On a tip from a friend I picked up an extremely clean but blowing smoke '95 850 GLT non-turbo sedan with 150k at a local salvage yard. The coolant bottle under the hood is cracked so I'm guessing the clueless previous owner ran it hot until bad things happened. The oil is fine, no signs of milkiness, the engine runs smooth, but as soon as you start it, it starts to gurrgle coolant up through the coolant bottle. As the engine warms white smoke becomes apparant out of the tailpipe. I found a complete engine with 80k for $450 a little over an hour away. Or should I pop the head off, see if the gasket is blown anywhere, straight edge the head and block, put it back together and hope for the best??? I've worked on various domestic vehicles, Mercedes, and Jaguar, but never been into a Volvo motor yet, I have both the Chilton and Haynes manual for the car. Arguments for or against are appreciated.

erobb

 

I vote for the Headgasket!!

 

I vote for head gasket too, but you are going to spend quite a bit more than $450 to do the head gasket.

 

I take it that the head will have to be milled for straightness??? Has anyone ever seen a head that didn't need to be milled??? Do these heads or block ever crack??? I almost forgot that I have a friend that used to work at a machine shop when the owner re-tired and sold out, he bought a bunch of thier equipment. When I did my Jaguar head gasket he ground the valves and seats for me, I just sent the head out to be cleaned, milled and crack checked, cost less than $80, Then he re-assembled it for free, I painted the gas tank on his Triumph motorcycle in trade. I think I should look him up. I think I will attempt the head gasket as well, if it doesn't hold I can still get another engine later.
Any tips that anyone can give would be appriciated, I looked through some of the threads, and there's mention of Volvo special tools. The Haynes manual refers to a camshaft jig to keep the cams from moving while dis- and re- assembling but says a length of coat hanger wire through the slots on the end of the cams works well.

erobb

 

Price all the gasket you will need, and you should replace the head bolts too, thermostat and have the fuel injectors calibrated. I took my head to the shop where the Volvo dealer takes them and I still have problems with it. Your buddy better be good to work on this head. You want to take the absolute minimun off the head. Putting a new head gasket on is not that tough, but you will be surprised how much the parts you will need cost. I put over $1,000 in mine and my son in law was the mechanic so that was next to free labor.

 

Yes but he won't have to replace the Valves either.
He will need new gaskets and Maybe the Head shaved.
Alot of times the Heads will be fine unless it was overheated VERY VERY bad.

 

Sorry I haven't checked this thread for a few days, I found a head gasket set, with what looks like all the gaskets I could ever need on Autohaus for $76 and the head bolts for $2.36 ea x 12. I've ordered from them before with good results. shipping is free over $50. I probably won't have time to even get started on the tear down until sometime this weekend.

erobb

 

Good on the Parts.

We will be waiting to hear form you on the progress.

 

More help please, Finally got the head off yesterday. Put a machinist straightedge on it, it is warped .015 in the center, the center cylinder had antifreeze in it, you can see carbon tracking on the gasket. Took the head to a machine shop for clean up and milling they want to do a valve job as well, they said they did a solvent check on the valves and several of them were leaking. They shot me a price of $250 for a valve job, crack check, milling and cleaning the head. They want to source the parts themselves, the owner says he can get me an original equipment head gasket set for $136. I found a set on Autohaus Arizona for $76 it was a Elwis Royal brand. I can't remember what brand the manchine shop guy said his was, only that it was original quality. Does all of this sound on the up and up? Is there an aftermarket gasket kit that is better than original quality??? I told the guy I'd let him know monday. Any help is appreciated

ebrobb

 

Check this site. http://www.swedishpartswholesale.com/

I would use OEM

MAKE SURE THEY DON'T TOUCH THE VALVE GUIDES.

That price doesn't sound bad.