Went by today (instead of last night) to stick my hand back behind the head. Everything was dry back there,

I did get to take a much better look at the flame trap area (moved the car for better light).

Looks like there is some seepage from the breather box below the flame trap....in all actuality I think it's the fact that the shot tube to the little flametrap filter is cracked around the top...and oil is creeping down the hose to the side of the rear her box and running down the side of the block.

Negotiated the price a bit and I pick her up this afternoon!

Thanks for the help folks!

Chris
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Chris M. '85 245 w/ 414,765+ miles. ***SOLD***

Thanks folks.

I'm going to head back this afternoon to put my hand back there and see what I can tell. I wasn't sure where things were located and what to look for. I've seen the rear cam retaining plate sold by ipd but wasn't sure of its actual placement.

As for the wiring harness....I thoroughly checked the wiring harness from the firewall area forward. It all looks really good. Nice and flexible, completely wrapped with no breaking or flocking apart.

I appreciate the insight and will let you know what I find out later this afternoon.

Chris
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Chris M. '85 245 w/ 410k+ miles

As RICOS mentioned.. it sounds like the Cam Oil Seal. no biggy to replace. I too added the insurance of a home made bracket. Run your hand down the back of the Valve cover between the Firewall and Head. Keep going down the Head until you feel a 1.5" diameter circle back there. feel how Juicy it is. If it is wet with oil, that is likely your issue with this car. No A show stopper by any means.. use it to negotiate a good price.

http://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo-cam-plug-rear-240-740-760-780-940-1336763
http://www.ipdusa.com/products/5561/103560-rear-cam-seal-retainer


LOOK HERE http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=1074986

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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.lyse.net/brox/TonyPage4.html http://cleanflametrap.com/tony/

if you're even contemplating buying any 86, a year known to have degraded wiring harness problems, and you observe smoke in the firewall area first order of business is to go over the wiring extra carefully.

forget the engine seals for the moment as they are the least of your troubles if the harness is less than sound.

"What's back there? Is that where the rear cam seal is located?"

The rear cam seal is at the very back of the head centered on the centerline of the cam, of course. The seal is a disc about 1 1/2" in diameter. It looks like a freeze plug covered in rubber.

Since the rear of the head is only an inch or so from the firewall, it's best to feel for the cam seal; if you try to see it, you'll have to use a small inspection mirror and get it at the right angle to see anything. If the seal is in place, be careful pushing on it - a seal hardened from age might be dislodged very easily.

Although I have never had a cam seal pop out, I've installed rear cam seal retainer plates on most of my 240's because I've heard so many tales of catastrophic rear cam seal failures.

I can't imagine a leaking rear cam seal puffing blue smoke, but I guess anything is possible. What I can imagine is the seal popping out of a neglected engine and puking oil all over the rear of the engine.

Rich - Near Pittsburgh

Since there's hardly ever problems with the engines themselves in these cars, what you probably have is a leaky seal and the uncleaned flame trap building up pressure in the block. That would force the oil out and it is probably dripping onto the exhaust pipe.
Mine has a similar (although nonsmoking) problem. I keep a close watch on the flame trap and will soon put some AT-205 Re-Seal in there.
It might be worth your while to get under there and have a good look. If oil is leaking onto the pipe it will be obvious by a patch of dark discoloration on the pipe and you'll see some oil wandering around. This would be done with the engine off, of course ;>).