Big Hi

tmovlovs

Hello all in Oz Volvoland. Just wanted to say a hi from a crazy Volvo owner who has been with the marque from 2004 and I've never looked back, well except for when I use my rear vision mirrors!! Well I've said goodbye to afew of them, the first one being a red 740 non turbo sedan which had suspicious groaning noises in the rear suspension so instead of fixing it I sold it the next week. Then the blue 760V6 sedan that I replaced the motor on with another oil guzzling donk then finally decided to give it away to VolvSaab in Keilor with a blown radiator and overheated it on the way there. Then a silver 740 turbo wagon that I fell in love with until a small hose burst and warped the head. I gave it away to a Volvo specialist mechanic in Waverley, Vic who wanted around $250 to perform a compression test (the car was the payment)

The wife then got her first 850 10V in 2009 and we have only just replaced it with a 2002 XC70. (The 850 is actually for sale and has lots of new parts however needs heater core, valve stem seals and PCV service) A/C still blows cold.

In 2008 I brought in a 960 whiteblock six cylinder from NSW that I wrestled with and spent small fortunes on until I sold it to a Matthews Volvo Site member in NSW after helping him convert it to a Toyota A341E slushbox as I had learned they will fit (what I didn't know was how different they actually are resulting in a 4 day ordeal) My love affair with the Volvo straight six ended there as I don't want an S80 or a XC90T6.

Since then I owned a 850 10V wagon that I sold 3 years ago with basically a new engine that I assembled and just about every suspension component replaced. By this stage I was seriously into doing my own work and enjoying how easy the FWDs are to work on.

Then I refurbished a 1999 V70 non turbo and shoehorned an 850 block into it while retaining the original head. I had the 850 block welded to accept the later accessory bracket setup however the car was unfortunately written off by a Stop sign running lady the day before registration; got a nice payout from RACV for that.

In 2010 I purchased a 5 speed auto non turbo V70 with 255K for everyday use. It has been my steady rock with each upgrade and repair bringing it closer to its factory state. The transmission was in a poor state when purchased as I paid very little for the car. I replaced the B4 servo cover and reset the adaptives with Vida, however the TCM doesn't have an adaptation cycle on this year so I had to wait for around 1,000kms for it to shift properly. Now it shifts pretty good unless warm so it really needs a solenoid replacement or refurbishment. Now has 308K

Also bought a XC70 2001 with a "STUCK" transmission (no reverse) that's been sitting in the backyard waiting for my skillset to catch up.

Recently we bought a 2002 S60 AWD with 124K for parts for my '01 XC as it was a Manheim write-off (repairable) and brought it home in order to strip it down and swap the transmission into the '01 XC70 HOWEVER the darn thing only had a broken ball joint (rusted) and a deformed plastic lining near the wheel. I thought it would be a cheap ride when the inevitable happened and the dreaded solenoids started locking up causing incorrect gear ratio codes and what have you so I decided I would try my hand at refurbishing the valve body and I put it back together in an arduous 12 hr repair time as this was my first valve body removal. I used a Transgo kit and the contained instructions were awesome, if a little small in size. A couple of Nulon synthetic fluid changes later and it shifted like a champ. I sold this car in almost perfect condition to an artist.

Next up I was getting cocky about repairing transmissions so I bought a XC70 2002 with similar symptoms to the S60AWD so of course with my swollen head and the expectation for another easy repair I dove into the valve body rebuild like a seasoned pro. A quick test drive up a mountain range and I was convinced I could set up shop as a valve body rebuilder. However something happened on the way DOWN the mountain. I felt a strange vibration through the drive train and all of a sudden 3rd gear was lost. My ego took a solid blow and I retreated the car to our carport for 4 months. After taking measurements of the B4 servo bore I was able to compare the travel of the 3rd gear band around the friction drum, something quite easy to do once the B4 servo cover and piston is removed. I got a walloping 20mm of travel. Hang on!! The B4 band should only operate over a 6-8mm travel!! How do I know this? I have the '01 XC 70 transmission on the bench with side cover removed and it has a hardly used 3rd gear band. By using a pushrod marked at 85mm I was able to measure the amount of travel the B4 piston travels. A 20mm travel means the friction band is well & truly toast. Any AW55-50SN owners that lose 3rd gear can do a simple 45 minute measurement of the B4 piston travel. After doing this they can drop one side of the transmission by removing the 2 passenger side subframe bolts (loosen off the other 2 subframe bolts) and support the assembly with a wooden subframe on a jack and remove the side cover, B4 anchor bolt and remove the B4 band and simply replace with a good one. Sounds easy but in reality takes around 12 hours with all the wiring loom disconnects so the assembly can be dropped this low. So the XC70 2002 is back on the road this week with all gears intact.

Anyone who has lost 3rd gear on the 5 speed auto AW55-50SN, and wanting full details of the above procedure as well as the valve body repair please feel free to contact me.

Most recently bought a 1998 V70R AWD with a broken timing belt and just completed a DIY head rebuild. Not yet registered and my first true performance car. Almost completed minus afew electrical sensor issues (MAF and MAP) and a full PCV rebuild. Also some whirring noises from AWD; may have to rebuild driveshaft.

So all in all I've been enjoying Volvo ownership and looking forward to afew more.

jaykenneally

Do you live in Preston by any chance? Theres some people living along there with a gold 850, a blue first gen V70 wagon, a red V70XC (same gen as mine) and I've just recently noticed a first gen black V70R that was for sale at Berry's out the front. The wheels between the V70, XC and 850 always seem to get swapped around as well haha. I drive past there to go to work 3 days a week and every time I consider stopping to say Hi haha.

