We can, but we won't !!

We had already decided to retire it after this year's Lombard, just a shame it didn't get to the finishing ramp.

Begrudgingly I have to admit that front wheel drive is really the way to go, not as much "fun" but far more competitive and easier to prepare for rallying.

A front wheel drive car just has to fit a guard under the front of the car and just about everything damageable is fully protected, we had a sump guard at the front, extra mudflaps to try and protect the gearbox and we taped and padded and re-taped and re-padded the petrol tank which was fine for "flying" rocks but obviously not too effective against a rock stuck in the ground with a protruding edge.

I am really, really going to miss it, but my son will be driving soon and a smaller front wheel drive is going to be far more practical.

LankyTim · Nov 11th, 2006, 09:48

Skoda favorits are meant to be good, cheap as chips too!

SteveP · Nov 11th, 2006, 15:15

Agreed... very cheap too...

Shame about the 340, I had a diff lock up on my previous 360, that proved 'entertaining' at 65-70mph to say the least... Try posting on www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk there may be some takers for things like the roll cage etc.

LankyTim · Nov 12th, 2006, 18:58

Whats all this rallying about then? Id love to give it a shot. Do they do an historic class?

Nov 13th, 2006, 08:58

The roll cage has already been sold.

Nov 10th, 2006, 21:02	#1
BaimorBondai Guest Location:	340 Rallying - it's all over !!! We completed around 1050 miles of this year's 1100 mile Lombard Rally. The only problem we encountered prior to the last day was the sumpguard coming detached after every other stage. The first stage of the last day was through Malcolm Wilson's famous Greystoke forest. We completed it without a problem but at the next stage, Lowther Park, we were not allowed to start as we were leaking petrol and oil. We waited for a service crew to turn up, but after a long wait we decided to drive to a service crew in Brough instead. They dropped the petrol tank and filled the hole, it looked as though we had hit something very hard and sharp in Greystoke forest - I mentioned the leaking oil from the diff, but as this was minimal (and a common problem with 340's) it was decided that nothing needed to be done. On our way to the finish in Blackpool the reason for the minimal leak from the diff became apparent - we had already lost all of the oil !! the car ground to a halt on the hard shoulder of the M6, our rally was over. I now have a 340 that I am about to scrap, anyone interested in the roll cage before I stick it on E-Bay ???

Nov 10th, 2006, 21:04	#2
James_N VOC Member Last Online: Jan 4th, 2024 11:32 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Stafford View Photos By: James_N	Ouch, 1100 miles and it goes 50 miles from home! Hard luck mate. Sterling effort though __________________ 1997 Volvo 940 LPT Celebration. 187,700 miles, manual.

Nov 11th, 2006, 02:30	#3
LankyTim Missing the point Last Online: Yesterday 22:53 Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Stoke-On-Trent View Photos By: LankyTim	Cant you stick a new diff in it and keep ralling it? __________________ Tim 1968 Volvo 145 long term project. Currently without a Volvo daily driver.

Nov 11th, 2006, 09:48	#5
LankyTim Missing the point Last Online: Yesterday 22:53 Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Stoke-On-Trent View Photos By: LankyTim	Skoda favorits are meant to be good, cheap as chips too! __________________ Tim 1968 Volvo 145 long term project. Currently without a Volvo daily driver.

Nov 12th, 2006, 18:58	#7
LankyTim Missing the point Last Online: Yesterday 22:53 Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Stoke-On-Trent View Photos By: LankyTim	Whats all this rallying about then? Id love to give it a shot. Do they do an historic class? __________________ Tim 1968 Volvo 145 long term project. Currently without a Volvo daily driver.

Nov 11th, 2006, 08:26	#4
BaimorBondai Guest Location:	We can, but we won't !! We had already decided to retire it after this year's Lombard, just a shame it didn't get to the finishing ramp. Begrudgingly I have to admit that front wheel drive is really the way to go, not as much "fun" but far more competitive and easier to prepare for rallying. A front wheel drive car just has to fit a guard under the front of the car and just about everything damageable is fully protected, we had a sump guard at the front, extra mudflaps to try and protect the gearbox and we taped and padded and re-taped and re-padded the petrol tank which was fine for "flying" rocks but obviously not too effective against a rock stuck in the ground with a protruding edge. I am really, really going to miss it, but my son will be driving soon and a smaller front wheel drive is going to be far more practical.

Nov 11th, 2006, 15:15	#6
SteveP 300 Maniac Last Online: Apr 23rd, 2024 09:31 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Coventry View Photos By: SteveP	Agreed... very cheap too... Shame about the 340, I had a diff lock up on my previous 360, that proved 'entertaining' at 65-70mph to say the least... Try posting on www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk there may be some takers for things like the roll cage etc.

Nov 13th, 2006, 08:58	#8
BaimorBondai Guest Location:	The roll cage has already been sold.

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