Unmolested Volvo 850 GLT
Discussion
@ Heaveho: Not sure if it's an ongoing tale or just my ramblings and a way to keep a log of just another old Volvo estate...
The majority of cars that are saved, restored, pampered for the future are usually high spec top of the range models. It's very seldom the lower models stand much of a chance. I love when I go to a car show and see a base model car that has never been restored and factory fresh, I would have that every day rather than something that's had a nut & bolt restoration. As for 'attention to detail' you could ask 1000 people about that and get 2000 different answers, but in my books if the job's worth doing it's worth doing properly.
@sortedcossie: Thank you and glad you enjoyed reading the thread.
The majority of cars that are saved, restored, pampered for the future are usually high spec top of the range models. It's very seldom the lower models stand much of a chance. I love when I go to a car show and see a base model car that has never been restored and factory fresh, I would have that every day rather than something that's had a nut & bolt restoration. As for 'attention to detail' you could ask 1000 people about that and get 2000 different answers, but in my books if the job's worth doing it's worth doing properly.
@sortedcossie: Thank you and glad you enjoyed reading the thread.
47p2 said:
@ Heaveho: Not sure if it's an ongoing tale or just my ramblings and a way to keep a log of just another old Volvo estate...
The majority of cars that are saved, restored, pampered for the future are usually high spec top of the range models. It's very seldom the lower models stand much of a chance. I love when I go to a car show and see a base model car that has never been restored and factory fresh, I would have that every day rather than something that's had a nut & bolt restoration. As for 'attention to detail' you could ask 1000 people about that and get 2000 different answers, but in my books if the job's worth doing it's worth doing properly.
@sortedcossie: Thank you and glad you enjoyed reading the thread.
I've got several threads going on in Readers cars, and I don't mind not getting replies, it's a useful resource to check back on if I need to revisit a problem, or remind myself what needs doing next. I've come to regard it as a kind of online service history. The majority of cars that are saved, restored, pampered for the future are usually high spec top of the range models. It's very seldom the lower models stand much of a chance. I love when I go to a car show and see a base model car that has never been restored and factory fresh, I would have that every day rather than something that's had a nut & bolt restoration. As for 'attention to detail' you could ask 1000 people about that and get 2000 different answers, but in my books if the job's worth doing it's worth doing properly.
@sortedcossie: Thank you and glad you enjoyed reading the thread.
47p2 said:
Gave the 850 its second wash of the year ready for the Dumfries show at the weekend, then fillled it up with some E5. Looking at the forecast I might need my wellies.
The 850 used to be a mid size car but sitting in the forecourt it looks tiny against modern junk
Totally with you on the size thing… here’s mine… The 850 used to be a mid size car but sitting in the forecourt it looks tiny against modern junk
My mates much newer Volvo next to it, believe it or not the 850 despite its smaller appearance has a larger load space
Great thread btw…
@ baconsarney Unbelievable how small older cars look now, I had a Vauxhall Senator B back in the late 80s and it was a large car then, roll forward to 2016 when I went to Ireland to buy one and it looked tiny.
@ paulnb Glad my thread helped de-stressed you, it's almost four years now since I bought the 850 and after reading you went back to the first page I also went back for a read, It's nice to keep a running report that we can go back and read again, I forgot half the stuff I had done back then...
Bonus pic of them both in the garage
@ paulnb Glad my thread helped de-stressed you, it's almost four years now since I bought the 850 and after reading you went back to the first page I also went back for a read, It's nice to keep a running report that we can go back and read again, I forgot half the stuff I had done back then...
Bonus pic of them both in the garage
Today I lifted the bonnet of the 850 for the first time since last September to check the fluid levels and everything was spot on. The engine hasn't been started since 30th September and won't be until I'm taking the car for an MOT Later next month. Bonnet now closed again for another month or so.
The 850 is still tucked away in the garage awaiting the better weather. The MOT is now due but I've put it off for another couple of weeks, as last year when going to and returning from the MOT station there was a heavy frost during the night and the gritters were out, so when I returned home the car was covered in salt. Postponing for a couple more weeks might just be enough for the salt to have been washed off the roads...
I started the 850 on Sunday for the first time since 30th September last year. For some strange reason it had a very noisy hydraulic tappet (common on these engines) which it never had before when left over winter. A few minutes later it was all quiet again and back to normal.
https://youtube.com/shorts/7Tk44WZT85M
My plan for Sunday was to not start the engine but when I looked underneath the car I noticed an oil leak coming through the sump cover splash guard, so I decided to put the car on the lift to investigate. It turned out to be the sump plug was weeping slightly, I did an oil change last year and fitted a new washer, but it decided to leak. I've tightened it up a bit more and I'll keep a close eye on it as the oil has only done about 1400 miles and I don't want to remove the sump plug just now.
