Engineering Brilliance: A Volvo-Hearted Miata Breaks Convention
An engineering student in the Netherlands swaps a Volvo T5 five-cylinder into a Miata, using 3D scanning and custom fabrication to fit the potent Swedish powerplant.
In a workshop in the Netherlands, mechanical engineering student Joris Van de Velde is orchestrating what might be one of the most intriguing Miata build of 2024. The formula? Take Mazda's beloved roadster and transplant Volvo's legendary T5 five-cylinder heart.
Starting with a turbocharged 1.6L BP Miata, Van de Velde secured a B5244t - the 2.4L five-cylinder powerplant found in turn-of-the-millennium Volvos. While the stock 193 horsepower might seem modest, the T5's reputation for handling triple that figure on factory internals hints at this build's true potential.
Van de Velde relied heavily on 3D scanning throughout the process of the build. When a Facebook user asked how 3D scanning helped during the process, Van de Velde replied, "very helpful to check if this swap was even possible."
3D Scanning was used heavily for planning the build.
Engine
Van de Velde managed to snag a deal on a B5244t, a 2.4L Volvo 5 cylinder, a variant of the legendary T5 used in a host of various Volvo platforms:
• 1999-2000 S70 2.4T, 2.4T AWD
• 1999-2000 V70 2.4T, 2.4T AWD
• 1999-2000 V70 XC 2.4T AWD
• 2000-2002 C70 2.4T Convertible
• 2000-2002 C70 2.4T Coupé
For the ECU, he used the Ecumaster EMU BLACK.
As for the Turbo power adder, the T5 is getting the Pulsar 2860.
Driveline
The transmission used is the venerable BMW ZF, specifically the BMW ZF GS6-53DZ. This is a six speed unit with an incredibly fun (and neck-breaking) 5.080 ratio first gear for a total ratio 4.607 across six gears.
To pair this with the T5 required custom fabrication as well as:
- Volvo flywheel
- BMW X3 Clutch plate
- Volvo pressure plate
- BMW throwout bearing
- Custom centering shaft
To make the ZF work required extensive custom fabrication of the bellhousing. Images copyright of respective owners.
This build is very much still in progress, but too wild not to share. Next items up are:
- Engine Mounts
- Gearbox mount
- Custom oil sump
- Custom driveshaft
- Turbo & exhaust
- Cooling system
- Intercooler piping
- Fuel system.
This Swedish-German-Japanese fusion represents more than just another engine swap - it's a testament to modern engineering tools finding their way into grassroots builds. In the right hands, the Miata continues to be the perfect platform for automotive alchemy.
Van de Velde runs his own Miata aftermarket parts business in the EU called MP Performance and you can follow this build on his build blog.
You can also find him on socials below
