Hi Guys,

Pulling the starter off an '89 780 Bertone with the 2.3 B230FT for another forum member. This thing is giving me fits. Any advice? Here's my other post to him:

Broke the top bolt free and got it off, but the bottom bolt will not budge. Cant reach it from the top of the bay, so crawled under and am just not getting enough torque to break it loose. Barely got my head to the point that I could even see the bolt. By the way, these bolt heads are facing the firewall with BARELY enough clearance to fit a slim access ratchet over. Bottom bolt is slightly more accessible. WHY Volvo did this, I don't know. Okay, @!%$# session over.

It's soaking in PB Blaster right now. There just isn't enough clearance from the ground to fit a breaker bar over the ratchet. My buddy is supposed to be coming over after work with his floor jack. Hopefully he comes through.

Keeping you updated. Oh, included a nice picture of the arm from getting the top bolt off. Now I know why mechanics wear long sleeves. There's about 10 degrees of arc that the ratchet can swing on that top bolt. Took ages.

 

I usually have good luck with a universal and a loooong extension and breaker bar from underneath the car. After the bolt gives - all the tools go flying everywhere like playing 52 card pickup. Good luck!

 

Hey Smith Volvo,

Have a 10" 1/4" extension that I'm adapting to the 3/8" ratchet with a 3/8 to 1/4 adapter. Had to borrow my neighbor's "slip-through??" slim ratchet with (luckily) his 19mm socket for the top bolt. Man that thing has tight clearance against the firewall. All Harbor Freight Specials by the way. My set goes to 15mm. Got a Snap-On catalog in the mail today though lol.

It's the ground clearance that's the problem. Sitting on soft dirt. Scissor jacks just sink and tip. Need a floor jack to do this right. Thanks for the encouragement.

 

By the way, there's a 3/8" 3" extension that I'm also fitting in there between the socket wrench and adapter; as well as a 2" "swivel joint??" between the 1/4" extension and 15mm and below 1/4" sockets. 52 Card Pickup is apt. What I would give for a 2mm - 24mm 3/8" and 1/2" Craftsman set with 3/8 and 1/2 beam torque wrenches and an angle gauge... About $200 that's what! I need to tighten up promptly! This being broke $#!+ has gotta stop.......

 

Don't know about the bottom bolt but saw a video where someone drilled through the firewall to gain access to top bolt...maybe that will work for the bottom.

When i did this job i used a 2 foot extension and then some of i remember right

 

First get a better jack situation--scissor jack on soft ground is not good, in it can kill you!
I have never done a 780 starter but should be like a 740/760. I have had luck using a long flat open end wrench from the top sliding it along the firewall... Otherwise, from the bottom, long extensions, at least 3/8's.