5 Worst Motor Swaps into a Porsche
Bad Porsche Engine Swaps
The iconic Porsche brand has produced generations of fantastic sports cars that are continually being enjoyed by enthusiasts across the globe. Much of the fan base not only takes interest in the new vehicles that Porsche develops, but are also heavily involved in preserving the heritage and originality of the marque. While engine swaps are quite common among various makes here in the states, an engine swap into any Porsche model is often a huge topic of debate that pits the Porsche purists against equally avid mechanics and enthusiasts.
Chevrolet V-8 engines have successfully made their way into just about every Porsche model and are considered the benchmark standard when replacing with an engine that is not original Porsche. Unfortunately, a number of engine designs have also been fitted into Porsche cars with lackluster results. The following engine swaps are not for the faint of heart!
1. Type 1 Volkswagen Beetle 4 Cylinder in '71 911
Whether they are to be put away as a highly sought-after collectible or used as a weekend driver, pre-1997 air-cooled Porsche 911 models have become a hot commodity. For decades, Porsche continued to evolve and improve power output on their air-cooled flat six engines; however, one cannot escape the fact that these engines typically require an overhaul much sooner than their water-cooled siblings.
This particular '71 911 SC owner opted to swap in an air-cooled flat-4 cylinder engine as found in the 1950-1979 Volkswagen Beetles when his 911 engine was due for a rebuild. While you have to give the owner some credit for attempting to stay true to the origin of Porsche and their ties to Volkswagen, the puny 1600cc 4-banger only produces a minuscule 50 horsepower. In contrast, the original engine produced an additional 100+ horsepower, so it is safe to say this 911 has lost both its bark and its bite. That said, what this car lost in horsepower and overall cool factor, it gained in fuel economy and engine parts affordability.
2. Toyota Yaris (1NZ-FE) 4 Cylinder in '75 911
Our next hideous example of Porsche engine swaps gone wrong is the 1NZ-FE 1.5L 4-cylinder engine placed into a 1975 911. This little engine has been found in various Toyota economy cars including the Yaris, Scion xA, and Scion xB. The spec sheet for the tiny inline-4 is quite impressive with such features as Toyota's VVT-i variable valve timing system that was originally implemented on the highly sought after 2JZ Supra engine, as well as achieving a whopping 35 miles per gallon.
These engine specifications look quite nice until you reach the point where the horsepower and torque ratings are revealed as a mere 109 and 105 ft/lbs respectively. Not only has this 911 lost all of its pep, but there is a giant, cavernous region under the rear decklid where the harmonious flat-6 used to be. To a Porsche purist, this build is considered to be absolute sacrilege.
3. Mitsubishi 4g63T in 930 Turbo
This next engine swap is a curious one with many individuals experiencing mixed emotions about the build. To begin, the engine in question is the famed Mitsubishi 4g63T as found in the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Eagle Talon, as well as the ever popular Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (I-IX). The intercooled and turbocharged 2.0L powerplant featured 4 valves per cylinder (DOHC) and multi-point fuel injection to produce a respectable 275 horsepower in stock form. However, in this instance, the owner has "massaged" the engine to the tune of 500 HP, or the rough equivalent of a tuned 997 Turbo.
While the craftsmanship is top notch and attention to detail is very good, the story quickly goes South once it is revealed that this engine swap reportedly occurred in arguably one of the most cherished road-going 911 models ever built: the 930 Turbo. At the time of this writing, a 1976 930 Turbo just rolled off of the auction block at Pebble Beach for a staggering $258,500. If the reports of this car being a real 930 are true, it is enough to make a grown man cry. So while the 930 was once referred to as the widowmaker (E.g. something with the potential to kill a man) because of its tail-happy nature combined with massive turbo lag, the owner should probably forget about the car injuring him and worry more about the angry mob of Porsche enthusiasts coming after his head with torches and pitchforks.
4. Mazda 13B Rotary in 914-6
In the late 1960's, Porsche began to build a new entry level sports car to replace the 4-cylinder 912 model. Eventually, this new project produced the mid-engine 914 which put an emphasis on lightweight and handling over outright power. The standard 914's equipped with the small 1.7L 4-cylinder sold roughly 120,000 units in the U.S. between 1969 and 1976. As an option, Porsche also sold the 914-6, a 6-cylinder version that cost approximately 30% more than the standard 914 model. As a result of the price increase, sales were down and only 3,300 of the 914-6 models rolled off of showroom floors.
Being an entry level car, many 914's were beaten to a pulp and left to rot as they were passed on to their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th owners, so seeing a properly cared for 914 on the road today is an uncommon sight. For the 914's that were battered and broken, a Mazda RX-7 13B rotary engine swap would seem a perfectly logical choice to creating a unique sports car. Unfortunately, the car used for this engine swap was the rare 914-6. With the 914-6 model making up only 3% of all 914 sales, it has been tagged as one of the future collectible Porsche models. In fact, 914-6 values have steadily been on the rise and have seen a 35% increase in value over the last 6 years. A clean example can fetch upwards of $75,000. This particular car with the rotary engine swap was last offered for $4,500...
5. 930 Turbo in 356c
While the previously featured cars either had very poor engine choices, or ruined the value of otherwise collectible cars, this next example questions if the creator of this brute was simply a bit crazy. Seen before us is a 1964 356c. This rather collectible car from Porsche's early years was originally equipped with a modest 95 horsepower 4-cylinder, air-cooled engine and featured new disc brakes at all four corners. To many, the 356 was considered to be the hot-rod version of the Volkswagen Beetle as both cars used the same basic engine design, with the Porsche having various tweaks to improve performance. While not as rare or valuable as the early production 356 models, the 356c is still a valuable $100,000 car. In short, all of this can be thrown out the window because this car has been fitted with a turbocharged, air-cooled flat-6 engine out of a Porsche 930 Turbo!
As previously mentioned, the 930 is a collectible car in its own right, but what are we left with when the heart of a 930 has been transplanted into the boot of a 356? The car nearly shows as an original 356c, but when the decklid is popped open, heavenly voices sing and jaws drop in amazement. As seen, the fabrication as well as the fit and finish are excellent. That said, not a lot of info is divulged about chassis, suspension, or brake improvements to cope with the radical increase in horsepower. In a world where the 930 turbo engine acts as a light switch when coming onto boost, one has to ask themselves how quickly they can exterminate themselves in this beast.
The jury is still out on this car. The "outlaw" crowd seem as if they cannot get enough of it, whereas many Porsche purists feel that two great cars were butchered to create such a monstrosity. From a coolness factor, you have to appreciate the fine craftsmanship that went into this build, but from a safety standpoint, this probably is a pretty awful engine swap that can bite you in a hurry.
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