Exhaust systems and parts availability

[mister grimsdale]

Several recent threads on the subjects of exhaust systems and classic parts. Here's my recent experience.

The exhaust on my 940 recently started blowing at the point where the over-axle pipe enters the back box, and shortly afterwards the pipe parted company with the box entirely. This is the exhaust that was on the car when I bought it twelve years ago, so I certainly have no complaints with the durability of the system. I took it to Doves Volvo at Gatwick, who have serviced it all through my ownership, expecting that they'd replace either the rear section or the whole exhaust from the cat back. When I went back to pick up the car they'd done nothing with it because, they said, they couldn't get a replacement back box from Volvo and they couldn't get a pattern part that would fit (shrug). A bit surprised, because they've usually been more helpful than that. Perhaps it reflects the fact that Andy Finch, their service manager for the whole time I've been dealing with them (something like seventeen or eighteen years, I think) has moved on, or perhaps it reflects the drying up of the spare parts supply for older models. I was able to buy a complete genuine Volvo system from Skandix, though -- ordered on Sunday, delivered on Wednesday. They showed 3 systems in stock when I ordered. This had dropped to one by the Wednesday, but then jumped to eleven, so evidently Skandix can still get systems from Volvo. They also list a back box alone, but that costs more than the complete system. They note on the website that "At Volvo exhaust parts have been replaced mostly in complete exhaust kits. These differences have caused changes to the pipe diameter." and maybe that explains why the pattern parts don't fit?

Meanwhile, a bit of rolled up ally sheet and two exhaust clamps form an effective bodge that's survived a recent long trip and will last, hopefully, until the weather dries up a bit and I can fit the new full system.

Just to rub it in, the battery has also reached end-of-life. That's lasted at least six years, though, so I can't really complain.

[TonyS9]

Parts availability is annoying, back 5+ years or so I was doing low milage and putting in a Volvo system every 2 years, and the cat clamps were nearly gone. I spent only a little more to get a custom stainless system, from downpipe back including cat. I think it cost about £500, and I just got £170 for the volvo cat, so it hasn't really cost me much more than a Volvo system.

[monkeh]

Get a longlife stainless made up. You can have it sounding stock, while also looking stock. Full system cost me £300, from cat back. Lifetime guaranteed too.

[360beast]

I've got an aftermarket back box NOS sat in my garden. Was gonna use it on mine but I can't be bothered as I'm just gonna do my 3" stainless exhaust and garret turbo while it's off the road.

I can get some photos tomorrow if you want?

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by mister grimsdale

Meanwhile, a bit of rolled up ally sheet and two exhaust clamps form an effective bodge that's survived a recent long trip and will last, hopefully, until the weather dries up a bit and I can fit the new full system.

Just to rub it in, the battery has also reached end-of-life. That's lasted at least six years, though, so I can't really complain.

Dog food tins and Jubilee clips also work - cheaper than ally sheet too! I patched a front pipe for the MoT for about 10 years on my other beast with a doog food tin and a couple of Jubilee clips.

Middle box on my 760 is causing me some grief at the moment, slightly blowy and sometimes sounds downright throaty then others extremely quiet - when it's quiet it's sluggish as hell and the fuel gauge drops like a stone.
When it's throaty it's much livelier and almost teetotal by comparison.

*** EDIT *** standard fit battery on the 940 petrol is an 027, usually these are dearer than the heavy duty 096 (as fitted to diseasel models) but please make sure you specify normal lead-acid and NOT "Calcium/Silver-Calcium Technolgy" type as you may well experience charging problems with the calcium variety.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HB096-Lea...v/192434766703

That would be a good choice!

[panda529e699]

I have found Caffneys Volvo in Eastbourne really helpful. They will post out, for most parts its about 4 weeks waiting.

Just about the stainless exhaust, I took my Volvo in only this week to a specialist and he didn't seem to keen, he said it would be noisey as the silencers are straight through.

How those members who have had it done found the noise.

Many Thanks

Andrew

[Jebus]

More likely the stuff they had was straight through only, you can get "proper" silencers in stainless

[mister grimsdale]

monkeh: I did consider a stainless system. But if the new mild steel system lasts as long as the old one it may outlast me!

360beast: Thanks. What would be interesting to know would be the internal diameter of the pipe stub on the front of that box; it sounds as though that may have changed at some time. My old back box actually seems still to be reasonably sound; the failure was in the over-axle pipe at the point where it's expanded to push into the stub on the box. I guess that may be a stress point with accelerated corrosion. It looks to me as though the next failure is looming at the union where the pipe is attached to the back of the front box. Once the weather dries up, I'm going to fit the complete new system.

Scooby: Ah, but the ally sheet was already lying about in my garden. And suitable sized jubilee clips (in Halfords, admittedly) are twice the price of the equivalent exhaust clamps. I did also note, though, that the tins that Waitrose sell pitted olives in are almost exactly the right diameter for that style of repair.

As far as the battery was concerned, I needed a replacement in a hurry before I went off on a trip, so I've stuck a Lion 027 in it. It has a 3-year warranty, so we'll see.

[TonyS9]

Originally Posted by monkeh

Get a longlife stainless made up. You can have it sounding stock, while also looking stock. Full system cost me £300, from cat back. Lifetime guaranteed too.

Yep thats what I got, but including the downpipe. Certain companies will only do straight through 'performance' systems, but longlife is good for stock systems.

[Forrest]

In the past I’ve managed to get Volvo OEM systems quite cheaply from Germany. Rufe (FRF Swansea) is also a good source with club discount. I’ve always found genuine Volvo to be the best fit.