98 XC: UPDATE on The Cloud Topic is solved

Post by **CIK7** » 15 Jun 2020, 16:40

WARNING: long story, not short.
Back in Jan 2019, I asked to buy but received a free white 98 XC which I thought surely had potential to be fixed up. It turned out to be too much to be done. I would've had to pull tranny for RMS (PCV clogged), ENTIRE engine bay was covered in a coat of oil, windshield done for, a few other things bad. I prenamed the car anyway 'The Cloud' (white, silent, and a comfy ride). I was still gonna put all that money into it and then realized how crazy that was. So I gave up. I gave it back to owner. Then I got a great deal by trading my 01 v70 base (178k) straight across for a black 98 XC (143,995). I've never had a lower mileage car before. Impala and v70 mileage were both 175k+. This black XC they had listed for $1200 and didn't want to bring it into the front lot because asthetics were very unsatisfactory to average customer.
Well since 9/30/19, I've bought the white XC back for $50 and put a lot of work into the black one to make it mine. This is the update of 'The Cloud', the transformation of my black-to-white XC.
Color codes: black XC-3960 light beige (LB), junk white XC-3980 oak.
interior related: black XC 3960 came with 3980 front seats
removed headliner, not replaced, coming soon
swapped all LB rear seating, door panels, dashpad, steering wheel, door/trunk thresholds, and available trim with oak
replaced factory driver seat upholstery with 06 XC90 upholstery (kept the headrest, upholstery for sale on classifieds)
cracked/missing wood grain mid console replaced with 99 s70 t5 mid console
tons of LED strips- for another post!
Engine related: iridium spark plugs, new pcv (10/19), all new vacuum lines replaced and remapped (someone had mixed them all up), air filter, coolant bottle and coolant
body related:
first the white doors and trunk lid from junk white replaced the black ones.
2 white fenders from jy
I got into minor accident 5/2/20, totalled by other driver's insurance. Used some of that to replace the damaged door and fender, but also the peeled faded-almost rusty hood with white one.
swapped 98 v70 base AWD wheels for 99 s70 T5 (same one with the replacement console)
replaced the fiberglass (ridiculously prickly) headlight mount (been damaged since day I bought it) with undamaged one (still ridiculously prickly)
FINALLY added on factory corner lights without breaking them. now the headlights, corner lights, and fenders all line up.
got 2 grilles, have old and new Volvo logo grilles
swapped black rear bumper for white
junked the black front and rear bumper cover (not required in Oklahoma)
This is all I've done for now. I've gotta get carpet replaced, rest of lights installed, new white rear and front bumper covers, white rear door trim, S80 upholstery, and not to mention installing the many maintenance parts piled up in my front closet. I will make another 2 posts: 1 for the LED lights and 1 for 2nd update, which won't be for a while. read the picture captions for better understanding

Post by **abscate** » 16 Jun 2020, 04:42

Ah, so happy to see that the egg crate isn’t in any of those pictures

Why did the chicken XC the road?

To avoid the egg crate.

That would look sharp with black fenders , by the way. I love the white fuel door.

Post by **CIK7** » 16 Jun 2020, 13:00

abscate wrote: ↑16 Jun 2020, 04:42 Ah, so happy to see that the egg crate isn’t in any of those pictures

Why did the chicken XC the road?

To avoid the egg crate.

That would look sharp with black fenders , by the way. I love the white fuel door.

I still need to swap that rear grey trim with the whites in my closet.
yes the egg crate style isn't really appealing.
Good one!
Ok so you think my car would look best the way it is but with black fenders? Why? cop style?
yes I do like how the fuel door stands out.

Post by **CIK7** » 22 Jun 2020, 03:29

Cloud may have seen its last drive this last Tuesday.

Post by **abscate** » 22 Jun 2020, 04:04

CIK7 wrote: ↑22 Jun 2020, 03:29 Cloud may have seen its last drive this last Tuesday.

Don’t you have another engine from the parts car, worst case? Engine swaps on these are pretty easy. We need to hook you up to a local OK guide dog for support.

Post by **CIK7** » 28 Jun 2020, 22:36

abscate wrote: ↑22 Jun 2020, 04:04
CIK7 wrote: ↑22 Jun 2020, 03:29 Cloud may have seen its last drive this last Tuesday.
Don’t you have another engine from the parts car, worst case? Engine swaps on these are pretty easy. We need to hook you up to a local OK guide dog for support.

junk car has bad engine. Robert Spinner said I needed to check the timing on my daily before I decided how i want to replace the engine. need to decide if I want to rebuild or replace. rebuilding would be a pretty penny I think. I want to do this right. I want at least a 16t if not 18t or 19t. Robert said the computer can stay in my car; doesn't need to be changed with engine. I think I'm gonna look for a 2.3L manual donor. always wanted a 16t/18t with manual. if timing is bad or engine will not turn over via manual crank, I'm taking the whole engine apart.

Post by **FLXC90** » 29 Jun 2020, 20:22

I agree, cost to rebuild may be prohibitive for you right now. look for a good replacement engine. 2.3 or 2.4 turbo. The 2.4 can still accept the 16t with a reasonable tune. In fact, because of one-point higher static compression, it will have a slight advantage over the 2.3. 2.4 turbos might be more plentiful also, since they were in the GLTs, GLT AWDs, and XCs. And also look for 1996-98 850 turbos, T-5s and Rs, as well as X70 t-5s.

Post by **SonicAdventure** » 29 Jul 2020, 23:57

abscate wrote: ↑16 Jun 2020, 04:42 Ah, so happy to see that the egg crate isn’t in any of those pictures

Why did the chicken XC the road?

To avoid the egg crate.

That would look sharp with black fenders , by the way. I love the white fuel door.

Wow if I had known you didn’t like the egg crate grill I would have kept it LOL. Would that fit on an 850? If so, how much to send back to me

??

Post by **abscate** » 30 Jul 2020, 03:44

SonicAdventure wrote: ↑29 Jul 2020, 23:57
abscate wrote: ↑16 Jun 2020, 04:42 Ah, so happy to see that the egg crate isn’t in any of those pictures

Why did the chicken XC the road?

To avoid the egg crate.

That would look sharp with black fenders , by the way. I love the white fuel door.
Wow if I had known you didn’t like the egg crate grill I would have kept it LOL. Would that fit on an 850? If so, how much to send back to me ??

I think it will fit. I’ll drop it next time I’m through your way. I’ve got a dozen or so up here in their shells

If you are doing ok, you put a few bucks back Into the MVS financial Distress program.