Gretch

done all the time, I suppose.

1981 Shark

True. At some point it's no longer the same thing. Kind of like the guy who claimed he had George Washington's famed Ax used to chop down the Cherry tree. All original - he'd only replaced the handle and the head...

FBIII

I don't think the people that make these swaps are all that concerned about what you call them. They just love to change things and "make them better or faster" as they see things. There is a lot of personal satisfaction in taking on a project of this magnitude and seeing it thru to completion. Especially if you can make it substantially faster without upsetting its balance or handling.
Back in the late 80's Road and Track would run an annual article about the worlds fastest cars. Some were stock, others were warmed over by the likes of RUF or AMG and others were bastard childs. One year Bob Norwood brought a Ferrari GTO that had a fuel injected Nascar Chevy V8 in it.
It wasn't the fastest but it sure was interesting reading. Instead of taking a position that it is categorically bad or good I like to evaluate them on whether they work or not.

hacker-pschorr

The real beauty of these cars is not the engine - but the chassis and the overall style. The motor just propells the vehicle forward. No matter what is under the hood, it is still a Porsche.

I look at race cars. How many chassis over the years have different engines? A McLaren with a Ford or a Chevy is still a McLaren. How many different engines has Lotus used? Every single one is still a Lotus.

FBIII

Erik, I wonder if owners of original AC Bristols bemoan Ford smallblocks?

nee.dragger

AC Bristols and Ford small blocks? A.K.A. Cobra of the '60. No longer called a Bristol but a AC FORD Cobra (I rest my case).

FBIII

Not quite right. It was called a Shelby Cobra in the US and an AC Cobra for the UK produced cars.

hacker-pschorr

Last time I tried to give examples of chassis / motor swaps over the years I was mentally whipped for bringing up the Cobra's. To me it is an excellent example since Carrol first went to Chevy - they turned him down. So either way it still would have been a Shelby Cobra (in the US)

I've been thinking about building a replica cobra with a 928 engine for quite some time now.

FBIII

I have wanted to do that as well except with an Aston V8 with a full assortment of 48 IDF's or IDA's on it. If you put a 928 engine in it you would need to reverse engineer it for carbs. An injected Cobra just wouldn't have the right feel.

hacker-pschorr

Unless you did individual throttle bodies like the SuperFormance Corbra's come with (if you opt for the 7 liter Rousch motor).

MGW-Fla

I certainly have noooo problems with someone who wants to switch out engines or whatever else on any car. I find some such swaps interesting. And of course, with race cars past & present its common place to merge different cars together.

My only thought on this case was the 944 owner making it like he beat the Porsche 928 with a true Porsche 944.... he didnt, he beat him with a Porsche 944 having a Chevy engine. No problem with that either..... I guess it came across to me on that other site as just the glee with which he & the other 944 owners seem to enjoy as though the 944 was superior to the 928 somehow cause his Frankenstein 944 won in a race that may have been one sided anyways... perhaps as was suggested, maybe the 928 owner didnt want to race at all.. maybe he was just saying hello or wanting to tag along. It wasnt like they were at a stop light & it was acknowledge the Shark owner even was looking to race. I'm sure that wouldnt have mattered in the outcome, but tends to lessen the glory in the victory if possibly the 928 owner wasnt even out to race.

Reading the other week here of the SC'd shark beating a new Z06 Vette from an acknowledge start at a red light is a valid celebration as a fellow 928 owner to me. It was still pretty much a 928 throughout, just brought 15 years up to date with the supercharger. If you had a V-10 Viper engine in your Shark it just seems to make it relate less to me who just has a plain ole 32V shark. I certainly wouldnt tell that story as to make someone be impressed with my shark if the car didnt even have a Porsche engine in it. I dont think then theres much to brag about other than your Viper engine had more horses than the Vette's really. And I doubt that any here in the 928 forum would be making a big deal outta of a V-10 Viper'd Shark beating some other car, Porsche or otherwise.

FBIII

When did the SC 928 beat a new ZO6? I missed that one.

Fabio421

Yeah me too. There must be more to that story. The power to weight ratio is in favor of the vette. Maybe a missed shift or something.

Hacker. I like your Lotus comaprison. Very nice way to paint that picture.

DANdeMAN

"Mine is bigger (and hiden) is better than yours" is still valide it seems.
I don't give a craps a$$ how big yours is, my female friend says that mine is perfect...

It just goes to show that "slaping" a 928 is regarded as the ultimate.
Kind of a compliment if you ask me...
I don't like lumps in general but the Cobra and Sunbeam Tiger are two example that I do like.

FBIII

The craziest swap I ever heard of on this forum was about the person who fitted S4 heads onto a big block chevy then stuffed it into a street rod. I'd like anyone try to explain that feat other than to say where there's a will there's a way.