Today, we are ranking the 10 best Gran Turismo 7 engine swaps. Engine swaps allow us to get the full experience of car customization in the game. By swapping a car’s engine, we can pretend we’re in a garage producing powerful upgrades to give it an unexpected burst of energy.
Each engine you unlock in Gran Turismo 7 has only a few possible donor options. The compatibility is determined by whether the engine from the donor car will fit into the engine bay without drastic fabrication. The list below takes you through the best (and most fun) options available in GT7.
How Do I Get Engines For Engine Swaps?
There are two ways to get engines for engine swaps in GT7. The best way to get them is through Roulette Tickets. Some tickets will result in a guaranteed engine, so this is your best bet to get the engine you want for free. Make sure you check the Menu Books in the Cafe, as some of these will give you a 6-star engine roulette ticket.
If you have reached Collector Level 50, you can buy engines from the GT Auto shop. First, select the car you want the engine to go into, then go to Car Maintenance and Service in GT Auto and click Engine Swap.
Click here to see a list of all compatible engine swaps in GT7.
Best Gran Turismo Engine Swaps
1. Mazda R26B-787B Into The Mazda 3 ’19
One of the most enjoyable mixes of power and performance comes from putting the 787B into the Mazda 3. This engine upgrade adds almost 200+ performance points (depending on other tuning) to this car. One big advantage is that the Mazda 3 is a four-wheel-drive car, meaning it has much better handling in wet conditions.
Putting the 787B into the Mazda 3 instantly makes it a high-performance race car. It’s comical how a normal car (for GT7‘s standards) can absolutely demolish race cars with this setup. It does take some fine-tuning to get perfect, though. In particular, you will notice that the tires can wear quickly. Make sure you search online for the best tuning for this setup.
The 787B engine comes from Mazda’s iconic 787B that won Le Mans. With this engine in a modern car, you can last that much longer in endurance races, making it perfect for new challenges or farming credits. This setup makes it ideal for grinding the World Touring Car races on the Circuit de la Sarthe at Le Mans. You can even manage the whole race without pitting if you are driving efficiently.
2. Windsor-351-Maverick Into The Porsche Cayman GT4 ’16
If you’re looking for a powerful engine swap with decent control, then look at putting the Greening Auto Company motor into a Porsche Cayman. In fact, this engine swap has the power to control ratio out of most of these options on the list. The Cayman can reach just over 300 mph in a straight line with extra tuning.
The biggest downside to this swap is that the engine is a gas guzzler. Therefore, this car can be difficult for endurance races that require fuel management. That’s not to say you can’t try, but there is no way you’ll be able to do a no-pit strategy. But, with the speed and handling combo, you’ll likely be able to lap opponents even with more stops.
Thanks to its power/handling mix, this setup has become a meta for many people in online lobbies — a meta that’s become so overpowered, many are starting to complain about it. Furthermore, the car, engine, and tuning required for maximum power tend to be on the cheaper side compared to other engine swaps on this list.
3. Nissan VRH35Z-R92CP Into The Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R V-Spec II Nur ’02
If you want to feel like you’ve broken the game, this engine swap is for you. The R34 Skyline is already an incredible racing car, but the swap and additional tuning can push the top speed to over 270 mph! It will be harder to tame than the stock version, but that’s expected with almost 1000 BHP.
The max tuning of this swap will result in performance points close to 800. However, most GT players prefer tuning the car to just below 700, making it ideal for Le Mans races. This tuning will have you blasting through the pack in a number of WTC 700 races.
If you prefer some of the older Skylines, such as the R32 or the R33, you can also perform these engine swaps with these cars. I prefer using the latest model available, as it has more features that make this engine easier to tame. But you will notice a much bigger jump in PP when using the older Skyline models.
4. LS7-Rampage into the DeLorean DMC-12 S2 ’04
Do you feel like the DeLorean doesn’t provide the “Back to the Future” power you expected? Well, this engine swap will guarantee time-traveling abilities. Forget 88 mph, this tuning allows you to reach speeds of above 250 mph!
The DeLorean is such a cool and iconic car, but it’s hard to find good racing opportunities for it in GT7. This upgrade allows you to use this car in a number of challenges and racing series. The success of this engine swap comes not just from its power but also from its handling compared to other engine swaps on this list.
Many GT7 drivers reference this swap as one of their favorites. There is something special about having an iconic car reach ridiculous speeds, especially when overtaking race cars in a flash. The Roadster Shop LS7-Rampage engine fits in 5 other cars, but this is the most fun.
5. Ferrari F140B-Enzo into the Ferrari F40 ’92
The Ferrari F40 is an iconic car that you can upgrade with a modern(-ish) Ferrari Enzo engine. Replacing the engine may seem strange, especially as it doesn’t boost the performance points like others on this list, but it is worth it for a fresh boost.
The most annoying aspect of this engine swap is that it is expensive. For one, the F40 is only available through the Legendary Cars dealership. This means that the car is not only expensive, but you cannot buy it whenever you want; you will have to wait for it to be in stock. On top of this, buying the engine through the GT Auto shop costs over 1 million credits.
