Estate T-5R 1995 Opinions on restoration and modification

[JRL]

Never use used tune up parts.

[villagepc]

Really? Wow, I must be really fcking stupid to even consider using a different set, albeit used, to troubleshoot the issues with this car.

In fact, why don't I just go and buy a brand new transmission, engine, turbo and all the rest of the parts for the car that I suspect might be bad too? I'll just run out and buy a new AC evaporator and tear apart the dash since the one that's in the car is used, and we all know they go bad. And since I'm on a roll buying up all these new parts, why don't I just go and buy a brand new 95 T5R while I'm at it? Better yet, let me invest 15k on a car and not turn a profit.... not even breaking even, but taking a 4k loss to boot.

Never use used tune up parts.

Never invest more than what the market will bear.

You're absolutely right. I should invest another $200 in brand new plugs, cap, rotor just to see if the car will move under it's own power. Wouldn't that be just wonderful to find out that the transmission didn't shift out of first gear after plunking down the money in "tune-up" parts? You're really smart! What would the world do without individuals such as yourself to point out the obvious?

For me, this is a hobby. I don't rely on this 700.00 beater to get me back and for to some thankless job where I must punch a time clock, where the most important question that I ask all day is "would you like fries with that?"

You know what the best thing about it is? When this car sells, it will probably be to some other know-it-all jackass who will be none-the-wiser about the cap and rotor on the car - or any other junkyard scrap part that gets installed on it. As it was pointed out so eloquently, this car is rare only to Volvo enthusiasts, and the performance gains it has over a standard turbo can be negated by simply getting a flash from IPD. Whatever. I'm going to flip this car for a cool $3000 when all is said and done and make an estimated $2k in profit. But I shouldn't use "used tune up parts". You're right.

Thanks JRL for your input. If you have any more useless information to supply on this particular thread feel free to chime in, okay? I'll be sure to hold my breath waiting for the next nugget of wisdom you may impart. In the meantime, sit back and relish the delight you must be enjoying now by pushing yet another individual away from this site with your comments.

[matthew1]

Guys, keep it on topic please. Any further off-topic posts in here will be deleted.

[villagepc]

Spent half a day dumpster diving at the picknpull.... today's booty was:
Speedo gauge cluster
SC-816 Radio (called a Volvo Dealer for the code)
10 or so interior switches - dimmer / headlight / hazzards
Couple of OEM speakers that looked ok...
Bosch (072) ECU
I wasn't certain if my car had the filter assembly under the cowling - so I grabbed one
extra spare tire
2 sets of Hella Headlamp glass
the keyswitch deal in the steering column- the one that fails?

I worked hard to pull the turbo off of the car... I broke a craftsman 12mm socket in the process.. the bolts and bracket that attach the downtube to the block were quite...difficult to remove.
Sooooo... I fiddle fart around in my attempt to remove the turbo without even thinking of reaching inside and checking the bearings / endplay. This things got more swagger than John Wayne... I'll probably go back tomorrow to pick it up - I'll have the attendees pick the car up out of the dirt so I can actually get to the last bolt and coolant line (?) I may even take the exhaust manifold off and get it modified a little... I realize that the newer exhaust mani's are a better design, but I'm not trying to build a Hayabusa killer here.... just some fun. I'm tempted to buy the whole motor / tranny as a spare to rebuild....I ran an Autochek on the VIN and the last reported mileage recorded was in 2005 - 156k! I haven't decided on it yet...

All I've really got left to do now (mechanically) is get the dang washer fluid light extinguished, Central locking system on the driver's door... I haven't driven it for fear of a timing belt disaster - going to replace the whole enchilada in there - water pump, any seals there... tensioners... and the PCV. Been looking for an intake manifold thats been polished / gasket matched (ported would be nice) to install rather than use the original one while I do the flametrap job...

Thought I needed a muffler until I took a good look at the system and discovered it's the IPD exhaust kit on there... bonus prizes!

[villagepc]

CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM

If anything is worth doing, it's worth doing twice....

Apparently there are two different iterations / types of central locking systems employed on the 850. Heck there could be more, but I can only vouch for my experience today.

Pulled a CLS out of an 850 NA (1996) yesterday. I noticed it had a switch on the dash to unlock the doors. My 855 does not. I thought - no big deal.

Well - that CLS system with the switch on the dash is missing a couple of important wires in the harness to make it compatible with the system that's in my car.
It would lock ALL doors.
It would unlock the drivers door.
It would then make the fn alarm go off.
Had to walk around to the passenger's side to disarm.

Luckily - I pulled another CLS out of this other turbo wagon I've been scavenging. It works fine. It has the additional wires that match up with my system.

If need be, I can post pictures - I did a cursory search of the board here and came up dry.

Going to button it up now. Now I can open the door consistently without having to "jiggle the handle". I'll check to see if it fixed the open door chimes of hell too.....
post l8r

[villagepc]

All codes clear.

All that's left to do is the timing belt and PCV system... wooo.

...then I can start on the interior / paint / body.