Trying to decide if it is worth it to do the head gasket on my S70 non turbo. (227,000 miles) Its doing all the blown head gasket stuff. Over heating, loosing coolant and exhaust gases in the coolant path. Not sure the car is really worth it. I love the car, only paid $300. Its in pretty good shape otherwise. Also need to confirm you need to send the head out for resurfacing once its out ? So is doing the head on a 99 with 227000 miles on it is worth it? What are the options for a engine swap ? (Son really wants a trubo in it.)

 

The engine swap is cost prohibitive. The turbo engine has a totally different wiring harness and computer, let alone the duct work and so on.

My suggestion is to pull the head. In doing so, I recommend that you replace the crankcase breather system too. Also, notice in the S60 section I have a sticky to go over the oil pan cleanout if you can't get any air to pass through the lower port in the block when you remove the breather box.

Of course, install new timing belt and seals if you do this. At that mileage, I'd be tempted to replace the water pump too if I was doing the job.

All in all, not a bad job. PM me if you need help.

 

Ditto

 

Yeah I just did the PCV oil trap service and the radiator too. I think the blow back from the head gasket caused the crack in the radiator. Should I do the valve guides too ?

 

The machine shop will tell you what it needs. I've sent a few Volvo heads in and the machine shop has not done a guide for me yet. They've done a few valve jobs and resurfaced the head, new valve seals, but no guides.

Today's engines typically do not need guides done like the old iron engines.