A Porsche 996 Powered By A Honda K24 Is Divine Heresy
Fans of the Porsche 911 tend to be a devoted bunch – some might even say snobbish. That’s why any deviation from the classic formula can be challenging. When the 996-generation sports car debuted for 1998, for example, the company’s die-hards decried its Boxster-sourced styling and water-cooled engine, and ever since, the car has been something of a red-headed stepchild among the Porsche faithful. Even so, there are some lines that shouldn’t be crossed, including ditching the flat-six under the decklid for a Honda K24. Still, Ben Sipson has no concern for tradition, which is why his Porsche has a 500-horsepower four-banger hanging out the back.
Tradition Be Damned, This Thing Sounds Lethal
Although the original water-cooled 3.4-liter flat-six still ran well, Sipson decided to ditch it in favor of the K24. In stock form, the K-series engine made up to 205 horsepower as installed in the Acura TSX. But the engine in this 911 is far from stock. There’s a twin-scroll turbocharger hanging off the exhaust, and Sipson custom-built the car’s intake manifold. Extra fuel supply comes from upgraded injectors, while intercoolers come from the BMW 335i to keep things consistent as the temperature rises. The engine mates to the 996’s original transmission somehow, with an upgraded clutch and flywheel to handle the extra power.
I can already hear you asking, “But how could the Honda engine make more power?” Believe it or not, Sipson dynoed the original motor at 250 hp before the swap, and with all the power goodies and modifications, the K-series makes double that. With more than 500 hp delivered to the rear wheels via a limited-slip diff, the modded Porsche 996 must be an absolute hoot to drive. Furthermore, it sounds unreal, with the K24 screaming away in The Drive‘s latest episode of “Carisma” on YouTube. Sipson explained his decision to build the 911 in the episode, and to hear him explain it, it all makes perfect sense.
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Not The Only Engine Swap In Town
The K-swap isn’t the only case of heresy out there in the P-car universe. Everatti modifies classic 911 body shells to accept its all-electric powertrains, which comprise a 62-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery and rear-mounted electric motor with 500 rip-roaring horsepower. Everatti doesn’t just yank and crank, either. The company puts its electrified Porsches together with such precision that even the original’s 40/60 front-rear weight distribution stays intact, to keep the driving experience familiar.
One of the oddest choices is a 996 powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 sourced from an Audi, which its builder, Renn27, claims is a natural fit for the Porsche. Less so is the Chevrolet small-block V8, which shows up in twin-turbo form in a 997 kicking out more than 900 hp. That amount of power hanging off the rear axle sounds truly terrifying, but those who dare to tangle with Porsche purists are a brave lot already.
Source: The Drive via CarScoops
