This 2003 Porsche Carrera 4S Hides a Sacrilege Under the Hood, Called the LS3 Engine

Before getting to the car, we should look at why and how the Porsche 911 became a driving pleasure staple. I know, I know, I will delay the surprise with this quick history lesson, but it's a good one - but, to hint at what's under the hood, I'll say that a Bald Eagle will scream when you open the hood.

The Porsche 911 came to life thanks to another creation made by Ferdinand Porsche, called the 356 - that was, more or less, a souped-up VW Beetle, but they are stunning in every aspect. The 356 was, essentially, a small roadster powered by a flat-four engine, with excellent handling and driver pleasure being the main focus - and the 911 was the same thing, only a little bit bigger. The flat-four in the back becomes a flat-six, gains back seats, and is a better, more usable car for daily driving and sporty extravaganzas.

Since its debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1963, the 911 has stuck to its original formula. Yes, there were some variations, mainly in turbocharged and wider forms, but the basic recipe was the same, which is also the norm for the 996 generations, but not for the one we have here today.

The 996 generation debuted in 1997 with a lot riding on its back. First of all, it was the very first generation to move from an air-cooled engine to a water-cooled one, and purists still think that it took away from the purity of the 911's spirit. Then, there are the looks; it's not ugly, but it has a weird face with those droopy, fried-egg headlights, so let's take a closer look.

As I said, the 911 we have here today is powered by something special, but the outside is standard for the most part. The Speed Yellow paint job showcases your classic 911 shape with enhancements, like an upgraded 997 GT2 style front bumper and a stainless steel exhaust sitting proudly in the back.

Complementing the banana color, it has Forgeline 19-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Super Sport rubber - sticky rubber, which is needed for all that power. Behind those wheels, you'll find the optional Sports Suspension package and Porsche Stability Management and Automatic Brake Differential. Behind those pretty wheels is where you'll also find the braking power provided by ventilated and cross-drilled rotors with red calipers over them - because everyone knows that red means race car, right?

Moving on to the interior, and, again, for the most part, it's standard - but there's more to this car than what initially meets the eye. Yes, your typical, heated, and power-adjustable front seats are upholstered in Black Leather to match the rest of the cabin, which is also in pristine condition. When it comes to the rear seats, they are long gone. In their place is a custom-made storage compartment because the 911 is small regarding luggage capacity.

Keeping it pointing the right way is a leather-wrapped steering wheel which fronts a gauge cluster dominated by a tachometer with a 7,200 rpm redline that is mounted in the center, which became a staple for Porsches, and a 200 mph (320 kph) speedometer, alongside a few other auxiliary gauges.

Now, it's time to pop the hood and look at the blasphemy powering this thing. This 911 left the factory in the Carrera 4S trim, meaning 316 hp (320 ps) from a 3.6-liter (220 ci) flat-six. You could also get a race track for the road package in the form of the GT3, GT3 RS, and GT2 options, extending the 911 into supercar territory, and these should come with a maniacs-only disclaimer when buying. But I digress. This 2003, 996 Porsche Carrera 4S has none of the original engines the Stuttgart manufacturer offers. No, this one has a heart filled with bald eagles and apple pie, as the all-mighty LS3 sits proudly in the engine compartment.

Yes, yes, this is blasphemy; I hear you scream. But hear me out, as this makes sense. The 6.2-liter (378 ci) V8 pushes out 480 all-American ponies (487 ps) thanks to the fitting of a GM performance cam. All of that oomph is being sent to the rear wheels via a rebuilt six-speed manual transaxle, which makes sense. First of all, the weight balance is pretty close. After a bit of Googling, I found that both engines have around the same weight of 200 kg (440 lbs), but the LS3 comes with way more torque and even power band than the flat-six.

Secondly, and this goes out to all of you concerned Porsche purists - it's not, at least right now, a very desirable 911 generation. It's not a GT car, just a plain old Carrera, so it wasn't like using the Mona Lisa as a washcloth. It's just an exciting engine swap, and that's it. And if you have the same mentality as me, this Vee-Eight Porsche is up for grabs at auction in Fredericksburg, Texas. It currently sits at 21,500 dollars, and it's a beauty, ready to tear up any curvy or straight road.