Who doesn’t enjoy a good engine swap? Yes, putting an LS7 into anything and everything is a cliché, but I still dig those builds. But what I like even more are weirdo swaps, such as, I dunno, putting a helicopter engine into a Porsche 928.
That’s the sort of swap I would never think of, but I’m glad someone did (and you can click that link to learn all about it). My engine-swap ideas tend to be more practical than the usual “but something bigger/more powerful in there.” For example, I’ve always wondered what it would be like to build up a Cobra replica with a turbo four in place of the expected 351 or 427 Ford V8. I imagine the driving experience would be plenty exciting but much less sphincter-clenching compared to having instant tire-spinning power. (And yes, this is more a “choosing an engine” situation than it is a “swap,” but you get it).
Regular readers already know weird swaps are very much our jam at The Autopian:
There are links in that caption so you can check out those stories, which may inspire your answer to today’s ask. Without concern for feasibility or cost or practicality, what engines would you like to see transplanted into which cars?
Top graphic images: eBay seller; iOS
A Jeep Grand Wagoneer (1985-1991) with a modern hybrid powertrain. Without braking the bank.
The reno car museum has one with a lambo v-12.
4BT cummins in the back of a Fiero would be ridiculous
love it, the front tires may not touch the ground.
They work well in a 4wd full size truck.
I’ve seen at least one Tesla with a V8 swap, which I absolutely adore. Admittedly part of that is because it seems to infuriate Tesla fanboys, but I like seeing reverse EV swaps in the same way it would be hilarious to mount an air-cooled Beetle engine in an old Rolls (which I think I’ve also seen?)
Favorite one I’ve seen in person was an old Beetle with a massive Caterpillar diesel engine sticking out of the back of it. When they fired it up, it smoked out the whole parking lot.
When I worked at Lotus I had an unofficial project. Every engine CAD model that went through my department got test fitted into an S1 Elise, just in case it would fit. Mostly they didn’t, sometimes hilariously so.
I’m pretty sure the RX8 Wankel would fit, and the idea of nearly double the stock power with a bit less weight and that noise would be an amazing thing to rip around the countryside in.
After I sold my S1 I kept on fitting every engine into every chassis model, just for laughs, and that’s why the Exige V6 400 exists.
Swap a coal powered steam engine into an F350 for literal coal rolling.
That’d be a pretty big truck.
Steam locomotive engine
Wouldn’t have to be a locomotive.
There are many sizes available.
Friend built a ground up car intended for steam but ended up with an early style gas engine. I got to check out a small steam tractor once. Dash was full of mechanical controls and gauges, radiating heat.
When I climbed in, they said, “Careful, it’s hot!”
A good ol’ external combustion engine.
https://rocketbelts.americanrocketman.com/steam.html
I want to put a Viper V10 in an ’81 Sinatra Edition Imperial, and I’d like to swap a hot Ecotec into a Cadillac ELR. Yes, I’m weird.
I go the reasonable route. A Mustang 2.3 liter Ecoboost in a Miata.
I feel like you could buy that car today if you wanted to.
How about a body swap? Imagine a 1964 Chevy Nova wagon body, with the rear doors removed and longer front doors installed, making it a 2-door model. Then swap that whole body shell around the 2026 Cadillac CT4 platform and interior. Of course, keeping the midrange 2.7-liter dual-volute turbocharged inline-4 engine and swapping in the 6MT from the CT4 Blackwing. It’s a 1964 wagon. 310 hp would be plenty.
1964 Chevrolet Nova Wagon Wheelbase: 110.0 inches
2026 Cadillac CT4 Wheelbase: 109 inches
Difference: only one inch.
1964 Chevrolet Nova Wagon overall length: 187.6 inches
2026 Cadillac CT4 overall length: 187.2 inches.
Difference: 0.4 inches
1964 Chevrolet Nova overall width: 70.8 inches
2026 Cadillac CT4 overall width: 71.4 inches (wider with mirrors)
Difference: 0.6 inches
1967 Chevrolet Nova overall height: 55.1 inches
2026 Cadillac CT4 overall height: 56.0 inches.
Difference: 0.9 inches.
And for those who really wanted rear doors, I’d begrudgingly allow keeping the 4-door Nova wagon, but a 2-door version would look so much better.
Anyway, that’s the swap I’d love to see.
I would like to see a Mazda Sky 2.5 Turbo in a Buick Encore. I want a tiny high-spec SUV that isn’t also weak af.
I once dreamed about putting a V8 into a Fiat 126. Had a whole plan and everything. Then realized I was 6‘4“ – ah well.
An LS7 or any LS in a Jensen Healey if you could get the transmission in as well. Plenty of room and a sleeper sports car as well. Need to upgrade brakes and rotors and everything really
I’ve thought of this one a BUNCH!
A Toyota T-100 extended cab. Add 18″ to the frame after the cab to accommodate a longbed.
Front beam axle and suspension from an 80 series Land Cruiser.
All of this in service of a 4-cylinder turbodiesel from a Hino box truck – since Hino made the Japanese-built trucks for Toyota – with an NV4500 5-speed and an Atlas 4-speed transfer case.
Basically make it the ultimate bum-around-the-world-and-live-in-the-woods-mobile.
Well, if all practical considerations are out the window…
I want the Gigahorse from Mad Max: Fury Road, but replace the twin blown big blocks with the nuclear reactor from a submarine.
Then I can rule the wasteland, shiny and chrome! Gas Town will have no power over me!!
WITNESS MEEEEEEE!!!
