Subaru BRZ Gets the Power it Needs from an LS3 V8 Swap

LS3 power surely makes this Subaru a blast to drive, but that $65,000 price tag is a shocker.

The Subaru BRZ is a ton of fun to drive down a twisty road or on a tight road course, but there is no question that it is light on power. The standard engine is a naturally aspirated, 2.0-liter four-cylinder that delivers just 205 horsepower and 156 lb-ft of torque, so while the sleek compact handles well, it struggles to get out of its own way in a straight line.

Fortunately, there are a world of engine swap options for the Subaru BRZ and one such customized Japanese coupe is listed for sale on Kijiji.com with an LS3 engine. With 525 horsepower, this built BRZ packs the power that it deserves, but with a price tag of $65,000, this is not a budget buy. Also, it has a body kit and wing that might be too much for many drivers who aren’t looking to compete in the world of Formula Drift.

LS3 BRZ

The most significant part of this unique Subaru BRZ is the LS3 engine tucked under the hood. The engine has been fitted with a custom oil pan, an oil filter relocation kit, a transmission shifter relocation kit and a cold air intake from Sikky. A custom front pipe allows the engine to mate up to a Magnaflow exhaust for a BRZ, making us wonder what it sounds like to have an LS3 venting through an exhaust system made for a two-liter boxer engine. The tuning is handles via an HP Tuners setup, with everything unlocked for further tuning, but the seller claims that it makes 525 horsepower.

Finally, the LS3 power is sent to the rear wheels via a custom driveshaft and a set of 600-horsepower axles form the Driveshaft Shop, with all of the work being done by WeaponsGradePerformance in Connecticut.

The Stance

To give this Subaru the custom stance, it features Skunk2 Pro-C coil overs all around with adjustable rear lower control arms, along with Forgestar modular M14 rims measuring 18 inches by 10.5 inches up front and 18 inches by 12 inches out back. Those wheels are wrapped with Falken Azenis tires and under the big front wheels is a set of Wilwood six-piston brake calipers.

Also, this car features an elaborate widebody kit that has been wrapped in 3M 1080 g203 gloss red metallic vinyl and that vinyl has been ceramic coated to preserve the shine.

The Cockpit

On the inside, this Subaru BRZ is just as modified as it is on the outside. It has a custom shifter, a Momo steering wheel, a fully functional dashboard with a convertor to allow the Subaru gauges to work with the GM engine computer, a “million color underglow kit” and the GPS system has been unlocked for full use at all times.

This Subaru BRZ appears to have been nicely-built, but at $65,000, this car seems like a hard sell. It seems that the body kit and suspension system added a ton to the bottom line, as the GM Performance Plug-N-Play engine and transmission package only costs about $14,000 and the LS3 crate engine on its own is around $7,000. A $25,000 car with a $14,000 engine is far from a $65,000 package, so the owner must be looking to recover event cent spent on the build in the sale.

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com