+1 for drop it like it's hot.
With the angle gear in your way it's much easier to just drop the entire subframe and wrestle the box out.
I would recommend replacing all the coolant hoses while you're at it have seen a few of these cook from oil leak at rear cam sensor saturating the coolant line to the turbo and you can get a nice complete silicon kit for the price of a couple of genuine hoses
Those door cards are in great nick, they don't seen to have blown out like all the other ones I have seen
Maybe beige doesn't bake like the black door cards and peel away?

Pre engine removal question..

Does the AC gas need to be drained before engine removal? Reason I ask is so I can drive it to an AC place to have it removed the environmentally friendly way - put into a bottle.
@bigal If you are after a pair of front struts for your v70xc, I have a pair from a wreck that you could potentially have. They are still on the car though. Also, just to clarify, I spoke with my mate and there is indeed a battery draining issue along with the battery itself being shagged. Also, I'm not sure if you know but the head will need to be done. it probably has another 20,000km on it before the head gasket will eally start becoming a major problem.
It's possible to remove motor and hang the ac compressor off on the body.

Some of the later models had better door cards but maybe Tasmanian weather has helped. I got some nos ones but even they had the issue starting....
Vee_Que;c-146570 wroteDoes the ac work?
Good question usually the clutch is worn on these
FYI, those door cards are from a V70R. The original ones in it were shagged. So my mate sourced some nicer ones from a higher spec model.
Very nice Al! I've been looking at cheap XC70s of late, and have a soft spot for them too. Must say I fancy a late model more so than this gen, but that's just because I've never really had a "good" car with nothing to do to it, and the still-creaky 90 is giving me the shits :P

I reckon those seats might be lighter than they look – they're just filthy! Get some megs all purpose and lightly scrub 'em, see what comes up.
Cheers @darcher93 and yes please, if you could put my name on those original v70xc struts that would be appreciated.

@pastry funny you say that about the XC90, I've had the reverse experience, when I jump in that after being in the V the 90 feels brand new.

Question for anyone - What are the telltale signs of a head gasket showing signs of needing to be done on the white blocks? I've had a lucky run with all my cars, only 1 has ever blown a head gasket (on a toyota camry would you believe) and went all of a sudden - large plume of smoke. I've heard there's some funny behavior with white blocks where heater cores keep failing and coolant gets pushed out of the coolant bottle.. are these the obvious signs that a head gasket is about to go?
Get new struts, no point goi g to the trouble, order all parts from FCP.
5 days later
Exxon V got a big bath today. Wow did he come up well. I'm so glad I decided to buy and save this one.. what a gem!







Should look amazing with a polish and blackened bits.. but that's a job for later.

The back shed has been emptied and it will be moved in tomorrow morning ready for the engine removal - which I'll tinker away at here at there. The mission is to do this without the misus knowing.. she has no idea what I meant by "it just need a new seal".
Oh bloke, it's actually a Cross Country, not an xc.
Says XC on the back, as well as cross country.. it's everything.
Am with @bigal it says xc
We v70xc owners stick together. ?