Parts list and suppliers

[TheWagles]

Ok. Thanks to some good information on the site, it looks like I will be keeping my 94 850. It does need a lot of TLC but with all the information on here and some help, I think I am up for the challenge of making it a good daily driver. My plan over time is to replace the following:

Head Gasket Kit (Only if needed)
Tune up Kit
Timing belt
water pump
PCV/Flame Trap
Serpentine belt
Brakes

From what I read on here, OEM parts seem to be preferred. Is there a one stop vendor anyone can recommend? Are all the suppliers with ads on the site reputable? Should I find an actual Volvo dealer?

[Ozark Lee]

You can "one stop" it but looking at your list there are some things that the dealers, particularly through their websites, can be very competitive on. In many cases they are actually cheaper than the aftermarket products. Some of the items on your list don't fall into that category though.

The tune up stuff is best bought aftermarket so long as you stay with Bosch for the cap and the rotor and Bougicord for the ignition wires. The water pump is also much cheaper outside of the dealer network. Most of us use a Hepu water pump and I have heard no complaints. I think I have Hepu pumps on every car in my fleet and I have had zero problems. The head gasket kit is another place where the dealer prices are downright scary. The serpentine belt you can get anywhere but you can likely do a bit better on pricing through one of the parts houses like eEuroparts, IPD, or FCP.

The rest of the timing components other than the tensioner are actually cheaper through the dealer than the aftermarket guys. There has been a serious problem with the aftermarket INA "OEM Supplier" tensioner rollers. They are counterfeit and the supplier doesn't seem to care since they have been told repeatedly yet they continue to ship them. At best they will cause the timing belt to not track properly and at the worst the shoulder on the mounting bolt jambs the roller tight against the block and doesn't allow it to pivot after it is torqued down. The tensioner and the belt are a few bucks more through the dealer but you get the nifty official Volvo Byte Exchange sticker that actually holds up over time.

I am getting brake pads cheaper through the dealer's website than I was paying for Mintex Reds.

The PCV stuff is about the same price at the dealer websites as the aftermarket kits but you need to order it by the piece. Forget about the Oetiker clamps, just buy an assortment of worm style clamps for re-assembly. Unless you get a real high dollar flexible crimp tool there isn't sufficient clearance to actually position the tool to make the crimp. If you do decide to go with something aftermarket for the PCV avoid APA/URO parts like the plague. Their hoses, all of their hoses, just turn to mush after a very short period of time - as in months.

With your list I would split the order.

Volvo Country Parts is an advertiser (link at the top of the page) here that is a dealership for OEM stuff. There are a couple of others that many people use like Tasca Ford - http://www.taskaparts.com - and Hendrick / Superior Volvo - http://www.thevolvopartsstore.com/ . I usually patronize the sponsors but I also use Superior since I can order stuff and pick it up at the counter with no freight charges. Watch the freight charges from Tasca, they can be way over the top. Darrell Waltrip Volvo was selling parts mail order for quite a while but for some reason they quit shipping a couple of years ago. That may have actually changed again and they were always very good to work with and their freight charges were quite fair.

...Lee

[jreed]

I would second the good opinion expressed above about Darrell Waltrip. I buy from them frequently (three or four times this year so far). They have good prices. I generally find it's better to know the part numbers of the items you want to buy, just to be sure you're going to get what you need. You can't directly tell what part number is associated with the parts listed on their website. They do have some diagrams of the parts but in general there is no photograph of the part you are going to receive.

http://www.trademotion.com/parts/1997/V ... earchText=

I used to buy from Tasca for a while when DW was not shipping last year. Tasca is OK but I prefer DW. They have better personal service.

[E Showell]

I have to say volvocountryparts is very good as well. They are affiliated with my local dealer, Bridgewater Volvo, and I can order from the website and pick up at the parts counter yet receive web pricing. Parts help at Bridgewater has been very good over the years. I can't recommend them highly enough.

FCP has been good to me as well.