For a car that’s famous for its high-revving, power-dense engine, it’s a bit surprising that there’s aftermarket support for LS swapping a Honda S2000. “When I started this there were four or five people in the county that were doing it.” Chandler Snodgrass told us about his 2006 Honda. He’s a fabricator that knows his way around automotive sheet metal, but still had his share of headaches when dropping in an LS6 and Tremec T-56 six-speed. Thankfully, Xperformance was one of the pioneers of LS swaps and offered engine mounts and crossmembers. Import Muscle also offered a steering rack relocation kit that helped the V8 fit. The electric power steering is currently operating without power for now, which works just fine at any speed other than a dead stop, when steering effort is naturally much higher.

Even with aftermarket parts at the ready, Snodgrass had to get creative when shoehorning the V8 into the Honda’s engine bay. “It’s set back as far as I could go without going super wild” he told us. The alternator is mounted down low, where the AC compressor would be on an F-body, so there is no air conditioning. Naturally we wondered about upsetting the balance of the car. The sturdier transmission was a bit heavier, and the LS6, at nearly double the power, was only an extra 80 pounds. “I took out quite a bit of weight out of the front.” Snodgrass said. That, combined with the engine setback that placed all of the engine behind the front axle centerline, has resulted in a 50:50 weight distribution.

Snodgrass admits that the swap has not been a cakewalk, but he is still up for more challenges and loves the performance. He’s considering more power and has test-fit an LT4, which fits perfectly under the stock hood. If that happens, the upgraded PuddyMod Stage 2 rear axle might become the weak link. So far, the differential, which was never meant for a V8, has proved sturdy over several years and 8,000 miles.