Hello, just wondering if any one could suggest which out of the following Should I do first - timing belt and water pump.

The volvo is a 360 GLT 1986

Kelvin

Brisbane

Not sure why you need an order. Unless the water pump is giving trouble I would tend to leave it alone. The OE items lasts well, and a aftermarket one may not last as well. From memory and checking the manual, you can do them separately,ie you don't need to remove the timing belt to change the water pump, but it would make sense to change them together if both need replacing, as you do need to remove the accessory belts, timing belt cover and a few other bits.

That's correct - because the WP can be changed at any time (it's not driven by the timing belt), I'd only change it when it needs doing. On engines where it's driven by the t-belt, there's more of a dilemma. My housemate changed the one on his T5 when it had its second t-belt change, only for the (genuine) pump to start leaking a year later. I bet the original would still be going strong.

So...in general, the points to consider are...1) do these engines have a history of eating water pumps, and 2) is changing it a real pain in the arse of a job?

For the T5 I mentioned, the answers are No and Yes, respectively...so don't change it unless it fails.
For a redblock (like your B200), the answer are Yes* and No, respectively...so, again, don't change it unless it fails.

*When I say yes, I mean that they are known to need replacement roughly every 100k miles or so...i.e. you can expect to change one if you keep the car for a number of years. The ones on the T5 engines (and probably other modern engines) seem to last forever. I guess technology has moved on since the 50s!

cheers

James

All of my B200s have done between 100 and 200k miles, I've never changed a water pump, the GLE saloon has 200K on it and I'll be using the water pump for the B230FT

Hi mate.
What about a picture off the beast in production.
Cheers Mark.

The B200 in my 343 is on its third pump at about 150k, but the two replacements may well have been aftermarket, to be fair (I don't know...before my time spannering on it). I had to do the one on my 240, but that was at 200k...and I've heard of a few more. It's hardly concrete evidence, granted. Well...if it needs doing, do it

cheers

James

It will probably be the first thing to fail on the B230FT

It has sat with water in it (with anitfreeze) for nearly 10 years without being driven, was started occassionally. I'll be really pushing the limits of the OE spec parts, we'll see whats its like when I remove it, but the bearing should be good. Having mostly driven Volvos when you could get parts for them I have always stuck with OE brand items, and it has served me well, aftermarket parts mostly never lasted.

MCHUDD wrote:Hi mate.
What about a picture off the beast in production.
Cheers Mark.

Will probably do an update soon, still patching rust, have been taking photos along the way.

I've just found that they tend to start knocking (often quite suddenly), rather than doing anything French, like leaking. 360 water pumps (unlike their cousins in 2/7/900 series cars) are unavailable from Volvo, so that might force the issue of going aftermarket, sadly. It'll be interesting to see how you get on.

cheers

James