This is my first post; as I have aquired my first Volvo just last month. Need some info on the tightening sequence and torque specs on the cam/valve cover on my B230. Every service manual that I have ever owned explicitly indicated the proper sequence to tighten down the bolts. But my Chilton manual doesn't offer any such suggestions. Thank you for you replies.

I think more important than perfect torquing to factory specs is using the right gasket. My newly acquired '89 740 was leaking like a mofo out of the valve cover, it had some cheap paper-thin gasket. The gasket I replaced it with (from fcpgroton.com) was much thicker and has some cushion, like a gasket for this purpose should.

I use the smallest smear of silicone RTV stuff on the semi-circle cam thingy, but not anywhere else -- there's no need for RTV on a flat clean surface with the right gasket.

I did mine at 7ish ftls. Important, clean both surfaces with acetone to remove any oil. Use RTV sealant. Begine in the same manor as head bolts (center and work out). Tighten a little at a time and then go back and torq to specs.

As I recall, the torque is around 110 inch-pounds, but I have never seen anyone tighten by torque on a Volvo valve cover. I mean, I've never seen any professionals tighten by torque. I suppose somewhere there's somebody who does it. Still, the question is the right one to ask, but you don't have to worry about it too much as long as they're torqued evenly--of course. Hand tight with a light turn on a 1/4 inch ratchet is my formula.

Start in the middle like any cover, and tighten in a circle to the outside.

If you put RTV sealant over the bearing caps on the ends of the cover, the potential leaks will be decreased about 90%. The Volvo or Volvo-like gaskets are very forgiving. They just don't leak that much.
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chris herbst, five volvos.

Just to add that 110 in/lb is a touch more than 9 ft/lb (9.1666 to be precise).
Again clean mating surfaces and even torque on every bolt is more important than exact torque. There is no good reason to tighten any fastener to an excess - as is determined by the specific job. This one high torque could easily damage a head or the cover.
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If at first you don't suceed....it's time to sell it! ;)