46 replies to this topic

[blackANDwhite]

So I bought a 97 t5. It needs a head gasket done on it, I'm sure the water pump is good and all that good stuff, but it will all be replaced with new just because I'm in there. Now I did read the sticky at the top for "upgrades" But I really didn't see what I was looking to do.

So with that in mind, and this isn't my first time around the block, but it is with a turbo'd car.

I was IPD and saw a intake spacer for I think 60 or so bucks? Anyone try this and notice anything? Also the R exhaust manifold is this really an upgrade and notice anything? If I put this on my car will I have to change out other things for it to fit? Or is it all bolt on and go (so to speak)

Lastly I will have the head pressure checked, and milled if need be, and I've heard its a good time to do the valve stems as well, so I may do that as well. Other than that this is what I know will be done

-head gasket
-intake and exhaust gaskets
-new radiator
-clean out all the turbo tubes and intercooler
-clean out the intake and TB
-clean the engine (piston tops and walls)
-new timing belt
-new water pump and t-stat
-clean out all the silicone elbows that are aftermarket (lucked out there!)

Then the extra that I'm thinking about doing...
-R manifold
-intake spacer
-larger injectors

Anything else???? I'm looking to be budget minded and keep it pretty simple till its up and running as it should be, but I feel the intake and the R are easy upgrades that wouldn't cause too much headache at the computer!

[lookforjoe]

timing belt job needs to include tensioner & idler.

Larger injectors aren't going to do anything for you, unless you get a modified tune.

Intake spacer is a minor improvement, mostly reduces heat soak when idling. 3" TB w/960 butterfly & bore out the intake will make more of a noticeable difference.

R exhaust manifold is an improvement, but you really want to plan on an upgrade to the rest of the exhaust as well.

[blackANDwhite]

I don't have to worry about testing up here, so I was going to remove the cat, and put in a pipe there to open that up a bit more as well any harm in doing that with this car? I agree with the injectors with out a tune, I'm aware with out the turn I'll just be wasting gas and running rich, so I'll hold off on those right now. The timming belt was done in 03 and then again in 2010 the car ran smooth as silk till I sealed the deal with it kinda needing a head gasket to it fully needing one! I'll look at the boring and the 3" tb. Is the tb off something else to find it or?

[wizzard_al]

If you are going to mill the head, be sure FIRST that the cam bearings are straight. Not always a problem, but put a straight edge in the cam bearings, and if they are NOT straight, then get the head straightened FIRST. Once that is done, typically you need to mill the head only a very small amount to get it straight. If you do the head surface first, and don't check the cam bearings, you could have cams that are in a head that is warped on the top surface. I've take 3 heads off, and of the 3, It thought 1 was warped in the cams, but my machinist had a better straight edge, and a straight piece of machined steel rod, and the cam bearings were off by probably no more than .001', and that wasn't worth worrying about. My straight edge led me to believe it was off by about .01-.03", which was worth worrying about. Still haven't measured the head surface on that head, but that is going to be a spare only.

[tizio]

If you are on a budget spend well your money!!! Leave alone spacers etc.. get the "R" manifold and angled hot side, 3" downpipe !!! Ad to that the N/A throttle body with the 960 plate and look out for a 16T turbo ( not sure if T5 97 came with 15G or 16T).
PS: STAGE "0".

[blackANDwhite]

pretty sure I have the 16t, by looking at my photo of mine and looking at ebay http://www.ebay.com/...=item3f101cfac2

"angled hot side" <<< what is that
3" down pipe <<< off what? also doesn't cutting out the cat really help, and being that I just blew water vaper threw it?
I need to find a 850 na throttle boday and fine a 960 "plate"<< what is this

oh and yes the head will be going in to get checked out and tested and milled if need be

[Ghost Shadow]

First location location location.
Second what is your budget
third what are your plans after it is done?

Reason for my questions.

First: you maybe better off getting a used motor if you're close to someone parting one out
second may cost you more than just getting the motor if you do headgasket
third

• if you plan to keep it and drive it till the wheels fall off, dont have a small budget and do ALL the stiff that is a bitch to get to. this will save future blood sweat and tears
• if its to turn over and sell, not the right car to do it with. not much market for a great used 850
• be concerned to get her up and running first. then do the go fast stuff. phelonic spacers, r mani, FMIC,tune, cbv block off, hids, r bumper, fogs, ect ect will make the budget go up. so get the car running, then dump money into it. at least thats what i did and my project came out awesome.

all that aside, i would also do the following

• PCV system
• turbo drain o-ring
• oil dip stick o ring
• heater core hoses
• lower radiator hose
• upper radiator hose
• coolant temp sensor
• all new vacuum lines
• trans flush
• heater core
• alternator
• starter
• b+ cables
• i'd get the head kit, it comes with 99% of the stuff you need
• NEW HEAD BOLTS

besides alternator, starter, trans flsuh and B+ cables...i was in it for $850 in parts. headgasket kit comes with alot of stuff. down to oil cap gasket, and thermostat housing gasket.


Beg borrow steal what ever you can do and get a http://buy1.snapon.c...&group_ID=17510

i kid i kid...but its a awesome tool
reference this thread since it is still fresh in my mind http://volvospeed.co...-t5-manual-v70/

i use this guide
http://www.tracystru...s/850hg/p1.html

[blackANDwhite]

the car is for now my going to be driving everyday till the wheels fall off, but if I have anything to say about it the wheels will stay on! I live Bremeton, WA. I was thinking on the r-mani just due to the fact its right there and an easy thing to do swap out now, and cutting the cat off. Your list of everything else I will look into myself. Also how do you go about testing the pcv system to see if you need a new one. The car has been well taken care of till the head gasket went out, as I stated above somebody did the timing belt at 60k and then again at 100k and if I recall correctly the od doesn't work and I think is at 124 tho i think. So I need to also fix that little guy too! The car was for sure at 100k in oct of 2010. I'm not too sure I want to take on a heater core, as the system was super pressurized and thats when I noticed the radiator leaking and engine as well. Nothing from the vents so I think I'm safe there. Hoses all check out they are now swelled or anything, but again I will check all these out. Doesn't this car have a tranny cooler in the radiator? If so why did I see some place to add on an aftermarket one? Also I have yet to check myself, but where is the tranny filter and how do you change that out.

