Having signed up at a few volvo boards, I have to say that this one has been the best so far in terms of what I could find answers to in the archives and the likes.

Hopefully, someone can now chime in with recommendations for the following situation.

Having bought a 98 v90 in immaculate condition for a cheap price, because of a blown headgasket, I was hoping to get some recommendations as to what service (preventative, etc) could be done to the engine while its stripped down.

So far I have the following in mind.

new Headgasket (of course)
head to a machine shop for inspection, cleaning, and reconditioning
timing belt
water pump
serpentine belt

Beyond that, what else could I do to make sure that the volvo with 150K miles on the clock is good for another 100K.

thanks in advance

In addition to daidnik's suggestions: cam seals, gasket where heat manifold attaches to the head, new heater hoses, new o-ring for back of water pump housing. New spark plug o-rings. New oil filler cap gasket. T-stat and new o-ring.

Since you will have the fuel system out,how about new seals and orings there too?

The heater hoses will never be easier to get at, thats why I mention them.

Might consider an RPM sensor too, again without the head, a cinch to replace.

DanR 94 964 330,000 miles (96,000 on the new engine)
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DanR

You should also consider replacing the Tensionser; Tensioner Pulley & Idler Pulley if you don't have documented proof that they have already been replaced. You don't want to have ANY problem with the timing belt area.

Throw in a new ECT sensor in the back of the cyl head (ECM sender for engine temperature)~$28 & a new thermostat ~$10.

I concur with the above on the timing belt parts and add to make sure you use genuine Volvo parts-stay away from the scantech junk thats out there. The temp sensor on your model is under the thermostat housing in the front of your engine. The early models 93 to 95 had them in the back-96 forward used one instead of two. There's an article on the Shing head modification that some guy in India has devised that I thought if I ever had the head off of my car I would try. May want to Google it and make a judgment call over if it's bad or good. I'd like to try it but mines running fine right now and knock on wood hope it continues to do so.
Poolman

Any more info on the SHING head modification would be great. I googled it and found nothing specific except a reference to the shing pistion company.

Any help would be great!

Thanks in advance

lucas

Sorry but my spell is absolutly atrosuous -correct name for the guy is Somender Singh-you can find the idea of his cylinder head mods here at the following
www.autoblog.com/2005/10/09/somender-singh-garage-genius-or-crank/ - 102k -
Click on the link and read then follow to where ever you can find more-have read about this for the last couple of years with great interest but cannot find the balls to pull a perfectly good engine apart and do the mods just to see the out come he discribes.
Poolman

Reading all about this, Im seriously thinking that I'm going to give it a try. My only question is whether I should have the machine shop do it, or do it myself, since the machine shop might not guarantee that kind of work.

Has anyone on the board done this to their heads, volvo or otherwise? I'm willing to be the guinea pig, but it would be nice if someone had at least tried it on anther car.

Lucas

I have replaced valve seals on a head which is not hard to do. The problem was renting a suitable valve clamp for an overhead valve engine. Most stores did not have the correct tool, I ended up rigging an extension to fit down into the head out of some copper pipe and some fittings. The copper is a little soft so every 5 or six valves it had to be bent back into shape. It was a little slow too, with getting to the spring keepers both on un and re assembly.

DanR 94 964 330,000 miles (96,000 on the new engine)
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DanR

Really don't know if anyone here but me ever heard of this or not-but I have watched this with great interest now for a couple of years and have really thought about trying it out-but with the engine running fine and the car is my sons now-better not go into it with his first car and all. I would try to do the work myself if I were going to do it-all it is, are grooves going out to make the areas of the piston not gaining from thermel expansion haveing access to the cylinder explosion when it occurs.You don't have to go deep or really wide-another thing is the grooves need to be beveled after being cut so that you don't have sharp edges that will allow a hot spot that will cause detination.

I need to add another bit here on the fix with the head-you need to have new valve seals installed even if you don't do a valve job on the head-From what Pauli stated not long ago tthat the seals were where a majority of these engines loose oil.
Poolman

Great catch Poolman.

DanR
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DanR