I've seen stuff like this in the past, and always shake my head.
My old landlord long ago had a corvette stingray with a 4cyl in it. I think it was one of the ones that come out of the little 80s blazers. He did it to save gas, and he said the v8 was too "scary".
Why in the fark someone would buy a corvette if they were afraid of the power? Amazing.
Worst part was, he didn't even keep the LT1 around, sold it years before I talked to him. It's still running around today in Forest Grove. Has an exhaust leak and really turns some heads. Complete moron.