Engine swap heresy? 2JZ?
 

A lot of people recommend the 3.4L swap for earlier Boxsters because of their relative similarity and "ease" of install. Also, I imagine, they like the purity of an all-Porsche vehicle.

What I want to know is has anyone done any more heretical swaps? Like a 2JZ-GTE or LS1 swap? I am sure, even though I am saying don't bother, I will get a lot of responses about how abhorrent people find the swap, but I am just kind of idly curious at this point and just want to know about it from a technical feasibility perspective.

won't fit bud... those are some pretty big motors. Although I've seen the 2JZ-GTE go into the FD3S RX7, the S2000, and even the E36 BMWs. Though those cars have the same Front Engine, RWD setups as the supra.

For what its worth, I plan on going with a 996 3.6L swap in the near future, though there is a guy on the boards with a 997 3.8L swap... I would LOVE to do that, but it's out of my means for now.

Motor size
 

Yeah, I kind of thought that might be the big issue, especially in a mid-engined car (since they seem to be able to cram the 2JZ into S2000s, I was kind of thinking it might be possible).

I am kind of debating about the 3.4L swap or not. I kind of liked the idea of a 2JZ swap because of its endless tunability, the ability to keep adding horsepower to it just seemed very appealing, plus they are just so very reliable.

There was a guy who was posting something about this a year or so ago if I remember correctly. He seemed to think he could shoehorn an LS1 in there somehow. Unfortunately, the discussion degenerated to ridiculousness rather quickly so I don't know if the guy ever got around to trying it or if he was successful or not.

If memory serves me correctly, Brucelee had some insight into this activity.

The Doc and I might be talking about the same melee, but I think there was a guy doing Buick Grand National swaps in Fieros, who wanted to transplant one into a 986. We have never heard from him again. The GM V-6 might fit. The LS-1? That's pretty big.

Yeah, I kind of threw the LS1 in there figuring it was really unlikely.

Different melee, same deal though.

You may want to consider a 914 as the donor car as it's been done with a few engine variants. I know Chevy small blocks and Subaru motors have been surgically implanted.

Small Block 914

914 Subaru Conversion

I considered it briefly before I sold my 914 and bought the Boxster.

I think the biggest limiting factor in the 986 chassis is the length of the engine. The boxer 6 is pretty short. You basically have from the firewall to the transmission, which is about 24" or so?

I'd think maybe a Subaru 4 cylinder boxer... with a couple turbochargers on it? Might be able to get 250+hp out of it without too much difficulty.

Oh well, I suppose that would be the problem, as I am sure the I-6 of the 2JZ is quite a bit longer than that (hmmm, although I would be willing to give up the tiny rear trunk...) Perhaps a V6 engine might fit better depending on the configuration, something that is a bit more durable than the stock flat 6.

aside from the engine length and configuration, remember you gotta factor in the tranny too!

go for a x51 3.8L from a 997S and build that badboy up :D

Yeah, that is true. Now if I had money for an x51, I don't think I would be considering other engine options, but those Porsche engines are pretty expensive, and seem to be only mildly tuneable, which is why the 2JZ would be ideal, since it is probably the most over-engineered block out there and not terribly expensive.

only broblem being that an x51 3.8L is about 10x the cost of an LS1

Maybe some V6 then that is more able to be tuned than the Porsche engines which don't seem to accept much in the way of turbos or supercharging in general. Maybe a VQ35HR would work... Get about 300 hp to start and pretty tunable.

A 3.8 X51 is 8400 plus the core of 5500.00

Todd

So how much does that end up being total with labour typically? 13,900 + labor? That is kind of tempting if the labor isn't that bad.

Todd,

Where are you getting that price from?

wow, i didn't realize that. what do the GT3 motors run?

Sunset Porsche

Well with a later car it isn't much more labour than removal and reinstall of the engine/trans. A pre-2002 car as you can read in my posts over at Renntech will cost you a lot more in other parts and labour to get the 7.8DME Canbus systems integrated and unless you are doing the work, probably is cheaper to buy a later car.


Most places doing these conversions are charging ~25k

Todd