The 88 245 has been on jackstands all summer, and with winter getting close up here in Ontario, my butt has been busy to get it done.
I stripped every thing out from under the car. When I bought it, (2000)
it looked real good with a little rust on the edges of all undercoated components.
By this year it needed reconditioning. It started with the steering rack. I thought it
was going south,harder to steer etc. So before tearing apart, I collected a batch of parts. Newer rack (Yahoo auctions 1990-240 60k rack for 100.00 us c/w power steering unit), clutch,pressure plate,suspension bushings IPD,clutch cable,wheel brgs,brake pads,axle seals,and shocks.
I as I said pulled everything out from under her,including A arms, and engine cradle.
With the engine supported with jack stands(tranny out), might as well paint her.
I found a very close red for the engine. Its "New Case Red" case being the tractor.
Slightly more red than stock but very close.
Also removed many aluminum components and brackets for sandblasting.
I have tried an interesting thing for the sandblasted aluminum stuff. Not wanting to clear coat etc, I wandered into an antenna mfg. plant close to where I work and saw them dipping finished alum antennas in some kind of wax.Very watery, but they tell me it stays on for years. Long/short, I got a pint and brushed it on all my blasted alum components.
I should see by the end of the winter if it works.
I will get to a question for you.
All my parts have been sandblasted and repainted in original colour(Canadian sp).eh
I have pressed out all bushings with my home made 10 ton press, and slowly as the susp goes back in
press in the new ones. My question is with the bushing orientation o the torque arms. from chassis to rear axle.
The bushings have open slots on both sides and solid rubber top and bottom ( I'll try a pick in paint to show)
Any of my manuals and or parts books on the car do not show what should be an important orientation.
I think I should line up from centerline to centerline with the solid rubber sections. Do you concur?
i.e. they will be in line with the angle of the torque arms.
Sorry for the babble, but had to get the history out.
By the way, the other night, I found the culprit for the hard steering. It was the upper u-joints on the steering column.
Stiff as a board, I am soaking etc to try and rescue it before pricing what I know will be a Volvo only available part and damn
expensive.
So how are you? breath breath.

Best Regards
Talk later
John D. McGuire
Simcoe,Ontario,Canada
64-122,70,71-164s,78-244,88-245