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Found my problem with my kid's '88 740....no heater core !!
Seems that the previous California owners had heater problems, found out the cost of a proper fix, and jury rigged an 'S' curve copper pipe rube-Goldberg heater arrangement that did not work.
They cut the plastic heater housing open behind the glovebox, slipped the old core out, and put the contraption back in. (Actually pretty neat idea, and saves tearing the dash apart - which I did before I found the problem)
This made the fix easy, (um, OK, easy after I had spent 6 hours removing and replacing parts unnecessarily) as all I did was to take the old beasty out, buy a $35 heater core for an '85 Chevy Citation, put 5/8" ID hoses on the core (it was the right lenght, but 2" short), put springs inside the hoses to keep them from kinking as they exit the firewall (found that problem out the first time I installed the core), and slip it back in. Then taped the plastic cut-out back and sealing the seams with military 100 MPH tape. Also known as SWT: Star Wars Tape, "It has a light side and a dark side and binds the universe together".
After putting spray type expanding foam in to hold it in place (watch that you don't block the air doors), fired her up and hot air be there; she works! Also replaced the noisy blower motor, another Citation part, for $25 that is the exact same Delco part as Volvo uses. (And hey, thanks to whoever posted that gem !)
At least my kid won't freeze now.
By the way, I flew to Salt Lake last Saturday and bought me a well maintained and documented '93 940 wagon. Now we're a three Volvo family; 850, 740, 940. My kid says I'm sick, oh, and he also made sure that mine did NOT have the turbo like his. Whatever. Do you think it would be pushing it to restore an 1800 or 444 ?
Thanks to all who replied to my freezing plea for heat!!
Flinch
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