Is a valve job a DIY thing on a 1987 740?

I've been reading through the posts - i'd have to say I don't hear a rattle, as much as the car sounds like a Diesel.

It seems the argument I read most is whether or not I need to buy the valve adjustment tool, or will a screwdriver be sufficient to compress the spring to remove the shim.

Hi Jamie,

Yes it can be done with ordinary bits of metal. I did one once. A bit tricky but not that hard. I had one that rattled. I measured the clearance, took the old shim out, checked what it was (think the size was etched on it too) and got one the required thickness from my Volvo supplier (they had to order it in). Fitting the new one was easier than removing one :-) The shim by the way is about 25mm dia (from memory) and maybe a couple of mm thick, just in case you haven't seen one. A small magnet could be useful when removing one.

A Volvo workshop, one would think, would have a "bucket" of shims to pick from and this would make for a much faster job.

If your noise is more like a diesel, you might have other problems. Like leaky exhaust or burned valve(s).

Regards Barry

Thanks Barry, Because I don't have another Volvo to compare mine to, I can't say I know for sure what it's supposed to sound like.

I've had other cars where I know the sound of piston slap, or the ticking of a loose valve. Then there's the rattling when you punch the gas and the valves start rattling.

This is none of those. I just listen to other engines in new cars and they just have a soft hum, with the light clicking of fuel injectors.

My engine just sounds like the fuel injectors are very loud, and when you give it gas it doesn't rattle or tap - but instead of a soft, lulling "vrooom", the engine sounds more like a tractor -- not to over exaggerate, it doesn't sound bad -- but if it were parked next to a tractor they would sound similar.

Could be exhaust, but I think I'll buy a replacement valve cover gasket and pull the cover, take measurements and inspect.

Baz wrote:

My wife's 740 had a pronounced tick.

It went away when I replaced one shim that was out of spec.

Here ya go, a helpful link...

Thank you. That is my guess - perhaps one or two shims that cause just enough of a Kubota tractor sound to be noticed.

snipped-for-privacy@comcast.net wrote:

A bit of a clickety sound is normal, but it should be even. If it sounds like just one or two valves are ticking then they could probably use adjustment. I think you'd want to use the correct tool so you don't scratch anything up but you can check the clearance with just a feeler guage.

Thanks, that's the plan - with a replacement valve cover gasket.

James Sweet wrote: