So many times those of us who spend time around a track or competitions will utter the words “I wish I could put that engine in here.” Gearheads everywhere have thought of what it would be like to have a massive power plant under the hood of a much smaller and lighter model and some have even accomplished the feat. Engine swapping isn’t the easiest thing to do and sometimes it can cause trouble, but when it works the result is simply amazing. Here are some of the most impressive engine swaps ever performed:
Ferrari/Toyota – Ryan Tureck is currently having the engine from a Ferrari 458 installed in a Toyota 86 to be one of the most complicated and impressive engine swaps that’s ever been performed. While this swap isn’t done just yet it should be something to behold when this professional Drifter gets behind the wheel and takes this new car for a joy ride.
Mazda/Volkswagen – What on Earth could make the Volkswagen Thing seem even weirder? How about a rotary engine under the hood? Someone took the turbocharged rotary engine from a third generation Mazda RX-7 and put it under the hood of the Thing creating a high powered odd looking vehicle that has simply become stranger.
Chevrolet/Porsche – The Porsche 911 is one of the most admired cars on the planet and it’s always fitted with more than enough power to be one of the most impressive sports cars on the road. The balance of things was tossed aside when the owner chose to put an LS1 V8 engine from a Corvette inside and took out the flat-six that had previously been there.
Honda/Mazda – The Mazda Miata is supposed to be the most fun car to drive and that fun is based upon the driving dynamics and not the power under the hood. One owner decided they wanted more power and put a K24 four-cylinder engine from Honda under the hood to give the car 250 horsepower and a rev range that tops out at 8,200 rpm.
Lexus/Jeep – The Jeep Wrangler has the right footprint and off road capability for everyone, but increasing the power might be a way you could see this SUV improved. Taking the 4.0-liter V8 out of a Lexus LS400 makes this Jeep sound like a car that should be turning laps on the NASCAR circuit and not be a Jeep that tears up the wilderness, but there it is.
Mazda/Volkswagen – The Volkswagen Beetle has had more engine swaps over the years than any other vehicle, but stuffing the 13B-rotary engine from Mazda inside just might be the most impressive. This gave the car over 250 horsepower and made it so the Beetle could finish the quarter mile run in less than ten seconds.
Toyota/Toyota – To start with this doesn’t sound difficult since both are from the same manufacturer, but it’s still impressive. This engine swap involved an engine from the JDM Toyota Supra being put into a Toyota Corona Wagon to give the wagon 400 horsepower and a rev range up to 8,000 rpm, making it one of the fastest grocery getters ever made.
BMW/BMW – Another same brand build sees a 5.0-liter V10 engine from the M5 being placed under the hood of the E46 M3 giving it more power than this car ever had before. The perfect driving machine with one of the most powerful engines made by BMW makes it a high powered racer on the track.
Mopar/Wrangler – The Mopar Hellcat engine is one that FCA is looking to find a way to put wherever they can and adding it to the Wrangler gave us a 4WD Wrangler that could tear up the wilderness much faster than anything that came before it. This is a built that is actually expected to sell as a minor production model.
Duramax/Chevrolet – Duramax is the maker of one of the most impressive diesel engines ever made. Adding this massively powerful engine to the likes of a Chevrolet Camaro gives the car at least 896 lb.-ft. of torque directly to the rear wheels, making it a car that can take off at amazing speeds and continue to accelerate into huge triple digit numbers.
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