Well, due to a moments inattention on my part today my daily driver is in the shop wrecked, maybe totaled. A few months back a friend gave me a ''89 740GLE in really good shape, 115k, but with a "bad" engine in it - I'd planned on helping my 16 year old fix it, just the thing for him to learn a little initiative and engine repair. I'd been waiting on him to develop the initiative to work on it, but it looks like now I can't wait for him. I don't know how badly the engine is hurt, the shop that diagnosed it now doesn't remember what they'd originally thought was wrong, they'd told my friend the engine was shot & would have to be replaced. Compression's good on all cylinders, pulled the valve cover and looks good, no major varnish or gunk. I think my friend's owned it it's entire life, if so it's had regular maintenence. Radiator's shot and there's noise in the head - no other noise I can hear, but without a radiator I can't run it long enough to get it hot, so there might be more that doesn't show up unless it's hot.

Can anyone point me to a good Volvo parts house here in Houston, or would it make more sense to go mail order? I need a radiator, and then there's that noise in the head. Any suggestions on the best way to attack that? - pull the head & have it rebuilt (I've looked at the Chilton manual, looks like rebuilding the B234F head is beyond my skill level, plus too many specialized tools for camshaft seals, etc.), or is there someone out there with them already rebuilt that I can just swap the core plus $$ with for a rebuilt one? From what I can see it looks like swapping on a rebuilt head is something I could do.

If I'm wrong and swapping the head is a monumental task best left to others, and suggestions on a good Houston Volvo shop? As a measure of my mechanical ability, I do brakes, replace a clutch, that sort of thing, but have never rebuilt an engine.

Given the financial implications of wrapping up my daily driver I'm on a bit of a budget, but I like to do things right. I've read the FAQ - aside from a water pump, oil pump pully bolt, balance and timing belts, what else makes sense to do while I'm in there?

I've read the Brickboard timing\balance belt replacement & tensioning FAQ, sounds a bit daunting, but do-able, anyone in Houston have firsthand experience and want to help?

The sooner I can get this on the road the sooner I'm not paying for a rental car, so if you have any suggestions or advice, please post it sooner than later.

Thanks!

Barrett