I obtained a 1993 950 GLT sedan. Transmission is shot, ready to go, engine runs nice but leaks oil due to pcv clogging. There are other problems too, mostly due to driver neglect. My quest is to put a new engine and transmission in.

Locally there are a number of sources for used ones. Many are for 94-97.

So my question is - is it practical to try and install engine and tranny from other years into a 1993 850? I'm not sure of all the gotchas, but I'm thinking emissions, diagnostics, wiring harness, mounts. I know from reading here that the '93 transmission is unique, but there are '93s available so I'll probably target one of those. How about the engine?

[edit] Also does the computer choke on swap outs like this?

OK!!!! Change of plans.

I found a '93 engine and transmission at a local wrecking yard and bought it all for $850+tax. Not sure of the mileage, the instrument panel was not in the car. Looks in the 150K range...I hope. It's from a clean car that crunched the right front corner. I don't possess it yet, should be 4 days or so.

Before I forget, I have to mention the professional and high quality service I got from two local wrecking yards here in Seattle, one of which specializes in high-end cars. Anyone who lives here probably already knows of them, but if not, feel free to IM or email me for info.

What am I gonna do......

I was thinking this is so cheap it gives me incentive to find someone to install it for me and just pay him. The yard guy told me of a guy he has do a lot of work for him. And he said he knows of other places if I don't go with his first recommendation. Of course I'd have them break the two apart and replace all the seals and anything else possible before installing. And some other stuff. But nothing would really be done to my satisfaction and the tab would keep running up. If you know me, that kind of stuff just bugs me. Why trust someone else with this investment when I can do it myself and do it right?. The money I'd spend mostly on labor can be used for all the new/replacement parts.

It's too much of a challenge. The weather is finally nice here. Gonna do it myself.

Oh, the car. I have a story to tell about the purchase of this car, but I'll save it for later. It's my son's first. Not what you'd call sano, but plenty clean. Busted center console, well worn leather seats, and most everything else is in nice shape. Carfax showed the odometer had been reset at least twice. Right now it reads 156K, haha. Came from Hawaii, then coastal California, explaining the rusty pock marks on the front of the hood. There will be other things to consider replacing or rebuilding along the way - master brake cylinder, wheel bearings, radiator, sensors, injectors... maybe I can get help from you folks with some of it, as I would love to tap into the knowledge pool here.

Trying a picture attachment...Here's the car.

Well, that didn't work! If you want to see the car, send me an IM or email on what the heck to do, cuz I can't figger it out. I've tried attaching and uploading but the image isn't showing up. :blush:

get the haynes manual first. do a search on the 850 forum, if you haven't already, since there have been others who have done the swap and there are posts concerning this very topic. good luck and keep us posted.

Thanks TheGreekMason, I'll get to searching. I already have the Haynes manual. They've got their uses, but I will definitely need more along the lines of a shop manual. I know there are some available - seen 'em here. I've replaced three motors, two successfully. But this car actually looks easier than an '87 Chevy Nova, aka Toyota Corolla.

I was thinking of posting lots of pics of this adventure for the sake of shade tree mechanics everywhere, since this is going to be a true shade tree job. I'm clearing the decks in my backyard so I can position the car in - you guessed it. I'm giving myself to the end of July to turn the key and start it up.

Can anyone clue me in as to how to post a picture? Sheesh...I tried using the Add This Attachment function - nothing doing. Just a link is all I need.

Maybe the size is too big.

What i normally do is to crop the size down to 100KBs.

Wait we have a dealer copy book? I found one for the bimmer but we have one for an 850? Someone send a link!

Woo Hoo! Thank you ampangbear!

Sure thing, sixblade. Put all the photos in the Garage, will ya. We need to do some drooling ...
:)


XPiece, VADIS is already equivalent to that you wanted of.

OK it's in the garage. Don't get too excited now, folks.

http://www.volvo-forums.com/index.php?&aut...ew_item&CID=701

Hows i equivalent for a bmw? I guess im confused.

As stated earlier, the odometer has been tampered with twice. I found this thread on Matthew's site - tells how to read actual mileage from the ECU. It worked!

Odometer ---- 155,899
ECU ---------- 188,344

For a difference of 32,455

http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/chat/phpB...opic.php?t=6731

Alrightee then! Picked up the motor and transmission from the wrecker. I brought along a pallet so they set it on and loaded it into the Bronco. I backed down to the garage and got to work. I temporarily replaced the rusted tailgate cables with chains for a more secure surface. I broke apart the two components while still in back of the truck. Used my patented firewood method for lowering the tranny to the cart. Moved the motor in position and attached the hoist mount, then the rest of the hoist to the motor and slid it out.

The motor looks like one that was maintained average or better. It was apparently running fine until the car got in an accident. I don't know yet, but front and rear main seals are probably intact. No signs of oil leakage. The transmission fluid is nice and red.

I stripped it down to the longblock...now what to do with a motor that has maybe150K-175K on it? I could use some advice from the forum here. Is it advisable to stay with what I've got? Of course I'll replace the main seals and anything else I can, but what about cylinder wear? The bearings? How long do they go?

I think I will definitely remove the head, and at least get a valve job. I'm saving enough by doing this myself that I can probably have the whole head rebuilt. But again, do I need to that? Do people polish the ports on the heads?

Any opinions in general, based on this information and the pictures?

if you went that far, go for it. polished heads, valve job, bored cylinders. good luck.

Nice JOB!
:)