300 MANIA Site

[Ronnie]

Don't worry , I know these cars, and it's as good as it looks!

Only a 3 things which bother me.

1. I have to pump the brakes, past experience points me towards the drums, this I will get sorted for me urgently. I don't mess with brakes. Perhaps a lack of mechanical confidence...

2. The gear stick feels really flimsy, bendy, and light weight. The two later facelift 360GLT's I had in the past weren't like this - if I remember correctly (it was some time ago). Is this a known probelm with the older version? I think I need to manufacture a new gear stick out of a nice solid bar of something heavy, and grease up the linkages while I'm at it.

3. Rear spoiler has a large chunk out of it, which detracts from the excellent condition of the car.

Thanks for the warm welcome - looking forward to the other place getting back up and running.

Ronnie

[foggyjames]

The gearshift is...probably...the linkage support bar being broken. This affects all generations AFAIK, and is a right royal pain in the backside to repair. An article on this will be going up on my forthcoming website.

I'll take some pictures of my spare linkage (when I get it back) to illustrate the problem. Basically, a weld shears off, causing the ball-joint the stick moves in to move around, causing this loose gearchange feeling.

When I had to have it done in a hurry (2 days) a little while ago, the part alone cost £125+vat. Since you've got slow-time to play with, I suggest you obtain a spare, get it strengthened (welding an extra piece of metal across the joint in question does the job), and swap them over - never to be a problem again!

cheers

James

[Ronnie]

James said:

>The gearshift is...probably...the linkage support bar being
>broken. This affects all generations AFAIK, and is a right
>royal pain in the backside to repair. An article on this will
>be going up on my forthcoming website.
>
>I'll take some pictures of my spare linkage (when I get it
>back) to illustrate the problem. Basically, a weld shears off,
>causing the ball-joint the stick moves in to move around,
>causing this loose gearchange feeling.

I think I had this on one of my previous cars. The gear shift was VERY loose and also sank deeper into the tunnel. A freindly Greek cypriot with good welding skills sorted me out. This is different. The gear stick just feels bendy, like it's made of plastic or really light and cheap alloy (which it probably is).

[foggyjames]

Very strange! It's not the knob itself it is? Those are known to go bad. Try pulling another lever from any later 300 (with a 5-speed label on the end).

cheers

James

[SteveP]

Had the problem that foggy described with my linkage recently, once fixed it seriously tightens up changes. What I have noticed is that every other 300 that I jump into, is that gearchanges seriously vary.. from sloppy and bendy to tight and precise, strange!

Anyway, here here... if this hosting business isn't sorted soon, I'd also be happy to chip in to get it back!

[Chris_C]

I've been talking to Aymat quite a bit too, I've offered him my hosting, but we'll see. Surpising how much work I've done lately though, without the 300mania forums...

update on mania site we have now found a webhost , and as soon as the administrator finds someone with a credit card who trusts him to pay back the £60.00 we will be back , six of us are chipping in so that Aymat dosent have to pay it all himself , we might even be back in time for the Autumn meet of the V3M (see other thread or email me at mikanjul @hotmail.com or check out my wheels advert on ebay for details) I wouldnt mind knowing roughly how many are coming,
cheers

Redline

new host site paid for , we should be back by the weekend

[foggyjames]

Excellent work chaps - a true team effort!

cheers

James

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http://www.volvo300mania.com/