Hey guys, I currently live in calgary Alberta, Canada. I just picked up a 1996 volvo 850r automatic really clean with only 150k. What I want to do is convert it from auto to manual, I got a awesome mechanic thats willing to help me. I buy salvage cars fix them and sell them for a living. I also have a total for 4 volvo in my yard 2 98 s70 t5 manual, a 98 v70 t5 wagon manual also, and a 98 s70 t5 auto. One of the s70 t5 has alot of upgrades done to it. So my question is since I want to do a auto to manual swap, would the tranny in the volvo s70 t5 fit in my 96 850r auto car. I have read online that they are the same. Question 2 to would be, my 96 volvo is leaking alot of oil, wouldn't it be easier if took the engine and tranny together out of my standard s70 t5 and threw it in once in the 850r with the Ecu of the s70 t5, and if course did all the rest of work inside the car and other things that need to be done. Are they not both 2.3 turbo cars with the difference being the 15g and 16t turbo between them. I have the Ecu for the 98 t5. I was also going to pull out the 16t and buy the 19t conversion kit, and put it on all once when I swap the engine/tranny, and then have the Ecu tuned. I hope I'm not repeating a thread someone else created, I'm kinda new to the forums. I know there's some volvo gurus here, so advice or info would great. Thanks, look forward to hearing from you guys.

 

You're above my pay grade with that 850R. I do know the engines will certainly swap, no problem; Everything will fit. Exactly which performance parts on the 850R are different, that part I don't know about. You really do not run into any issues swapping engines between a 1998 S70 and a 1996 850. The 5 speed conversion of course is pretty obvious. If a piece is different, you change it. The axles on the T5M are extra strong, so I think you want those on the R.

You're going use a custom tune based on the R, so it seems to me that would work just fine.

 

Okay well, i really appreciate your input. That's good that the engine and tranny would be the same. The aftermarket parts should all fit, because if the engine and tranny are practically the same, wouldn't see why the parts wouldn't fit. If the axles are stronger wouldn't i use those? Tune wise, who would you recommend. Ive kind of heard good and bad about ard, and rica, eurosport is too expensive and i think they use rica or ard, have you heard a company named beust and if so what are you thoughts, and the turbo rebuilder named duke city turbo bricks who will build my 16t to 19t but costs of upwards of 850usd. What would you recommend i do with the turbo, i want to get a 19t but they are pretty pricey, if i buy those kits are they good enough. Sorry for all the questions i would rather do everything kinda right the 1st time while i have everything apart. Last question would be, my 850r currently is tuned with upsolute, and one of my t5 is also tuned with the same company, any feed back with them. I tried to navigate on their site and its extremely hard, and prices are in euro also, but them to be very popular in Canada at least.