If you have the credits, then it is an investment well worth it. GT7 drivers have even bought two of these cars so they can have one with a stock engine and one with the upgrade. The most beneficial aspect of this upgrade is that you can tune it to be under 600pp, allowing you to have a beast of a car for the World Touring Car 600 races.
6. Honda K20C1-Civic-’20 into the Honda Beat ’91
If you’re into racing smaller cars, putting the Honda Civic Type R ’20 engine into an old Honda Beat will give you the fix you need. There is something so comical about a small Honda Beat overtaking serious race cars. But the jokes stop when you have to hit a corner, as getting the car to stay on the track is hard.
If you do manage to get it to stick, you’re in for a wild ride that doesn’t let up until you see the checkered flag. This combination will have you on your toes and push your driving skills to their limits. And all this coming from such a small, unassuming car.
This engine swap is ideal if you struggle with the Kei car races. You will easily be able to zoom past other drivers in no time at all, even if you spin out a couple of times. It is also the perfect car to easily win the Human Comedy Autopolis mission, which is much more of a challenge than the Kei races.
7. Mazda 13B-REW-RX-7 into the Suzuki Cappuccino ’91
Another incredible engine swap for small cars is putting the Mazda RX-7 engine into the Suzuki Cappuccino. Who would have thought you could get a Cappuccino close to 200 mph?
There are some brilliant tunings online for different tracks that help tame this beast and make it much more enjoyable to drive. Someone even has a brilliant tuning for Nürburgring, which is both incredibly fast and manageable around corners and braking zones. But cars like this are never going to handle the same as race cars, so be careful with the throttle.
Drivers online like to use this car for the Tokyo WTC 600. The only problem is that this race is in the rain. A powerful engine in a small car like this is bound to cause some frustration when it comes to traction. So, just stick to the racing line because if you come off of it, that may be game over.
GT7 racers love this swap so much that I recommend using it for some of the Human Comedy missions, specifically Kyoto and Deep Forest. If you have the car and the engine, I definitely recommend trying this combination to give you a completely new driving experience.
8. Hellcat-Charger into the Jeep Willys ’45
One of the best engine swaps in GT7 has got to be putting a Dodge Charger engine into an old-school Willys Jeep. This has got to be the biggest upgrade in GT7, as you can fully revive this classic car and make it a contender (and dominator) in a range of different races. Also, this is probably the most comical upgrade on this list; an old army Jeep should not be going that fast.
As you would expect, with full tuning, it is a beast to control. But this engine swap can offer a surprising range of driving options. First, you could use it to complete the Alsace Human Comedy mission, but its handling is tricky. You can also use it for dirt races, seeing as Jeeps are well-equipped for off-road racing. Finally, and most surprisingly, you can use it for drifting, as the engine has so much power that it’s easy to get the car sideways.
The Jeep Willys’ 45 isn’t of much use in the game, so this engine swap not only makes the car usable in races, but also provides a truly enjoyable driving experience. You may want to keep the Hellcat-Charger engine for the Plymouth Superbird, but I much prefer the Jeep’s performance and fun.
9. 8.0-WR16-64v4T-Chiron into the Nissan GT-R Nismo ’17
Placing a Bugatti Chiron engine into any car is going to be a wild ride, but the best experience comes from putting it into a Nissan GT-R. With the car fully tuned to the max, you will have over 1800 BHP and be able to get over 300 mph! This means you had better not push it over any ramps, as you’ll likely go airborne.
An engine swap like this is pure power. And pure power means incredibly hard handling. Unless you are a skilled driver with the patience on the throttle and know how to hit your braking points, this engine swap will just provide an unusable car. It can be fun for the Special Stage Route X track, but no one wants to spend all that money just to go in a straight line.
There are possible ways to tune this car to make it drivable, but you will have to search online for these specific settings. Even still, you will have to have patience. The one good point that arises from taming a car like this is that your overall driving skills will improve much faster.
10. LS7 BRZ into the Toyota HiAce Van DX ’16
A final engine swap that puts the fun back into racing for dedicated Gran Turismo 7 racers is putting the Subaru BRZ Drift car engine into a HiAce van. The Toyota HiAce is probably the least aerodynamic vehicle in the entire game, so it’s hilarious to see an absolute brick tearing up the race track.
With a fully adjustable transmission, you are able to fine-tune this vehicle to qualify for a number of different races on the GT7 map. This is perfect for bringing new life and challenges to races that you will use the grind for credits. It is particularly great for the Tokyo WTC 600. It drinks fuel, but you will easily win the race with proper management.
This engine swap will provide you with a van of around 1000 BHP at its max. And the best feature is that the handling isn’t bad with the proper tuning. I have even seen some drivers with successful setups go on to throw the van around the Nürburgring at crazy speeds.
Published: Feb 19, 2025 7:00 PM UTC