engine swap

[John Howar]

Hello eveyone,
I'm a new member with a '97 that's had an engine swap. The shop that did the work sold me a "factory rebuilt 1999 3.4 liter 996 motor". I am begining to suspect that it's really a newer 3.2. Is there a way to tell the difference visually?
John Howar

[catmanluge]

The 1999 3.4 has aluminium intake stackes about three inches in length from the head up to the black plastic intake manifold. I don't think the 3.2 has those.

[easyc]

Originally Posted by catmanluge

The 1999 3.4 has aluminium intake stackes about three inches in length from the head up to the black plastic intake manifold. I don't think the 3.2 has those.

easiest way to find out... exactly what catman said... the 3.2's intake distributers go all the way down to the block where as for teh 3.4 and 3.6 for that matter have aluminum stacks that mate between the distrib and the block...

[blinkwatt]

Does anyone have a pic of the difference that your discussing?

[tholyoak]

Manifolds can be changed easily. Check the serial number on the flat plate beside the engine sump. It will be M96/## this will definitively tell you what the motor is.
I can't ever seem to post pictures to this board so I can't post the visual differences between the 986 and 996 motor.

Todd

[Frodo]

Hijacking a little...

"For Sale: 3.6L Boxster, 1998, silver/black $27k obo"

Posted by tholyoak.

Where's your Boxster listed? And (more importantly) why you sellin' it?

[RandallNeighbour]

If I'm not mistaken, putting a 3.2 in a non e-gas 97 boxster requires a lot of hassles with ECU swaps and other stuff. A non e-gas 3.4 is a straightforward swap (or more straightforward). So, what the shop told you they put in might well be what they put in the car.

If you can't see the differences, just swing by a dealership or an independent Porsche shop and ask them to tell you what's under the convertible top size-wise because you just bought the car and heard it has a larger engine in it. They'll know instantly.

If I were you, I'd get that car on a dyno and see what the HP and torque at the wheels is today. This will tell you a lot too, and give you a baseline for the future. You'll be adding intake, exhaust, and chip mods before long if you're anything like the rest of us!

[Brucelee]

I am with the block number idea.

[j.fro]

Go test drive a used 2000-2004 Boxster S. If your car feels like it could beat the pants off it in a drag race, you've got a 3.4

[John Howar]

Thanks for the great responses. Tholyoak, I took it to a dealership and they say the serial no. on the block corresponds to 2005 Boxster S. The shop that did the swap says the factory mixes parts when they do a rebuild and the serial no. is not reliable. What do you think?
John

[tholyoak]

The shop is telling you a story. The case stamping corresponds to the motor type. If it says it is a 2005S, that is what it is. Take a look at the variocam solenoids, that should help tell whether it is a 996 3.4 or a 2005S. What do the intake manifolds look like?

Frodo,
The car is not advertised anywhere yet. When I put the X51 in my car I had this engine left over, so I found another car to do the conversion on.
-Todd

[John Howar]

Serial no. on engine is M96/2662501751. To check the intake manifold and Variocam servos I will need to remove the top. My manual does'nt include the procedure. Can anyone talk me thru it?
John Howar

[tholyoak]

It is a 2005 987 3.2 Boxster S engine.

You don't need to remove the top, open it 10 inches, unclip the fabric rain shield and the side top cables and flip up the rear and remove the carpet and engine cover.

Todd

[tholyoak]

I is also not a factory reman. engine. If it were, the serial number would be M96/26AT. The AT designation is stamped on factory rebuilds.

Todd

[John Howar]

Got the engine cover off. The engine bay is really tight! The intake runners are 100% plastic. I have a wire with plastic connector on each side of the engine that is not connected to anything. I suspect they should should connect to Variocam solenoids. Where are they?

Tholyoak, I'll send you a PM with photos.

John Howar

[John Howar]

I'm going to try to post a photo of my engine. Don't know if it will work - here goes....

[tholyoak]

John,

The engine is a 2005 3.2. No way around it, the shop is lying to you. They have simply stuck a cable throttle body and front plenum from on it. They have tried to modify your old harness conectors so they match up with the later variocam actuators but found a problem when they tried to use it with the old 5.2.2 DME. This is because the later variocam has a wider range of cam timing than the older cars and thus the DME throws a fit. This is probably why they left them disconnected. The serial number on the block is the tell-tale case. The engine is a non-remanufactured 2005 3.2L Boxster S engine, period. They are lying to you.
-Todd

[John Howar]

Thanks Todd for your help - I'll be dealing with the shop with solid facts now. BTW where are the Variocam solenoids?
John