OK - indy shop called and said 'low level head gasket leak'. So, I've got the parts on order and will do the job - starting tonight. I'll take the pb-blaster-on-the-exhaust-manifold-studs advice for sure. And soak them down for a couple days. And in some twisted way, am looking forward to beating the system on this repair.

Anything else I should considering doing while in there? Besides timing belt and corresponding seals? The head, I will probably have trued for sure.

Thanks for all the help guys!

i used elring on my old bimmer with good results, haven't had to do a volvo yet.
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83 242 DL , 92-965, 94-965

Have someone who is experience examine the head for possible cracking. Which unlikely unless it really got cooked you don't want to put any money into a junk head. On the head you might want to consider valve stem seals and dampners. Personally I never take a head off without at least cleaning up the valves and lapping them in before reasssembly.

Heater hoses are never any easier to change out than with the head off. If you get a head gasket set you will have everything you need as far as gaskets and seals. It would include injector seals and again it is a very good time to do this (on the bench).

Turbo? I would replace the exhaust manifold studs and nuts as well.

Some people here advocate using only a FelPro headgasket. I am not sure of the reason but I respect their opinion. Buy it as an individual piece and just forget about the one in the low dollar head set (what we used to call a valve grind sets).

Randy

rstarkie - thanks. Good points about the head - I've just got a short window of opportunity on this car (need to get it up and running asap). And the valves were recently adjusted. I'll definitely mull it over too - and check with the machine shop on whether they can do it (one of those, take it in Friday a.m. - pick it up friday afternoon deals).

I ordered a head gasket kit from my volvo parts supplier - it's an Erling. I asked him about felpro head gaskets, and he said erling would be fine. Autozone has felpro gaskets for volvos: part# 8190PT $30.79. Why, specifically, have several people recommended Fel Pro?

Good points. Thanks for that.

At that price, I see no reason to buy the FelPro headgasket.

From FCP Groton, a B230 headgasket kit (Elring) is about $43. That kit will have everything you could possibly want to replace and more.

While you're in there, replace anything you can get to that would be difficult (or require similar labor) otherwise. The heater hoses, heater control valve, radiator hoses, vacuum hoses, clean out the idle motor, oil trap, and flame trap housing, stuff like that. I don't seem to remember the kit arriving with the throttle body gaskets, but it sure wouldn't hurt to replace those.

The hardest part of doing the headgasket for me was dealing with the mess of K-Jetronic stuff spread out all over the engine compartment.

I had the machine shop pull the exhaust manifold studs (just in case any of the studs broke), and I used Volvo branded head bolts, EM studs and nuts. I figure it was a worthwhile investment since the engine is in otherwise very nice shape. Unfortunately that little trip to the dealer set me back nearly $100. Whether or not it's worth that much of your money is up to you.

- alex

'85 244 Turbo
'84 245 Turbo

I don't know why they were singled out- proven quality?? Special interest?? Sorry I don't have anything to back it up.

Randy

Word is, and I have no personal experience in the matter, that the Felpro has superior construction in comparison with other aftermarket gaskets.

Buy new exhaust manifold nuts from the local dealer or www.borton.com: the OEM nuts are treated to resist heat and corrosion. Use nickel-based antiseize (machine supply or first-class auto parts store) when reinstalling them so you can get them off at some future time. Now is also the time to:
-replace heater hoses and water valve
-new spark plugs
-new valve stem oil seals and rubber dampeners along with head reconditioning
-new front engine seals. The Elring brown seals are easier to install than OEM unless you have the OEM tools. Buy the paper gasket for the lower timing cover at the dealer so you have one on hand.
-new timing belt and tensioner

Should be a straightforward job unless the head was cooked, but the machine shop should be able to repair that unless it was major.

We're here to help in real time.

Elring has been making quality gaskets for European cars since god knows when. I have an original head gasket kit for a 1965 122 from the dealer and it's elring. I believe Elring makes the headgaskets for volvos. Change the thermostat too, if your due for an h20 pump, might as well do that. Also take a hose and spray all the crud out of the radiator fins, IE take the nozzel and aim it at the radiator from behind the radiator while the fan shroud is off. You will be amazed at the amount of junk that gets built up in the fins.
-GIl