Volvo 850 model year changes 1993 -> 1994

Post by **matthew1** » 09 Nov 2017, 11:24

Updated/summarized in head post and added to MAJOR forum topics - 850, S70, V70, C70 & XC70 thread.

Volvebaker · Post by **Volvebaker** » 27 Nov 2018, 19:19

Hate to revive such an old thread but it seemed better than making a new...

I'm trying to pinpoint any body differences for the 1993 850 and the later years. I have already referenced:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=80640

but I am particularly interested if the doors and lower rocker panel from the later years would fit properly on a '93. I understand that the molding on the doors is different on all later years than '93 (although I have a hard time distinguishing what exactly the change is) but are the doors themselves different? And same question for rocker panels.

Thanks so much for any knowledge that can be shared!

Post by **misha** » 28 Nov 2018, 05:11

They are the same...plastic side trims on the doors are thinner for earlyer models.

Volvebaker · Post by **Volvebaker** » 28 Nov 2018, 07:22

misha wrote: ↑28 Nov 2018, 05:11 They are the same...plastic side trims on the doors are thinner for earlyer models.

Great, thanks for the response! So now riddle me this: would the side molding on later models still fit the ‘93? It would just be thicker than my original molding? Thanks!

Off to the junkyard I go!

Post by **misha** » 28 Nov 2018, 07:32

Side skirts or door trims?

Volvebaker · Post by **Volvebaker** » 28 Nov 2018, 07:35

misha wrote: ↑28 Nov 2018, 07:32 Side skirts or door trims?

Door trim. The side skirts (rocker panels) would fit the exact same, yes?

Post by **misha** » 28 Nov 2018, 07:39

Yes...i even think that they are allready the same for all 850.
Side trims...they should fit...could be that they have different mounting holes(doubt it)...but even then....3M double sided tape will solve this.

Post by **JimBee** » 28 Nov 2018, 12:59

You might need to remove the rear door to remove the rocker panel cover (side trim, you're calling it?). At least on the later models, (I have 2 96 850's) there are plastic pins that are locked into the underside of the top-threshold trim piece that go into locator holes in the horizonal body part underneath it.

So, after you remove the body screws from the lower flange of your trim piece, you need to be able to sort of roll the lower edge outward while lifting the top part with its locator pins upward and out of their holes. It's tricky. I was able to get my trim panel off, but I can't replace it without removing the rear door hinges and having somebody hold up the door while I refit the top part of the trim panel with its pins down into their holes.

Post by **JimBee** » 28 Nov 2018, 13:09

My 96 850 base wagon came to me used (heavily) with steel wheels and the "rubbery plastic" Volvo brand full disc wheel covers. All of the steel wheels eventually had a little warpage, one significant. I was hearing a rythmic sort of thrumbing sound, I think from the runout of that wheel.

I found a nice set of alloys on an XC that I've swapped on. They are laser straight and really improve the looks of the car. Even came with usable tires, one brand new for $36.00 each! That same XC donated a nice quiet rear hub/bearing for that side, too; might have been noisy from the warped rim.

Volvebaker · Post by **Volvebaker** » 28 Nov 2018, 14:09

Reporting back!

JimBee- I think the side trim he was referring to was when I asked about the door trim (i.e. molding) but we were also discussing the rocker panels. Either way, thanks for the added input! Sounds trickier than I first imagined by looking.

Just left salvage yard, they had a door and same color! I pulled it off a ‘94 but will be installing onto my ‘93. Also, I can see clearly now the difference in molding it is about a half inch taller on later models than my ‘93. Though, mine is so worn and discolored I may just swap them all out with later molding some day in the future - we’ll see.

As for the rocker panel the one on the ‘94 was more busted up than mine (tranny shop busted it on their lift then denied and refused to fix

) so for now I will keep searching.

Thanks everyone! Sure do enjoy this forum!

Volvo 850 model year changes 1993 -> 1994

Re: Volvo 850 model year changes 1993 -> 1994