I need a new Engine, where to buy? Please help

My two cents....... If I had a M96 engine blow I would never spend that kind of cash to cross my fingers again. Face it, we all crave more power & speed but these cars go like snot even in the so called anemic 2.5 version. I hope to have the flat six options performed on my car before it has any trouble. The 2.5 grows to 2.7 and gains healthy torque & HP more importantly, the engine becomes reliable..


PS If you have no legal option against said warranty company then go to war! Write letters to your state attorney general, make sure you tell them you intend on doing it. Tell them you will post on the net and do everything in your power to dissuade anyone from ever using their service again. Even though you probably won't, tell them you will put a sign on your car that they screwed you and drive it everywhere (that worked like a charm when I proposed it) In short, they need to know you will do everything legally possible to make their life a nightmare and cost them further business. I had to do it to a boat dealer once and when the smoke cleared they were begging me for a equitable solution or willing to refund my money..good luck!

[Kirk]

For the other Boxster S owners on this board do you mind sharing how your engine failed and how many miles it had on it? It sounds like you had a broken piston. Did the piston really just crack? That's not a common failure mode that I've heard of on these cars.

As to what to do.... well you're in a GREAT position with the shop willing to drop in another engine for only $750. You DEFINITELY should get a replacement for your 3.2L. Why on earth you'd want another 3.2L though is beyond me. For just about the same money you can get an e-gas 3.4L which will fit with minor changes.

Personally I would call the national Porsche dismantlers to see what they have. Remember that now is a buyer's market, so don't be afraid to haggle and work a good deal for yourself. The economy is slowing down ALL business these days. I would recommend Silver Star Recycling in Sacramento, CA. I believe Oklahoma Foreign is good too. I know Silver Star compression checks their engines and will let you know how many miles were on it. Their engines also come with a 30 day warranty, so if it's a total dud you'll get your money back. I would bet that you can get a 3.2L or 3.4L from them for $4K to $5K (before haggling). Now on top of that you'll want to do a little more work while the engine is out of the car, like the water pump and clutch, so figure maybe another $1K in parts.

In the end, a used engine like this is going to be half the cost of a Porsche remanufactured engine or Raby rebuild, plus you get to keep your core (old engine) or sell it. I know you're concerned about the assurance of having somethings that's good, but at these costs I see it as a no-brainer. Buy a used engine and if it only lasts 5 years and you have to swap in another one, you're still just maybe breaking even with your other options, if not still money ahead.

Kirk

[Cloudsurfer]

First off, I would not recommend a 3.4. The 3.4 has the highest rate of "D-chunk" failures, due to running the same bore spacing as the 3.2. The only way to get the increased displacement is thinner cylinder walls.

If you are looking for a factory Porsche motor, I would recommend a 3.6, or even better, a 3.8. I'd also look for a "new" motor (i.e. one pulled from a wreck) vs a factory rebuild.

If you're considering the $10k for a factory 3.2, I would much rather give my money to Raby and get a quality re-engineered powerplant, if it were me.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune, but as has been pointed out, it is absolutely a buyer's market for everything in our current economy, so shop wisely.

[Kirk]

>The 3.4 has the highest rate of "D-chunk" failures

True, I'd personally take my chances... but I don't frequent the 911 boards enough to know how much (how frequent) of a problem this is. Maybe I should count my blessings for having a 3.2L.

>I would recommend a 3.6, or even better, a 3.8.

He's got an '01 Boxster S. Going to a 3.6 or 3.8 would require more parts and a lot more headaches. JP just gave up on his 3.6L conversion for this reason. I think that with this guy being concerned about price, going to a 3.6 or 3.8 might be a stretch for him.

>it is absolutely a buyer's market for everything in our current economy

I can't believe how cheap some things are getting. My Assistant wants to buy an '05+ Mercedes SLK350. We went and test drove one several weeks ago and I checked out the used pricing. It looked like $30K could get a decent one, $28K was rock bottom. NOW I see that two low mile (20,000 miles) SLK350's sold on eBay for $19K and $20K, and it seems that most decent ones are going for $24K. So I've seen the prices on this particular used model drop by 20% in the last two months on eBay and Autotrader. That's just crazy!!!

Kirk

[Cloudsurfer]

Actually, the 3.6 or 3.8 isn't that much more work- talk to Tholyoak as he has done plenty, and is just finishing a 3.8 into an 01 S. I am also planning a 3.8 into my car one of these days, I'm just waiting to find the right motor, which in the current economy, might not be too difficult

And yes, I agree, its sickening how cheap things have gotten. I just picked up a new winter car, and wound up with a 98 BMW 740i with a 60k motor and a brand new transmission, as well as new brakes, exhaust, suspension bits and 18" BBS RK's for $4k. The body is about average for its age, the interior is pretty nice, but either way, I'm not going to complain!

[Kirk]

>Actually, the 3.6 or 3.8 isn't that much more work

I'll just agree to disagree with you on that point. I know that Tholyoak can do these conversions blind folded and with one arm tied behind his back, but for most shops and weekend mechanics it's not that easy. I don't think it's real clear how to cleanly address the cam timing control difference when putting one of the newer engines in an older car. Again, case in point, JP has his 3.6L for sale now after giving up on his conversion. If I was going to do it I think I'd do the whole swap and then ship it to Todd for the final touches.

>wound up with a 98 BMW 740i with a 60k motor and a brand new transmission, as well as new brakes, exhaust, suspension bits and 18" BBS RK's for $4k.

WOW!!! You are a lucky man. That sounds like quite a deal on a very decent daily driver. I've been looking but have not been so lucky.

Kirk

[Cloudsurfer]

Well, thankfully for my swap plans, Tholyoak and I are in the same city, but if you do the research (which is posted on Renntech), the swap for the VarioCam Plus motors into the VarioCam cars isn't all that difficult, but you will need access to a PST2. Your idea of shipping the car to Todd to make the electronics work isn't a bad one, however.

As to my new 7, it's far from a perfect car but I think it'll make for a decent daily. I'm actually rather excited to have a car again that I don't care about and park it anywhere!