I bought a worn out 98 S70, aka, how these cars can be so expensive

Post by **tryingbe** » 01 Jul 2016, 22:49

I came across a 98 S70 for sale, 254k miles, turbo with manual transmission. I went to check it out and it has non-torn front seats!!! The car was sold with an engine with dead cylinders and I have a working engine at home, so that is not big deal to me. I was told the car have its clutch changed a few years ago, there were also around $1800 worth of receipts of radiator change, struts change, brakes, and etc done few months ago. After a short negotiation, car was mine. Plan was to fix it up and sell it for profit.

After I took everything apart, here is what I found:

Has two dead cylinders on the engine.
Clutch disc worn to the rivets (factory 254k clutch, most likely)
Leaking heater core
All vacuum hoses have cracks
All torn boots on CV shafts
All torn boots on ball joints
Motor mounts are all broken, yes all 5. Transmission mount is ok.
Steering wheel light tan leather is worn to grey
Arm rest skin is all cracked
Rear main started to seep a little
Exhaust gasket are all in pieces
8 rivets are missing on the front mud flaps
Wire plastic insulation crumples when you touch them
A/C clutch gap is at .6 mm
Cracks on the coolant surge tank
PCV system is plugged
Hand brakes adjustment is way off, due to one side brake shoes have no meat
Dead fuel pump
Air pump code
Turbo coolant hoses are old and worn
Dual mass flywheel is worn
Volvo heater hose junction came apart when I undo the heater core hoses

See the shiny rivets? The disc is worn down to the rivets!

Post by **scot850** » 01 Jul 2016, 23:00

And I thought I was nuts with the 850 I took on! I wish you the best of luck with this. My car has a lot fewer 'issues' but they all add up. When car is refurbished it will be stage zero'd and everything working, but currently my budget is already at about $1400, and that is using new and used parts.

I look forward to seeing the progress!

Neil.

Post by **tryingbe** » 01 Jul 2016, 23:10

Plan was to change/upgrade the below

Newer engine with 142k miles, change cam seals, both front and rear main seals, change intake/exhaust manifold gaskets
Single mass flywheel conversion and R 240mm clutch.
New heater core with heater core hose conversion
New silicone vacuum hoses
CV shafts with good boots
All new OE engine mounts
Vinyl steering wheel
Re-skin arm rest
Put in new rivets for the front mud flaps
Wireloom and tape all wires
Re-gapped the A/C clutch gap to .4mm
Change the coolant surge tank
Change PCV system and upgrade the hose
Put in new hand brake shoes
Put in new fuel pump
All new coolant hoses
New fluids for everything, oil, brake fluid, manual trans oil, and coolant
New o-rings for the engine oil cooler hoses

Engine out

Old engine and new engine

New Aisin timing belt kit with Aisin waterpump

Changed to single mass flywheel so save $150 - $200

240mm R clutch

New style exhaust gasket

New engine in

Almost ready

Ready

Newer brake shoe and adjusted the e brake

New armrest skin

Interior done

Newer steering wheel

A/C works!

18 years is a lot of tolls on parts, and they seems to all worn down to nothing at the same time. This is how things can get so expensive!
I have a total of 61 hours and almost $2000 (car + parts + shipping cost) into the entire project so far, just to bring the car close to stage zero. I expected to do maybe 80% of the work that I've done, and I was definitely expecting to see a newer clutch in there instead of a 254k original Volvo clutch. I was not expecting the fuel pump to be dead, nor that there was no meat on one side ofthe brake shoe.

The moral is, when work claim is made, unless the seller have the receipts of the work done, expect the work not done.

I finished up late afternoon today and drove the car for 3 miles today. A/C and the transmission works flawlessly. Need to solve the abs/trac light, and that's probably the last issue before I can say stage zero is done.

Post by **erikv11** » 02 Jul 2016, 00:20

Can you tell me more about that exhaust manifold, is it the part for a newer engine or something? I have a manifold swap coming up, will need gasket(s).

Post by **jreed** » 02 Jul 2016, 05:49

Looks good! Great work on a gorgeous transformation!

Post by **tryingbe** » 02 Jul 2016, 06:45

erikv11 wrote:Can you tell me more about that exhaust manifold, is it the part for a newer engine or something? I have a manifold swap coming up, will need gasket(s).

I used VICTOR REINZ MS19361, but volvo 30777495, 8699467, 86994670 also works. They are for later 2.4/2.5 and are multi-layered steel gasket, they work sooooooo much better than the stupid individual gaskets. For one thing, the gasket will stay in place when you bolt the exhaust manifold on, that can NOT be said about those stupid individual gaskets.

There red part of the gasket have to be cut off, because it interferes with the water pipe. I used a angle grinder to cut if off.

Everything else works and fits perfect.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 02 Jul 2016, 06:58

At $2,000.00 I think you are still right side up. Factory T5M cars are scarce and they are fun.

I was looking at one a couple of years ago that had some issues and he was at $2,250.00 on it. I think it had under 200k on it but I can't remember for sure. We went back and forth a bit but I think he sold it for asking price.

...Lee

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 02 Jul 2016, 10:05

Nice work- that's some dedication!!!
I for one, don't have the funds nor the time to do all that you have done.
That said, and I have said it before- there are some Volvo's that if they were given to me free, I would refuse!!!
This would have been one of them, but then again, you have the time and resources and it is a T5M....Mmmmm!!!

Post by **rguzz** » 02 Jul 2016, 12:16

Admirable work. Your seats look fantastic for a SW car. Gotta love Harry's flywheel. I'm looking at a 96 Platinum sedan neglected, not abused, but it has leaks from everywhere, needs shocks, tires, won't start properly, most likely will need heater core, radiator, a complete go through. Gas in oil and filthy coolant. Very nice southern body. If you have put 60 hours labor so far in to your project, and want to sell it ultimately, you won't be paying yourself much for your labor. I feel I'm in the same boat looking at the Platinum, only my skill set doesn't rival yours so I would need help with the bigger jobs. I figure, in reality the Platinum might be worth 500 bucks max but I should expect to put 4 grand in to it before I'm done (looking at replacing sensors, hoses, fuel pump, cleaning injectors, suspension bits, who knows about starter, alternator, rack). Can't save them all. Sadly, I find myself driving by watching it bake in the summer sun, closed up tight. It will be scrap before the owner comes to her senses regarding it's true value. Be sure to post your car for sale here first when-if you bring yourself to part with it!

Post by **tryingbe** » 02 Jul 2016, 18:18

rguzz wrote:Admirable work. Your seats look fantastic for a SW car.... Be sure to post your car for sale here first when-if you bring yourself to part with it!

Thanks.

Car is pretty much sold to a friend.