Two radically modified Porsche 911s are challenging the sports car’s traditional flat-six formula at the 2026 SEMA Show, featuring V8 engines sourced from Maserati and General Motors. The Eneos-sponsored builds showcase two distinct approaches to customization, combining unconventional powertrains with extensive performance upgrades.
Two Porsche 911s Get Unconventional V8 Engine Swaps
The aftermarket industry regularly produces vehicles that automakers would not typically build, pushing the boundaries of performance and customization.
Held every November, the SEMA Show brings together enthusiasts and builders to showcase ambitious automotive projects.
This year’s event features two Porsche 911s that abandon the model’s traditional flat-six engine in favor of V8 power.
One is a 1978 Porsche 911 SC equipped with a Ferrari-built Maserati V8, while the other started as a 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 before receiving a GM LS2 small-block engine.
Both projects are sponsored by Japanese oil company Eneos.
Porsche 911 SC Gets a Ferrari-Built Maserati V8
Known as “Porrari,” the modified 1978 Porsche 911 SC is powered by a V8 sourced from a 2007 Maserati Quattroporte.
The engine comes from an era when Maserati and Ferrari maintained a close engineering relationship, which ended in 2023.
Builder Jimmy Oakes adapted the powertrain to work with a six-speed manual transmission from a Porsche 996.
The conversion required a custom bellhousing, clutch and flywheel.
The build also features individual throttle bodies adapted from the S65 V8 found in the E90/E92 BMW M3.
Additional upgrades include:
- Custom exhaust system
- Period-correct Volk Racing VRX-10 wheels
- Upgraded brakes
- Coilover suspension
- Roll cage
The result combines the classic Porsche 911 body with an unconventional V8 powertrain and a range of performance-focused modifications.
Porsche 911 GT3 Gets a GM LS2 V8 for Drifting
The second project was built by Faruk Kugay, who previously powered the 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 with a Subaru STI EJ25 flat-four engine.
For the latest version of the drift-focused car, Kugay switched to a GM LS2 V8.
The engine’s relatively compact pushrod design and strong torque make it well suited to maintaining wheelspin during drifting.
The LS2 is equipped with LS3 cylinder heads and a dry-sump lubrication system designed to maintain consistent oil delivery under the sustained lateral forces generated during drifting.
Other performance modifications include a Porsche 996 Turbo gearbox paired with a custom two-way limited-slip differential.
The car also features a hydraulic handbrake, a Wisefab steering-angle kit and a widebody conversion.
Why Porsche Has Never Built a V8-Powered 911
Porsche has considerable experience with V8 engines, having used the configuration in models such as the 928, Cayenne and 918 Spyder.
However, the automaker has never offered a production Porsche 911 powered by a V8.
The 911’s rear-engine layout creates potential packaging and cooling challenges, while weight distribution also remains an important consideration.
The two SEMA projects demonstrate how aftermarket builders are reimagining the iconic sports car with two additional cylinders, offering different approaches to V8 performance in a platform traditionally associated with flat-six engines.
SEMA 2026 Runs Through November 6
The 2026 SEMA Show continues through November 6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The two Porsche 911 V8 builds highlight the creativity of aftermarket builders, showing how extensive engine swaps and performance modifications can transform one of the automotive world’s most recognizable sports cars.
