So.. I finally started fixing up the $300 Volvo 850 I got a few months back. This is what I've found so far:

1.The flame trap was missing. The cover was there, but the actual screen wasn't. And the hose nipple was attached with a wire tie instead of a clamp. Something tells me some redneck was working on it, who said, "Aw, this thang's jus' a puhlooshun control device Al Gore makes them put on the car! It don't really need it!"

2. There were wire ties in a few places, masquerading as hose clamps.

3.The plastic hose running from the oil trap to the flame trap was broken, and had a piece of fuel line shoved over the broken ends to hold it together, held on by... wire ties!

4.The timing belt is SOAKED with oil. There's little pools of oil on the grooves of the water pump gear and crank gear It seems that the front cam seals are completely nonexistent.

5. There's about an inch of play in the right front strut mount... someone's been listening to that creaking noise for a while. Probably the same guy whose tool box is filled with wire ties. He'd probably have fixed THAT with wire ties if he could have.

So far, I've gotten the intake manifold off and cleaned, replaced the PCV system, and reinstalled the manifold No wire ties, thankyouverymuch. Next, the cam seals and timing belt/ tensioner/ idler.

Thank god the rear main seal seems to be okay.

And even with all this jerry- rigging, this car actually ran GREAT when I bought it. I don't know what it will do with itself when I have it all fixed!

 

It will run EXCELLENT when you have it all finished. I have to say that you are luck you got it home in that condition. You would have been parting her out if the timing belt broke.

Anyway, good luck with fixing her and post pictures when she is all done.

 

I probably will post pics when it's done... I already have someone to buy it from me- I have a friend whose beaten up '93 Escort gave out on her 2 weeks after she lost her job, so she's been using my Mercedes since that happened... I'm going to sell her the 850 cheap... I'm going to make sure that it's in good mechanical condition, and if she wants me to fix up the interior, I'll do that as well, but she'll have to pay for the parts. The exterior looks great, though.