–By Eric Fantin
As a follow up on my adventure with the Volvo 164 in the previous article.
The car started running poorly at the end of our travel. I was able to make it home, but the car was low on power and making this unusual high pitch metallic noise coming from the induction/exhaust side of the engine. Fearing the worst, I assumed a valve had dropped after sustained driving on the freeway on a vehicle that had been sitting in the weeds for 10 years.
I started doing a baseline check on compression since the engine was not smoking or oil and water would mix indicated a head gasket failure. Compression was OK. (Some valve clearance adjustment will be needed however). I then used a borescope to check the combustion chambers and the intake manifold revealing nothing unusual.
So I had an engine with a pretty healthy base line, running poorly, and making some strange noises!!
My instinct went toward the intake/exhaust manifold gasket as per my previous experience with 1973 Volvo 145, I worked on last year.
All the bolts came out with some persuasion, to my surprise, especially the exhaust manifold bolts. Upon inspection it became clear that the gasket had failed by cylinder 4 and 6 allowing air to come in creating the poor running and detonation explaining all the ailment of the engine.
New parts will be ordered. The engine on the intake side will be cleaned with all the studs. The new gasket, new brass nuts will be installed. Many related small parts need to be replace in the process also.
I hope to complete that task soon and hope my diagnosis is correct so I can move on the other parts of the car. The list is quite long but it mostly due to neglect and some maintenance and new parts will bring the car up to snuff. The plan is STILL to make it my summer driver. Stay tuned.