32 replies to this topic

[jdlc]

SlapShot, on 14 August 2009 - 01:33 AM, said:

So I am driving up I-95 through Bridgeport CT, going about 75mph in the left lane, 5PM rush hour when all of a sudden I don't have a gas pedal, RPMs are falling and i have no power steering. By some stroke of luck/divine intervention I managed to coast over 3 lanes and off onto an offramp which happened to be there.

As of that moment I wasn't sure what had happened. Fuel pump was going through my mind but that soon flew out the window when i cranked it over once...ugh. Checked the belts..the timing belt was slack and I knew then and there she was done. 121k on the clock.

I had it towed to the garage where they confirmed it dead. When I bought the car a little over a year ago and around 112k, the used place I got it from stated they replaced the timing belt. Apparently they had never changed the tensioner pulley and it snapped off.

I've been looking at my options here: Stick out not having a car while i go through grad school or drop 1600 on having a jy motor put in. Other than having a blown motor everything else is fine. I have until midday Friday (tomorrow) to decide.

Anyone have any input/suggestions? All are welcome.

Getting out of that in one piece is indeed another way of looking at it.

I feel vindicated, my paranoia is not unfounded after all when I decided to go ahead and replace the whole t-belt system on our V70 at 125k even when the t-belt itself has only 55k on it (albeit 5 years old) last year.

You should be careful lifting the head if you'll have it repaired, a tool can be fashioned to lift it evenly, and somebody actually posted it if you search. Otherwise, there is agreat chance you'll crack in the area near the seals (I know, I toyed with my parts car before ).

Definitely fix it. If not, I'll be tempted to fall in line and buy it from you .

[rosso75]

Quote

huh ? The top end is toast.

I must have missed the part where you mentioned that you had already taken it apart and seen the damage.

[Chilled Man]

rosso75, on 15 August 2009 - 12:48 AM, said:

I must have missed the part where you mentioned that you had already taken it apart and seen the damage.

Dont have to timing belt goes top end is gone .

As with all volvo engines .

[EricF]

SlapShot, on 14 August 2009 - 05:51 PM, said:

I'm sure I'll have more questions in the coming days/weeks but I'll throw the first few out there.

Are there any special tools etc a good writeup for taking the head off? I've never taken apart a volvo motor before.

http://forums.turbob...ead.php?t=32093

It will take you a day and a half the first time...

[jdlc]

Chilled Man, on 15 August 2009 - 12:52 AM, said:

Dont have to timing belt goes top end is gone .

As with all volvo engines .

+1

I only once heard of the head being still okay after t-belt failure for whatever reason in 850s/1st gen x70s - probably a one in a thousand chance depending on where the valves are at the moment. And I'm not even 100% convinced it's true (claim was the car was idling when it happened).

[AverageVolvo]

Chilled Man, on 15 August 2009 - 12:52 AM, said:

Dont have to timing belt goes top end is gone .

As with all volvo engines .

The 4 Cylinder blocks were non interference.

[JC 855 GLT-R]

AverageVolvo, on 15 August 2009 - 03:09 AM, said:

The 4 Cylinder blocks were non interference.

wrong.... the 8v motors were non interference the b234f dohc ones were interference... ask me how i know...

[rosso75]

Chilled Man, on 15 August 2009 - 12:52 AM, said:

Dont have to timing belt goes top end is gone . As with all volvo engines .

I learned long ago that the words "all", "every", or "never" apply to almost nothing, and I'm currently being reminded of that.

I broke the belt on my 850t a couple weeks ago at about 30-35, accelerating and under boost. Everything I read said that I had an interference motor, and everybody I asked locally, as well as respondents to my post here, either implied or said directly that something would be bent or broken.

I figured there was no sense in putting a rebuilt head on a 200k motor, and the labor to pull the engine is just slightly more than doing just the head, so I yanked it all out. I tore it apart, took the head to my favorite machine shop, and it turns out I've got nothing wrong with anything. Being an interference motor doesn't guarantee that something is going to be out of whack, just that there is a possibility given the right combination of factors. I've got a perfectly good engine on a stand, and a perfectly good cylinder head in the shop, for no particular reason other than the fact that I made an assumption without knowing for sure. If I had spent $23 and 90 minutes to verify that something was bent I would be driving my car right now and have a lot more money in my pocket.

I'll grant you that the OP's speed and mine were vastly different, but I still maintain that it's worth the time and money to throw a belt on and verify.

Quote

I only once heard of the head being still okay after t-belt failure...

Now twice. I think I'm gonna put a velvet rope around the shop and charge admission to see "The Miracle Motor". Discount for VS member, of course.

[Chilled Man]

well why dont you put that back in your car and prove us all wrong ...........lol

[Gilhuly]

+1 on the possibility of cracking the valve cover. We just did this while trying not to. Fortunately we were working with a rebuilt replacement head so, no huge deal and I recommend getting a replacement rebuilt head in advance.

jdlc, on 15 August 2009 - 12:48 AM, said:

Getting out of that in one piece is indeed another way of looking at it.

I feel vindicated, my paranoia is not unfounded after all when I decided to go ahead and replace the whole t-belt system on our V70 at 125k even when the t-belt itself has only 55k on it (albeit 5 years old) last year.

You should be careful lifting the head if you'll have it repaired, a tool can be fashioned to lift it evenly, and somebody actually posted it if you search. Otherwise, there is agreat chance you'll crack in the area near the seals (I know, I toyed with my parts car before ).

Definitely fix it. If not, I'll be tempted to fall in line and buy it from you .

[Bah]

So what your saying is...don't replace the timing belt and hope to get a super miracle engine, that way i can get my own engine to put on display, and unlike you, will offer cold drinks and popcorn?

i say we just eliminate this whole timing belt idea, get some electric motors strapped on where the gears were, and go from there =) Still think its cool how were coming to the point of camless engines...just use solenoids instead of lobes, and then you can have ultimate control over everything! bwhhahahaha

[Black Betty]

SlapShot, on 14 August 2009 - 11:58 PM, said:

What about the harnesses? Aren't the ones from the B5234FT and my B5234T3 different? Otherwise that doesn't sound like such a bad idea.

i thought 96-98 were the same harness engine ect... If not just run the ecu out of the T5 as well.

[SlapShot]

Thanks for all the info. Rebuild starts after I get back from vacation.

I'll post a new thread once stuff gets going. It might take awhile considering grad classes start after labor day, but i won't need a car immediately anyways. Needless to say, I look forward to hearing my turbo scream again.