Saving a Speed Yellow '03 Carrera - Main bearing failure

A few months back a Speed Yellow '03 Carrera popped up on the local PCA Facebook group for sale. The car was at the dealer being diagnosed with a then unknown engine issue. It seems there was a fair bit of interest in the car and the seller decided to keep the car and replace / rebuild the motor. Then just a couple weeks back an email comes in stating the car is going to be back up for sale, and the engine had a main bearing failure. Long story short, a good friend agreed to pick up the car in Raleigh NC and bring it down to Charlotte. The failed M96 isn't ideal, but I think this is a car that needs to be saved. Between factory options, factory parts, and aftermarket parts I think the car has tons of potential. - Speed Yellow paint - I am sure it isn't that rare, but in a sea of white / black / grey / silver cars I welcome the bright yellow car into the garage - Sport Seats - Now with speed yellow backs - Sport Exhaust - Now with cargraphic mufflers - 2x sets of high flow cats, one in x pipe configuration - MY02 Wheels - I also have Sport Design wheels sitting around - Full Aerokit - Not original to the car, but factory parts - Bilstein PSS-10 Suspension - 997 GT-3 Shifter - 997 3.8 Airbox What direction to go? Replacement engine, rebuild, Audi 2.7T swap, LS swap, other? I'm not sure, but I figured I document things here as I have done with past p-car projects. A couple of pictures as she arrived in Charlotte And a few more from the previous owner:

The 2.7 idea is cool to me and glad you�re saving the car.

Very nice! Love the yellow! Looking forward to see what happens with it

It’s a beautiful canvas to really go crazy with but by the time you change out motors to LS3 or Audi 2.7 it will probably cost as much as factory block which will probably get you more money if you decide to sell but the power the others offer are undeniable

Car is worth saving. How did they diagnose main bearing failure? Consider a factory short block, send the heads to Hoffman for a re-work, rebuild and drive it.

What @DBJoe996 said! This is what I did to my car 6 years ago, it’s been perfect ever since.

Subscribed. If smog and resale value aren't a concern, I'd be all over the 2.7T swap. Sounds like a fun challenge/project. Good luck!

What caused the bearing failure, got any pics?? Was the car Tracked ? Beautiful car in a rare color !!

I vote gt3 mezger . If u can find a donor car.

Looks to be in great condition. My vote is to do either the factory short block with Hoffman head work or go full monty with an enhanced rebuild of your M96.

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Another vote here for the 2.7. I'd have seriously considered that option prior to my rebuild if it was available then.

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Diagnosis was done at Leith Porsche up in Raleigh many months back. According to the seller it was oil pump failure that wiped out the main bearings. I've seen the factory short block as a option, but those prices have gone way up in the last few years, still it is an option that is on the table. The car was indeed tracked, not a ton, but it did DEs for a few years. Now that seems like a brilliant idea, but I'm going to say I'm priced out of that option.

Considering the color, the condition and the factory aero parts I'd vote for an M96 rebuild/replace. I think that would keep the car's value the highest in the future. Factory correct parts are what seem to hold a car's value as they get older. I don't think these will ever be $100K cars but with the color and the aero kit, in another 10-15 years you could really have a gem. If you want to turn it into a track beast or total custom job then another engine might be a great idea.

Just curious, noticed the comment about the oil pump failure killing the main bearings. How would you know if the oil pump goes out? Would there be a check engine light? I'm sure the coolant temp would spike but with the typical guage configuration would there be an oil pressure issue or would you have to hope the coolant temp spikes quickly before everything fails?

If oil pump fails then oil pressure drops. You see that on the oil pressure gauge, and when it gets low enough, there is a warning light.

There is a shaft that drives the oil pump- there have been documented failures of this hence why LN makes a Chromoly one. The 2 M96's I rebuilt last year had main bearing failures closest to the flywheel. Lots of theories on why this happens- but that is the furthest bearing from the oil pump.. closest to the flywheel (heavy mass that retains heat?)... I don't know how you could diagnose a main bearing failure other than finding brass in the oil pan- even then who knows if its main or rod bearing material. Best to take it apart and see what you have first before jumping to conclusions. --Aaron

I looked at this car, super nice guy! I ultimately passed but had a few nights tossing and turning over what to do!! Great spec.

It is a beauty, I wish I'd known about it. I would have scooped it up in a minute! Nice find @ian !

Just so you know, I don't think it was the oil pump that primarily failed....Oil pumps don't just fail, 99% of the time when an oil pump DOES fails it is collateral damage from some other part failing first... Anytime I hear someone blame an engine failure on the oil pump, my thoughts are that they don't really know what caused the failure and just pointed the finger at the oil pump, or that they actually have not done the forensics on the failure...

Great effort to save a great car, if possible to keep a 3.6 Porsche engine in the bay I think that will secure its future as a special example. �Yellow is Cool� Rich

The first thing I would do is pull the engine and disect. The autopsy will tell you what you have and what is damaged . With that data you can make a informed decision on how to proceed .

