Well, I got the new old wagon home this past Wednesday. Of course, it ain't as nice as the pictures looked, but...she is a solid example and should make a fine driver for a long time to come...

The issue is with the rear end though. I knew it didn't work, and I just now figured out why.... (the tell tale holes through the differential cover from the inside are a good clue as to a problem...)

Brief history on that is that the rear had gone out sometime last year, and the only rear to be found was from a sedan.. so, this brilliant mechanic opted to cut the axle housings, and weld the wagon housings to the sedan pumpkin. Silly guy. So, question number one: If he didn't get that aligned all perfect, where would the most likely stresses take place?

As it is, the problem with the rear end now is that both the planetary spider gears are in lots of little bits, and I'm curious as to whether this creative weld job caused that, or some other incompetent move by said mechanic, or...perhaps an unrelated coincidence. I have an extra spide gear set that came with the car...intact... I was thinking of just changing the ring gear and swapping it... as a temporary fix until I get a new rear end housing that is...

Any thoughts/insights/or advice on this project?

Thanks,
Matt

70 145s
65 1800s
72 164e
66 122s wagon
Other junk...

If you are in need of 122 SW differential. You can try Wayne Darling in Grand Junction (970-245-6579). He has a salvage yard, and has been collecting parts/working on Volvos for 35 years. And never scraps differentials. I go to Grand Junction every once in a while. I could always pick one up for you.

Paul

Hi Paul,
Yes, I have been in touch with Wayne...and indeed he does have the bits I need. I don't make it to Grand Jct very often though, so I'm hoping to find something closer... But I might take you up on your offer if I don't find anything else... Are you in the Denver area? Thanks!

-Matt
matt@metricsucks.com

Matt-

I live in Brighton. I just picked one up for Justin Little. It's a part that's not easily shipped. No problem doing the same with you.

My email address is: malloy1@prodigy.net

Paul

How about getting in there with a welder and just welding the gears up good and having one wheel drive only? Or... weld up both sides and have a full time fully locked rear end? Obviously, either would still be temporary, but.... it would get me on the road...

-Matt

After you figure out all of the time you will spend dissasembling that thing and trying to fish all of the crunchies out, just to put new spider gears in an unsure housing, personally, I'd 86 the whole works and wait to get a good rear end to drop in.
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-------Robert, '90 240 wagon, '84 240 diesel , '80 245 diesel

Yes...of course you are right, but what fun is that. THe rear end I've sourced is still buried in a foot of snow, and when thats gone, it'll be in a foot of mud. I don't think I'll be able to get at that for several weeks...

I havn't had the opportunity to get to drive a 122 in a coon's age or more, and I don't want to wait any longer. I want it, and I want it now!

:-)

-Matt

Aw what the heck, if you just want to see it roll for a few miles,wash it out with a garden hose, weld it up, put some heavy gear oil in ,fill the tank, and head off with AAA card and cell phone in hand :-)
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-------Robert, '90 240 wagon, '84 240 diesel , '80 245 diesel

Now you're talking! HEck, most of the driving I do is on low speed dirt mountain roads anyhow. I sure love my limited slip in the 145, and having a true two wheel drive in the 122 wouldn't be a bad thing... even if only through the rest of the snow/mud season...

I figure the worse I could do is break my already broken rear axle anyhow...

-Matt

If you fill it with straight Lucas oil stabilizer, the oil won't pour out of the holes as fast as gear oil( did that with a trashed jeep rear end a few years back)
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-------Robert, '90 240 wagon, '84 240 diesel , '80 245 diesel