2013 Subaru BRZ with a 5.0L Coyote V8

Hayden is an engineer who enjoys working on big projects. One of those projects is his daily-driven 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited. Hayden always wanted to complete an engine swap. After saving enough money and securing the garage space, he went to work transforming the car. Hayden spent a year and half and plenty of elbow grease building his V8-powered BRZ.

Hayden’s original engine choice was a Toyota 1UR-FSE V8. Soon after purchasing one he discovered the oil pan too difficult to adapt. The pan uses an integrated oil pickup and Hayden would need to machine a custom front-sump system for it to work.

So he turned his research to finding another engine. Eventually he settled on the 5.0 L Ford Coyote V8. The DOHC design and 7,000+ rpm redline seemed to fit the BRZ spirit more than the LSx V8.

Hayden sourced his Coyote V8 from a 2015 Ford F-150 truck. He installed a set of 2015 Mustang camshafts and GT500 valve covers. The motor is kept cool by a Mishimoto radiator with Spal fans. It runs on a Haltech Elite 2500 ECU with a custom adapter and ignition coil driver built by Hayden. He even retained the AC system.

Hayden paired the motor to a Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission from a Cadillac CTS-V. These transmission have various input shaft lengths and Hayden’s TR-6060 was the shortest. This required a specific Quicktime bellhousing, pilot bearing spacer, throwout bearing, and 3.7 L V6 single-mass flywheel to space the clutch disc properly.

The firewall needed to be recessed behind the clutch master cylinder to clear the driver-side cylinder head. Hayden completed the drivetrain using a Driveshaft Shop driveshaft with a CV and U-joint to send power to the factory BRZ rear differential and axles.

The factory front brakes were swapped to Cadillac ATS-V calipers and 2004 Subaru STI rotors. Hayden retains the factory rear brakes. Hydraulic power is supplied by a first-generation Bosch iBooster from a Tesla which was difficult to install.