2 broken V70 T5 Volvos with complementary failures Topic is solved

[tnkenmcd]

940s were only available with Inline 4s. That's what the 4 in 940 stands for. The 5s arrived with the 850. The 940 was a slightly updated version of the 70s designed 80s launched 740.

It's been years and years ago, but I know I had an inline 940 RWD, so I guess it was 4. Turbo. Great car. I ran it into the ground parts-wide but the engine never failed. I think the worst thing about Volvo parts overall is that the plastic breaks down, everywhere. I even had a chunk of intake box break off and jam the intake once...

Oh yeah, now I remember. It broke the timing belt once when the wife unit was driving it. Beauty of the non-interfering engine. I changed it in a bank parking lot on a weekend, right where it stopped. lol

[tnkenmcd]

So I think I'll search for a used fictitious Volvo station wagon RWD manual with T5. If only...

[Rattnalle]

So I think I'll search for a used fictitious Volvo station wagon RWD manual with T5. If only...

There are a few custom built ones over here. Engine monts to fit I5s into the 7 and 9 series cars are readily available.

[oragex]

6'7" 250lbs here. My fav cars were RX-7s. Fit like glove and having your butt just in front of the rear wheel was a blast.


That's impressive. Only car I remember I couldn't fit my legs under the steering wheel was also a Mazda, but a Miata 1st gen. Tried everything, every position, angle, not dice, no way my legs would get in there.

[June]

940s were only available with Inline 4s. That's what the 4 in 940 stands for. The 5s arrived with the 850. The 940 was a slightly updated version of the 70s designed 80s launched 740.

Perhaps he had a 960? That had what you guys call a white engine but 6 cylinder not 5. June

[SuperHerman]

It doesn't sound like you are willing to put any work into the cars or your heart is not in it. Nothing on those cars is terribly difficult to repair. Time consuming yes, difficult no. Timing the engine can be tricky, but if I recall the 2001 only has one VVT.

In addition as you are doing the head gasket - you do not even need to take the VVT hub off - just pull the unit off with everything connected. Make your VVT cam movement marks before hand. Replace the front cam seal from the other end while it is off the head. That is what I did on my 2001 XC70 with a blown head gasket. I loaned it to someone and they pretty much did exactly what you describe occurred to yours. Hose leak, ran the coolant empty, overheated and blew the head gasket. Chocolate milk oil. I pulled the head, had it machined, did the seals and lapped the valves, and put it back together. Ran without issues and showed no signs of overheat.

The entire head gasket process has been addressed in countless posts and write ups on this forum so read through them and decide if you have the skills and ambition. The condition of my 2001 was much as you describe yours. The only concern is if it has rusted cylinders from sitting - which you will know when you pull the head. Most likely they are fine as the coolant and oil mix affords some protection.

If the 2001 is scrap, the CVs may transfer over to the 2002. The valve body solenoids will transfer over - maybe the entire valve body.

On the second car - look here to see what is involved for the valve body work:

http://www.volvoxc.com/0/resources/how- ... -Notes.pdf

Buy the TransGo kit for $100 and rebuild the valve body and solenoids per the kit. Replace with new transmission fluid and see what happens. Maybe the clutch packs still have enough material they will work. If they do not pull the transmission and rebuild it yourself. It is not that difficult to rebuild a transmission if you acquire the proper repair manual. You just need to be organized. If you get to the point of needing to rebuild the transmission and want to give it a go I have 95% of a rebuild kit in my basement - yours for shipping.

So - check your budget and desire and decide. It will not be easy and it may not turn out how you want, but if you start with the 2001 HG - and the block is toast - you can then pull parts over and repair the 2002. Price out the parts before taking anything apart (call around to see how much it will cost to mill the head (usually around $80-100 here), see if you are still in, and then start on the 2001 and see if the engine block is usable. If it is order your parts.

On the 2001 you can just put time into it taking the head off without spending any money - once the head is off you will know the engine condition. You can always post pictures if in doubt.

[tnkenmcd]

...

Thanks for the thorough and comprehensive reply. The tools and skills part are no big deal for me. I really needed some comments from more experienced people here about strategies given my options. Your comments certainly helped.

I do think going after the HG is the way to go. The 2001 needs timing belt and lots of hoses of course. Both cars need suspensions. I like having the parts car around. Before I got the 2002, I had a 2001 S60 as a parts car for the 2001. That's where I got a throttle control when that $1000 part broke in the 2001. Fortunately, I haven't used parts off the 2001 for the 2002 yet.

At this point, I don't want to buy a brand new car or a newer Vo model for another $3-4K, and I always liked having a 250HP station wagon. I really think after I get one of these V70's to work, I'm just going to buy an old Volvo RWD and restore/bling it out. Really would like a stick shift turbo RWD wagon. Does that sound too much mid-life crisis'ish? From what I understand, it's hard to find manual trans Volvo's in US

[abscate]

There are plenty out there but they will need the 2-3k refurbishment to be daily drivers

[bmdubya1198]

Track down a 740 Turbo wagon. Those are the last ones to come in manual here in the States, and they can be had for pretty cheap. I paid $300 for my sedan, but I've had to put a LOT of work into it. That all depends on if you want a project...

Anyway, I'd fix the head gasket on the 2001 first. Both cars look pretty nice overall, so I probably wouldn't tear them apart for parts. You could find a good used transmission for the 2002, but make sure you KNOW it's in good shape. The AW55-50SN isn't a great transmission. I found it easier to do a manual swap on my 2000 R than try to find a good AWD AW55.

As for the head gasket replacement, though, make sure you get a good quality kit from somewhere like FCP, and don't skimp on machine work especially since you say it was overheated multiple times. Get the head milled and check the block deck for flatness. You don't want anything to be warped, because it will almost certainly leak again within a couple weeks. Ask me how I know...

Timing isn't hard. The first time I dealt with the VVT, I was thrown for a loop and it took a while to figure things out. After doing it twice now, it really isn't hard. Just make sure everything is properly aligned and you won't have anything to worry about. A cam locking too is especially useful with VVT.
The Volvospeed guys were very helpful for the VVT stuff, lots of resources over there if you need info on that.

[tnkenmcd]

Would I have success putting this replacement transmission valve body in the 2002? Seems better than trying to refit the new solenoids myself and the price is right. $266

https://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-AW55VL-Tra ... 2708771867