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DIY 101: I finally bought it - woo hoo! - now what?! 200 1981

posted by  diy 101 on  Wed Sep 10 09:42 CST 2003
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Hi everyone. Trying this post again to the RWD forum - don't know where I ended up last time! Newby Volvo owner here, and novice mechanic to boot. I'm totally gonzo about "Red" - drop by the introductions forum for the scoop. Anyway, I finally bought my long awaited $800 81 GLE, but apparently the owner’s manual wasn’t part of the deal. Can anyone help me w/ specs so I can do a tuneup?

The only work done on her so far is a tuneup last year, timing belt and u-joint replaced, degreasing the engine, and regular oil changes and wax jobs. The shop charged $150 for a tuneup. Now they want $300 to change the worn wheel bearings. Since I’m already supporting the local library pension plan with my late fees, I figure I’ll have to do my own maintenance so I can drive the Volvo and still afford to eat. Time for a Brickboard reality check!

So I’m about to do my very first tuneup! Thanks for all the info on the Board. Now for some oh-so newbie questions (please hold your chuckles till the end):

1. Is this car fuel injected? Does that mean I won’t check points or adjust timing and idle speed?

2. What brand and size plugs are right for this car? Does brand matter? I won’t even ask if size matters. I think we all know the answer to that one.

3. How many plugs do I buy? There are 5 connected to the distributor cap, or maybe that’s 4 and one coil wire. Do I buy one spark plug for each end of the wire, both on the dist. cap and at the other end? (Told you this would be amusing.)

4. What is the proper spark plug gap?

5. How can I get a spec sheet for the car?

6. Is there anything I have to be careful about so I don’t damage nearby parts or components during the tuneup? Anything I have to keep away from other things, or be super careful not to touch or crimp or strip or spray or just generally not annoy?

While I’m asking questions, how do I find out what engine and transmission I have? The original owner replaced the stock automatic tranny with a 4 speed manual (no overdrive), and might have replaced the engine as well. The second owner wasn’t sure. Can I find ID numbers stamped somewhere?

Thanks for your help. I never knew working on a car could be such a rush. Now if I could just remember to take a break and mow the lawn...






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