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Now packing an power plant that may divide opinion, find out why the owner of this 2006 911 Carrera S ditched the stock engine
by Amrit Balraj on June 3, 2024, 15:00Imagine K-swapping engine in a Porsche to make it faster. That is exactly what owner Nick had in mind when he swapped out the engine of his 2006 Carrera S for one from Honda’s legendary K-Series. While his Porsche was not slow, to begin with, Nick felt that there was room for improvement and with that began the search for an engine.
He successfully sourced a 50,000-mile K24 engine from a 2014 Honda Civic SI for $650. Nick wanted to keep the 997 in stock shape and complete the engine swap with minimal cutting. The result is a high-revving ’K997’, where everything works, including the instrument cluster, power steering, and the AC. Larry Chen, who is well known for documenting the weirdest automobiles on YouTube got to experience this special K997 from behind the wheel. The owner shares his experience with Chen and goes into detail about the build and what led him to choose a K engine rather than something else.
In stock form, the 997’s flat six was making a respectable 300 horsepower, after the engine swap and subsequent boost pushed the number to 500 horsepower. Despite the bump in power, from the onset, Nick was sure of one thing, which was that he wanted to keep the car looking as stock as possible. Cosmetically he made some changes like installing a GT3 front fender, 6-piston brake calipers, and rear wing. According to Nick, there have been many people who have tried to K-swap their Porsche 997s and he has been successful in getting it right. He attributes this to his expertise in tuning Hondas. The result is a car that looks and drives exactly like how a Porsche does but with a torquey motor and superb handling.
To manage the engine and its parameters Nick installed a Syvecs plug-and-play ECU which he chose for its flexibility. Nick also began developing kits so that every 997 owner has the option to K-swap their cars with a minimum fuss. This way they stand a chance to experience the best of both worlds; the reliability and power of a JDM engine housed in a beautiful German shell. Looking ahead, Nick’s development of K-swap kits for other 997 owners represents a significant step towards democratizing this innovative modification. By simplifying the process, he enables more enthusiasts to enjoy the unparalleled blend of aesthetics and performance that his unique 997 exemplifies.
Amrit Balraj
When not reading up or watching videos about obscure and rare automobiles, Amrit spends his free time planning imaginary road trips on some of the best driving roads in the world, preferably in an old truck with a motorcycle strapped to the bed. Read full bio
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