While Synonymous with the flat-six, here's why this 997 Carrera S makes a good case for an LS V8 engine swap
by Dimitar Angelov on July 25, 2024, 15:00Porsche purists are very particular about what you can and cannot do to a 911, especially if it is an air-cooled model. While this particular example of the German, rear-engine sports car is water-cooled, what the people at Street Bandito YouTube channel have done to it would, no doubt, irritate many Porsche enthusiasts. The Porsche 911 is considered, by many, to be the ultimate sports car that you can actually daily-drive, except maybe, the more track-focused variants like the GT3. Regardless, putting a V-8 engine, and an American one at that, into a 911’s tight engine bay is sacrilege in the eyes of the Porsche community. That said, there are certain scenarios where you could walk away with putting a pushrod V-8 engine in a Porsche 911, and this particular case comes pretty close to justifying the unusual engine swap.
A “cheap” fix to an expensive problem
The car in question is a Porsche 997, which is considered by many, to be the last, truly classic 911. However, this particular example of the German sports car had a severe case of bore scoring – a relatively common issue on these cars, likely, due to improper use, or simply the fact that Porsche chose to use hypereutectic Lokasil and Alusil engine blocks for the 911 and Boxster/ Cayman that feature raw, uncoated, aluminum cylinder bores.
The problem necessitates an engine rebuild, which would cost anywhere from $15,000 to over $30,000, with a Porsche long block. Luckily, for those who want to rebuild an older 911 on a budget, shops like Chavis Performance Engineering (CPE), based in Baldwin, Maryland make a good case for a Porsche 911 LS engine swap, and the company currently offers one of the most comprehensive engine swap kits for 911s. The best part is, that it is nearly half the price of what Porsche would ask for a rebuild**, and the performance gains, compared to the standard 997 Carrera, are insane.
The performance gains are worth it
While I do not accept V-8 engine swaps on high-performance 911 variants like the GT3 or Turbo S, many of which feature the iconic Mezger engine, it is understandable why people do it on the lesser variants like the Carrera. The bore scoring and IMS issues are relatively common on these cars and during the video Chavis Performance Engineering CEO mentioned they have about 16 different Porsche 911s present in the shop, all waiting for V-8 engine swaps.
The car under the spotlight is a Porsche 997 Carrera S, which makes 350 horsepower and 295 pound-feet at the crankshaft. This one is also mated to a six-speed manual, which is the better choice since 997.1 models did not get the PDK (this happened with the 997.2 facelift). The new engine is a 6.2-liter, LS3 V-8, which makes 495 horsepower – about 150 more than the Carrera S stock engine. There is a more powerful, 525-horsepower LS3 variant with a "hotter” cam, but this one is better suited for street driving. Moreover, the GM V-8 is over 40 pounds lighter than the Porsche flat-six engine. Because the LS3 is also a pushrod design and features a 90-degree V-angle, it doesn’t negatively affect the center of gravity as much.
Specification | Value (Estimated) |
---|---|
Displacement | 6.2L |
Horsepower | 495 hp |
Torque | 450-470 lb-ft |
Block Material | Cast-aluminum (likely reinforced or aftermarket) |
How Much Does It Cost?
Contrary to popular belief, an LS conversion, when done right, is not cheap. GM would sell you an LS3 crate motor for around $10,000, and most other miscellaneous like the E.C.U, transmission adapter plate, and others would set you back a few hundred bucks each. At the end of the day, CPE says a 911 V-8 conversion like on this 997 Carrera S would set you back around $20,000 and change (or less, depending on where you source the engine from), which is a lot less than what a Porsche long block rebuild would set you back. As a bonus, you get a lot more power than the standard car, and LS engines are known for taking a ton of abuse and making big horsepower. Also, parts for them are more plentiful and affordable.
Porsche’s Is No Stranger To V8s
Porsche has a few key reasons to stick with the iconic boxer engine, and while Porsche enthusiasts will be quick to point fingers at V-8-swapped Porsche 911s in disapproval, it is worth noting that Porsche is no stranger to designing and putting V-8 engines in its sports cars. The Porsche 928, which was more of a grand tourer compared to the 911, was powered exclusively by Porsche-built V-8s. A much more recent example is the Porsche 918 Spyder and its hybrid powertrain revolving around a rev-happy V-8, and back in the day, we almost got a V-8-powered, rear-engine Porsche that would have succeeded the Porsche 959 supercar.
Dimitar Angelov
Dim has been an automotive journalist since 2014. Although he is interested in all things automotive, his main interests revolve around, Asian, classic, and sports cars. He is particularly fond of Porsche sports cars as well as JDM classics from Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and others. Dim operates mainly from Bulgaria, but can, occasionally, be seen attending Europe's most reputable Auto shows, and events. Read full bio