JonVal »
scot850 wrote:
Quick question as I am curious, having owned a couple of AWD P80 Volvos, are all the required mounting points available on the frame for an AWD set up? In North America, the AWD 850 didn’t arrive until 97 model year (late 1996), so I’m not sure if this will fit without major modifications to the underside of the car. Is there mountings for the center bearing for the prop-shaft in the middle of the car? The parking brakes cables are also different, I also believe the rear under body is different to allow the rear sub-frame and suspension to mount, and there is a mounting point for the front bush on the viscous coupling housing.
I certainly admire your enthusiasm to make this work.
I will be pulling the whole sub-frame from my 2000 V70R in the next couple of months to replace it due to corrosion cracks in the sub-frame just in-front of the rear-most sub-frame mounting bolt. I have taken a bunch of pictures to eventually write up a ‘how-to’ but had to re-assemble as the fuel tank was full and needed to run the level down.
Keep us updated on your progress, and good luck!
Neil.
Hi Neil
Yes everything fits except the brackets for the rear suspension ( need to weld them in), a reinforced bracket that goes under the backseat pillow. Maybe the heatshield in the tunnel where the exhaust goes under the car…
Rear suspension, i used one allen bolt in the same hole as the spring was mounted on each side, they fit exactly in a hole on the rear suspension. Jack it up and you have the spots for the barckets you need to weld in . Front suspension is bolt on, need to swap the subframe to . But everything is bolt on .
I ll try to get some pics posted soon …
Hi
I am converting my 850 95 mod to awd . Have trouble to find out where the fuel return line is connected to the fuel tank. Does any one have a picture or something that could help? AWD is from a 98 mod v70.
The Volvo 850 was the car that changed everything – a front-wheel drive Volvo with a 5-cylinder transverse engine. It was the result of the Galaxy project, which got its name because it was aiming for the stars. The 850 series achieved great success in the field of motorsport, and was the first car from Volvo available with AWD.
The brand new Volvo 850 GLT had its world premiere in the Stockholm Globe Arena on June 11 in 1991. The model was the result of one of Sweden’s largest industrial investments and differed fundamentally from previous Volvo designs. It had front-wheel drive, a five-cylinder transverse engine and offered a whole new level of driving pleasure.
The new car was launched under the banner “A dynamic car with four world-firsts”. These new features were the transverse 5-cylinder engine, the Delta-link rear axle designed in-house, the integrated side-impact protection system, SIPS, and the self-adjusting front seat belt.
Even though the design was reminiscent of the 700 series, the 850 was a completely new car. The work on developing the model began back in 1978. At a meeting held that year, it was decided that it was now time to think freely and aim for the stars. That’s why the project was christened Galaxy.
Project Galaxy resulted in two model series – one Swedish and one Dutch. The underlying technology was developed jointly, after this the teams split up. The Dutch company Volvo Car B.V went on to develop what would become the 400 series, while Volvo Cars in Sweden developed the 850 series.
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Last Updated on October 17, 2025
