<FONT face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I have a 89 740T. Here is the sequence of events leading up to my current situation. </FONT></P>


Leaky rad hose-Overheats
Leaky rad hose-Overheats - JAn 03
Leaky rad-Overheats

Since the last overheating, used water and oil. Discovered oil in the rad overflow tanks.
Begins pinging/knocking at take off plus now grey smoke...especially under acceleration.
Now...Starter seems to spin, eventually starts. When started...runs exteremely rough like on 3 cylinders. Wants to stall. </P>


Is she all done? Is this all coincidence?</P>


-Big daddy
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Your 3 overheats have likely warped the head causing a gasket failure. Grey smoke indicates water getting into the path of combustion. You might consider pulling out your spark plugs in looking them over. If they have a white/grey sludge on them water is getting in. The reverse could also have happened though. If you developed a leaky head gasket first the engine can draw water in during intake stroke and then force gases out into the cooling system during power stroke. This can easily cause a failure of a rad hose since its about the weekest part of the cooling systemand since you are forcing a lot a pressure into a system only set up to hold in about 15psi something will give. Either way I think you have a problem. Pulling the plugs will tell you which cylinders are affected and therefore which part of the gasket has failed you.

There is NO DOUBT,,,,You have a blown head gasket!!!<IMG src=smileys/smiley19.gif border="0"> I did the SAME thing and I fixed it myself. You will need to have the head milled and new head gaskets. The Volvo repair manual states that you need NEW HEAD BOLTS because they are torque to yield. I examined mine and they were fine and I reused all but one (center lowrer bolt between cyl 2-3) It was extremely rusty on the shank and the threads were pitted. </P>


You will need a 0-100 ft/lb torque wrench and an angle meter to allow you to torque to yield the bolts.</P>


If you need pointers PLEASE ask and I will try to help. This is not all that dificult! just a bit time consuming.</P>