Best Cars for a V-8 Swap in 2023

The Subaru BRZ and its Toyota-badged brethren are endlessly fun to drive, but that underpowered flat-four under the hood leaves a bit more to be desired. Luckily, there's huge aftermarket support for things like a V-8 swap. Ryan Tuerck's GT86 is the most extreme example, with a Ferrari 458 motor in place of the stock power plant.

This 86 takes things further with a quad-turbo V-12

While the S2000's high-revving VTEC inline-four is a gem, it's still not a V-8. With a lightweight body and a torquey LS under the hood, the S2000 can be a supercar-killer. The car pictured here took it one step further, with a Viper V-10 in the nose.

We're big fans of this Type R-powered S2000

No matter what generation, the Miata is one of the most eligible candidates for a V-8 swap. Flyin' Miata, a company specializing in Miata upgrades, built a fantastic example that we love to death. It's all the fun of driving a Miata, just with 400 extra horsepower.

Check out our V-8 Miata track test

If you're looking for real power from a Porsche 944, you could spend the money and get a Turbo model. Another choice is finding a cheap broken example and dropping in a V-8. Honestly, the V-8 option sounds more fun (and more reliable).

This one has a five-cylinder VW engine swap

Ford's smallest truck powered by a high-horsepower torquey V-8 engine? Sounds like a tire-smoking fun machine to us. Just be sure to upgrade the brakes after you've got the engine running.

We bet Ford's 7.3-liter engine would fit

Drifters around the globe use the Nissan 240SX as a base for their builds, and for good reason. It's incredibly easy to swap in a bigger engine, plus the balanced chassis and long wheelbase make for a great setup on track.

The 240SX is one of the best tuner cars out there

Most Jeep Wranglers weren't built to have big power from the factory. That doesn't mean you can't drop in a nice fat V-8 block under the hood. Take this brutally cool Lexus V-8-powered Wrangler as an example.

You can now get a V-8 Wrangler from the factory

The Nissan Z platform already has a fantastic straight-six engine to go along with it, but if you're not a fan of it, or just don't want to deal with the maintenance that comes with vintage engines, a V-8 swap is the perfect solution. And the car is just as pretty, no matter what sits under the hood.

This V-8-swapped drift car is right up our alley

The Fiero never really lived up to expectations, and we're not sure a V-8 engine would've fixed it. Still, people do it all the time, and it's not like it makes the car worse.

Listen to this one lap Laguna Seca

One of the best parts about the Jaguar XJS is also one of the worst parts. That silky V-12 under the hood of many XJSs is perfectly suitable for a grand tourer like this, but it's about as unreliable as anything. Swap a V-8 in, and you've solved the biggest problem without spoiling anything else about the car.

The V-12 does sound good, though

The flat-six engines that came standard in the 987-generation Cayman aren't bad. But a V-8 fits, so why not? Renegade Hybrids, the same company that makes V-8 conversion kits for various 911s, also offers one for the Cayman. It requires a bit of firewall modification (and a transaxle from a Boxster S), but it can be done.

Listen to this Coyote 5.0-swapped example on the dyno

Want to make the ultimate sleeper? Drop an LS V-8 engine into a stock-looking Volvo 240 wagon and call it a day. No one will look twice at your car until you lay down a massive burnout and confuse everyone.

This 242 has velocity stacks and sounds amazing

The Chevy S-10 is another small pickup worthy of having an eight-cylinder engine. Though it was never built with one, we're sure fitting a true LS engine under that hood won't be much of an issue.

Add twin turbos for even more horsepower

The BMW 3-Series is a fun, balanced machine right out of the box. But if you're looking for something different (and want to anger the purists at your next BMWCCA meet), V-8 swaps are definitely an option.

Here's why it's the ultimate sleeper

Rotary engines are nice, but sometimes it's hard to put up with the lack of reliability. Luckily, It's pretty easy to drop an LS engine into any generation RX-7 and keep the fun factor intact. Just don't be surprised if your FD drives exactly like a C5 Corvette afterwards.

Listen to this one do a huge burnout

The Mazda RX-8 makes an even better case for a V-8 swap. Unlike the RX-7, it didn't get a turbocharged engine, and never really lived up to its predecessor. With some real muscle under the hood, you could really make the RX-8 shine.

This RX-8 has a strange straight-six truck engine swap

As much as the purists protest, V-8 swaps have become a popular choice among 911s with tired or broken drivetrains. Why spend tens of thousands on a flat-six engine rebuild or replacement when you can just pop in a V-8 instead?

Here's one with a massive 8.2 liter Cadillac engine

The DeLorean DMC-12 was far from perfect, but those stunning lines, gullwing doors, and Back to the Future fame make it lovable. What would make it perfect, though, is a nice old-fashioned LS swap.

It's all we ever wanted in the DMC-12

Go to any modern drift event, and you'll likely see a V-8-swapped Toyota AE86. It's an endlessly popular platform for getting sideways, and putting a V-8 under the hood—whether it be an LS or the 1UZ from a Lexus LS400—gives drivers more torque to work with.

People love using 2JZs, too