Daily Slideshow: V8 911s - Sacrilege or Brilliant?
Switching out the coveted flat-6 of a Porsche 911 for a Chevrolet V8 is wrong for many reasons, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun.
What’s the Issue?
The big deal many 911 enthusiasts have is that the 911 is a such a well-balanced car, only it isn’t. Rear engine cars are notorious for sketchy handling and the 911 is no exception to that rule. Several models have the name “widow maker” for a reason. Throwing a V8 in the back isn’t really going to upset any dream of 50/50 weight distribution.
Rooted in Rivalry
Another part of the reason I think this swap gets a bad wrap is the rivalry between Porsche and Chevy. Fans of Porsche can be pretty die hard when it comes to keeping things in the family with the rivalry stretching right into their own driveway.
Big Boost Renegade
One of the great things about a V8 swap into the 911 is a big boost in performance. Adding a V8 to the back of a 911 generates torque that the flat-6 requires boatloads of cash to replicate. Renegade Hybrids is a company that offers one of the most popular kits on the market and notes that even an entry level LS3 makes more horsepower than a 996 turbo. Hard to argue with cheap horsepower.
Cost to Benefit Ratio
Plopping an American V8 in place of your finely tuned German engine sounds like it could be expensive (and it is), but take a moment to consider this is a 50 state legal emissions motor that can have the oil changed for $20. If you own a 911 then the power this swap can chuck out for the maintenance and upkeep is astonishing. It’s hard to argue against the price benefit to performance ratio. Building a reliable 450 or 500whp into a Porsche is going to cost you an arm and a leg.
Downside?
The two downsides of this swap are that you ruin the character of a 911 and your resale value. If either of those things matters this is not the way for you to go. Stick to the glorious flat-6 that was intended to be used in all 911s. If, however, you want something different that will scare your pants off and polarize people (without spending big bucks), then a V8 Carrera just might be the car for you.
Sacrilege of Brilliant?
If you’re a purist then the answer is obvious. If you’re a hot rodder or you believe in speed over everything else, an LS swap into the 911 is a pretty hard thing to pass up. Some models have even been sold recently after being completely for dirt cheap. Not a bad way to spend money if you ask me. Hope you enjoyed reading.