Ayone have a lead on a used 996 engine?

I may be needing one real soon. email would be best [email removed]

What happened? You cant let us wonder. Let us know Paul.

Car lost power all of sudden on the track. No signs of anything before that. Engine light came on, vibration through clutch pedal. Car running very rough (missing). Came straight into pits... engine idled fine but when revved up to 3k you can hear a thumping noise. Codes: P0300, 0301, 0302, 0304, 0305, 1531 and 1313 Had it flat bedded to a shop in Sterling. Car starts and runs, moved it in the pits to position for tow truck and then again in the shop parking lot to park it. Today the shop tech took it for a test drive and it died and won't restart about 1/2 mile from the shop. They don't know yet but think it needs a motor. May look at a 2nd opinion... would the dealer be better than an independent?

This to me sounds ignition or fuel related, vibrating (losing cylinders from misfires) and the fact the car idled fine until 3k. Fuel - weak fuel pump can support idle power but run out of steam once revved. Ignition- can support idle power but "flame out" under revs I get a buffeting or thumping sound through the cab if my car misses, probably the same experience. I believe it is the acoustics of the cab. I bet the engine is fine.

Ignition coil I would think, but the not starting part is kinda, not good.

They are probably guessing this because of the history of the 996. I would definitely get a second opinion.

Did you over-rev it somehow at the track?

absolutely zero chance of that.

Handle should have been a clue.............. I have to echo the missing coil on plug...... engine sounds GOD awful when that happens..........

Shop says it runs again but no oil pressure

I would have to be witness to the no oil pressure.

Here's a brand new turbo x50 for sale right here on RL......10K...pretty damn good deal. http://mall.rennlist.com/scripts/fea...uery=retrieval

Thats not a Turbo, its a NA X51 3.6L....wont work for his car.

Can't you replace a 3.4 ltr with a 3.6ltr as long as you have a new ECU for that motor? I'm sure that there will be other things that would have to be done, but what a nice up-grade that will be....

it's easier to flash the old ECU and control the variocam plus with an external controller. it IS possible, but the engine can't be the newer CAN bus version of the 3.6L.

As long as you're starting with egas on the 3.4 car, the wiring changes are not very involved. I did it in a few hours the first time around. I could probably do it in under an hour next time. Of course, there was a lot of prep work before making the changes to understand exactly what needed to be done.

Ther you go Paul, go for it....

You also have the e-gas vs non e-gas issues...this car is a non e-gas car, so it makes it tougher to use a newer e-gas engine....e-gas cars have less of a problem upgrading.

Correction over previous post...service manager was wrong. Car does not start any more or turn over. I tried myself. Tech said he heard the sound of what could have been a chain coming loose inside the engine and shut it down and had it towed back to the shop. It looks terminal at this point. Going to be looking at replacement engine options ranging to reman ones from porsche with a warranty to the other options as well. Just need to get a handle on how long this will take to fix and how much it will cost. Oh well.

I have a used 996 3.4 that I replaced that I'd make you a *good* deal on. It most likely has a broken exhaust valve spring and is waiting to be sent back to Sunset as a core on my new engine. If you have to replace yours, do NOT GO TO BRANDYWINE. Sunset's prices were the best and their customer service has been outstanding.

Ouch. Good luck on this. I would look into any and all options as well, but know the reman ones are BETTER than yours was new....its got all the updates...mine has been STELLAR for almost 75k miles and its as strong as the day they dropped it in.

+1 for Porsche Reman engine. 2 year warranty, and updates. Mine is around 14,000 miles and feels like new. However, there is a supposed rebuilt on ebay for 5500, but what and how... Beats me http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsc...spagenameZWDVW

viper, just out of curiosity, with it all said and done, and assuming the appropriate refund/rebate for the core exchange, what does a 3.4 non-egas engine run, out the door, from sunset?

Chain sound with no oil pressure, the intermediate shaft chain must of snapped or jumped off somehow.

Just read ad in latest issue of Suncoast Region PCA magazine. "2005 996 engine new and complete (320 hp) with full 2yr warranty, $9900. PM if you want phone number. I have no connection to this seller or ad (I don't know him). Just trying to help.

