There is special tooling to relieve the (valve spring) pressure evenly, allowing the cover to come up evenly.

 

I would definitely advise locking down the cams. Everything you need comes in the same kit anyway, so why not? I wouldn't risk messing up the timing. Also make sure to use the PROPER Volvo recommended anaerobic sealer you kind of "paint" on with a roller. Unlike the last knucklehead used RTV sealant on my cam cover before I had the pleasure of redoing EVERYTHING when the head gasket blew. Haha.

The tools zak's talking about sure does make life easier when taking off the cam cover. Also very nice for putting it back on. I also bought the special cam cover removal pliers. Those are pricy little boogers but helps a lot for a stuck, older cam cover.

 

You can crack a cam cover without the tools - they screw in in place of Cylinder 1 and Cylinder 4 spark plugs and let you lower the cover on evenly. While you can get away without them when removing, they are kinda necessary in my opinion for reinstall

 

 

What’s the tool called or do you have a links

 

I found cam locking kit, but nothin on the other tool

 

Basically, look for a kit that comes with a pair of these:

As to the other tool, I bought one like RobertDIY demonstrates here. Made life MUCH easier for my stubborn C30 cam cover:

 

Does that just thread into the spark plug hole?

 

Yup! I also use some wood shims to brace between the soft aluminum cam cover and the tool. Maybe it's not necessary, but it makes me feel better about it at least.

Okay I found a kit for it, thank you guys

You got it! Good luck with your project. Let us know if you need more info. I think there are some pdf tech manuals floating around here somewhere that outline the procedure.

Make sure to get yourself one of these: Volvo Gasket Sealant Roller - Genuine Volvo 9512767
I've used both the official "Volvo" one and the cheaper foam rollers from my hardware store and I found the Volvo one to apply the sealant more nicely. Wish I knew what brand it ACTUALLY is so I could pick up a pack of spares.

and get this too: Permatex Anaerobic Gasket Maker - Permatex 51813

 

Okay I found a kit for it, thank you guys

 

Did the kit come with the tool to lock the cams in place on the back? Should look like this

Volvo Camshaft Locking Tool - CTA Manufacturing 2864

Volvo Camshaft Locking Tool - CTA Manufacturing 2864

www.fcpeuro.com

Deffos lock the cams in position with that tool before starting on the cover & I'll hella encourage having some extra bolts. Despite them only needing torqued to something like 12ft/lbs, I still had one or 2 stretching when I did the cover on an 05 w/ 115k 🙃

 

Forgot to ask this, but are you redoing the front seals, the back, or both?

 

Plus a couple of cam screws. You WILL destroy these removing them. Mine were an absolute nightmare to take out. Worth having a couple of these bad boys on hand:

Volvo Camshaft Sensor Wheel Screw - Genuine Volvo 987959

Volvo Camshaft Sensor Wheel Screw - Genuine Volvo 987959

www.fcpeuro.com

 

I wasn’t gonna but I should… I just want to reseal the cover it leaks alil into plug well, yeah that kit I found also has the holders that thread into plug thread to help keep it level

 

I’m trying to sell it now or trade it, but apparently 6k is too much, I’m almost at the point of just parting it out and putting it on ebay

 

I don't know R valuations, but I'm pretty sure it'd take a fair amount of time to part out, & if you're considering looking at it as "parts value" & you're open to it taking time, I might gently suggest being open to selling the entire vehicle at "parts value minus storage & teardown time & effort". If I was closer I'd either have a number for you or time & tools to help pull the cover & replace seals. It's all very doable, but if you're replacing the front seals, the timing belt & cam hubs need to come off AND be put back on properly. So in addition to the tooling needed to take the cam cover off w/o it deforming/warping/cracking from the pressure of the valve springs possibly being uneven, you DEFINITELY want to lock the cams in position with the other tool. As the cover lifts the cams will be forced up but if you mark EVERYTHING & use the cam lock tool on reassembly, you can get everything on the correct timing. If you already know all this, aces, thanks for reading it anyway. But if it's new to you, I think my count was over 80 bolts need undone & redone, you'll want the pushers/drifts for the seals to seat them properly (not too deep/shallow or crooked), ya gotta mark the daylights out of the VVT if you have it, pick up some shallow torx bits that can take roughly 120ft/lbs of torque if you're leaving the engine in the car, spark plug tube seals, & other incidentals will pop up like the PCV system prolly being clogged that buggered the cam seals to begin with 🙁. It's not impossible if you've done it before, but anyone who's buying is going to be adding roughly 1k to the price given I was quoted $880ish for our local dealer to do cam seals alone on a T5. (That was why I got to learn how to do everything mentioned here 🙃)
Here's where you're at once you get the cover off, but with a not so great explanation of how things work because the person the video was recorded for wasn't "car literate" & I struggle to explain things simply.

 

I really appreciate the help man, I like having th knowledge, I have done it before but it was 7 years ago and on a 850R

 

Right on! You totally got this. Like BT just said, main difference will be the VVT hubs but that's nothing crazy. Other than that, will be like riding a bike for ya.

 

Shouldn't be too much different then, just the vvt but as long as the back cam covers are off, the cams locked in place with the timing marks vertical & the same number of belt teeth apart as removal for install, you're gonna be fine. Much luck! 🍻

 

Thanks guys for all the support, that’s why I love being a Volvo guy, the support is everywhere there is a lot of experienced guys on here. Now I need a body guy for help on hood haha

 

That's for sure! Great crowd here. Gave me the confidence to tackle some pretty major projects! And thanks to their expertise, everything turned out really well.