So back in June, my son crashed my 1989, 245 into the rear of Ford F-150.

Yesterday I got the hood, front cross member and drivers side front fender back from the paint shop.

So far I've place the drivers side fender, though I have not tighten the bolts completely tight. Today I placed the front cross member in place but I have not tightened any of the bolts as I'm not sure about any alignment issues that might arise once tightened.

Can any one help me here and tell me how I should proceed with this the remaining installation of the front cross member and then the hood.

Thanks in advance,

Matt

Thanks everyone!

With the help of my son, we put the whole car back together this afternoon.

I'm still missing one piece of molding, the center piece, so that has yet to be placed. Once I find that at the PNP I'll finish it up with before and after pics.

Later,

Matt

"With the help of my son, we put the whole car back together this afternoon."
Good. I had the urge to suggest you get your son to help fix the damage. I think he has come away with a better appreciation for old Volvos.
--
1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb, M46 trans, 3:31 dif, in Brampton, Ont.

I could have, except for mounting the hood, done it all myself, but 1) I wanted to spend time with him, which I did, and 2) I wanted him to learn how to do these things which he has.

In the process of doing the work this weekend we replaced the ECTS sensor on it as I believe it was causing my mileage to drop. It was original to the car, so why not.

While the intake was off, I was able to show him first hand what sensors live underneath it and what they are used for. A teachable moment!

As far as loving old Volvo's, he does. In fact he wants to buy the car and was planning on doing so this summer up until he had the accident. Now, I would not have sold the car to him yet as he could not afford the insurance, but I know that when he can afford it, the car will be going to a good home.

We have regular maintenance stuff to do on it yet, but that should get sorted out this week and then back to be a daily driver.

Later,

Matt

if you ever plan to remove the headlights aftr fastening them to your new core support i strongly advise you to make sure the studs and nuts that protrude from the headlight frame are heavily covered in antiseize grease or simply wheel bearing grease.

once they rust down the road they are nearly impossible to remove without ruining the headlight frame

Been there done that!

The old ones came out of the wrecked cross member only because I had then out recently. However, when I originally took them out I wound up cutting quite a few to remove the headlight housing.

So, yes, I had thought about doing that and now most definitely will do it.

Watch the gap between the fender and cowl and fender and door. look at the passenger side to confirm the gaps are the same. You may want to remove the hood lock pin before you try to close the hood and check for gaps and square. Needless to say keep the front grille off until all is good, this is the part you will install. also note the bolts closest to hood hinge will hardest to tighten once the hood is on. So you may want to snug those first and and install the corner ones too. Once you are happy it looks good then tighten everything.

by front cross member do you refer to the radiator core support which goes side to side between the fenders?

there is no special trick you need to do. it is pretty much connect the dots

Yes, that is the part.

So it pretty much sounds like there isn't too much to do.

I'll snug the front cross member tomorrow and view the gap between the passenger side fender and compare it with the drivers side and then move from there.

Once set I'll throw the hood on and go from there.

Any thing else I should think about??

Thanks guys,

Matt