Hey all brickboarders:

I just bought Volvo number 59 today. A one owner 1988 robin egg blue 740 sedan with 174K - very nice condition - new trans from AAmco (only 200-500 miles on it), all new exhaust- header back, new brakes, rear main seal, decent tires, decent body (slight rust on left fender), new sunroof repair, headliner repair,intact leather seats and a new JVC cD player in a box with it for $260 total. And all repair records from purchase to present. But a seized cam - owner gave up on the car and no one wanted a project car but me.

Have the valve cover off and can see the top end is dry as a bone - previous owner attempted to take off bearing caps to inspect it. Looks like some carbon material - more reddish rust color (has been sitting for 4 months), not a lot though.

My debate is whether to attempt the quick fix by removing the cam and try the Volvo problem solver/700 FAQ trick of cleaning. Never done this, but I did see the cam seize on a 1980 B-21 once.

I have a spare 1000530 230 head I had been saving for the rainy day that I might need to do a valve job. The question is should I try the cam quick fix method or put another 300 to do a valve job and have a very nice car? I have a local shop that would be in the 125-200 range for the head work and a gasket set is around 45.

This would be my first head job on a b-230 (done a b-20 and b-21). Since this car has a essentially new trans and rear main done - my only worry would be the oil pump and bottom end condition. Oil looked sort of nasty on the stick, but I did not drain it yet. If I remember the seized cam was not necessarily related to failing oil pump?? I assume on the 740 I can rotate the intermediate shaft to check the pump function?

Should I go for an easy fix to start with? I want to finish this one before the fall -last summer Volvo project. For $260 I feel like I bought a CD player and got the car for free! I am leaning towards a valve job - if so, should I scrap the seized head and use my spare to have cleaned up - spare is ok to good.

Bob Weber
Hamilton, Ohio 45013
59 Volvos since 1979 (will make 60 in 2004)
94 850 101K Ruby
93 850 172K Dusty
86 240 146K Woody
88 740 175K Robin