My jeeper friend built a pulling rig before they really had a name for it, using a submarine piston engine fully supercharged.
A W123 with a longitudinal 3800 and 5 speed from a 4th gen F body. It would imbue the car with the perfect ratio of fun and driveability
A General Electric T700 turbine engine into a 1980’s Ford Bronco. For childish reasons.
Because so many engine swaps are for adult reasons……
440 hemi with a Roots blower in a 240 wagon, we’ll show those Swedes! They can have my B23 for a Town & Country conversion.
Are you aware the 240 was designed for a V8?
Not that V8 though.
That’s why the swaps work so well.
Wasn’t aware that was baked into the design, I have seen a few swaps but all 350s or 5.0
I’m not sure which V8 was planned for the 240 until fuel prices killed it, possibly theirs.
Windsors have been used, along with many others. 1975 and later is when the body upgrades are mentioned.
I imagine there’s a bit of a size difference between the Volvo 3.5 and a gen 2 Chrysler Hemi
Length and width are usually where issues are.
A vehicle made for an inline four and a V6 often has the room for options, like the 90s Ranger.
I don’t know about the hemi.
A lot of Volvo swaps are built for towing.
Or teasing “faster” cars.
I remember I was told the six cylinder models are best suited, better rear axle and stiffer front springs.
I got as far as splitting a car with someone needing a six cyl engine.
Never had time to complete it.
I even got insurance quotes.
Most quoted standard rates.
One company gave standard rates, but exempted the engine, in case it was too special.
I would love to put a Ferrari V8 into a Mazda 6 saloon/sedan and a Ferrari V12 into a Mazda 6 estate/station wagon!
I’m surprised I haven’t seen anything done with Mazda’s 3.3L inline 6. Is it any good?
I thought someone would have put it in a drift car by now.
In the UK at least the drift community is still using all the cheap BWM sixes.
A V12 in a Fiat 500 is not too bad https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/1410-1971-fiat-500-lamborghini-powered
Else a Viper V10 in a Bolt
Not a swap, but I’d like to add a second Skyactiv 2.5G in the cargo area of my FWD Mazda3 to power the rear wheels Mosler Twinstar style.
Alternatively, ditch the 4-pot altogether and put a HO 3.3L I-6 from the CX-90 behind the front seats, SHOgun style.
I wanted to go the second route but with a 13B. My dad, having already been in my 3 and telling me how much he loved it, proposed a mid-engine swap on a kei car instead because they’re cheap and he’d hate to see me cut that car up. For packaging reasons I can’t get one in an Alto Works (it will physically fit but getting a transaxle in that can handle one probably won’t), so Atkins one rotor it is.
Have you seen Crazy Dave’s Pikes Peak build? It’s a RWD 4 rotor swapped 3. There’s also a supercharger kit available for the 2.5, which I’d be really tempted by if it wasn’t so expensive.
…I went to a cars and coffee recently where someone had added a mid-mounted LS engine to their Mazda 5…and kept the stock engine and drive train as well. Some kind of cheap race car/time attack build.
I’ve long had two ideas for a Miata, one stupid and one not so much.
1: The late model Chevy 4.3 LV1/LV3. Should be easy enough by adapting a kit for an LS V8 and saves some weight.
2. The Volvo SI6 just because I want to see it turned longitudinal.
I really want that Volvo straight six behind me in my Europa, transverse. It’s all steel subframe back there, so it’s got to be doable.
Flyin’ Miata had a thriving LS swap business until 2019
Okay, so:
Peel with a shifter Kart engine. Needs to retain 3 wheels though.
Beetle already on a front engine conversion chassis, but with the 20v 1.8T from a ’00s GTI/Beetle Turbo S/TT. And done up like Takumi’s 86. Because 20v 4-cyl.
Another Bug, but on a Gasser chassis, with the frunk filled with a pair of built, blown, big-bore Type 4 engines.
Anything, fitted with Mercury Racing’s 9L, DOHC, twin turbo, QC4 offshore racing engine. (I think there was a Charger at SEMA that one time?)
A semi powered by a locomotive genset in the trailer.
A C3 Corvette with a 351 Windsor.
A C6 Corvette with a 4-Rotor.
Letcha know if I come up with more absolute insanity.
Peel with a shifter kart engine. Ladies and gentlemen, we have here a gentleman who wants to not just enter the Pearly Gates but careen through them sideways and on fire.
You think that’s insane, you should see the kinds of things you can do in Forza. Liter Bike engines. I don’t even know where they’d fit. Videogame magic, I guess. At least a Kart engine would. Probably wouldn’t be too comfortable under the knee, though.
For years I’ve been clamoring for the reverse LS swap. I wanna see an Iron Duke in a Corvette!
I saw a video of a 4th gen Camaro with a 6.5L Detroit diesel.
I saw a 3rd gen Nova for sale that had a Detroit in it (don’t remember if it was a 6.2 or 6.5). I kinda regret not going for it, but I’m probably better off.
Put a blown Super Duty 4 under the hood and you’d have…hmm…comparable levels of power, but you could probably get about 50 pounds of weight out of the front end.
2.8L Cummins into anything late Malaise Era. Kind of a lateral move power-wise, but the thought of a ’79/’80 Corvette making four cylinder diesel noises amuses me.
2-stroke V6 Marine Outboard (200-300hp) in something like a Miata.
This. Someone put an Evinrude 2-stroke V8 into a weird looking foreign car. I’d put it into a Fiero, with 8 expansion chambers coming out of the rear hatch.