Opinions needed on 99 project car (looking to purchase car w/t engine swap in prog)

Hello everyone, Thanks for your help. I was wondering if I could get your opinion on this project 996 I've found on craigslist. I'm currently an electrical engineering student finishing up my degree - I have completed other non-porsche engine swap projects in the past and other non-porsche ECU related projects. I have a complete tool set in my garage and access to an offsite lift. I am looking for a project - but I dont want to do something that is a losing proposition. Background on car: -1998/99 car from US, no engine, with body kit (would need to be removed IMO) -3.4 engine taken from 2001 996 that suffered a roll -Car starts, but does not idle as "electronics not finished" -Egas to cable throttle complete -Clutch slave needs to be "finished" -Transmission from original car -IMS not done on the new engine -He is asking 14k CAD, but open to offers (wants to see the car go to someone local who will finish it vs someone who will part it out) Technical: -I read that there is no issue converting egas to cable (I assume the throttle position sensor is independent) -I read that the DME on a "rest of world / US" "98/99" car is compatible with a 01 3.4 engine as there is no vario cam plus and the new fuel rail system did not appear until the 02 3.6 Concerns: -The body kit may have damaged the quarter panel structural integrity - I understand that quarter panels on unibody cars are considered structural, weld on components -The body kit will kill resale if I ever sold it (maybe 17k or less?) -Unforseen issues with wiring the engine -Condition of transmission (as untestable) -Condition of suspension (as untestable) Pros: -Complete package (all the parts are there) - just needs finishing -Worst case scenario, the project can be sold to someone else with little loss (sum of parts individually is quite high) If you have any thoughts or things I should be looking for tomorrow when I go to see it - I would really appreciate your help! How much would you offer? Is there anything I have failed to consider? Any input you have is highly appreciated! Thank you so much! Pictures:

Unless you're looking for a project, I'd pass. The low price doesn't make up for the mishmash of parts and the fact that it doesn't really run. The current owner is cutting and running - don't buy in to his disaster in progress. With that much backstory, even if you get it running, it's not going to be worth that much ever again if you want to unload it. Maybe you could get it all buttoned up and running for a couple grand and some of your time - but what if the "won't idle" issue isn't a simple electronics problem? You could be buying a killer deal for $15K - but you could also be buying a $4K roller with a damaged engine. I'd worry that "Worst case scenario, the project can be sold to someone else with little loss (sum of parts individually is quite high)" might be inaccurate - if the engine isn't good, you have a 996 roller with a transmission of unknown quality and a body that may not be intact. Also, that interior looks like Boot Barn. Eew. I know you're in Canada, so there's not nearly as much inventory as there is stateside, but still...

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Awesome points that I did not consider. You are totally right about the engine condition + transmission being big unknowns. Also interesting that someone would go to all this effort then quit at this electrical stage of "getting it idling" - I think if I remember correctly the IACV is the only thing that needs to be spliced into the old harness to get it to idle. Why not do the clutch slave and stuff while you were assembling? Its not a hard thing to finish... There was a mint condition 64k km roller a few months back that sold in Vancouver half a day (blown ims)... This has been on the market for 20 days +. (this may have been a better option as you know where the engine comes from, etc.) He said he turned down 8k and 9k... But that is almost rich for the state of the car - like you said, its a gamble. If I lived in Alberta, the Texas of Canada, the interior would be right at home haha.

Walk away dude! Once a car is out of its originality, it takes that special buyer to off load it....and not to mention, it's got problems. This has headache written all over it.

Nice job being open to not-so-positive input. Some people get really pissy when the advice doesn't match their expectations. When someone walks away from a 95% complete project: A) They're sick of it. B) Life got in the way (kids/sickness/wife is pissed/whatever) C) It's a POS that isn't worth finishing. You really do have to ask yourself why someone would quit now, when it's almost all back together and (sort of) running - he'd be getting much better offers than 8K for a kitted 911 that runs well, even with a replacement engine. Maybe I'm just a skeptic, but when someone bails out of a project this far along, I don't want in. For what it's worth - if the reality was just as the seller describes it, and you can get the price down to $10K, it would be a hell of a deal. But I'm not sure the reality is as rosy as the seller makes it out to be.

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Hahah, if you don't listen to someone taking the time to give you feedback you're going to have a pretty under-developed life IMO... Maybe thats the engineer in me? I also feel looking at this sort of project you have to approach it from a neutral perspective - as if you get attached to it you're going to make a mistake (but thats true for many things). I know people going to vancouver (i'm on an island and have to take a ferry - 1h30m sail) tomorrow anyway, so Ill take a few hours out of my day, go see it and get a feel of whats going on / learn something. I do feel that the chances of this being a good situation between slim and none... but hey, panning for gold sometimes pans out... Basically only going to consider anything if the story of his other project eating up his time is correct (and its finishable) and i get this thing for 9k CAD (subtract 20% for canadian exchange rate) or less - like you guys were saying, this is heavily modified, who knows if its going to work, why is he selling it, etc. Gut the interior, turn it into a track car, get rid of the stupid body kit, put a classy gt3 clone kit.

