'97 850 - repair or scrap?

[eslupin]

Thanks to you all – this is enormously helpful – and especially to Callahan, for the thorough breakdown. Makes me wish I could do the work myself & had the tools & space...
I think it's probably time to move on from this one, but also to learn how to do some of this.

So . . If anyone in CA (or nearby) is interested in buying this car – to work on or otherwise – let me know. I'll be parting with it in the next month or so I think; and if I can't find anyone I'll take the $1000 the state seems willing to give for it.

Thanks again for the help.

[abscate]

It’s worth $1000most anywhere as a decent runner needing work. Use it to move, then dump

Even a cross country trip is nothing for a Volvo.

Getting another six months after a move is excellent

[eslupin]

abscate - it's up for re-registration this month, which, with smog, and getting the oil change I'm overdue for before driving cross country, I'd be putting in $500 just to hold on to it for a little longer, and it seems (in my experience) easier/more affordable to buy one on the west coast. (Moving to cape cod ..)
But . . . the main things I was worried about, driving cross country, are the breather box system (too much pressure ruining the seals on the engine?) and the control arm bushings, which are apparently in dire shape. My understanding is that I would really not enjoy having either of these things cause problems somewhere between CA and MA, that they could be somewhat catastrophic . . . But perhaps I'm wrong about that?

[erikv11]

...
cv joint boot (left) (with the "kit", 98$, plus $300 labor)
axle oil seal right

On these two I would honestly just buy new axles. Then It's just plug and play. If you can't swing the extra $$$ pay the shop to rebuild them. Rebuilding isn't hard just very messy.

...

The suggestion to buy new axles I will disagree with strongly. There is a very high probability of problems and short lifespan with all aftermarket axles, whereas the factory axles can be rebuilt (rebooted) over and over and over and will certainly go to 300k.

[abscate]

abscate - it's up for re-registration this month, which, with smog, and getting the oil change I'm overdue for before driving cross country, I'd be putting in $500 just to hold on to it for a little longer, and it seems (in my experience) easier/more affordable to buy one on the west coast. (Moving to cape cod ..)
But . . . the main things I was worried about, driving cross country, are the breather box system (too much pressure ruining the seals on the engine?) and the control arm bushings, which are apparently in dire shape. My understanding is that I would really not enjoy having either of these things cause problems somewhere between CA and MA, that they could be somewhat catastrophic . . . But perhaps I'm wrong about that?

Run the glove test, assess the crankcase pressure to gauge if that’s needs work

If the car isn’t squirrelly on the road. The control arm still are probably worn but not dead. If you drive conservatively on interstates, that sounds the best on the suspension you will drive.

MA is Volvo heaven, lots of them here, And lot of good independents that fix them.

[MDK]

Well...I know where there is a 2001 V70 T 5 in Columbus (Heath) Ohio Moundbuilders auto group. Small car lot. They get alot of their cars from auction or Byers Volvo in Columbus.So look out! 149,000 on the odometer. 3500$. If they still have it. Found it on Cars for sale.com. I'd probably move on. Seems like alot of money to throw into a 23 yr old car. Just my opinion though...grain of salt.

[tardcart]

if you get the car here we'll come fix it but it might take a week of us visiting your cap cod house. I got dibs on the sofa.

[abscate]

OK - without getting too into your life...

Volvo Dealer mid Cape in Hyannis. Cape is loaded with money from arrogant NYers, so labor rates can be high, but being from CA, they will be cheap.

If the car handles well, doesn't dive or pull on braking, and the rotors are mirrors and not scored, I would do the trip.

Do the glove test, and if you have pressure, I can send you a modified cap with a fitting and a draft tube - fancy word for a hose that dumps pressure overboard. Moral position - its much more green to extend the life of a car by 12 months than dumping 5 days of oil vapor into the air.

If you are close to move, skip smog, get a car out of state extension, and leave when you have to.

https://www.smogtips.com/out_of_state.cfm

Promise you will come see me in the Great Harbor at Woods Hole - Im on a 26M on a mooring or on Cuttyhunk Island

[erikv11]

Worn control arm bushings are much less of a worry than worn control arm ball joints, FWIW.

Heck, stop here for two hours on your way across (halfway, I'm not far off I-80) and we can just fix the control arms.

[abscate]

Iowa is just west of Montana isnt it?

Are you NoCal or SoCal? (Has to be NoCal, OP writes too well for SoCal)

Serioulsy, we can set you up with the MVS Network inspired by Liverpool FC - can shepard you in. I can cover from MI, Buffalo, Albany, and BOS

"You will never Boost Alone"