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"...the left motor mount isn't tight and when the engine is started, it rocks
more than it should..."
Good news, easily fixed.
"...the left bushing for the front sway bar is worn and the hole is ovaled..."
Also good news and very easily fixed.
"...it has a 100,000 mile timing belt. However, the shops here insist it be replaced at 50,000 miles. What's the scoop?"
The standard Volvo timing belt (B21, B23, B230F and FT) have square cogs (teeth). The sprockets have matching square-cut grooves. When the belt stretches slightly, over time, it can become loose enough so that the sharp edge of a cog can misengage the mating groove in a sprocket, and the belt rides up -- stretching too far and snapping.
The newer design (on your engine) with the rounded teeth and matching rounded grooves permits the belt to "self seat." Even if it stretches slightly so that the teeth and grooves don't exactly align, they will still engage themselves and seat properly. This means the belt won't be stretched and snap, even if it's a bit loose.
If you do your own t-belt replacements, it won't hurt to do them at 50k mile intervals (as is encouraged for the old style belt). However, if you pay a shop to do your maintenance, you can wait the recommended 100k interval.
At least that's my take on it.
--
Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)
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