Daily Slideshow: 993 Porsche Carrera 2 Ditches Flat Six For More Power
Porsche 911 vehicles and flat-six engines go together like peanut butter and jelly. However, that doesn't mean that it's the only engine that can give drivers automotive fever.
A hodgepodge of awesome
Many people know of the names RWB and Akira Nakai in the automotive community as the purveyors of all things widebody Porsche, but did you know they have spread worldwide? The influence that RWB has had in the last few years in the wake of fender madness has been a deafening boom and possibly part of the surge in classic 911 sales. So here we are with a German sports car that called the Philippines home, was modified by a Japanese gentleman and has American muscle under the hatch. What a strange and wonderful world in which we live in.
I dub thee... Victoria
Something about Nakai-san you may not know is that he actually give a name to each and every one of the creations that he builds. Another thing is that these names are not given at random but have a story that goes along with them. Past names include Chaihona which was named after his favorite vodka bar in Russia, Stella Artois because he really likes drinking it, Pandora One for all that song shuffling goodness, Rotana, Battle Knight, etc., etc., etc. This purple Porsche you see before you has a name that has to do with its owner, Ian King. Ian owns his own garage, Car Porn Racing, and is also the third-generation owner of the family's motel business called Victoria Court. Alas, Nakai-san named his purple Porsche Victoria.
Looking for power in all the wrong places
Under the hatch is a 5.7-liter LS1 that makes this RWB build a standout from the rest that kept their flat-six engines in place. "Do you want to know why I went V8?" Ian says, "I had a few motors—SR20s RB25, RB26—and I blew everything. I blew the SR motor three times and both the RB25 and RB26 once each." Ian went on to praise the power of eight cylinders even more after saying how much he loved his E39 M5: "V8s are simple, reliable and can make tons of power."
LS madness
The work of transplanting the LS1 into the Porsche was done with the help of the Renegade Hybrids swap kit. Victoria, the Carrera, is putting out 340 horsepower with subtle mods that include a Varex X-pipe and custom headers. In the future, Ian plans on swapping the current motor for the even more powerful LS3 that would be good for 525 horsepower. The LS love with Ian is on full tilt as he also owns a 3-Series Bimmer that has an LS3 under the hood as well as a Corvette.
A worthwhile investment
When Ian first got his hands on the Carrera 2 it had an automatic transmission but that was tossed out for a manual g50 transmission that is mated to a Spec clutch and a Carbonetic limited-slip. As for something else about this RWB Porsche that sticks out from the rest is that it rides on air. Before any of you say anything let me ask you something: Have you ever seen some of the roads in the Philippines? To combat dicey surfaces, Victoria has Airrex struts that are controlled viz Accuair's TEMP 1-Level system which Ian can control via his iPhone. "A lot of people bash the air suspension, but I'm here to prove that my car makes it everywhere," he tells us. "I bring it to the grocery store, to the mall, anywhere. I won't crack anything and won't leave my bumper behind."
To see Victoria kick up some gravel and make a mess of herself in an empty lot just click here.
The Spec sheet
1994 Porsche 993 Carrera 2
Engine GM 5.7-liter V8 LS1 swap; Renegade Hybrids LS mount kit; electric water pump; Masiv radiator; Car Porn Racing custom headers; Varex X-pipe twin-can single-tip exhaust; DEI titanium exhaust wrap
Drivetrain Manual G50 conversion; Spec clutch; Carbonetic two-way limited-slip differential
Footwork & Chassis Airrex airbag struts; Accuair TMP1 I-Level with iPhone enable remote; VU4 valve; Viair 400cc compressor; five-gallon tank; Rennline Kinematic rear arms; OEM GT2 spindles; Tarret tie rods; urethane steering rack bushings; H&R sway bars; Elephant Mono Balls front arms
Brakes StopTech big brake kit; steel braided lines; ABS delete
Wheels & Tires 18x11" front, 18x13.5" rear Work Meister wheels; 265/40R18 front, 335/30R18 rear Kumho Ecsta tires
Exterior Rauh-Welt Begriff body kit with fenders, bumpers, side skirts, canards, GT2-style trunk and Championship wing; repainted OEM Amaranth Violet
Interior Recaro SR7 bucket seats; MOMO Drift steering wheel; Pioneer head unit
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