'97 850 GLT metal in oil?

mika · Post by **mika** » 12 Aug 2015, 13:55

The other guys will have to chime in. If I remember correctly, it is easier to pull out the tran attached to the engine. Junkyard have a nice safe hoist you can use. Besides that, everything just comes out and it take some time.

if you are having reservations, keep looking for a different car. Don't overlook outlets like ebay and craigslist. Depends on your comfort level, I know I would not feel safe swapping engines by myself, but maybe you do? or maybe you have a friend that can help if that's the route you want to go with.

BTW: Why are you set on the LPT? I have a HPT, and really like to drive my N/A most days. Less fiddling, and if you can find a manual transmission with an NA, you could be golden.

Update: In my experience, don't be sold that the engine is bad. Bring your breaker bar with extension, pull the pass wheel, peal the fender, and crank the engine over on the crankshaft pulley bolt. You will be feel it out. Compression guage would not hurt. How are you certain there is "metal in the oil?" Just because owner says so?

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 12 Aug 2015, 15:36

mika wrote:The other guys will have to chime in. If I remember correctly, it is easier to pull out the tran attached to the engine. Junkyard have a nice safe hoist you can use. Besides that, everything just comes out and it take some time.

if you are having reservations, keep looking for a different car. Don't overlook outlets like ebay and craigslist. Depends on your comfort level, I know I would not feel safe swapping engines by myself, but maybe you do? or maybe you have a friend that can help if that's the route you want to go with.

BTW: Why are you set on the LPT? I have a HPT, and really like to drive my N/A most days. Less fiddling, and if you can find a manual transmission with an NA, you could be golden.

Update: In my experience, don't be sold that the engine is bad. Bring your breaker bar with extension, pull the pass wheel, peal the fender, and crank the engine over on the crankshaft pulley bolt. You will be feel it out. Compression guage would not hurt. How are you certain there is "metal in the oil?" Just because owner says so?

I'm not at all set on LPT, I would love an HPT V70, but those aren't easy to find. I said that because I am looking for a dirt cheap project car, and if I am going to get an 850 GLT, I'd prefer a '97 to an older, naturally aspirated one. I don't really have anything specific I'm looking for. I'd just like an older Volvo, because I've never actually had a Volvo. I'd also like a turbo, because I've never had a turbo, either.

I'm not certain that there is metal in the oil, I am just going by what the owner says. I was asking so I could get an idea of what may be wrong with the car.

If I go to look at this car, I will definitely do that.

Aside, how is the power on your N/A? I am considering this V70 N/A, but the fact that it is naturally aspirated is what was keeping me away from it at first. It has a salvage title and an overheating problem (which is due to a coolant leak that the owner cannot diagnose), but I think at $400, it's not a horrible buy.

Post by **misha** » 12 Aug 2015, 19:15

170hp engine have a plenty of power.It's not powerfull like T5 with 225hp or T5R,but it's pretty fast.

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 13 Aug 2015, 08:09

misha wrote:170hp engine have a plenty of power.It's not powerfull like T5 with 225hp or T5R,but it's pretty fast.

Good to know. My mom's Elantra has 148 hp, and that's not awful to drive, but I figured the Volvo wouldn't handle it as well, being the bigger car. Then again, it has 20 more horsepower.

mika · Post by **mika** » 13 Aug 2015, 08:25

just to be honest, I have had the NA enginges and there are some extraneous factors that can make them feel "slow:" if unresolved: rear E-brake pads seized, throttle cable that is dried out, CLOGGED PCV. My v70 had all of the previous issues and it felt like a snail. Once I dealt with issues, car felt like new. But, I once drove a manual version of my car, felt like a Ferrari or a sports car. That manual tranny really opens up the NA engine

Post by **oragex** » 13 Aug 2015, 08:32

That car might be tired, but seems they took care of it with the replaced parts. It might still run for another 20000 miles without major repairs. I'd guess, there was an engine pressure light for a while because of an blown oil pan ring seal so the engine is shot for sure. You can drop a used engine for perhaps $1000 parts included. I won't trust a 200000 miles Passat no matter what. Had one with 150000 miles but it was a family car well cared for.

Post by **misha** » 13 Aug 2015, 08:33

bmdubya1198 wrote:Good to know. My mom's Elantra has 148 hp, and that's not awful to drive, but I figured the Volvo wouldn't handle it as well, being the bigger car. Then again, it has 20 more horsepower.

You will be surprised how good suspension and handling it have.Overall...it was advertised as a sports luxury car.

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 13 Aug 2015, 10:28

misha wrote:
bmdubya1198 wrote:Good to know. My mom's Elantra has 148 hp, and that's not awful to drive, but I figured the Volvo wouldn't handle it as well, being the bigger car. Then again, it has 20 more horsepower.
You will be surprised how good suspension and handling it have.Overall...it was advertised as a sports luxury car.

I'm sure. My cousin has a 1999 T5, and the car feels great around corners for being front wheel drive. Easily the best FWD car I've been in. I haven't driven it more than moving it around quickly, but I really like how the car feels. Very quick, even though his isn't really up on maintenance. He's probably got a badly clogged PCV, needs some spark plugs, a new oil filter, air filter... the list goes on!

Post by **abscate** » 13 Aug 2015, 12:16

I buried the BMW racer again this morning on the way to work. He just doesn't learn. Once my T5 hooks up, he gets to watch VOLVO........volvo......volvo

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 13 Aug 2015, 15:23

abscate wrote:I buried the BMW racer again this morning on the way to work. He just doesn't learn. Once my T5 hooks up, he gets to watch VOLVO........volvo......volvo

Haha... nice. I could imagine how fast my cousin's T5 would be in better shape. I really need to get one.