2nd engine failure 2500miles later.

[woodsman]

I feel your pain- I've also had some unusual problems with my car but they were the mechanics fault and not Porsches and weren't as severe as yours. There's been a base engine for sale on CR-VAN lately. I think a long-time Porsche mech. from N Van has it and it has rebuilt heads-$3600) I think it's a 2.7. The ad said he could install. Maybe all you need is a short block? than again a 3.6 sure might turn 2 negatives into a positive! It doesn't sound like you want out of the car yet.

[sgt brad]

oops, not perfectlap, but PROdriver has the rebuild. i did a quick search...

http://986forum.com/forums/boxster-parts-sale-wanted/33609-boxster-3-6-rebuilt-engine.html

might be easier to talk to PROdriver as i think todd holyoak is hit or miss on the forum these days.

fwiw, 14k for a rebuild by a raby trained technician is a good deal. a 3.6 has got to pull like a train. i think PROdriver has one in his dd. maybe you can fly in and try one out first before pulling the trigger.

good luck...

brad

[woodsman]

of course RABY builds 4.0's for something like $20-22 000. Now that would be something REAL special and represents one extreme.

[Flavor 987S]

Originally Posted by woodsman

of course RABY builds 4.0's for something like $20-22 000. Now that would be something REAL special and represents one extreme.

Really, only $21,000ish? Gawd, I hope my 2006 987S blows up Friday for my next planned drive. I thought it was much more than that. I'll have her on a covered carrier heading southeast by Monday morning.

[Jake Raby]

Originally Posted by Flavor 987S

Really, only $21,000ish? Gawd, I hope my 2006 987S blows up Friday for my next planned drive. I thought it was much more than that. I'll have her on a covered carrier heading southeast by Monday morning.

Just finished a 4.0 for a 987. The first pull on the dyno before any tuning was done was 305HP and the torque was 285. Thats with everything stock except the mufflers. Now comes the optimization.

Beware updating to a OEM larger engine has conversion complications and the 3.6 996 spec engines are among the most failure prone that we see. Losing cylinders due to scoring is real, even at 27K miles like this one. Its worse with the later engines that have OEM forged pistons due to expansion differences that someone forgot to account for.




All those engines are also of the era of the single row IMSB which is the worst of the worst. The 996 spec engine is not special, it shares most every problem that the Boxster has and even has a few of it's own. Make sure that you spend the required money to dodge the issues as much as possible. As you have learned, this game can be a hard one to play.

[Flavor 987S]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

Just finished a 4.0 for a 987. The first pull on the dyno before any tuning was done was 305HP and the torque was 285. Thats with everything stock except the mufflers. Now comes the optimization.

Jake, were do you expect final HP numbers to shake out? With all due respect, 305 is not much over the 280 HP of my current 3.2 motor, and Porsche is always conservative with their numbers. What is the ballpark costs? Thank you.

[The Radium King]

not to speak for jake, but I think he is talking 'rear wheel' hp (rwhp) whereas you are talking hp at the crank. assuming 15% loss through the drivetrain, he is making 350 to your 280.

also, these are peak numbers at 7000 rpm; his torque and hp curves are probably a lot fatter at all rpms - ie, more power sooner - as I presume he started with a 3.8 which are known for their grunt at lower rpms. of course, I have read that stock heads with bore increase tend to make for peaky performance, so expect some gains in the lower rpms as he optimises the output.

[b-raddetail]

Originally Posted by woodsman

I feel your pain- I've also had some unusual problems with my car but they were the mechanics fault and not Porsches and weren't as severe as yours. There's been a base engine for sale on CR-VAN lately. I think a long-time Porsche mech. from N Van has it and it has rebuilt heads-$3600) I think it's a 2.7. The ad said he could install. Maybe all you need is a short block? than again a 3.6 sure might turn 2 negatives into a positive! It doesn't sound like you want out of the car yet.

Hey guys, thanks for all the great info and help. I ended up purchasing the above engine and should be able to have it installed at the end of next week.

Its a 2001 engine with 60k miles and rebuilt heads. They will be installing my intake, fuel system and engine management systems to get it working with the 2003 car. Other then that it is a lot simpler then the 3.4 cayman swap and shouldn't cause any headaches.

Now I am wondering if I should install the LN IMSB while I have the chance.

I am not sure if I am going to sell the car right away or keep it. Either way the LN bearing might be a good investment for my personal peace of mind or the next owner's.

I am also having trouble trying to think of replacement cars for the boxster I would like to have a car that is a little more practical and that I could run year round instead of having two cars. I am willing to spend a reasonable amount on anual mantinace but can't afford any more catastrophic failures.

Cars I am considering not in any real particular order:
E46 BMW m3
135i
B7 Audi S4
996 c4s or c2
C5 Corvette Z06
2008+ WRX STI
987 Cayman/Boxster S
Honda s2000
May be willing to stretch the budget to include
997 C2
e90 M3
B8 Audi S4

I do love Porsches, but I am open minded and willing to look at almost anything fun or quick. Prestige is not a a big factor to me, I am 20 year old university student and have been running my detailing company since the age of 13. I have owned 8 cars 3 audi's (a4,a4,a6) 3 bmws (325ci, 330cic, 330ci) and 2 boxsters. Before the 03 box cars had cost me almost nothing, repairs or depreciation. Now I am looking for a car that I will keep for a while and enjoy. I enjoy doing club drives/gimmick rallys and the ocasional Auto X or DE event.

[Jake Raby]

Its a 2001 engine with 60k miles and rebuilt heads. They will be installing my intake, fuel system and engine management systems to get it working with the 2003 car.

Your old 2001 engine is a 5 chain, the 2003 engine is a 3 chain. These two have different variable valve timing arrangements with the 2003 engine having vane cell adjusters with load sensitive camshaft positioning adjustments. The 2001 engine has 25 degrees of variable valve timing while the 2003 engine has 40 degrees.

This is going to require some conversion and will have some complications. It is not a 1 for 1 swap thats simply plug and play.

The 2003 engine has a single row IMS, absolutely take the opportunity to retrofit the bearing or install the IMS Solution. Not doing it now, while it is apart simply isn't the smartest decision.

[b-raddetail]

Thanks for the quick reply Jake. I will look into the timing arrangements and discuss with my mechanic before the swap begins.

One day when life allows it, I will have you build and engine for my dream Pcar!