Also check the vacuum check valve in the booster. Usually it is fitted at the end of the vacuum line where it goes into the booster. It is a plastic part and fails with age and you get little or no help. Having said that, normally that give a hard peddle.

Also check the master cylinder is not ...

That's on the agenda too, but since the pedal pressure is fine when pumping I'm not expecting night-and-day results.

So the pedal in my 855 has felt like crap for a little while now and it's finally time to do something about it. Pedal gets rock hard when it's off and holds pressure fine. When it's running it's spongy and takes more pressure than it should to stop. If I pump them it firms up on the second pump and ...

That's where I'm at with it. I've found some local Volvo performance specialists. Hopefully I will make a connection. Thanks for all the help.

I'll give it another look-see, but space is the big problem. It really is a tiny garage without space for a hoist, and I have nowhere to move most of the other stuff that's in there.

A shop cost you 12-17 hrs of labor cost, probably at minimal. Most shop will probably say "no".

You're basically looking at

1. Changing clutch (can't do clutch without the taking transmission out)
2. Changing master/slave cylinder with new pressure hose
3. Changing pedals and hook up switches
4 ...

I've been putting together the parts needed to swap a manual in to my turbo wagon project (1997). All I need right now is a clutch and maybe a slave cylinder.

Unfortunately, I've also come to the realization that I don't have nearly the space or tools necessary to do the job in my tiny garage ...

I'm just going to swap the oil out for 10W-40 on Thursday when I have some free time again. It's worth a few extra dollars to me to do the experiment. Thanks!

Ok, thanks; I'll give that a try.

Didn't develop the noise until the weather started to warm noticeably. Not sure if that's related either, or just another coincidence.