rebuild head or replace engine??

smviolette · Post by **smviolette** » 27 Sep 2010, 09:42

The timing belt on my 2000 S80 with 140K miles slipped. compression test indicates valves bent. no visual on bent valves yet.

2 mechanics recommend replacing whole engine with used engine ($1000 to 1500k for engine and $2400 labor&parts). Too much money for an old Volvo worth only $3500 to 4000 running.

I have tried to look thru Forum for answers but, need your help on what to do. Only thing that makes sense is DIY repair. I have a lot of experience with car repair but, have never pulled a head or replaced an engine. I have the time, just need some direction and tips. I have VADIS already and PPC diagnostic.

1) replace cylinder head with rebuilt one. Recommendation for rebuilt head?? Bad idea if valves hit pistons? What should I look for when the head is removed? What indicates terminal damage when I open head?

2) replace whole engine with used one. Vadis has you dropping whole sub frame. Not the best idea in my garage. I saw a couple of people mention lifting the engine out the top way. I would prefer to lift just the engine vs. engine & trans. Comments? Directions?

Any and all help, links, tips appreciated. Promise to take a lot of pictures and post when I complete repair.

Post by **billofdurham** » 27 Sep 2010, 12:25

Welcome to Matthew's Volvo Site.

Until you pull the head and determine if there is any piston damage, which is usually quite visible, suggestions and tips for doing the job are hard to formulate. I have seen engines with valves badly bent but no damage to the pistons. My son's Vauxhall Carlton had a snapped belt and there was damage to neither valves nor pistons.

Bill.

Retired MVS Contributor · Post by **Retired MVS Contributor** » 27 Sep 2010, 13:12

I think you are right, a DIY is in order...Look in the repair data base at the top of this forum...There is an excellent, well documented, well illustrated write-up on cylinder head replacement...The only difference is that his was an 850 and valve timing is different than yours will be, but you have Vadis...This fellow sent his head out to a shop, (recommended) but you could do it yourself, too...You will need a valve spring compressor, about $60, but you might be able to rent one...You will have to remove the head to check for piston damage...I have never heard of piston damage, just bent valves...That does not mean that it does not happen, it would probably depend on how fast the engine was running when the belt let go...

The intake valves are most likely the ones that will be bent, they are bigger in diameter...They are usually not bent enough to be see with the naked eye...To find out which valves are bent, pour a small amount of alcohol into the intake port with the head resting on it's side and with the intake side up...Good valves will not leak, the bent ones will leak...You could service only the bent valves, but with the mileage you have it might be wise to do the whole magilla...I guess it would depend on how long you plan to keep the car...

Tappet clearance is important so if you decide to do the whole job yourself it is IMPERATIVE to make sure the tappets get back into the same place they came from by using some means of marking them...A numbered board or such will work...If you have to adjust tappet clearance you will need to buy tappets which come in assorted thicknesses...They are expensive!!!...There is a way to adjust clearance with out replacing the tappets, but it is too involved to explain here, UNLESS you decide to go that route, in which case I will follow up...

smviolette · Post by **smviolette** » 28 Sep 2010, 08:35

Vadis has 3 specialized tools needed to remove cylinder head.

Tool: 999-5452 timing gear puller

: timing gear pulley.gif (49.85 KiB) Viewed 10892 times

999-5452 (x2) wing nut camcover puller
999-5670 pliers for removing cam cover.

: cam cover removal.gif (94.78 KiB) Viewed 10893 times

Are these really necessary? Are there alterntives?

00_Coupe · Post by **00_Coupe** » 29 Sep 2010, 18:16

Hello,

You can pull the intake manifold off and you will see all the bent intake valves.

In my opinion just the cost in valves/headgasket is around $800 with aftermarket parts. Get yourself a good used engine (I found one for $1000 with both turbos). The engine comes out from the top.

I did not need any tools replacing the timing belt, but the cam cover tool can be made using the came principal.

PM me if you have any questions