Boxster long block in 911?

[mrrogers]

I have found a 2003 911 six speed with 11,000 miles and a failed IMS bearing. The engine does not turn over. It appears that the 3.6 engine is in short supply on eBay and www.car-part.com. This car has the 320 hp version and not the x51 option. Is it possible to bolt the 2003 accessories on to another long block (Boxster 2.5, 2.7, 3.2, or 911 3.4) to get this car back on the road? With only 11,000 miles, it is a shame that it is parked. I do not need to go 177 mph so a smaller engine is okay.

[fpb111]

Probably bolt right in. The biggest pain will be getting the electronics to work. 2003 is 2nd year for Vario-cam plus. You will need the ECU and most likely the wiring harness also. Crate engine from porsche =~$15k with rebuildable return

or

You could do this:

http://www.renegadehybrids.com/

After observing a high numbers of engine related failures to the later 911's, Renegade Hybrids quietly slid a 2011, 430HP V8 in the back of a 1999 911 (996) and made the installation look like it was factory-born! Imagine a new, 6.2L, all aluminum LS3 stuffed perfectly in the back of a young 996? Now that sounds pretty exciting!

With more cars in the works and several kits sold, Critics, Purists and Enthusiasts agree, the Renegade Hybrids 996 V8 conversion just makes perfect sense. Let's look at the facts together:

The NA flat 6 engine from the 996 and an LS series all aluminum V8 weigh almost exactly the same. The 996 produced horse power in the upper 200's, yet the LS engines typically start at 335HP and quickly go up from there for pennies more!....

Edited May 11, 2012 by fpb111

[mrrogers]

Thank you for your reply. By the time a person buys an ECU and wiring harness, this is not an easy option. It is just hard to make the numbers ($$$) work on these cars once the IMS bearing goes and the engine locks up.

[Dharn55]

The 3.6 is a VarioCamPlus engine. You could do the swap with another VarioCamPlus engine but doing it with a VarioCam engine would be very difficult.

[JFP in PA]

Going "backwards" from 3.6 VarioCam+ is just that, a move in the wrong direction. Either a rebuild or a bone yard replacement would be a much better bet, and would help retain the car's real value as well. Plus a smaller and lower HP engine would be very noticeable performance wise.

Edited May 11, 2012 by JFP in PA

[mrrogers]

I have found a 2002 911 3.6 with 38,000 miles and a failed IMS bearing. It is a one owner car with a clean CarFax traded in on a new Audi. Per the earlier posts above, it is a VariocamPlus engine, so it should be replaced with another VariocamPlus engine. 3.6 engines are almost impossible to find at www.car-part.com or eBay. If I locate a Boxster/Cayman VariocamPlus engine, could I strip it down to the long block and bolt the intake, exhaust, and accessories from the 911 3.6 engine on to it so I would not have any wiring problems? Will the 2002 911 ECU be okay?

[JFP in PA]

I have found a 2002 911 3.6 with 38,000 miles and a failed IMS bearing. It is a one owner car with a clean CarFax traded in on a new Audi. Per the earlier posts above, it is a VariocamPlus engine, so it should be replaced with another VariocamPlus engine. 3.6 engines are almost impossible to find at www.car-part.com or eBay. If I locate a Boxster/Cayman VariocamPlus engine, could I strip it down to the long block and bolt the intake, exhaust, and accessories from the 911 3.6 engine on to it so I would not have any wiring problems? Will the 2002 911 ECU be okay?

Before I would go to that trouble, I would check some of the Porsche specialists wrecking yards for the correct match. Mike Focke has a good list of sources on his website: https://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/listsofsources

[mrrogers]

JFP,

Thank you for your prompt and detailed reply. I will check out his link.

[av8sky]

Used engines are available for the MKII. My insurance company found one for me about 6months ago. I believe you can find them for the 8-10k range. The sources JFP listed in that link are really good. Oklahoma foreign and 20th street are really good sources. I have bought some things on ebay from a seller named qualityporscheparts. I think he was parting out an MKII and he might still have the engine. If you look hard enough you can always find your part.

[mrrogers]

I spoke with Specialized German Recycling in Rancho-Cordova, CA today. They are bidding on a 2002 911 at a salvage auction, and expect to have the car including the 3.6 engine next week. Price for the engine is $8,500. The car is supposed to have less than 50,000 miles on it. Has anyone had any dealings with Specialized German Recycling? The reason I ask is that Jake Raby has an article on his website called , "Buyer Beware: Used "Low Mileage" engine nightmare. Mr. Raby talks about dismantlers piecing engines together and passing them off as engines pulled from low mileage wrecks.

Edited January 13, 2014 by mrrogers

[JasonStern]

986 owners swap the 996 motors into their cars, so it is definitely possible. And if you get the same model year motor, you shouldn't need to replace the wiring harnesses. You will need to reprogram the ECU's fuel maps and retain the accessories from the 996, though. Basically, you would need to do the opposite of what is described here:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/11-ENGINE-911_Engine_Swap/11-ENGINE-911_Engine_Swap.htm

Do note that, unless you are doing the work yourself and you have access to the parts needed, by the time you complete the swap, you will likely have more money invested in downgrading your motor than if you replaced the motor with a salvage motor. I guess it could be worth it for fuel economy reasons, but if that is a concern, then you probably should look at other vehicles.

[mrrogers]

Jason,

Thank you for your detailed reply. You are right about the money. It is hard to make the numbers work on these cars. It is amazing to me that a one owner, clean CarFax 2002 911 with 38,000 miles and a failed IMS bearing cannot be saved. They used to say that you buy a Ferrari to get the engine, and the rest of the car is free. Perhaps some Porsches are approaching this territory.

Best regards.

[JFP in PA]

Jason,

Thank you for your detailed reply. You are right about the money. It is hard to make the numbers work on these cars. It is amazing to me that a one owner, clean CarFax 2002 911 with 38,000 miles and a failed IMS bearing cannot be saved. They used to say that you buy a Ferrari to get the engine, and the rest of the car is free. Perhaps some Porsches are approaching this territory.

Best regards.

They can always be saved, but at a price. With topflight rebuilt engines (with upgrades to known problems) running north of $14K, and reman factory lumps in the $15-17K range, it is no surprise that running engines out of wrecks are commanding high dollars. Just be glad it isn't one of the Metzger engines out of a TT, remans for those start at over $50K............. :eek:

[mrrogers]

The 2002 one owner clean CarFax 38,000 mile triple black 911 six speed manual convertible with the failed IMS bearing sold for $12,500. The engine skipped time and was locked up solid. Car needed a brake job and new tires. I was not the buyer. The new owner has located a used engine.

[fpb111]

You never know if it can be rebuilt until you do a detailed evaluation.

Like this one:

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/996-forum/796170-my-996-engine-project-thread.html

Edited January 20, 2014 by fpb111