So two weeks ago i bought my 96 850 turbo sedan Volvo. i know nothing about cars and i need help with boosting my cars performance and most importantly my gas mileage. the only thing that i had in mind of doing is putting in a K&N air intake system in the car. but if u guys have any other tips or ideas id be greatly appreciated if u helped me out.

oh and also when i drive on the highway and hit 65 and up the car seems to shake.... got any ideas why that is?

To come off as a stick-in-the-mud:

Your first move should be what has been called a "Stage Zero" setup on your car before any modifications Here's an incomplete list:

new spark plugs
new air filter (the K&N counts)
check/replace the timing belt
same for the accessory drive belts
change your oil
change your transmission/differential fluids
inspect your brakes, brake lines and tires for wear
correct any rust on the chassis
(insert anything I missed here)

Really, you just want a good baseline, and want to be sure your car is ready for the power you plan to add.

(yes, I ripped off the IPD catalog on this, please keep the calls for my death to a minimum)

As for the vibration, my suspicion is an unbalanced wheel

the old owner gave me the paper work for all the stuff that he did to the car and he has replaced the the brakes the timing belt and such recently idk if it is recent enough but its been like 10000 miles. and i took it for an oil change the day after i had got the car because i learned that the turbo in the car kills the oil and that u need to change the oil more often. so the k&n air intake is a good idea than? and than i guess changing the transmission and differential fluids will be my next step. thanks for the help. what should i do after i complete all of these tasks?

:00000732: :haha: just see for yourself, check out the members garage! welcome to the vast world of 850 lovers and bashers. one thing is for sure, GREAT CHOICE on the ride. Now google volvo 850 preformance and gawk at all the goodies! EBAY!!!!!!! :clap:

+1 on doogs response, but add in wires and the coil, check all the hoses and routings for the turbo. once that is all done, like he posted, that is a stage zero tune-up, everything from there is going to be in stages, ex stage 1 filter upgrade plugs and wires upgrade, etc. with a k&n filter, your choices are drop in, no change to the airbox just a filter replacement, or a cone filter but that needs an induction to really get any benefit out of it. like swed posted, check out the garage sections, see what everybody else has done. just know, as is, with a stage zero tune, your 850 will be quick. everything else will be gravy. as for the vibration, besides and out of round wheel, check for either an alignment issue or check the bearings.

sounds good i love all these forums just reading about the stuff is very helpful for me. i just have one more question something that i really wanted to do was put in an indash dvd player and get rid of my old radio but i cant seem to find any that fit into the 850 so do u guys have any ideas?

yea, in my garage pics you see i have a indash double din, funny it has no kit installed, it just kinda... fit. i made a fiberglass ring to put around it too. Dual 6.5 inch multimedia with touch sreen and navigation. you can go with the single din motorized flip out, but it gets in the way of the other controls, plus if having a tv in view of the driver is illegal, like most states, then having a flip out will show up more than a stationary sreen, plus it looks like a stock navigation sreen. good luck!! :lol:

i went and looked at your pictures and that is exactly what i want!!!! was it extremly expensive and hard to do?

no, the Dual item number is xdvd8281. the navigation is extra add on, you may not need it. the screen retails for 400.00, but you can get on cheaper if you look around, most 6.5 inch double din srceens are the same in size, you may have to carefully force it in, be smart, dont put force on the screen. Common sense here. the wire kit was 20.00, but i made my own low profile kit due to dept room. cheap and easy, everything else hooks up the same. I love it, only problem is i dont spend enough time parked to watch it!

If you are still at the engine, doing your Stage O, it pays to clean the IACV and the throttle-body at the same time.

:)

I second Doog's + Greek's+ Bear's opinion in getting the stage zero part pat down prior to modifications.

A shoddy stage zero will act as a bottle neck to any mods you'd perform, as it is the basis of the power plant and efficiency of your engine.

I've got friends who have spent considerable sums of money, only finding out that they need to go back to a good stage zero to make all those mods work to the max.

All the best, and congrats on your new ride!

dude wooow ummmm your pretty much my hero rigth now... i am sooo pumped for this u have no idea! this is the only thing that i really wanted to put to change the interior of my car

:haha: belive-it-or-not, im-walking on air, i-never thought i can be so free-e-e, flyin away on a wing and a prayer, ohhh its me, belive it or not its -just- me!!! :grin: sorry! in my shop we have this game, when you say a certian word, we match it with a retro tv show. that one was american hero! eary 80s. hmm im old. :blush: bottom line, i had big help from this forum site! i know the front runner of volvospeed and i only use that forum when prompted to do so. As for forums, YOU GOT THE RIGHT ONE BABAAY!!! UH HUH! (pepsi 80s campain). okim done wit the shameless tv game. :lol:

ok ok ok soooo my friends dad said hed paint my car for free for my birthday.... im thinking about painting it black and than paint the rims purple what do u guys think?

Nice game sweed.... sounds like fun! :P

HEY, he had that here, too!
The guy's name was Ralph or something, right?

Uh-oh, i guess i too, am getting old...
:)


:grouphug: