TUNING PAGE

TUNING TIPS AND HINTS

As all cars are made on a production line, the methods used do not release the full potential of the car, as mass production, 
and effeciency are substituted for speed and performance, in most cases.  It is now a common thing to tune your car up, to 
get better performance and handling.

As I have modified the car I have found that there is a lack of information on this car and also the engine.  As it is not a car
that you would normally modify, I have gathered information from various articles, web sites, magazines, Volvo, Renault and 
other sources to try and give helpfull tips and to compile all the information I have.

I started out with a stock Volvo 340 1.7 GL, which was standard in every way.

The first thing that most people do is put on a performance air filter which will give you about 10-15 extra bhp.  If you are 
having problems getting one then ask for one to suit the carb or injection you are running, as most people don't list the car
in books and manuals.  I started off using a K&N filter for a Ford Escort MKIII which I allready had and just drilled a hole in 
bottom for the crankcase ventilation hose to go.  This filter fits straight onto the standard solex 28-34 carb, which is standard on 
the 340 1.7.

Next if you are looking for more power then go for a fast road cam, which will again release around 10-20 bhp.  As there 
is no one that caters for the F2n engine, I got one re-ground for about £80 from Kent Cams.  I have another cam from
a Volvo 480 ES (engine code b18e/es, fuel injection engine) which produces the best power range that you will be looking for.  
The cam is fine on idle, but really kicks in at around 4,500 rpm and continues to provide excellent power up to about 7,200 rpm.

A good set of springs and shock absorbers is a must for your car to handle well, again nothing is listed for this car so find
out what length you are looking for and buy springs that way.  I am running mkII Ford Escort springs on mine at the front
with gas shocks at the rear.  The rear haevy duty gas shocks were brought from Halfords of all places and are excellent items, 
allthough they will raise the car up a bit more than the standard one's.  To compensate this I fitted 45mm lowering blocks 
between the hub unit and the rear leaf springs.

The front springs for this car measure 350mm long and have seven coils in them.  The Escort items measure 205mm and 
have five coils in them.  Available from TAS.

Body kits are non existent for this car, you can get one but it looks naff, so I set about making my own.  The rear spoiler 
was an aftermarket item which a brought for about £70, and sits central of the rear windscreen.  It has an angle of 30 degrees 
to help keep the backend pinned to the ground.

The front spoiler/aim dam and splitter were self made to suit the car.  I started out with a front bumper from a Manta GTE.  
I then cut this in half as it was too wide for my car.  I trimmed quite a bit off the top part of it with an angle grinder and basically 
made it fit onto mine.  I then got hold of some 6mm thick clear perspex which someone had chucked out from a sign 
manufacturer's works and drew a template around it, to what I wanted.  I then cut it out and bolted it to the underside of the spoiler.

I added two corner splitters which were made from believe it or not the sunvisors out of the 340.   When everything was done 
it was painted the same colour as the car.  You do notice the difference with it on.  It sits 80mm from the ground and looks 
menacing from the front.

The standard wheels on this car offer no grip at all. They are fine for driving the car normally, but when racing or driving hard 
they feel sloppy and makes the steering feel un-responsive.  The standard tyres are 175/70 R13.  I fitted onto mine a set of alloys
with 205/50 R15.  These will just fit onto the rear easily but the front requires a 6mm spacer plate.  Overall you will increase 
your wheelbase by 72mm, and the grip you get is awesome.  The steering is a bit hard if you don't have power steering, but 
for racing you want to feel the car turn.

The best tyres I have found are Michelin Pilot SX.

As for Alloys there is only one choice to keep withing the Volvo racing tradition.  A set of Hockenheims.

Most of the mods I have done have been acheived using bits from the Volvo 400 series cars or the Renault 19/21's, as the 
400's, especially the 480's have newer engine components and added tweaks on them allready.