Plastic Belly Pan Correct Fitment??

[Steve 940]

Hi

Whilst doing oil change today on removing the plastic belly pan, I just want some guidance on correct fitment when putting it back.

I noticed it was floating on the front edge, has three prongs/hooks on leading edge, but these had been just resting on bottom lip at the rear of the radiators. Over time, and under usual driving it had obviously been slightly rubbing on the back of the rad fins, as three distinct patches of fins slightly pushed in.

With it out of the way, I see there are three slots in a thin metal strip under the rad that the plastic prongs/hooks look to be for, a bit tight getting it hooked in as a pipe is very close, but it did hook in. However on lifting the pan to fit screws, the whole pan is around an inch an a half too far back, the rear of pan won't clear the inner suspension arm fixings??

Pan has a couple of cracks in it, one on offside front screw fixing area, and other virtually in middle of the pan, but I wouldn't have thought it has gone out of shape by 1"+ Will in future perhaps clean, and glue some supporting stiffener strips.

Appreciate any suggestions, my gut feeling is that the front should be hooked into the slots, and am thinking perhaps my pan is for a different model???

Cheers
Steve

[griston64]

Originally Posted by Steve 940

Hi

Whilst doing oil change today on removing the plastic belly pan, I just want some guidance on correct fitment when putting it back.

I noticed it was floating on the front edge, has three prongs/hooks on leading edge, but these had been just resting on bottom lip at the rear of the radiators. Over time, and under usual driving it had obviously been slightly rubbing on the back of the rad fins, as three distinct patches of fins slightly pushed in.

With it out of the way, I see there are three slots in a thin metal strip under the rad that the plastic prongs/hooks look to be for, a bit tight getting it hooked in as a pipe is very close, but it did hook in. However on lifting the pan to fit screws, the whole pan is around an inch an a half too far back, the rear of pan won't clear the inner suspension arm fixings??

Pan has a couple of cracks in it, one on offside front screw fixing area, and other virtually in middle of the pan, but I wouldn't have thought it has gone out of shape by 1"+ Will in future perhaps clean, and glue some supporting stiffener strips.

Appreciate any suggestions, my gut feeling is that the front should be hooked into the slots, and am thinking perhaps my pan is for a different model???

Cheers
Steve

Hooks in the slots and just bolts up. Nothing fouling it is there ?

[Forrest]

On a 940 you shouldn’t need to remove the undertray to do an oil & filter change. You do on a 960 but then afterwards the oil filter is much easier to access.

As already stated, the three prongs do hook into the slots in that metal part and on some models there is a pipe a bit in the way - a/c or power steering I think.

Sometimes professional mechanics don’t realise and home mechanics can’t get enough ground clearance to fit the undertray properly.

The usual causes of it not fitting properly are front-end accident damage, rust deforming the area where it bolts on or it having been replaced with a cheap non-OEM copy.

This said, there is usually a fair bit of play in them, especially if they are cracked, so it may be possible to manipulate it into position.

Volvo part number 9447727. Still available both OEM and non-OEM.

[Steve 940]

Thanks Mark and Forrest,

That confirms my gut feeling, as I was planning to do belts ltomorrow, I left it off and to be honest, after all the faffing earlier with my dizzy troubles, I didn't really fully investigate.

Will check after replacing the 3 belts (hopefully), but it was way out so as you say could be a poor pattern copy, original probably destroyed by previous owner encountering one of our many local suicidal pheasant population !!

Just glad it hasn't really damaged the rad fins!!

Cheers
Steve

[Ian21401]

Originally Posted by griston64

Hooks in the slots and just bolts up. Nothing fouling it is there ?

As Mark has said.
Two bolts each side and two larger ones on the rear edge.
I’ve had to reinforce the forward flanges near the bolt holes on each side with some bent alloy sheet pop riveted on.

[bob12]

On the 745 and I assume the 900 Series the undertray fits into slots on the front edge under the rad and, the side and back originally just had cheapo small wider headed (imitation washer) screw bolts on them.

Over years the side/back holes in the plastic undertray enlarge and the side/back end of the tray is not easy to secure properly.

The simple solution is to use larger about 1" (or so) diameter washers under the screw bolts to hold the tray firmly in place.

Bob