850 T5-r eyeing up for purchase... Pointers please!

[Nifton]

Hi Gents,

Newb here! ( http://www.vpcuk.org/forums/showthre...ello-everyone! )
I'm hoping this forum will be my new home for many moons to come if my plans come off

I have seen a rather fetching gul 850 t5-r. I am seriously considering taking the plunge.

It has had 5 owners, has 185k on the clock, FSH. (10k / 6month services) Had conversion to manual done 2 yrs ago, has a t34 turbo, rica ECU, dump and boost valves, injectors uprated, exhaust to 3". Stock aspirated. he wants 3k but i am hoping to get him way down on this.

What do I need to look out for concerning the mods? (I have read the t5-r buying guide for general problem areas) I am specifically concerned about the new tranny mating, and the effect the boost valve will have had on the aparently bendy conrods. Any comments?
Also, I see valve failure is quite common judging by post on here and other forums. What is the cause, shot lower seals?

Any particular rusting spots? It has lived 1000m off the west coast for past 2 years, will this have upset it?

I am viewing next weekend and want to be properly prepared as I know I will just want to drive off in it regardless!

Any answers to my ramblings or indeed any source material will be very much welcome, I need to absorb all I can over the next 7 days!

Many thanks, and I hope to be adding my detials to the T5-r registry very soon

[M-R-P]

There's something called the 3k rule - don't boot it till at least 3000rpm. This will usually stop you bending rods.
Simply keeping an eye on the join between the gearbox and block will be enough, there's little to go wrong there if the conversion worked in the first place, it should only fail in ways that would normally affect any other manual.

Ask about timing belt service and PCV service (when were they last done?)

Probably worth asking what supporting mods it has to go with the bigger turbo - remap, forged rods, new intercooler, wastegate actuator etc. what boost it's running (look for a gauge).

Listen for any knocking from the bottom end.

Others will be along shortly with better info

[Nifton]

Hi M-R-P, Thanks for the swift response!

No mention of PCV but cam belt was changed 2 yrs, 12k ago. So i'm guessing that includes pulleys and runners. Recently had MAF and idler replaced, with new filter and sparks to compliment it.

Rica ECU was remapped for turbo, is new ECU with the manual box. Looks to have a massive intercooler when comparing bay pics to a stock level picture i have, though not sure on rods, if they have been done then I think i'd consider it sold already Booster was running high, chap said he sent it to garage with a 'slipping clutch' when it was booster shredding the guts out of his tyres! I find that maybe the most disconcerting aspect of the purchase... but.... If it's not knocking, and it hasn't thrown one yet, then with TLC it will be runable for a long long time then??

Cheers

[M-R-P]

Turn the boost down a bit, and it should be fine.

Like I said, there'll be be more knowledgeable people along soon

[Lsvolvo1]

It wouldn't be the one that keeps coming up for sale? was last seen in scotland now in northern england.

There must be a reason it keeps coming up for sale, i have seen it change hands a few times this year.

[Nifton]

It wouldn't be the one that keeps coming up for sale? was last seen in scotland now in northern england.

There must be a reason it keeps coming up for sale, i have seen it change hands a few times this year.

Hmm, could well be, without abusing the sellers privacy he said he took it off a mate who was struggling for cash to help him out, as he'd always fancied to try one (he's a previous evo and scooby owner). How long ago was it up for sale and can you remember the list price??

Cheers.

Just had some more info: No idea if rods were done, but turbo now boosting to 9psi, was 16 before!!!!!!! (worrying)

[Lsvolvo1]

I think it originally had colour coded bumper then changed back to standard M613 RDS rings a bell, i swear i have seen it up forsale 5 times. Any how could be absolutely fine but just give it a good check over.

[smithy]

Hmm, could well be, without abusing the sellers privacy he said he took it off a mate who was struggling for cash to help him out, as he'd always fancied to try one (he's a previous evo and scooby owner). How long ago was it up for sale and can you remember the
Just had some more info: No idea if rods were done, but turbo now boosting to 9psi, was 16 before!!!!!!! (worrying)

9 psi sounds stock boost to me and rica b ever did a map for that turbo ether mate unless it is custom mapped.can you put a link to the advert so we can have a good look at it because it sounds fishy to me and a bodge too.i have done a t35 conversion and unless its done right then it's will look rough .and running one of those turbos on stock rods is asking for trouble mate .personnelly look for a better one .

