Hey guys, I have a 97 850 t5 and am at the stage of doing my timing, serp. belt and pcv replacement. 107k miles (speedo did not work when bought car). I can spend under $500 in parts, or spend $600+ for a shop to replace my timing belt but i'll do the pcv myself which is $170 with manifold spacer.

I am a little apprehensive on doing the labor myself on the belts and am a little "scared" i'll bend my valves on restart. I'm not really a noob, but I feel to spend a little extra for my peace of mind wouldn't hurt.

What do you guys think?

 

Absolutely go for it.

If you get stuck anywhere along the way just take pictures and ask on this forum...lots of helpers here.

Why are you getting the manifold spacer? Unless you are a serious performance nut and have to have every possible upgrade out there your wasting your $. Save it and spend it on something more useful.

 

you know, while I was saving up I was sure i'd do the timing belt myself, but you know what, i'll pay a shop down the road $512 and get it over with.

you think the manifold spacer is a waste of money? I read a customer review on ipd which stated that the manifold dissipated less heat.

maybe it's a waste of money, I'll most likely take your advice.

 

Of course it dissipates more heat but like I said, unless your on the race circuit there is no need. The spacer need and efficiency has been highly debated. If some day you get there you can buy it but until then save the money.

(by the way, the pictures in the installation instructions [21 and 22] of the EGR are of my engine supplied by me to IPD...I'm famous!) ;-)

 

okay, point taken. I put the 70 bucks toward clear corners and a throttle body gasket instead.

haha you do have a clean car and i've enjoyed your vids. Thanks for taking the time to respond, i'll update once everything is completed.

 

alright, timing belt kit and serpentine belt are replaced (continental) $546 out the door.

pcv kit, throttle body gasket, and clear corners will be at my house by friday 12/10.

pertaining to the pcv, are there any pointers you guys have, if any?

I've printed and read mvs' write-up.

Also, I floored it a few times on the way home and it sounds more like a modern volvo (5 cyl burble). Maybe I didn't take notice before, there was a huge difference in sound when I did the dist cap, rotor, wires, plugs. But now it just sounds more elegant than thrashy with these continental belts. weird.

 

I never heard the difference with a belt installed. Did they do rollers and tensioner as well?

 

yes, they came in the kit from continental.

 

Not a bad deal. I guess you did NOT do the water pump? I don't usually recommend it until 200k. But time could also be a factor. Mine may be leaking now and I just had a t-belt 18 months ago.

 

water pump was not done. i'll change the coolant cap from the gray to the green one soon, if the car overheats within the next few years, then the water pump will be done at that time.

have you ever heard of any car sounding more refined under full throttle acceleration after changing belts and timing components? b/c I sure have not.

 

Nope. Why will you change the coolant cap?

 

i've read here and other sites that the gray cap is unreliable. Few have stated that they had overheating issues, due to process of elimination, went with a (green) new cap, problem solved.

 

Gray = bad
Green = good

 

okay, that's all i needed to hear. i understand gray is low pressure, green is high pressure.

did you guys know that ipd parts take more than a week to arrive to your house. i'm just playing the waiting game for my pcv kit, tb gasket, and clear corners to come in.

 

I generally have a 3 business day turn from when i order to when i get parts. They ARE in Oregon, so if you're on the east coast, that isnt bad. if you need them sooner than that, they have expedited shipping available.

 

I do wait a week for ipd parts to arrive. Also they don't offer free shipping when paying over $150 like FCP. I do order stuff from IPD because they support Volvo owners in a bag way. The wait actually saved me a lot of head ache last week. Had I gotten the tune up kit sooner, I may have done the job and given the car back to my daughter before the CAM SEAL BLEW! So I'm doing cam seals, tune up, t-blet, and all.

 

I don't remember seeing an option for expedited shipping. After I checkedout and got the confirmation in the email was when I saw one corner light on back order. Delivery date was then set for the 12/3/10.

I live in Florida so i'm not the far but it's okay, i'll keep going over the replacement steps in my head until it comes.

 

There is no furthest point than Florida from Oregon.

 

Takes a day from Cali.

 

Was browsing around and found out there is a relatively new junkyard (u-pull-it) close to my house so I take a drive.

Lo and behold there sits a 98 black on tan s70 t5m! I spend about an hour going through stuff, the turbo, downpipe, ecu, dist wires and plugs were already gone as well as a myriad of interior parts. I take apart the door panels and take the tweeters, and rear door speakers. The deck speakers were already gone.

The manual tranny is still in waiting to be pulled as well as an R front bumper! As well as an ABS Module. I have an 850 and am on limited funds to spend on experimenting on front bumper riggage as i've done so in the past.

I got the fogs which i'm determined to rig to make them fit my stock bumper. The rear door speakers don't fit, even if they fit in the door, the connections are completely different so i've got those sitting if anyone wants 'em.

Also got a green coolant cap too. There were a total of three s70s all 98s but no 850s so i'm still in search of a few more pieces.

If anyone's interested in the door speakers pm mes.

IF ANYONE IS LOOKING FOR A 5MT TRANNY OR AN ABS MODULE FOR A 98+ T5, THE CAR IS SITTING AT THE JUNKYARD PHONE # 5 6 1-7 9 3-3 8 0 8 GO DOWN THERE AN SCOOP IT UP!