'96 850 Tailgate - removal?

[Atif I. Chaudhry]

Someone hit my parked 850 wagon and put a big dent in the tailgate.

The estimate to repair it is about $480 which is for removing trim, pounding out all dents from inside and completely repainting it.

Alteratively I have found a used tailgate in the same color which I can get for $380.

How difficult is it to remove and swap a tailgate? The glass on the used tailgate is better than my original glass. The original glass seems to have some light scratching at the top from the windshield wiper.

 

[Mike F]

Someone hit my parked 850 wagon and put a big dent in the tailgate.

The estimate to repair it is about $480 which is for removing trim, pounding out all dents from inside and completely repainting it.

Alteratively I have found a used tailgate in the same color which I can get for $380.

How difficult is it to remove and swap a tailgate? The glass on the used tailgate is better than my original glass. The original glass seems to have some light scratching at the top from the windshield wiper.

I've never done one, but it doesn't look hard. There's a couple of screws on each side holding the tailgate to the hinge arm. One thing Volvo has done is made the electrical disconnections at the doors easy, I'd assume that the connections at the tailgate are as simple, and will be obvious once the rear panel on the inside of the roof is removed.

 

[Donaldo]

I have a '97 Volvo 850 wagon. I crunched the back door.

I have an opportunity to buy a hatchback from a 98 Volvo V70. Do think it would fit?
Have either of you discovered any relevant info?

Atif...I wondered how your removal and replacement project went. I've taken a quick look but wondered about the wiring. Was it an easy connection?