1996 Volvo 940 TDi estate - spares or repair, Edinburgh UK

[clivealive44]

A car smashed into to mine today, apparently the cross member that the front suspension parts are bolted into is twisted, and the front drivers wing has some damage. The cross member can be replaced, but is a lot of work, it was going like a dream until today. It has a complete new exhaust fitted last year including stainless steel from the cat back, loads of new and used spares including a brand new ip, brand new front discs and pads, fitted engine preheater, loads of new engine oil and filters, 2 brand new continental tyres, new wheels fitted recently, pump and cam belts replaced less than a year ago, injectors reconditioned less than a year ago, I was planning to keep it going for a few years yet, but now I just want rid of it.

[RedArrow]

Hey, sorry to hear about the loss. Sounds like the car got good tlc and was running nicely.
If you decide not to fix it again, hopefully it ends up in the right hands (...at least the block with tranny should be saved!)
Take a few shots and keep us posted whatever happens next. Are these cars getting really rare over there (too)? How is emissions? Do they need to pass a test there? btw, Do they have to be right handed to be able to get registered legally??

[clivealive44]

The front drivers suspension strut is bent and twisted, the control arm has twisted slightly where it is bolted on to the big cross member so that it is pushing against the steering rack unison pipes, that seems to be all the damage i can see. It's pretty hard to see the twist at the control arm cross member joint from a photo because it is not very obvious,

[v8volvo]

Bummer, rough luck there.

So much unique stuff under that hood... RHD, no AC, intercooler, high-mount alternator, hydro lifters, late style TB and WP, probably late style mounts, M90... Would love to get it all over here; if only it were 5 years older than it is it would be eligible for US import!

Can't remember what the import rules are -- isn't there something where it's legal to import a partial vehicle as long as its not whole? Maybe one of us on this side of the pond should be working on convincing you to pull out the driveshaft, chop the car at the B-pillar, and send us the front half with all the goods... :p

[clivealive44]

One of my clients is a time served Volvo mechanic, he has kindly offered to help me attempt a repair, I have managed to source the cross member and suspension strut from a Volvo breaker, so I will keep you posted as to how we get on.
By the way you can register a LHD car in the UK, I used to have one, but it is more expensive to insure. Emissions are OK as long as they fall within the legal limits at the time of manufacture.

[745 TurboGreasel]

California doesn't seem to distinguish between drive sides.

10 years ago:eek:, I did a write up on changing the crossmember, maybe it will save you some time
https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=957777

[clivealive44]

10 years ago:eek:, I did a write up on changing the crossmember, maybe it will save you some time
https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=957777[/QUOTE]

Many thanks:) , though I get the impression my client/volvo mechanic has done these before, he has worked at the Volvo franchise for at least 15 years (could be 30) and says "it's not a big job" :)

[ngoma]

Agree, not a big job. Take care when separating the steering column from the rack & pinion pinion splined shaft. That u-joint clamp bolt must be completely removed (not merely loosened) before the u-joint can be slid off the splined shaft.

Might be a good time to renew the R&P accordion boots if they are cracked.

I had to replace one of mine due to excessive cracking:
http://d24t.com/showthread.php?t=978

[clivealive44]

Well the car has been resurrected :). Apart from the damage to the crossmember, and suspension strut (shown in photos), the right hand side engine mounting bracket/anchor had snapped in two ( the alloy bit which joins the top of the rubber mount to the block). I managed to get the crossmember and strut from a breaker quite easily as they are exactly the same as the petrol models (the spring on the diesel is stiffer). The bracket was more difficult as they are no longer available, but fortunately a Volvo specialist breaker had one. Thanks for all the advice for changing the crossmember, though my mechanic friend was so sure of what he was doing, I didn't like to say anything to him, he did 95% of the work, and took him about 10 to 15 hours over 5 days. Have driven a couple of hundred miles since, and seems to be going fine. Just need to change the wing now. Does anyone know - do I need to take the whole front bumper off to access the 2 bolts behind the bumper? and I know I can access 2 of the bolts by opening the front door, but do I need to take the door off to remove and replace the wing?

[ngoma]

See here:

https://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/BodyPanels.htm

[clivealive44]

See here:

https://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/BodyPanels.htm

Many thanks :)

[v8volvo]

Great news! :)

Congrats on having it back in service!

[clivealive44]

Many thanks, a few unexpected good things came out of it as well - before the accident the car was making an awful loud humming road noise for some time, that now seems to have gone - maybe it was the front right wheel bearing, the replacement strut was in much better condition than the old one. Also my MOT man said the old cross member was so badly rusted it would have been an mot failure ( the mot is the UK's certificate of roadworthiness that almost every vehicle must have), so it would of been needed to be replaced anyway, the replacement was again in excellent condition almost rust free. Also the breaker initially sent me the left hand strut by mistake, so I got a free spare, again in excellent condition :)

[ngoma]

Also the breaker initially sent me the left hand strut by mistake, so I got a free spare, again in excellent condition :)
Usually a good idea to replace both sides at a time (like tires, brakes, etc.).

[clivealive44]

Usually a good idea to replace both sides at a time (like tires, brakes, etc.).

Good point

[Boots]

Glad to hear you got it sorted.

If you ever decide to part with it, please give me a shout on here as I would dearly love to have one of these again and they don't come up very often!

[clivealive44]

Will do, thanks

[RedArrow]

If you ever decide to part with it, please give me a shout on here as I would dearly love to have one of these again and they don't come up very often!

Grey wagon. Running and registered, streetlegal, for 695 uk currency lol. Drive it home. 1990 745td
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-740-AUTO-2-4-TURBO-DIESEL-ESTATE-OLD-SKOOL-WAGON-WITH-TOWBAR-/252095972283?hash=item3ab21743bb


2nd car with true 5speed 1996 945td+ic: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-940-SE-Turbo-Diesel-estate-/111774538141?hash=item1a0648199d for 750 uk coins