LS Swapped Porsche 911 GT3 Found on CraigsList (photos)
The world has seen a lot of crazy things, but we never thought an LS3 engine can fit in a Porsche 997 GT3.
1. The 2007 Porsche 997 GT3
The 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 was near the top of the Porsche food chain when it came out, and had a retail price of close to $150,000. Unlike lesser 997s that year, the GT3 used the dry sump 3.6 liter motor from the turbo, and GT3 RSR and GT3 Cup race cars, here making 415hp. At he time it was the most powerful naturally aspirated Porsche ever. It also had advanced electronically adjustable chassis, and carbon ceramic brakes. When Car & Drive tested one they got to 60 mph in 4 seconds, ran the quarter in 12 seconds, and had a top speed of over 190 mph. It pulled over 1g on the skidpad, and could stop from 70 mph in just 150 ft.
But you can forget those numbers, because this particular car has had a major horsepower transplant.
2. The Engine
In the back of this particular 997 GT3 sits an General Motors LS376 V8 crate motor. The giant aluminum block 6.2-liter V8 engine develops 525-horsepower, and 485 pound feet of torque, and is basically the production Corvette motor with an aggressive cam swapped into it. Even in this application, it has a full warranty from Chevrolet. The new LS3 engine has 650 miles of break in on it, and is ready to be abused and put to the test by the new owner, because this crazy 997 is for sale.
3. Wait a Minute...
You wight wonder how or why someone would do this conversion, but the answer is pretty easy if you have priced a replacement GT3 motor. Renegade Hybrids has been swapping these motors into 911s since GM introduced the LS series, and they are located just a few miles from where this car is for sale in Parhump, NV. Chances are the Porsche shop who installed it has worked with Renegade before. Amazingly, the motor fits with almost no modifications, weighs the same as the flat six, and can even be made smog legal.
Check out the ad HERE (while it is up).
4. Features
Aside from the Renegade Hybrid Conversion and the GM crate engine that still has the warranty, this Porsche has other neat features. In the dash is the latest AIM data logging dash with the camera, and you get race seats and harnesses and a roll cage too. Under the car is a track set up chassis with 19-inch wheels, and a limited slip differential added to the six-speed race gearbox from Mezger Motor. Amazingly, the GM and Porsche systems seem to live in harmony, with all electronic safety systems working, and the A/C still functional, thought the cruise control is M.I.A.
5. Price
A little digging reveals the seller to be a guy who made quite a few dollars in the RV industry, who has bought and sold numerous high end Porsches. The same seller on eBay had recently listed a 997 Cup Car, and a membership at the Spring Mountain Ranch Motorsport Park. On CraigsList, this 2007 Porsche 997 GT3 is for sale for $95,000, which is a lot of money, but not a lot of money for a 997 GT3. Whether this is overpriced or a bargain depends entirely on whether you thing the LS3 swap is an improvement or a travesty.
For help with servicing your car, check out the how to section of RennList.com