Lastly I do have a budget, but the nice thing about this car is that I DON'T NEED IT so it doesn't have to get fixed right tomorrow or anything it could stand to wait a month or two... but I'd really like to be driving it now though!

[Ghost Shadow]

if its a keeper...

do all the stuff i suggest, why? You dont wanna go do it when it does fail and burst and leaves you stranded.

heater core is cake, the heater lines are right there.

dont assume, you may regret it later. expect it to be bad. look at it like this, you rebuild everything back to oem spec, its like a "new" engine and you will not have to do it again for another 10 years

My v70 was a over heat = head gasket well cared for car too. i dont like to take little things for granted, $8 lower rad hose, $30 in heater core hoses...come on if you are doing that much work already, whats another 5 minutes to change out the hoses and now you are sure it will last another 5-7 years minimum....peace of mind is priceless. the pcv system is a cheapo replacement while you have it out, basically putting on new parts vs reinstalling the old.

You should be the "do it once and forget about it" mentality if its a keeper. Constantly wrenching on a car is not fun.

I'd ditch the R mani in favor of new parts going on the car. Even though i just got my FMIC order in yesterday for my v70 and cbv block off is on the desk in front of me. i still have 250 miles till the car gets broken in then the mods begin! LOL

[blackANDwhite]

what are the B+ cables? and I agree with ya, I mean if I'm there why not, and its easy stuff like ya said, just more turning on wrenches and parts! So anything on removing the cat? I don't need one up here so....

[Ghost Shadow]

what are the B+ cables? and I agree with ya, I mean if I'm there why not, and its easy stuff like ya said, just more turning on wrenches and parts! So anything on removing the cat? I don't need one up here so....

B+ are the battery positive cables. they tend to corrode and dont provide the car with enough power.

why remove the cat? does it offer up major power gains? no. is it bad? probably not. does it stink? yes it will. can it kill you? yes. why is this such a thorn in your side(meaning me)? there are minimal gains with maximum eco impact #1, two i hate the way it stinks to high hell.

i think you have a large cat like mine...i am going to take another look see tomorrow.

read thru my project v70 and you will see what i did

[wizzard_al]

One of the causes of a head gasket failure is that the heater core inside the cabin has started to leak, and after there is a loss of fluid, the engine gets hot, and blows the head gasket. My local mechanic was a dealer mechanic for years, and he says that these engines don't seem to blow head gaskets unless something else caused it (one poster did have a broken head bolt, and that could cause the problem) The first place he looks is the heater core, and he hates those, because it means taking the entire dash out on some cars, and it it a very long job, even for someone who has done it dozens if times, and knows all the short cuts. I'd suggest checking that, because if it is leaking, you will only have the same problem all over again.

[lookforjoe]

^ you know our heater cores take less than an hour, right?

I've personally never seen a HG failure on a 870 due to heater core leakage, though. I've seen the cores leak to the point of removing at least a gallon of antifreeze from the passenger compartment. Of course, if you let the system get low enough for long enough, it is possible that HG failure could result.

[wizzard_al]

Oops, sorry, was thinking of the time to replace A/C core, not heater core. Stand corrected. Still need to check heater core for leaks.

[Ghost Shadow]

One of the causes of a head gasket failure is that the heater core inside the cabin has started to leak, and after there is a loss of fluid, the engine gets hot, and blows the head gasket. My local mechanic was a dealer mechanic for years, and he says that these engines don't seem to blow head gaskets unless something else caused it (one poster did have a broken head bolt, and that could cause the problem) The first place he looks is the heater core, and he hates those, because it means taking the entire dash out on some cars, and it it a very long job, even for someone who has done it dozens if times, and knows all the short cuts. I'd suggest checking that, because if it is leaking, you will only have the same problem all over again.

thats right on. i replaced my heater core for the same reason too. why risk it

^ you know our heater cores take less than an hour, right?

for the first timer, 1 hour...experienced, 1/2 hour. right now when doing the head gasket is the best time to do it. i had all of 2-4 cups come out, normally on a routine maintance swap out, you'll make a HUGE mess.

[blackANDwhite]

Well I can say is I'll see about do it all. My eyes are getting big with getting the R mani, and then I got a deal on hids, and ipd wires, and na cams, and the TB so... I'll be getting those then getting the head checked out and then a head gasket set and so on....

[blackANDwhite]

Well my buddy came over and pointed out to me that the #3 and #2 top of the walls outer edge that is alum, melted away towards the firewall. That I'm pretty sure is not a fixable item so I need a new engine.... 2.3 what all works and what doesn't from what car, how new how old? All I need is the lower end I'll use my head, but if its all together all the better and cheaper!

360-204-8748 text me as I hardly get service. I know a used engine from a engine dealer is 1500... id like not to spend that much :/

I'm in Bremerton WA 98312 is my zip.

Thanks

[wizzard_al]

PM'd you.

[Annal606]

a great site,many useful information!

[Jardim]

The cylinders melted? no stuff!

Search ebay for used engines, you could get lucky and pick up a nice RN motor too...