Volvo Repair: oil and clinking noise, tie rod ends, wheel bearings

Question
We just bought an '88 Volvo 240 GLE.  I am not very car savvy, so I am going to explain this as best as I can.  We have noticed that there is oil around where you pour the oil in (I guess on the engine) and also around what looks like a plate that you screw onto the top the engine.  It's a large plate and covers the top of the engine.  There is oil all along this seam.  It seems to be leaking down b/c it is oily below the engine as well.  Secondly, when we are driving the car we hear a clinking noise (like tin hitting together) especially but not exclusively, when we drive over bumps.  To me (and I'm used to tighter steering cars which I believe Volvo's of this size are not) the wheel in the front right seems to wobble a bit more.  In looking from the side I don't see anything that is blatently not connected.  Do you have any idea what this might be?  We have no idea what the previous owner did with the car as we bought it from a sketchy campus car dealership near the Ohio State University Campus.  It seems to have been taken care of well b/c there is no rust over the wheel wells and the body is in wonderful condition and the interior in good condition.  Thanks for any help you can give us!

Answer
Hi Kate,

   The oil problem:
       The cover you refer to is indeed the top of the engine.
      Oil does go there,be sure to check oil level and if there is a oil leak....do this....clean area well with lots of paper towels.Look at this area again...in a week.
If it appears to be oil wet....you need a cam cover gasket.
Costs about...50-100 dollars cost.

 The clinking noise is u-joint noise...you need to change a u-joint...(no joke)...your car has 2 of them...they are part of the driveshaft....cost...100...150 dollars.
Steering problem...have your tie rods and tie rod ends looked at...also have your wheel bearings looked at.
maybe tire balance is needed.
  Find a guy that specializes in Volvos...you'll get your best service from this little guy....dealer costs will be much more.

Bye,

 Bilbo