Search found 122 matches

by heavend
Tue Nov 28, 2023 8:07 am
Forum: Body and Interior (80)
Topic: Wanted
Replies: 4
Views: 3089

Re: Wanted

Given how rare the steel reinforcing bumper bars are I got mine blasted, which reveal the little rust holes which I subsequently MIG welded up. I then got them hot dip galvanised. They will last forever. BUT they are now quite a bit heavier.... I'd urge any 480 owner to get the bumpers off their car...
by heavend
Mon Jun 13, 2022 7:27 am
Forum: General Discussions
Topic: Volvo UK Press Cars
Replies: 16
Views: 11020

Re: Volvo UK Press Cars

The rear bumper is off at the moment but when it goes back on it will be sporting a new plate. 480ES. True, I'll add a picture if I figure out how it is done on this site.
by heavend
Mon May 30, 2022 9:13 am
Forum: The secret life of a 480 owner...
Topic: 1994 Volvo 480 Turbo Diary - Half an Update November 2023
Replies: 130
Views: 155853

Re: 1994 Volvo 480 Turbo Diary - Update May 2022

Good on you for taking the time to post an update. It's encouragine to read of another owners fun in keeping a 480 alive. I'm having a spell on my 480, having just replaced a noisy fuel pump and not rebuilding the rear bumper, there's plenty of new steel and MIG wire going into it.
by heavend
Fri Aug 28, 2020 6:31 am
Forum: Engine (20)
Topic: Head Gasket Replacement - DIY or NOT?
Replies: 16
Views: 6817

Re: Head Gasket Replacement - DIY or NOT?

Better late than never! But you never know when someone else with a similar question will be searching the forum. I you're a newbie to mechanics I suggest get a Haynes manual and have a read. If it's gobbledegook pass on the job. I've just done a 1.7 head gasket/frost plug replacement. I've used a f...
by heavend
Sun Feb 23, 2020 12:24 am
Forum: Wheel suspension and Steering (60)
Topic: Rear drop link mounting
Replies: 1
Views: 3084

Rear drop link mounting

Imagine my deep sigh when I spotted the LH rear drop link mount had pulled off the body.
I was doing a full caliper rebuild when this came to my attention. So out comes the MIG welder..
Only two spot welds from factory. (no joy trying to attach a picture)
Has anyone else had this failure?
by heavend
Fri Jan 10, 2020 5:14 am
Forum: Engine (20)
Topic: Strange coolant leak from engine block - help!
Replies: 54
Views: 20410

Re: Strange coolant leak from engine block - help!

Update on the update. Reassembled the engine, filled with water and ran the engine. Frost plugs holding great, but now there's water hosing out between the head and block near #1.... Hoping that it's just a rotten gasket and that the previous owner hasn't cooked it and warped the head. I think I was...
by heavend
Thu Jan 09, 2020 4:52 am
Forum: Engine (20)
Topic: Strange coolant leak from engine block - help!
Replies: 54
Views: 20410

Re: Strange coolant leak from engine block - help!

Update on my frost plug repair. I found a local supplier of 10mm frost plugs, so I bought those as that's the size of the original plug. I stuck with the idea of using water going into the head to push out swarf etc. and that worked perfectly. To get the old plugs out I first drilled off the peins r...
by heavend
Mon Jan 06, 2020 4:26 am
Forum: Engine (20)
Topic: Strange coolant leak from engine block - help!
Replies: 54
Views: 20410

Re: Strange coolant leak from engine block - help!

I know this thread is old, but so is the car! I've got a 1990 n/a car piddling coolant out of the head in the manner described above. It's had a poor maintenance history and I think if it had good antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor it wouldn't be an issue. After removing the inlet doodah and the fuel in...
by heavend
Wed Jun 12, 2019 9:02 am
Forum: General Discussions
Topic: Am I mad?
Replies: 8
Views: 2863

Re: Am I mad?

I forgot to mention that I have ONE brand new tail light. Talk about the ultimate orphan!
Got spare bumpers, doors, glass, guards etc etc. Rust is not a big issue. Whereas they do rust it's very slow.
by heavend
Wed Jun 12, 2019 8:57 am
Forum: General Discussions
Topic: Am I mad?
Replies: 8
Views: 2863

Re: Am I mad?

