After bending the valves on my 1998 V70XC engine due to an incorrect timing belt installation, I decided to tackle the job of rebuilding the head on my engine. Being a carpenter, I decided to make some of the tools required for removal/assembly out of wood with what I had lying around my shop. Overall it was a good experience and I learned a lot about my car. None of it was very difficult, but I'm glad I'm a patient guy.


After disconnecting the necessary items in the engine compartment I removed the head assembly out of the car along with the turbo and exhaust manifold attached. My small Kubota backhoe was perfect for lifting it out of the engine compartment and putting it back in. Anything I took off I put in baggies and labeled them.




With the head off I could see the damage the intake valves did to the pistons. There were some very slight indentations on the exhaust side of some of the pistons but I replaced only the intake valves. Exhaust valves weren't damaged.



Not a very pretty picture.



A moment when I was trying to find the humor in all of this...



This was my valve spring compressor tool. I made this out of an old birch spindle I had. The taper of the spindle allowed me to fit it into the valve recess perfectly. I cut the fork on one end to compress the valve springs with a 12" C-clamp and remove the valve retainers with a small magnet. The recess in the other end of the dowel was perfect for seating the valve guides with the tap of a hammer



Valve guides installed



I took the head and intake manifold to a shop and had them clean everything. I installed the lower end of the head with the turbo attached. Whenever I could I replaced anything that was going to be hard to get to later (ie vacum lines, o-rings, thermostat) and also took apart the turbo to clean it.



Don't forget the turbo oil seal!



I made the camshaft holders out of Poplar and glued slotted dowels onto the Poplar after the cams were aligned correctly on the upper part of the head. The next day I drilled locations for screws to hold the camshafts in place.




Spreading the volvo gasket




Installing the head by gently clamping with wood clamps to compress the valve springs. Now I could start putting everything back together. I took a lot of pictures along the way so I wouldn't forget the order of certain items. The only thing I forgot to do was to tighten one of the banjo fittings running off the turbo into the block. I ended up with a puddle of oil under the car but I consider that not too bad.

I made sure that when I put the timing belt on the this time I turned the engine over by hand a few times, check the timing marks, turn over a few more times, then crank it over. You should have seen the smile on my face when it started.

If anyone needs any help on something I didn't cover in enough detail feel free to post or email me. Good luck and have fun!

 

WOW!!

Great Pictures. I think this should be made a sticky at the top of this section.

 

Done

 

Johnhon, email sent!

 

delete me

 

Something must be wrong with link.

 

Setting up the timing is tricky on theintake cam due to the hydraulic variable timing on it. Also, when you take in the cylinder head to have the valves replaced, bring the valve cover as well. They need to resurface the mating surfaces of the valve cover and cylinder head, otherwise it'll leak oil when its all back together. there is no valve cover gasket...

 

delete me

 

I would use the Volvo stuff it is pretty expensive but is awesome stuff.

 

hi john, i have the same car with the same issues and just wondering if you could give me a hand with some issues on setting up the cams.. i have the tools, but have never done a vvt motor, and looks like you have some good advise. if you could email me with some help that would be great, thanks

 

help with setting up cams on a vvt motor

 

Man, Nice write up!

 

If you locked the cams then snug the center screw some and get the VVT pulley so that the timing marks line up with the pulley in the center of the free play it has.
When the screw is snugged up it will move to the left and right. Get it centered from there and loosen the screw back up and spin the pulley till the mark lines up and snug it up again and make sure it is centered.

 

when i recieved the car the cams where out off the head and the person had removed the gears, i put it all back together, and have the valve cover torqued down, but still a little confused because the gears can go on any way and that would make me off. So once i lock the gears in from the back of the cam, just center the gears to the top marks on the cover? thanks, sorry about all the questions

 

As long as the VVT pulley it centered on the cam you should be fine.
There is always a slim chance it might be a tooth or so off.

 

Hi Roadster,

I just read the replies to my post ( I actually didn't realize that they were there) and I know it might be too late for you, but my email is john@hondrogen.com if you want to send me any questions. I hope all worked out well for you.
John

 

Do you have specific instructions on setting the VVT cam on the V70

 

hello; I remove the sprockets fron the camshaft , now I dont know too put it back

 

Very very nice!!!

 

This can cause damage to the valves, but can not guarantee. I suggest when you get the timing belt changed, you have a mechanic inspect the vehicle damages.Change timing belt before 60000 km. My car was just over 61000 km, when the belt is not.