98 S70 133K Rebuild or Replace

Post by **rmmagow** » 24 Mar 2014, 08:33

My wife's 98 S70 was purchased by me about 18 months ago. I was seduced by the low (120K) miles on the car and really flunked my due diligence inspection and test ride. Anyway, embarrassing since I'm supposed to "know" about cars and really got taken for a ride.....again.

It needs the timing belt job, an exhaust manifold replacement, strut rubbers in front, mounts in back and a newish driver's seat. The timing belt and exhaust will set me back about $700.00, about $175.00 a side for the strut work. Rear mounts are cheap and I'll do them. I've also got an unknown steering issue that could be a rack.
I am thinking to sell the car for $750 to $1000.00 is possible (with a list of the issues) and finding her a newer S60, say around $6000.00 for an 04 or better. Is the S70 worth fixing? Yes, my wife does like the car and a pristine 850/S70 would be an option. This is the second time I got nailed buying a Volvo that was really a crapper, my first was a 740 wagon. My first ever Volvo was a V70R (98) that now I realize wasn't really a bad car and should have been kept. Is $750.00 to $1000 reasonable? I is in daily use and has my states inspection until 2015 and no cels. Started and ran during this super cold winter with no issues.

Post by **kahl** » 24 Mar 2014, 09:10

I really like this era Volvos. Most of your issues are typical maintenance items. With my limited abilities I would have a shop do the TB, EM and rack. the rear mounts and strut work I would do myself. I would also look at some future maint such as PCV, control arms etc that may be coming do for replacement.

IMO it would be a repair as needed and drive it another 100K.

Post by **rmmagow** » 24 Mar 2014, 09:51

Thanks for that. I too lean a lot to the 97/98's as I can work on them. Other than the rack, I could do everything myself including PCV and even control arms. Do I want to I guess is my main thought. I am pricing out parts right now and looking for advice about after market manifolds. It is a lot of work and with the short summer I wanted to get my other cars up and running. Maybe I'll start with the TB and manifold and go from there. At least my wife still likes the old thing and wants to keep it Volvo no matter what I decide.

Post by **rspi** » 24 Mar 2014, 09:52

Doesn't sound like a bad car to me. I'd keep it if the motor is strong (good compression).

Post by **rspi** » 24 Mar 2014, 09:55

Get a used Volvo manifold. Can't imagine them being much.

Post by **rmmagow** » 24 Mar 2014, 10:07

Hard to find around here and some of the aftermarket (OBX and the swedishautolamps guy on Ebay) ones look decent. Engine is solid and the PCV still sucks the glove. Tranny is good and fluid is new. As of this moment, I am leaning to keeping it. The mechanic I've been using also has cars for sale occasionally. I'm pretty sure he'd offer me a decent couple of bucks off one of his fixups. They are damn good mechanics and their cars are old but fixed up pretty well before they sell them on. I don't know, if I had just a little more space I'd keep it and fix it. I don't want to park it in the back yard due to out of site, out of mind issues. Big yard and maybe a tarp on the ground to keep it from rusting out. I hate to abandon a decent car even if I made a mistake paying too much for it. I think I paid $2600.00 for it, at $1500.00 or so I'd have been OK. We'll see I guess. TB's gotta get done now regardless. I'm on deep borrowed time, around 85000 on current belt.

jmana · Post by **jmana** » 24 Mar 2014, 11:46

You can't do the timing belt yourself? I always thought they were really hard to do, which is what justified the $800 price tag on replacing them, but I changed out the belt on my 850 and it wasn't terribly difficult, just really tight quarters to work in. You also mention something about a seat, you could probably find a good seat at a junkyard for a couple hundred. You say you paid $2,600 and are thinking of selling it for $1,000 at a loss of $1,600. That just doesn't make any sense. Even if you paid a mechanic $800 for the timing belt, and for the strut "rubbers" and to replace the exhaust manifold, you certainly wouldn't be out $1,600! Just get it fixed, and drive it the next 100,000 miles!

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 24 Mar 2014, 13:07

Manifold or down pipe?

Post by **jblackburn** » 24 Mar 2014, 13:54

If it doesn't also also need things like brakes, tires, axles, a PCV overhaul, AC evaporator, oil/coolant leaks everywhere, electrical issues...you know, all of the typical Volvo problems...I'd be tempted to keep this one and do the work to it, especially with the price you paid for it. The non-turbos aren't the most exciting to drive, but I think they're good cars.

Throw in some new radiator hoses when you do the timing belt/WP job.

Post by **abscate** » 24 Mar 2014, 15:37

Keeper based on those financials, even paying Volvo to do that work. Anything you do yourself is just even more gravy on the steak..