Three weeks ago I did my cap/rotor/and plug wires on my 'new' 95 855 n.a. I didn't change out my plugs since they had been done prior to my buying the car a month ago. I'm assuming the plugs would require the standard spark plug wrench. I've got one left over from my old VW Beetle days which has a nice integral rubber 0 ring which grips the plug. You'll need something like that to grab the plug and extricate it from the plug well in the cylinder head.

What I found to be useful -- the torx wrench to remove the center cover to expose the plug wires. (When you get that cover off, be prepared to soak up oil with paper napkins/towels -- I bet you'll find spilled oil which collects in all kinds of recesses on this cylinder head. I also needed to unclip the air filter box and move things around to get better access to the screws which hold on the distributor cap. The allen head wrench (can't remember size, but it was pretty small) was used to unscrew the rotor -- there are three allen head screws on the rotor.

What I can add to your list is a roll of masking tape and a permanent marker. Make up tags for your plug wires so you can plug them back in to their proper locations. I'm used to the five wires for a typical B230/B23/B21 on RWD Volvos, and six on a staggered top, sideways-oriented distributor cap looked like a maze to me -- I had to label the wires to ensure I got them where they belong. You'll note some tiny numbers on the distributor cap which will help as well -- I had to hold the cap in the light 'just right' to see them.

My 855 ran *much* better after this R&R.

Rob Kuhlman

have you found volvospeed.com than go to bay 13

a step by step for most maint stuff there
w/ photos

The hex tool is simply metric allen keys, I think the proper term is hex tool, but we all know them as allen wrenches. I forget what size, but I just did mine with the basic kit from sears for $8.00. It's metric.