Couple things: "I am looking for a project - but I dont want to do something that is a losing proposition." Not sure how you would quantify winning or losing. If purely financial, at 14K to get in I'd suggest definitely a loser. If under 10 and factoring driving/tracking pleasure, maybe a winner. "Technical: -I read that there is no issue converting egas to cable (I assume the throttle position sensor is independent) -I read that the DME on a "rest of world / US" "98/99" car is compatible with a 01 3.4 engine as there is no vario cam plus and the new fuel rail system did not appear until the 02 3.6" There is no issue converting egas to cable or vice versa. I have done both. You need to swap over engine wiring harness, throttle body/intake plenum, and an AOS hose. DME that is in the car should work fine. No real electrical/electronic changes between 98/99 to 01 less the throttle body. Otherwise, it's a gamble like you said. I think your target of 9K or less is reasonable. I'd lowball him (7500) and bring cash and a trailer. Walk when it doesn't make sense to you. You never mentioned how many miles on the chassis which plays a factor. I think your plan to make a track car is a good one. Body kit is unfortunate. Is this a project he picked up? Or he trying to repair his car which had an engine failure? I would ask him for all details regarding the drive by wire conversion. Likely this could be a factor in the idle. You could also check voltage to see if fuel pump is getting signal to pump when it should. Issue might have been caused in rollover. How many miles on replacement engine? Clutch slave sounds weird. This is a pretty easy task - he might be hiding something. Budget 3K for trans rebuild worst case scenario. I'd say go have a look. Personally I like looking and occasionally like rolling the dice. Don't get caught up in the heat of the moment and always go with your gut!

Woah, the rear had me fooled. I thought he left the 996 lights up front but converted the rears quarter panel and bumper to accomodate some 997 taillights from the sideview. The rearview shows he still has 996 style bumper so hmmm... He either modified the tips of the taillights/quarter panel or he just painted them a different angle. Sorta hard to tell from the grainy pics. Either way as others said, walk away. If it was easy, it would've already been sorted out by now considering all the effort that went into the body and such.

Most projects take about twice the money and at least twice the time that was allocated in the beginning. Very few come in under budget.

I'd walk unless you can get it for under $8k USD... even then I'd still walk. You're better off getting a non-molested roller with a good history.

That car was on Craigslist last year cheap! I'd pass.

If you are going to replace the motor where you'll require electrical changes (DME, cable vs egas, etc..) why not go up to a 3.6 if you want to stay Porsche or an LSx if not? As others have already said, you're more likely inheriting someone else's mess than a good deal. If it were me I would value it as a roller. You might get really lucky, or it might just be a roller which may or may not be more difficult to offload with that body kit. If you want a project, find a decent roller and an appropriate used motor.

I imagine your coming from Vancouver island. Any plans to look at either of these two? The second one sound interesting and s bit of a project http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/van/cto/5093885366.html http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/van/cto/4988784671.html

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Thanks for confirming everything! You are so right about the clutch! That is very odd. Totally! Engineering 101 haha... Great idea, I plan to go to the local indy shops and give them a sheet what im looking for if someone ever decides to part with their car. This is the scariest point for me... He never mentioned this... Great idea, the thing that scares me with a 3.6 is the DME 7.2 upgrade with the interior electronics... The LSx renegade hybrid kit is very cool. For sure! There also was a NSX "project" that I want to check out that never sold (he was asking in the low 20s). Yup! coming from the island. What do you think about the rebuilt car! scary how the belt tensioner isnt wired in! Imagine being in an accident full force into the bag! Summary: Thanks everyone for their great input. Awesome input on this... I think you've made me come to the decision to go against this car due to the many questions about this. Something doesn't smell right with this car and I may just be buying a rolling chassis... Learned a lot - the future plan will probably be to find an unmolested, low k rolling chassis or import one when the exchange rate improves...

I like the rebuilt one, someone's put a lot of money into it at one point. Only around 60k miles , He does say it's been inspected twice in prep for sale , so two ppi's and no sale? Would be nice to get hold of one of those

At $14k...RUN away from this. The risk reward is NOT worth it. A Porsche 996 and the costs involved for parts is not the type of vehicle to take on as a project unless you have a lot of Porsche experience. Porsches are awesome, but I think a Corvette might be a better project at this point in your life.

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Much better options IMO.

To seal the deal, he didn't respond in time for me to plan my trip over to Vancouver to see it. Thanks for the advice everyone, learned a lot from how you guys approached analysing this. Messages sent to the other 99 (the rebuilt one scares me w/t airbag deployment safety...) Cheers!

If you are looking for a project car - a car that always needs something fixed and will test your automotive skills, analytical abilities and your wallet - buy the nicest, mint condition 928 you can find. It will have at least 100 "needs" after your first week of driving it. If you are studying to be an Electrical Engineer, it will be an invaluable learning experience. You can have your class adopt it as a lab specimen. It will be fun watching the 928 reduce your EE professor into a heap of hysterical laughter and tears as he tries to explain why the application of 200 years of hard-earned electrical engineering technology STILL WON'T MAKE THE GODDAMN THING RUN RIGHT! You'll learn the magical, mystical qualities of Deoxit spray. Chicks will dig you. I say "Go for it."

that interior though

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Interest through your mechanic didn't pan out huh so now you want to try to unload it on some poor unsuspecting college student?

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Good luck on finding your project. Cost wise an unmolested roller and a 3700-5k 996 engine (better if you find one with the X51kit) and you do it yourself and you should be fine. The 996 in my opinion is coming back and being realized as a great Porsche.