That is a really nice car. IMHO, it is worth a mezger. 2nd vote, gt3 mezger DJ is right. Start looking for GT mezger doners, any of them. Over the years have seen a few totaled cars all wadded up... perfect for your swap. If going for a short block from Porsche, might want to ask the parts guy about a core engine and if yours would be acceptable with a spun failed crank. Are there any holes in the block, did rods break..? Did the heads get damaged..? Have heard some shops don't care as long as its a complete engine, others have been more particular in what they accept.... Without a good core to turn in value might not be there. jmo

Lovely spec. I'd ask @De Jeeper how difficult his Mezger swap was to execute, even after finding a donor motor. My vote is to rebuild the 3.6 into a sleeved 4.0 and keep it a Porsche and put some real SPEED behind SPEED Yellow.

Oh its a hundred or so hours and other then the donor there wasnt much to buy. A little welding and fab skill is required. I finished my swap in 6 weeks working after hours. A full donor car is absolutely needed for it to make sense and finding those in the states is very hard

Yeah, its a cool swap. But unless you have DJs skills it's going to be very expensive. I explored it with my indy a couple of times with the GT3 engine as well as with a cup engine that they had just rebuilt and was sitting in the shop. The conclusion that was drawn is if you need an indy to do it, it would be much cheaper to pay up for a GT3 in good shape or to buy a 996 cup car with low hours in the engine for the track. @Atgani did a cup engine swap a number of years ago on a street legal car and posted info here on rennlist. Quite a journey. I can only imagine the money spent. Assuming you dont need more HP, finding a used M96 and swaping it into the car is the cheapest short term option. But you dont know its history and over the longer-term it may need a rebuild, which is why the factory short block is so attractive. You get a brand new engine that you can from day one practice the proper procedures and maintenence and have an engine that will last for many decades. But if you need more power, your only choice is a bored out M96 rebuild or swapping in an LS, Audi 2.7 or Honda K. Lots of options, lots of tough choices and lots of money.

My vote- even though no one asked- is to rebuild it! I am not a fan of swapping if you couldn't tell. --Aaron

I’m just happy you’re going to get that cool car back on the road. My opinion is you have a great opportunity to make the car your version of better than it came from the factory. If you want more info on the LS swap experience, shoot me a PM. Good luck with it.

In case you need incentive - almost $65K worth: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...ign=2023-04-25 -Tom

A lot of good suggestions from folks, and believe me I am reading all the threads on the swaps, on the rebuilds, trying to make an informed decision. Done properly I don't think any of the options represent bad options, but they all have different price points, and different benefits. Before I can even get to pulling the motor, I need to create some space in the garage. I either need to sell one of my other cars (E90 M3 / 951S) or I need to get a storage lift to stack them. I like both cars so I'd prefer to keep them, but selling one also frees up money for the 996 project.

Naw, get the lift.....i still own all the vehicles i have bought and i enjoy them all even if i wish i had more time to drive them.

Get a lift. Best thing I ever did! Makes working on and even in the car so much easier!! Plus you get an extra parking spot so the pup can hang out with ya (in his pen)

Awesome you are saving it no matter the direction you choose. There are a few speed yellow 996�s in Charlotte but always room for more!

Currently for sale in the UK. I drove it a couple of years ago, she was a quick old girl !! Rare over here, non-sunroof, manual C2 in SY. Josh Sadler started Autofarm back in the 70�s, he�s now retired, but was one of THE most knowledgeable individuals in the world when it came to the �73 2.7RS, �74 RS, the ST etc. A lovely chap too. https://autofarm.co.uk/2002-porsche-...rera-2-manual/

Speed Yellow on the 996 always looks good love my 1999 cabriolet and when I had the hardtop it looks like I have two different cars 😀 Rich

Things are moving slowly, but I did add something to the garage that will help the project along.

Its soooo cute .

I went over all the options, the small lift has some limitations, but it gives me some flexibility to go back to a three car garage when the project is done. So it might be a "cute' lift, but it works for me (or at least I hope it does given that I have not used it yet).

Not a lot has happened with this project, until yesterday when a small package showed up in my driveway.

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The motor or the bumper?

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The motor arrived yesterday and is for the yellow 996, the bumper has been around for a month or so and is for the other 996. (black 996.1)

I have had my eye out for a 996 coupe in Speed Yellow if you ever decide to sell yours or know of one. Continued success with your project 👍 Rich

With the old engine and transaxle out of the car, I found there was a ton of play in in the shift arm, so the gearbox had to come apart to figure out what the problem was. Creating a long list of parts to order before everything goes back together.

I stopped updating this thread, probably out of frustration with getting this car back on the road. 1st replacement motor was installed, and I had a bunch of issues getting it started, early diagnosis showed the CPS signal wasn't getting to the harness plug, but after further investigation the whole back corner of the harness was bad and needed to be replaced. Dropped the 1st replacement motor, installed a new wiring harness, reinstalled the motor, got it running only to find out 18 miles later the motor was toast and the oil full of metal. A low oil pressure light came on and I drained the oil to find it glittery like a disco ball. 2nd replacement motor installed, came from a local seller where I heard it running first, saw the oil pressure when hot, motor was bore scoped and clean. New water pump, AOS, IMS, oil cooler, coils, plugs, etc. And this is where we are today. A few miles on the car, and things seem to be going well, but only time will tell.

Good news, glad you got it up and it’s still all Porsche. Love the new wheel color against the yellow.