While I had the sump splash guard off I decided to fit some rivet nuts and bolts instead of the self tapping bolts I previously fitted. I don't have the fancy tool for fitting them but it's easy enough with a nut/bolt/washers and a couple of spanners to insert them.
https://youtube.com/shorts/7Tk44WZT85M
My plan for Sunday was to not start the engine but when I looked underneath the car I noticed an oil leak coming through the sump cover splash guard, so I decided to put the car on the lift to investigate. It turned out to be the sump plug was weeping slightly, I did an oil change last year and fitted a new washer, but it decided to leak. I've tightened it up a bit more and I'll keep a close eye on it as the oil has only done about 1400 miles and I don't want to remove the sump plug just now.
While I had the sump splash guard off I decided to fit some rivet nuts and bolts instead of the self tapping bolts I previously fitted. I don't have the fancy tool for fitting them but it's easy enough with a nut/bolt/washers and a couple of spanners to insert them.
Best laid plans for mice and men...
My plan for taking Val for an MOT in better weather never quite went to plan, but at least there was no salt on the roads this year which is a bonus. Storm Kathleen decided to arrive during the night so it was a very wet drive to the MOT station this morning with the temperature at only 2°C
The car had a straight pass with no advisories, then off to visit a mate and then over to East Kilbride to do a Volvo estate thing and fill the boot with freshly powder coated wheels. Back home and the car will need to sit outside until the underside dries off before I put it back in the garage
Some nice beading porn when the car was moved into the MOT station after sitting outside for an hour
My plan for taking Val for an MOT in better weather never quite went to plan, but at least there was no salt on the roads this year which is a bonus. Storm Kathleen decided to arrive during the night so it was a very wet drive to the MOT station this morning with the temperature at only 2°C
The car had a straight pass with no advisories, then off to visit a mate and then over to East Kilbride to do a Volvo estate thing and fill the boot with freshly powder coated wheels. Back home and the car will need to sit outside until the underside dries off before I put it back in the garage
Some nice beading porn when the car was moved into the MOT station after sitting outside for an hour
Before my dinner tonight I came up with the bright idea of washing the 850 in the pouring rain (something I've done plenty of times as it helps prevent scratches). My thinking for this action today was, the car has been sitting in the garage for the last 6 months and had a layer of dust over the paintwork so if I were to dry it off when the rain stopped it would be full of scratches.
At around 9:20 tonight the rain stopped briefly so out I went and fired up the compressor and blew the worst of the water off. A quick towel dry and put the car in the garage, doors opened, the carpet snail turned on and the car should be completely dry by tomorrow morning
At around 9:20 tonight the rain stopped briefly so out I went and fired up the compressor and blew the worst of the water off. A quick towel dry and put the car in the garage, doors opened, the carpet snail turned on and the car should be completely dry by tomorrow morning
So far Storm Kathleen hasn't been as bad as the forecast warned us although I believe that tonight and tomorrow is supposed to be the worst of it. The weather is dry here at the moment and Val spent last night indoors with cold air circulating to remove any water and is all nice and dry now.
Service light came on yesterday morning when I started the car to go to the MOT station so this morning I did a Service light reset and that's it for another 12 months
Service light came on yesterday morning when I started the car to go to the MOT station so this morning I did a Service light reset and that's it for another 12 months
Had to run a few errands today and the sun was shining so took the 850 for it's first proper drive of the year
Once home I decided to sort out my show mats and put the obligatory stripes on them
Finished off by giving the original 28 year old mat a wash (no dressing on this as it is the one I use and I hate slippery pedals)
Once home I decided to sort out my show mats and put the obligatory stripes on them
Finished off by giving the original 28 year old mat a wash (no dressing on this as it is the one I use and I hate slippery pedals)
Thanks oobster, glad you're enjoying my thread
Following on from my untreated rubber mat as above, I was given the name Koch-Chemie Gummifix Guf for rejuvenating rubber mats so I bought a bottle and it arrived today. I've just applied it and let it dry and can confirm it isn't slippery although you can feel a little more movement under-foot. I've not driven the car yet but I think it might be a good product to keep rubber mats looking good
Following on from my untreated rubber mat as above, I was given the name Koch-Chemie Gummifix Guf for rejuvenating rubber mats so I bought a bottle and it arrived today. I've just applied it and let it dry and can confirm it isn't slippery although you can feel a little more movement under-foot. I've not driven the car yet but I think it might be a good product to keep rubber mats looking good
Volvo pampering or possibly OCD obsession, I only know what SWMBO tells me and that's certainly not pampering... 
Not sure what the durability is like on exterior trim, the blurb from the manufactures states the following:
"Non-greasy, silicone-oil-free rubber and plastic care for rubber foot mats, plastic floor surfaces and other interior areas in cars and commercial vehicles for which slip resistance is necessary. Makes surfaces appear ´as new‘."
Not sure what the durability is like on exterior trim, the blurb from the manufactures states the following:
"Non-greasy, silicone-oil-free rubber and plastic care for rubber foot mats, plastic floor surfaces and other interior areas in cars and commercial vehicles for which slip resistance is necessary. Makes surfaces appear ´as new‘."
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