1998 V70xc catalytic converter job

pedal2metal · Post by **pedal2metal** » 16 Dec 2014, 10:06

Hello all,

This is my very first post on here. I purchased my '98 xc about 1.5 yrs. ago (my first Volvo), it's been a love/hate relationship since. It has 173k miles and I'm pretty darn sure it needs a new cat. The biggest issue is the gas mileage. The best avg. is always 15ish. (16.3 if you are lucky!) It was 19ish when purchased, but once I did the stage 0 stuff, it tanked, big time.

Anyways, I've replaced everything I can think of except the cat. I did not want to replace it due to the cost, so I kept putting it off until this past week the back weld broke thru. from age. I ordered a new DEC brand one ($486 + free s/h) and it looks really well made; the only bad thing of course is the goose neck where the turbo flange is. My question is how hard is this to do in my driveway and how high should I get the car in the air? I could not find any pictures of this job anywhere online. I know I can cut out the old one to get the neck out easier... but the new one is going to be a bear, I can imagine! -Thanks!

Heres pics of it: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pedal2met ... 323556058/

Post by **tryingbe** » 16 Dec 2014, 13:00

Did you buy a direct replacement cat or just a cat that needs to be welded in?

pedal2metal · Post by **pedal2metal** » 16 Dec 2014, 13:43

Supposedly an exact fit (non weld) This is it: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 70-vo73533. In the orig. post I should have asked whether or not this is a lift only job. I might make tire cradles that can lift the wagon up over 12"; they look like they might work, but it's borderline if I can swing the downpipe in.

Post by **tryingbe** » 16 Dec 2014, 14:00

I've remove/install that piece under my 850 with no problem with basic jack and jack stands. Turbo heat shield, 3 bolts on the turbo flange, 2 oxygen sensors, 4 bolts for the support plate, and 1 band clamp at the end. I don't have AWD with the axle in the way, so I can't tell you more.

pedal2metal · Post by **pedal2metal** » 16 Dec 2014, 14:27

Yea, the awd is a complete disaster to work around to be honest. From what little info. I've gathered, the worst part is swinging it up in from underneath, due to room, plus the end of the pipe hitting your garage floor while trying to angle it up in. I think I might build some of these wood tire cradles, these are cool: http://www.pro-touring.com/threads/8092 ... -RS/page15 It w/b cheaper than buying the Race Ramps cradles. https://www.amazon.com/Race-Ramps-RR-WC- ... merReviews

pedal2metal · Post by **pedal2metal** » 16 Dec 2014, 14:30

The other thing is whether or not the angle gear unit has to come out- some people say yes, others say no. I think I'm going to document the whole procedure so some other person doesn't have to suffer like me trying to find instructions/info./pictures.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 16 Dec 2014, 16:38

On a '98 you might be able to get it in without removing the angle gear but I don't know how. On my '99 there was no way it was going to happen but I think the cat is quite a bit different between the '98 and the '99.

We had one member that cut the downpipe in half, installed the two pieces, and then had a muffler shop weld it back together where it was cut.

Removing the gear isn't all that hard to do but you need to remove the right hand side axle to do it. I will take a look in VIDA for a procedure for you and if I find something I will post it back.

...Lee

pedal2metal · Post by **pedal2metal** » 16 Dec 2014, 16:53

Hi Lee, That bums me out too since I just had the p.s. axle out recently to install a new one; but it was easy- I didn't have to take the brake caliper off like they show on most instructions. The new cat unit looks a lot smaller than the original unit, but that goose neck is the main concern/issue, I guess. My neighbor has access to a lift he went in on, so I might try & get use of it. I just hate not being near all my tools if something goes haywire.

1998v70xcbill · Post by **1998v70xcbill** » 16 Dec 2014, 18:54

good luck, I love to here how you make out. That's lousy mileage. Would love to see the pressure at the exhaust. I guess the only port is the O2 sensor. When you get a lift, let us know the clearance needed for install. That sounds like a good price for the cat to me.

pedal2metal · Post by **pedal2metal** » 16 Dec 2014, 20:54

Thank you. Yes, that price is good; I called FCP and asked if they would match 2 other sites that had the DEC cat for $471 & 477, but the guy sort of balked, but I finally got him down to $486 (from $522). I wanted to use FCP since I've had good luck with them so far. Whats the typical gas mileage supposed to be for these '98 XCs?