Tzantushka

Welcome!

Lots of 'character building' experience with the AW55-50 I see...

tmovlovs

Just swapped the wheels around on the weekend. Didn't know I was getting to be such a landmark. I'll have to have the sattelite re-aimed :-) I'm putting the XC70 '01 wheels on the R for now as tyres are new 195/50/16s Toyos. Yes John from Berry's and I worked out a deal. The thing took me near 3 weeks to finish on and off and I've only just started by the look of it. The '01 XC is now sporting the R wheels, (I think they're called Pegasus, correct me if I'm wrong) Jay I could talk all day about Volvos to another enthusiast. Once I have you in my lair you may never escape LOL

Vee_Que

Welcome! Shame you didn't decide to stay repairing the earlier model volvos first! But someone who knows how to fix the later autos that doesn't want 3k for it is useful.

The v70R came from Berrys then?

I'm in South East suburbs myself but very much a rwd fan. Also had to learn to do my own autos on top of being able to do everything else. ..

Ex850R

Welcome!
You have certainly jumped in big time!
Pity about the 960 , great motor , just one more pot than the one you drive now anyway...
Well , i think you wont have to 'trap Jay in your lair' as he needs you to fix his auto!!!
If you want to do this as a pasttime , spare time job you will have lots of takers...
Let me know about the R driveline work , build/repair threads with LOTS of pictures goes well here , i am fixing my 'UltraRatty' R 1998 one now but dont know the status of the driveline as it came to me on a trailer from SA , the last owner knows nothing but said it works.
Looks like a meet in Melbz is / should happen up your way?
Keep up the good work!
Les.

jaykenneally

tmovlovs;30209 wroteJust swapped the wheels around on the weekend. Didn't know I was getting to be such a landmark. I'll have to have the sattelite re-aimed :-) I'm putting the XC70 '01 wheels on the R for now as tyres are new 195/50/16s Toyos. Yes John from Berry's and I worked out a deal. The thing took me near 3 weeks to finish on and off and I've only just started by the look of it. The '01 XC is now sporting the R wheels, (I think they're called Pegasus, correct me if I'm wrong) Jay I could talk all day about Volvos to another enthusiast. Once I have you in my lair you may never escape LOL

Hahha I drive past there all the time and I've definitely being noticing recently the amount of Volvos! Good to meet another collector thats close to home. I have a blue first gen V70 the exact same as yours. Your wife parked it next to my XC the other day, its rego is YUN-something I think? Haha, Im not a stalker I swear I just pay attention to other Volvos :D

I was thinking of putting R wheels on my XC but then I thought it would look ridiculous. The wheels you have now on that gold 850 are cool!

Ill have to stop and say hi one day hahaha. And yes fix my auto please! :D :D

AshDVS

Welcome aboard!

egads (she/her)

Welcome, sounds like you have the DIY Volvo bug, awesome!

tmovlovs

Thanks for all the welcomes. There certainly are some interesting posts and characters lurking here!

Yeah I saw a black 99V70R the other day parked near McDs Preston and I was studying the lines for afew minutes; must say the driver was a fastidious owner. There's not that many Vols in the northern area. The one I bought has 395K. I've spent 4 years on Matthews Volvo site and racked up over 4,300 posts. Someone mentioned the local forum. I didn't even know it existed. There's some serious talent over there in USA as far as mainternance and write-ups is concerned. I did a 850 heater core write-up on MVS 4 years ago. Some of them got into bypassing the firewall coupler which I don't like unless it's done well; hot water pipes chafing against a firewall doesn't fit in well with me.

The 850 wheels are Alessio 7 X 17s with spigot rings. They provide a wider than standard track by around 8mm. One of them has a buckle. I know that Neway Wheel Repairs will have a go at them but some do crack.

The Pegs actually look great on a Gold XC 70 P2 with 205/55/60s!! On a standard S60 or V70 depending on the colour they may look good, depends on the viewer I guess. I don't know how mud/snow tyres 215/65s will match them however.

Jay if you want me to assess what in my opinion your transmission needs I would be happy to take a look. PM me and we can arrange.

jaykenneally

I wonder how the Pegs would go on an V70XC painted in Polarctic haha. I think I want to put the later model XC70 wheels on it (the 05+ ones) along with the rest of the 05 stuff.

If you need a heater core my 850 has one that I don't need, didn't leak as far as I know, you may prefer to buy a new one anyway (I would if I had to remove the car from the heater core).

Yeah I might get you to haha. May as well Im likely to be driving there in the near future. Ill PM ya now~

AshDVS

Ride height on the XC70 is typically too high to make a large open 5 spoke wheel look good. They do look good with big multispoke wheels though, or alternatively when lowered with a Pegasus or similar.

These XC90 wheels look good an an XC70 though -

jaykenneally

Holy crap those XC90 wheels look awesome. Stealing that idea~

Ex850R

I have to nice new XC wheels I could sell you , pics to come.

tmovlovs

I like the Estonian built heater cores sold by eBay seller volvonest; better than OEM Behr according to some sources. Had one in my V70 2000 for 2 years and 60K with excellent heat output. The 850 had a cheapie (black one from FCP Euro) in it which self destructed in 30,000kms.

Ex850R

tmovlovs;30300 wroteI like the Estonian built heater cores sold by eBay seller volvonest; better than OEM Behr according to some sources. Had one in my V70 2000 for 2 years and 60K with excellent heat output. The 850 had a cheapie (black one from FCP Euro) in it which self destructed in 30,000kms.

They are a good price delivered!
Thanks for the tip , this should go in the parts suppliers post.