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?

[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