No worries. I've been looking after 3 of the V8s in our family and friends. Mine has just over 450,000km and still going strong. I've now had the torque converters replaced in all 3 to cure the transmission shudder - mine had been done just before I bought it but unfortunately some numbnuts left the torque converter bolts finger tight which resulted in the recent transmission rebuild. I have 2 used but still perfectly working valve bodies - in all likelihood I'll never use either so I'd rather they get used by somebody. Just PM me your address and I'll get one off to you.
I use FCP euro for parts as preference. Never had a problem with them. There's supposedly a postage discount for Ozvolvo members but I've never used it. I just keep a shopping list going (with 3 x V8s, a C30, S40 and V50 amongst the friends and family we combine postage for group buys)
When you go to do the timing cover seal - nothing complicated, just tight and methodical. Takes a lot of patience.
Of particular note: the ignition coils are earthed on several of the cam cover bolts. The eyelets will probably twist off when you undo the nuts. These days if they're turning with the nuts I just cut the black wires close to the eyelets and install new terminals when it goes back together. I bought my XC90 dirt cheap because the mechanics had broken the rear earth wires when they resealed the cam covers (with silicone only…grrrr…) and the car was only running on 5 cylinders.
When you get to the lower inlet manifold, be very careful with the brittle black plastic fuel pressure sensor housing leading in to the fuel rail. The housing and sensor live just under the throttle plate housing. It's incredibly easy to break off the plastic hose into the housing - and it's part of the fuel rail, NLA and incredibly expensive to replace. I had to fabricate one from scratch because once again the previous "mechanics" had only left 3-4 mm to clamp the rubber hose to (as well as butchering the fuel inlet quick connects). I made one in stainless steel but I don't have any fabrication facilities any more.
Volvo steering fluid is "Pentosin" - locally available Penrite LDAS has been fine and has corrected all power steering fluid issues.
Common knock points will be sway bar links and upper strut mounts. Strut mounts get a very hard time and one friend with a lead foot killed his really quickly over speedhumps. I'd look there first. Have a look at how much the strut centre nuts move when you bounce the front of the car. Should be only a few mm.
You may even find that the strut to bearing hub bolts are not tight enough (1:12 in the video above)
