So where to being, ill start by saying even as I write this I'm unsure why I'm doing it. Id describe the following as memoirs of a Volvo fanatic, probably more exclusively 7/9 series cars but not exclusively with some flirts with 850s/s60/v70 models. Strap yourself in for possibly the worst written/biggest waste of anyone's time internet forum post (dyslexic/fairly low IQ/depressant/all round odd ball)
Why Volvo and where did it begin ?
Back in September 2017 I had just started a job in the nearby seaside town of Whitby, my daily at the time was a 1 ltr turbo VW Polo on PCP, basically at the time I wanted a trouble-free cheap car to run about in which it did great it has to say only it was very slow, not that comfortable for more than 30 minutes and the PCP plan only allowed for roughly 10k a year mileage. After a few weeks of commuting 30 miles each way over moor roads it quickly became apparent that I needed a diesel armchair I could put the miles on and overtake the John Deere behemoths id often have to sit behind in the polo. The search began scouring Ebay not really knowing what to look for, my budget of little over 1k soon brought the list of credible options right down. I really hadn't appreciated how little 1k got you when your looking for something bigger than a hatchback with MOT and reliable enough to do 60 miles a day.
Filters set to 1k, ending soonest I spotted a 2002 Volvo S60 D5 Manual,140k on the clock, listed as 1 former doctor owner, full service history, almost a full 12 months MOT, plush black leather heated armchairs I was keen, knowing very little about Volvo or the specific model what I did know was id be lucky to get anything better for my money. Time was closing in at under 15 minutes the price had barely moved off the start price of 500 quid, sod it lets bid to 700.... Oh curse word I've bought a 15 year old diesel car at the other end of the country that I know nothing about, final price circa 650 pound it looked a bargain on the face of it, why was it so cheap was it a absolute nail ?
Somehow I persuaded the other half to journey from Middlesbrough to Towcester the following day to collect the S60, she's has had to deal with many a car collecting trip during our time together and frankly I'm not sure this is what she signed up for. Having not bought many second hand cars ( being 27 at the time and owning mainly financed vehicles) nor being a mechanic I really didn't know what I was looking at when inspecting the car. Did it have 4 wheels tick, did it start tick, I even checked underneath it...yep it has a floor. Car test driven I still had apprehension handing over the cash to this chap who clearly dealt motors from his drive way. On the way home I was expecting the worst from it constantly paranoid each body panel was about to fall off and be ejected into a hedge, but no it drove brilliant, sat back in the armchairs with the heated seats on, cruise control holding me at a steady speed and some aging track booming out of the semi decent spec stereo, it was hard for me to believe that this car was doing everything better than a brand new VW Polo, granted this was aiming at a very different client and end of the market.
Months went by and the S60 was now all I drove I'd had the car serviced by a local guy I know and trust he comes to my drive on a weekend and is happy to fit anything I buy excluding anything too big like clutches etc, id been sure to buy a genuine Volvo Timing belt and pump kit among some quality filters. Other than this and the usual running cost the S60 wasn't costing me a penny and is still to this day one of my favourite cars I've owned, but due to my nature I couldn't help but look at something bigger and better. The plan being to give the now redundant Polo back and sell the S60 and buy a V70 D5 was hatched, I spotted a 2005 V70 D5 Auto with the same black armchairs and a few less miles for sale on Ebay again low owner count and full Volvo history the seller was a salesman at Volvo and had a side hustle selling the trade in motors for a quick profit, deposit down, Polo back at VW the S60 was listed for a optimistic 1250 quid a more realistic price I thought and I hoped it would reflect its actual worth. Amazingly the car sold and was collected within 48 Hours.
My friend and other Volvo fan was home for Christmas and agreed to ferry me to Leeds to collect the V70 in his luxury wafter barge 740 2.3 Auto. That is a car that will forever crop up time and time again in these posts, its in beautiful condition throughout and is one of those cars you jump in and feel giddy.
So I now had a v70 I had been lusting after, it did everything the S60 did but with the added boot space and wafting ability of the auto box.
How can I find a way to waste some money, gain some mechanical knowledge and further my way down the Volvo rabbit hole, I had been lusting after a 850 T5r since getting the S60 problem was I didn't have any real money and justifying it would be hard given I would have to get a loan and couldn't afford to use it as a daily. I did spot a P80 V70 2.4 petrol auto for sale going cheap it looked like a good project, no MOT and needing a few other jobs including a HEADGASKET FAILURE.... at this point my mechanical credentials included simple servicing and bolt on and off parts. How hard can it be... Car purchased and delivered I was in for 400 odd quid my thoughts being if I cant fix it I would part it out.
Its amazing what YouTube and a Haynes manual can equate to...
I was pleasantly surprised at how easily the engine was to strip, other than having a pinching moment removing the head bolts and hearing them screech as I loosened them off it became apparent if I worked methodically, marked everything and labelled bags with where the bolts and parts belonged it was more than do able.
Perhaps easier said than done putting the old girl back together, after having the head rebuilt with new seals, skimmed and pressure tested by a local company. It all went back together simple enough, the engine had VVT so I purchased a tool to set the camshafts in place and then bring the sprung cam pulley back in line with the cam cover marks. Sealing the water pump was my major headache no matter how I tried it would not seal, I tried the OEM gasket, gasket and RTV, RTV nothing worked... a call to the professional who does work for me he quickly spotted a waterpipe to the back of the head was not connected and was my cause... DOHHH the water pump was sealed after all. No harm done the jobs were ticked off MOT passed and I had completed my first project. Probably would not of been a success without RobertDIY's YouTube channel being the odd chap I am I seem to struggle interpreting words on a page into action so other than torque specs etc I found the Haynes fairly useless to me.
What next... Well as I have forever lusted after my friends 740 shagging wagon I needed a similar motor on the drive. The hunt began looking for a 7/9 series car within my miniscule budget that the sale of the now reliable P80 V70 would fund (having ran the car for 6 months I felt confident in the repairs and wouldn't worry I was selling someone a lemon)
Target acquired a 940 Turbo manual M reg 220k with a blown headgasket and out of MOT the only real redeeming factor was the price 300 quid and it was also fairly immaculate. BUY IT NOW
TO be continued