98 XC: My First Build- Resurrection of the Cloud

Post by **CIK7** » 25 Jul 2020, 09:12

This will be my official story and build thread of my 98 XC aka the Cloud.

The Cloud's short purchase and life story: The dealer i bought it from, Oklahoma Motorcars in Norman, posted for sale on FB Marketplace black 98 XC $1200. I found it when I was on anxiety-ridden search for P80 wagon. September 30, 2019, I got there, looked at it. Stuffed in back among line of junk cars. A poor sight but still a pile of gold Volvo poop. LOL! I kid you not, I was giddy, smiling the entire time! I test drove it around the lot, and it did pretty good besides a dead battery. Carpet was filthy but seats and dash were mint! I did the head gasket and PCV tests, came out 100% good. The tires were BAD BAD BAD! The tread was separating from where it met the sidewall. But I talked them down to $1000 and traded my 01 V70 base for it and drove home with those tires 130 miles about 50mph. About a week later, I cleaned it with ALL interior out excluding dash and wheel. About November 2019, I went to get junk XC after rainy day. Friend CONVINCED me (i argued a bunch about not doing it) to try pulling him out of mud (his Dodge 2500, my junk XC, his car hauler) with my XC. I had starting/flooding issues since about 5 seconds after that all the time. I had one moderate accident, May 2 2020, that ruined the steering rack and the pass side door/fender. Totalled and issued $2774. I'm kicking myself for not buying a new car, but this was a whole learning experience considering first accident and 25yo. Anyway the engine banged and ground to a halt when I tried to start it again in third week of June. Now onto the rebuild!

I am going from factory 2.4L with red injectors and 13g turbo (GLT & XC for the ones that dont know) to a 2.3L with blue injectors and 19t turbo (technically a V70R AWD but auto). I will post updates with numbers in thread title (update 1 on first update, 2, 3, etc) periodically since I have no car and will only be doing the complete rebuild out at my friends shop. I will post pics of my current engine setup around 7/30/20 or 8/1/20. Will update with part replacements as I go along. The Cloud will stay stormy (black and white) for a while after my engine/AC rebuild and my 2/2021 road trip. Between now and February, I want to find a set of Volvo Antlia wheels (15" of course, less than $400) so i can put on some winter tires before i head to Wisconsin.

callahanoffroad · Post by **callahanoffroad** » 26 Jul 2020, 05:05

Neat! I'm almost done with the restore of my '95. Remember to post lots of pictures!

Post by **abscate** » 26 Jul 2020, 05:13

I’ve got a black front bumper I would love to try to get to you if needed. I *** might**** be driving through on a Covid trip this summer to retrieve old people

Post by **CIK7** » 26 Jul 2020, 10:24

callahanoffroad wrote: ↑26 Jul 2020, 05:05 Neat! I'm almost done with the restore of my '95. Remember to post lots of pictures!

bought a replacement lg v20 just for purpose of taking pictures. i love documenting my progress.

Post by **CIK7** » 26 Jul 2020, 10:25

abscate wrote: ↑26 Jul 2020, 05:13 I’ve got a black front bumper I would love to try to get to you if needed. I *** might**** be driving through on a Covid trip this summer to retrieve old people

ah i see. i might take you up on that offer. doesnt seem to be good white bumpers out there! just fyi, im located in antlers, Oklahoma.

Post by **abscate** » 26 Jul 2020, 12:17

Antlers? Ive herd of that town - they like to hide, and yet still buck trends.

Is it a lot of doe to live out there ?

Post by **CIK7** » 26 Jul 2020, 13:30

abscate wrote: ↑26 Jul 2020, 12:17 Antlers? Ive herd of that town - they like to hide, and yet still buck trends.

Is it a lot of doe to live out there ?

Are you messing with me? You've really heard of Antlers, Oklahoma? How??? Antlers is supposedly deer capital of world. Well Pushmataha is poorest county in Oklahoma, and Antlers is poorest town in Oklahoma. What do you mean 'they like to hide'? Antlers is a crap place to live. Yes its pretty cheap but man its a town that drives me crazy. Lotta crackheads and methheads here. Every other week someone gets arrested for drugs. Its a place where i feel some of the rich people dont have compassion for the poor and are kind of snobbish. The police are slackers. They say they enforce but they dont. They know me because I drive that Volvo with dash cams, which i use to my advantage. A cop pulled me over around 11pm while i was the only car on road and going 31 in a 45. They stopped me for going "76 in a 45". Another time Im riding bike around 4:30pm in the rightmost lane lawfully, some guy gets pissed at me for being in the road, yelling at me and then break checking/stopping in my lane in front of me. Then runs me off of the road onto the narrow shoulder. Police says im not allowed on the road. I set him straight with oklahoma road laws for bicycles. He asked me what he should do. He got irritated when i told him a warning would be appropriate for the driver's road rage and unsafe driving. The police do okay sometimes but mostly act tough plus that cool cop attitude. Im not anti-police, but these some seriously incompetent jokers. Chief is okay, theres a 6 month newbie on the force, former Kevin Kapps was okay, but i say its Robert Lee and James Marzek to watch out for. Its the sheriffs office mostly doing the good. I dont hate anyone, but i hate the city of Antlers. Im sorry for making it a negative subject, but to me it is a crappy town. On plus side, Ameristate Bank, Antlers Pharmacy, Antlers Hardware, Antlers Roof and Truss, NAPA, Antlers Library, Pruetts Foods, and Gardners Grocery have the kindest people you may meet.

callahanoffroad · Post by **callahanoffroad** » 27 Jul 2020, 18:34

abscate wrote: ↑26 Jul 2020, 05:13 I’ve got a black front bumper I would love to try to get to you if needed. I *** might**** be driving through on a Covid trip this summer to retrieve old people

If you do head towards the Midwest plan on stopping by my house in STL for a chef cooked meal.

Post by **SonicAdventure** » 28 Jul 2020, 23:39

abscate wrote: ↑26 Jul 2020, 05:13 I’ve got a black front bumper I would love to try to get to you if needed. I *** might**** be driving through on a Covid trip this summer to retrieve old people

Hey! Would that be the front bumper off of the '98 I sold to you? Would that work here? He's calling this car an XC, but the profile pic looks like an 850. I'm confused...

Hey CIK7, are you looking for a Cross Country front bumper or a regular 70's series? By the way, what the heck happened to the black and white car in the photograph? Is that a car you wrecked and put together from parts of a white car? Or did you buy it this way

... and plan to restore it???

Post by **abscate** » 29 Jul 2020, 04:34

SonicAdventure wrote: ↑28 Jul 2020, 23:39
abscate wrote: ↑26 Jul 2020, 05:13 I’ve got a black front bumper I would love to try to get to you if needed. I *** might**** be driving through on a Covid trip this summer to retrieve old people
Hey! Would that be the front bumper off of the '98 I sold to you? Would that work here? He's calling this car an XC, but the profile pic looks like an 850. I'm confused...

Hey CIK7, are you looking for a Cross Country front bumper or a regular 70's series? By the way, what the heck happened to the black and white car in the photograph? Is that a car you wrecked and put together from parts of a white car? Or did you buy it this way ... and plan to restore it???

It is. Still in the driveway because every time I go to dump it someone comes by and buys parts, and I give the money to SWMBO, who then tells her she can stay another week. I still have to harvest front and rear suspensions

CIK7 , it is a 1998 base V70 front bumper