Thanks for the encouragement folks. I've had 480's continuously since I joined the 480 Club Europe, perhaps 15 years ago? I've got no difficulty fixing any fault with them, apart from lack of time and parts availability. I went through my stash of 4 alternators over the weekend and sorted out 3 of t...
by heavend
Sun Jun 09, 2019 8:02 am
Forum: General Discussions
Topic: Am I mad?
Replies: 8
Views: 2863

Am I mad?

I've got several cars (13), three of them are 480's awaiting restoration. I used to have a couple of running 480's but they got written off in crashes by drivers ... ahem "new to the country". I did strip the crashed cars and keep all the parts that had a possible use, which takes up a fair bit of s...
by heavend
Fri Jul 13, 2018 8:57 am
Forum: Body and Interior (80)
Topic: fixing cracks in the indicator lens?
Replies: 6
Views: 2578

Re: fixing cracks in the indicator lens?

Drill a tiny hole at the end of the crack. This will stop it running further.
by heavend
Fri Feb 05, 2016 7:34 am
Forum: Body and Interior (80)
Topic: Reinforcing the dashboard frame.
Replies: 4
Views: 2654

Re: Reinforcing the dashboard frame.

I've done 5-6 of these successfully. I used thin fiberglass tape and resin on the inside, ensuring the crack was held OPEN. I reckon they crack because the outer part is too small... Then fill the crack and airbrush for an invisible repair. THEN trim the vinyl back and sand/grind the inner frame bac...
by heavend
Fri Jun 19, 2015 9:39 am
Forum: Engine (20)
Topic: Crankshaft gear - no longer available
Replies: 1
Views: 1332

Crankshaft gear - no longer available

I was replacing a cambelt and oil seals the other day. It's a job that involves pulling off the crankshaft gear off. Normally this isn't too hard, but this one posed a problem - it cracked! Volvo no longer carry this part. There is a Renault part number 7700100776 - which is the gear from a 1.9DCI R...
by heavend
Fri Jun 19, 2015 8:34 am
Forum: Engine (20)
Topic: No spark on a 480 Turbo
Replies: 8
Views: 3622

Re: No spark on a 480 Turbo

I had a 480 in the garage last week that wouldn't start after an extended period sitting.
The distributor cap was faulty - the central contact which is supposed to be spring loaded had seized in the up position.

I'm assuming you're using a timing light to confirm no spark?
by heavend
Fri Jun 19, 2015 8:28 am
Forum: Engine (20)
Topic: Cam Shaft Oil Seals
Replies: 1
Views: 1499

Re: Cam Shaft Oil Seals

Replace the camshaft seals when it starts leaking oil, or maybe when you do the cambelt.
They're not going to affect starting.
Scandisk do the right seals, and they're not expensive.
by heavend
Fri Jun 19, 2015 8:25 am
Forum: Engine (20)
Topic: rear crank oil seal
Replies: 4
Views: 2188

Re: rear crank oil seal

I'm guessing you mean the crankshaft seal on the clutch end? A little bit of care needs to be used when fitting a seal because the lip can fold under in spots, ruining the seal and causing a leak. Also, avoid fitting a new seal into the same depth as the old seal as a shallow grove can wear in the s...
by heavend
Tue Feb 11, 2014 3:50 am
Forum: Electrical system (30)
Topic: Dashboard/clock bulbs
Replies: 28
Views: 9854

Re: Dashboard/clock bulbs

The disco lights problem is almost certainly due to a faulty earth, there are two places to look and you have to remove a bit of trim to get a good look: 1. the earth point on the chassis, lh rear corner. It's like Stonehenge for want of a better description - 4 terminals standing upright and arrang...
by heavend
Mon Feb 10, 2014 7:15 am
Forum: Electrical system (30)
Topic: Dashboard/clock bulbs
Replies: 28
Views: 9854

Re: Dashboard/clock bulbs

The 'bulb out' indicator is lit when the monitoring circuit detects an open circuit lamp. The lamp failure module is in the boot, on the left hand side ahead of the aerial near the wheel arch. It's sort of a dark red colour. The module only monitors some external lamps - park lights, brake lights, d...
by heavend
Sun Jan 12, 2014 7:47 am
Forum: Electrical system (30)
Topic: Infocenter/speedometer/tachometer all is black
Replies: 17
Views: 6581

Re: Infocenter/speedometer/tachometer all is black

Suggest you download the schematic diagram from this website and buy a cheap digital multimeter. Power for all the instrument panel lamps goes from the battery to the ignition switch/light switch/fuse/rheostat (dimmer) to the lamps. Easier to diagnosed than randomly guess and change parts. You will ...