Okay, heres a long story that I will try to make short.

I live in the boonies of Minnesota, and I have not found a independant Volvo mechanic in the area. My old mechanic is a bit far away since I moved up here, but I have managed to do alot of the work on my cars by myself(thanks to the Brickboard). But recently I needed to take the car in, and an aquaintance recommended a new mechanic in town who is a Nissan specialist and "loves Volvos".

I took the car in because I wanted the following things done and checked out:

1. Oil Leak--the engine leaked oil a year or so ago...and I found that the PCV vacuum hose was seared shut...replaced that and the flame trap and the leak slowed considerably. The leak has in the last month or two increased(I have been servicing the PCV at oil changes). It drips on to the transmission cooler lines next to the exhaust(and on the exhaust). The mechanic called me to say that I had a bad head gasket that was leaking down the back of the engine.

2. Hot Start problem. I have gone through everything that I could do or think of including a general tune up (plugs, wires, dist.cap+ rotor), inspected areas of possible vacuum leak, replaced some hoses, checked out the hoses to the charcoal cannister, new air filter and air box thermostat, fuel filter. The mechanic said that the engine would benefit from a de-carbonizing when he had it apart for the head gasket job, and that would probably take care of the problem.

3. Bushing replacement/suspension work: I have been incrementally upgrading the suspension. Last year I put in some Bilsteins on the back, and had Boge's installed and balljoints/tie rod ends replaced...but with the stiffer suspension I started to get some clunks..now I wanted to finish the job with all new bushings in the front and back, and the installation IPD overload springs(already purchased).

So here are my concerns, and the price for all this:

The mechanic said he used all Volvo parts, so the parts were on the expensive side:

He put in new bushings in the rear, control arm bushings and stabilizer rods, head gasket, timing belt, head gasket, valve grind kit?, cleaned carbon from injectors intake valves o2 sensor and catalytic converter, new thermostat, AF, oil and filter for $1152 parts, and $926 labor(Total $2153 USD)

But, a week later the engine still leaks the same amt of oil(1/2 quart/200 miles), and it doesnt start any better. In addition, as I was looking at the suspension, I noticed that the trailing arm bushing had a weld on it tacking it to the suspension arm(I saw the old bushing in the box of pulled parts and it was really beat up. A concern?). Actually, the car did start and run better right after I got it back, until I noticed that the vacuum line from the fuel pressure regulator had broken, and when I replaced it, it started the hot start problem again(I checked to see if there was gas coming out of the FPR, but there was none)

I have an appointment to take it back in. I am looking for any feedback or advice. I feel like a schmuck being at the mercy of an untried mechanic, and having spent so much money without a fix. Thanks in advance.