[T5frankie]

is that the one that didnt have all the stuff it was supposed to have mod wise? if it aint got rods with that turbo you'll break them, rica dont do custom maps anymore do they? 16psi is mapped boost 9 psi is standard t5 boost, sounds like a different ecu to me

[Nifton]

9 psi sounds stock boost to me and rica b ever did a map for that turbo ether mate unless it is custom mapped.can you put a link to the advert so we can have a good look at it because it sounds fishy to me and a bodge too.i have done a t35 conversion and unless its done right then it's will look rough .and running one of those turbos on stock rods is asking for trouble mate .personnelly look for a better one .

Sure mate:
Link
Yeah, think the garage took it back to stock pressure, they also took the boost valve off on owners request for economy.

Sounds like a lot has been done to it, would be odd to do all that and not the rods. Look at the SH for first 12 / 13 years of it's life! Was told ECU was remapped for turbo. Also comes with original and rica auto ECUs. I hear what you're saying, I'm hoping it's not trouble, just a little misunderstood

[smithy]

Link not working mate

[T5frankie]

Sure mate:
http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/rare-t5r-volvo-850-gul-yellow-estate-full-history/112716266#gallery-item-full-2

Yeah, think the garage took it back to stock pressure, they also took the boost valve off on owners request for economy.

Sounds like a lot has been done to it, would be odd to do all that and not the rods. Look at the SH for first 12 / 13 years of it's life! Was told ECU was remapped for turbo. Also comes with original and rica auto ECUs. I hear what you're saying, I'm hoping it's not trouble, just a little misunderstood

took it back to stock pressure? sounds crap to me

[smithy]

For 3k mate you could buy a fully sorted Volvo for that money.ask the guy who mapped the car because to get a rica custom map he would have to go to Sweden rica rolling road to get that done

[oblark]

Is this the car ???

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-m...tory/112716266

[Nifton]

Link working now. I've spoken to the mechanic today, he trades as a volvo specialist, confirmed the reset to stock perameters on customers request. He said car was quite nice view n tidy. Totally agree with you on Rods issue though i need to find that out.

[T5frankie]

Link working now. I've spoken to the mechanic today, he trades as a volvo specialist, confirmed the reset to stock perameters on customers request. He said car was quite nice view n tidy. Totally agree with you on Rods issue though i need to find that out.

you cant go back to stock parameters with the wrong turbo as 9psi on a biigger turbo will be alot more than 15g that was supposed to be on it, and a rica 304 is an off the shelf map for a 15g turbo

[smithy]

Turbo ecus don't like power boost valves mate .and it has a 304 on it so no custom map ether .looks nice though the 1pic I can see

[Nifton]

you cant go back to stock parameters with the wrong turbo as 9psi on a biigger turbo will be alot more than 15g that was supposed to be on it, and a rica 304 is an off the shelf map for a 15g turbo

Yeah, good point on turbo, didn't know what size original was or original boost so i assumed they'd compensated. Don't know first thing about ECUs for these so any info is great.

Turbo ecus don't like power boost valves mate .and it has a 304 on it so no custom map ether .looks nice though the 1pic I can see

As part of this 'reset to stock parameters' boost valve was also removed. I've got some better pictures of all the arches, bay and interior, it looks pretty tidy all over. Be a real shame if someone has indeed bodged it

[T5frankie]

Yeah, good point on turbo, didn't know what size original was or original boost so i assumed they'd compensated. Don't know first thing about ECUs for these so any info is great.



As part of this 'reset to stock parameters' boost valve was also removed. I've got some better pictures of all the arches, bay and interior, it looks pretty tidy all over. Be a real shame if someone has indeed bodged it

get a photo of the turbo, what colour are the injectors?

[Nifton]

get a photo of the turbo, what colour are the injectors?

Can't see them...

These are all the pics of the bay, if one of those blown up would be any good then let me know, i have some huge versions. Those give you any clues? Everything important is under those covers i guess, but thought you might be able to spot some give away clues of what has been done seen as you've done a conversion yourself.

Cheers frankie