If you possess an aged Italian automobile, it might be wise to trade it prior to accumulating considerable mileage. While costly Italian vehicles like Maseratis are imbued with spirit and passion, they possess a subpar reliability history. It may sound cliché, but it holds true. Due to this, a brilliant individual who goes by the name Dan opted to extract the dual-turbo V6 from his 1985 Maserati Biturbo and substitute it with something more local. By local, I mean an LS V8—more precisely, a twin-turbocharged 5.3-liter L33 truck engine.
Dan isn’t just opting for an eBay turbo kit and channeling all that power through the Maserati’s stock transmission system. That would be an imprudent decision. As per LS1Tech reports, he has procured a six-speed Tremec T56 to manage the additional power and substituted the rear end with one from a 2019 Ford Mustang GT.
He also possesses a flair for theatrics, as evidenced by the placement of the turbochargers within the internal headlight apertures on the Maserati. Such meticulous features can elevate a project to the next level, but also complicate matters. With the turbochargers situated in that position, there’s no space for a radiator at the front of the car, only an intercooler to cool the intake air. Consequently, Dan relocated the radiator to the trunk of the car, crafting sizable slots in the trunk lid and around the license plate area to ensure proper air circulation.
This is also more noteworthy and engaging since Dan possessed nearly zero fabrication or welding expertise prior to commencing this project. He is also carrying out all the work in his driveway, which diminishes the excuses for others interested in embarking on such an ambitious endeavor.
Upon discarding the original iron-block LS for the aluminum L33, Dan exchanged the truck heads with superior performance units from the Corvette. He also enhanced the fuel pump to a high-flow Bosch 044, and installed new Deka 80-pound fuel injectors from Siemens. In terms of the vehicle itself, the modifications were quite substantial.
The L33 V8 undeniably does not belong in a Maserati Biturbo, necessitating extensive adjustments to the car’s floorplan and firewall. The interior was also completely stripped in anticipation of this swap, which is undoubtedly a prudent move. A custom pedal box by Wilwood is also slated for installation to streamline the entire process.
All the details and progress related to this build—dubbed Project Meatball—are available on the vehicle’s Instagram handle. Dan frequently shares updates there, making it the go-to platform for Instagram users. He also posts on the project car subreddit. A video of the engine’s inaugural startup can be found at that link. Needless to say, we eagerly anticipate its completion.
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