[Edward Birch]

From: Allen Swett <allens at mitronics.com>
> Subject: MC-2 Lets loose....... (long, depressing)

> Hi list,
> Certainly did not expect this.....
> Car is an 89 200q Avant, MC-2 w/ SJM 1.8 ECU/spring
> Coming home from Vermont Sunday afternoon after two epic days of skiing.
> Running southbound <snip>  sudden clickity clackety sound arises <snip>
>Pull V/C off expecting to see some carnage, nothing, not good, fire it up
again, deep gutteral
> clanging....<snip>......

Well, let me be the first......  Broken exhaust valve/broken piston????

Reminds me of an incident about 30 years ago.  I was working at a MG/Harley
Davidson shop in New Jersey. (Don't ask about that alliance).  One day, a
woman drove in with an old Volvo car that was making a hammering noise from
the engine.  I pulled # 2 spark plug which appeared very wet.  She wanted me
to look for the problem, so I pulled the cylinder head and discovered that
one piston had seperated in half......top section splitting from the bottom
at about the second ring land.  Top piece just sat there while the piston
bottom section and rod did it's normal business.  This four cylinder motor
had good oil pressure.  The cylinder wall had no visable scratches. No
damage to the head.  Mind you, she had driven this car from Philadelphia,
about 50 miles total.  I suggested a used piston installed, drive the car
some and sell it.  She said no money; paid our bill, gathered up the pieces
and had her boyfriend tow away the car.

I still have a strong respect for Volvo durability.  Gawd, they looked
awful, tho.....


Ed Birch....93-100S.