So after 2 strandings due to dead battery I by passed the exitation lead and discovered the dreaded harness rot. The new used harness is on the way so I'm looking for input on the process.
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My First Volvo - stock (for now) '84 244, 230+kmi. Owned it since 9/03

As I had surmised 2-4 hrs.
My brother has a 85 Alfa-Romeo GTV-6 so I have
Much Experience with the spring clip.

My method involves a small screwdriver and a
magnet to get it out from wherever it lands.

Thanks.
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My First Volvo - stock (for now) '84 244, 230+kmi. Owned it since 9/03

Miguel; I have only replaced one. It's not nearly as bad as you think,
especially if you plan on two-hours in a warmer spot.Good lighting helps.
It's HELPFUL to be the one removing the harness!
And pencil/paper won't hurt.
Some people recommend removing the intake; I managed to thread mine
thru w/o much trouble.
Good luck!

Same experience with the '83. Usual suggestion is to work from one end like the alternator and attach new wires as you detach the old, working your way around. At some point you just have to pull out the old harness, but the fewer open connections at any one time the better. And don't forget to turn off the radio and disconnect the battery first! If you don't remove the intake manifold, just be careful about damaging remaining tubes and wires under there. And be patient, I have a special dislike for whoever invented those spring-clip electrical connectors, a dental pick would probably help in getting them off. It seems that they went out of their way to make these difficult ... secure is one thing, but this is ridiculous.

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'81 GLT 245 W/245K; '83 DL 175K

I have a special dislike for whoever invented those spring-clip electrical connectors

If you mean these - I posed that question here 5 years ago: what is the best way to remove them. One of our gurus misunderstood me to mean the later ones that have the squeeze bar (like on the 84's AMM) and his answer made the 700 FAQ list. Dental pick or brute force (wiggling) or the combination of the two...

Yeah, those are the ones, and if Art Benstein is recommending brute force, can the end of the world be far behind ... ? Isn't it clever how they put that little block in the groove above your thumbnail? If that wasn't there, you could just slide a little screwdriver blade under the wire to pry it off ... but oh, no, we couldn't have that, so let's cast this little extra do-nothing-but-get-in-the-way protrusion here to prevent easy removal. Am I about to go over the edge?
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'81 GLT 245 W/245K; '83 DL 175K