Hello!
I am looking to buy a 2000 s70 base model tomorrow which if I'm correct has the B5244S engine (I could be wrong). Anyway, the guy says that it has a head gasket issue which I thought would be a good project to try and tackle since the car is $350 dollars. I'm looking to fix it up, mostly to learn, but possibly to make a small profit. I have found this tutorial from Robert DIY Head Removal and Installation, Volvo 850 / S70 Turbo B5234T, B5254T, Head gasket replacement, valve replacement. which is for a slightly older model and a Turbo version. I think the 2000 base model I would be getting has VVT and I know it isn't turbo charged. Does anyone know of any major differences between the older models and the one I would be getting? Will the VVT pose me some larger issues? Is there anything I should be aware of? And finally, does anyone know of an existing tutorial for this, because I have not been able to find one on this model. Also, any other tips for buying this model, maybe what to check or look for? Thank you!
-Jor

 

1. If that car is perfect - Not a scratch on the paint, interior smells like new, new tires , not a thing wrong with it visually or mechanically, 2 keys and remotes, never wrecked, with perfect service records, and 210k miles - kelly blue book thinks it's worth $1600. Deduct for any imperfection, - $400 for tires - you get the picture



2. What caused the "head gasket issue"? Usually a cooling system problem/leak/failure is the cause - things that leak on that car are the radiator$$$, heater core$$, all hoses$$. Maybe all need to be replaced on a 20 year old car.
3. Don't count on making a "small" profit.
4. V V T will require special tools to remove and install
5. You should be aware that you will spend more money and time trying to make a 20 year old unpopular Volvo whole again - more than you ever imagined.
6. The factory service manual software than runs on Win7 pro (and others) - The stolen and hacked version is available free many places on the internet. Swedespeed has a copy in the OBD section. Others sell VIDA preloaded on a USB drive.

At my shop if a 15 year old overhead cam Volvo came in with a major problem like a head gasket, and we added the cost of all the additional stuff the car would need to make it whole again - customers would simply abandon the cars - leaving me with the towing bills. They determined (and I agreed) the value of the car fixed would be less than the $$$ spent trying to fix it.

Once you get the car running you will find all the other stuff that does not work - does the ac work?, Compressors $$ and evaporators$$$$ are common after 20 years. Keep in mind there are a lot of parts that are no longer available for cars that old -

 

Well, from someone who has done a head gasket job on a 95 850 Turbo (twice) I can offer you this advice. First and foremost, try to find out if it overheated, and if so, how badly. IF it overheated to any extent, the head is probably warped. At that point you are probably better of replacing the whole head. Secondly, at the very least while you have to head off, take it to a machine shop and have a valve job done, with new seals installed. Third, read up on how to do a timing belt job on the car and since you are in there that deep you should do a timing belt, tensioner, rollers, etc......Fourth, the head bolts are one time torque to yield stretch bolts and MUST be replaced. You could try to re-use them but if you are already doing all that work do you really want to press your luck? Fifth, there is a dial indicator type torque angle tool used for the head bolts that I needed when I did the job. You will need to borrow/buy one. Lastly, get two intake manifold gaskets, as the odds are one will tear when you put it back on. Replacing a head gasket is a pretty in-depth job, but it can be done with time and patience. Throw in the VVT system, and that adds another layer of complexity to it.

 

Thanks for the advice. I've definitely decided not to get it. The low price tag was very tempting, as older model Volvo's (even BAD shape 740s) go for thousands where I live. Seems like a doable project, but one that will blow my budget. I'm just looking for a cheap car to have as a project, just to learn more about them. Do you know of any places besides Craigslist and Facebook where I can find good Volvo deals?

 

Maybe Ebay or cargurus.com. Or cars.com possibly