Scott, it was about 7800 plus shipping. The core charge was about 2300. Shipping across the country, literally, was just shy of 500. Install was really very straightforward. The great thing about the Porsche reman'd engine is the fact that it comes with *everything* except the a/c compressor. New fuel rails, new injectors, new intake plenum, new exhaust headers, new wiring harness, new sensors, new ... you name it. The only hiccups, and they weren't anything serious, was the slight change to the coolant connections and something else that is slipping my mind right now.

All right, since no one else is going to say it: I'm not surprised, I heard most of the 911 engines prematurely die. Is that true?!? Maybe someone could do a poll???

how many miles did you have on this motor Tippy?

C70pete, it is mine and had just turned 70K

It goes without saying.

damn Paul, Sorry to hear about this. Andy

I know I had my doubts but it sounds like it did actually let go. Sorry to hear. GL finding a new motor.

So here are some of my leading engine options so far... trying to stay away from ebay engines that came out of another car.... since it lacks updates and any science experiments with 3.6s or 3.8s as tempting as that may be. 1) Have a lead on a porsche reman 3.4l (nearly zero miles) that could be installed very quickly (has all the updates from porsche but won't have the warranty and the price reflects this). 7K installed 2) Have a lead on a 3.4 X51 spare engine from a race team, price to be worked on yet 3) Or a new reman 3.4l via Sunset for about $7800 plus shipping and whatever it costs to install. What do you guys think?

Oh, and thanks everyone for the encouragement, advice, well wishes and tips.

oooh, that x51 sounds very nice... it would go great with that aerokit!

Paul - sorry to hear about your engine troubles! Boy, those 3 choices make it tough. #1 with no warranty and, I am assuming, #2 would have no warranty? Are you ready to "self insure" again? # 3 gets you 2 years warranty. What is the cost of labor to install the engine? That will help determine the true cost for the #1 engine. X51 would be nice. I guess it depends if you are ready to "roll the dice" without a warranty. Tough decision! Good luck with your process of elimination.

#1 is updated but unwarranteed but installed very quickly and fairly cost effectively at 7K total. #2 will have no warranty as far as I can tell. This one is a long shot because I haven't even heard the full story on it yet other than it is there or how much they want for it, etc. It likely won't be even close to option 1 and probably more than option 3. Just guessing. #3 is the straight up way... would be about 2 weeks or so for delivery and I need to find someone to install... should cost about 500 to ship and another $1.5K to install. So all in it is $9800 or 10K vs 7K... hmmmmm

as long as #1 is guaranteed not DOA, i'd go that route and save the 3K for a rainy day. the motors w/ updated IM bearings are pretty solid.

So correction on the Sunset prices... everything just went up... $8300 for a 996 3.4L plus $2600 core charge that you get back when your old engine arrives back to them and about $600 for shipping.

+1 ... $7k installed is not bad at all, especially with an updated engine.

Personally, I'd struggle between options 1 and 3. 7k installed is a pretty good deal, assuming all the updates. Maybe you could negotiate at least a 30 day warranty period, that way you could at least ensure that its not a bum engine. If the seller wouldn't be willing to do just 30 days, I'd be worried. Good luck, and from a fellow 99 3.4 owner with over 70k miles, I wish you the best!

Option #2 I dont think is an option....I THINK I recall it being a European motor and something in the X51 heads does not work in US cars. It may indeed work for a race team, but make SURE it works in a street car without issues. I dont ever think the 3.4L X51 was ever offered in the US for this reason. A guy from Brandywine put up the prices for all the engines they can order, and the 3.4L X51 came up and he was bombarded with questions, when he researched it he actually said it wouldnt work...I think he also said if you buy one from Porsche to TRY, you wont get credit for a core if you dont send them a 3.4L X51....

That's what I thought as soon as I read the OP. Anybody heard of 997 or 2005 engine failures yet?

I was faced with a similar dilemma 8 months ago. However, the updated reman, with full 24 months factory warranty, and all other accessories being brand new, was hard to beat. Stefan

911m3: yep I have heard of 997 engine failures, but you won't really hear complaints until the cars are out of warranty and owners foot the bill themselves.

I'd be hesitant to believe anything that anyone from Brandywine Porsche said. Ever. Where is option number 1 coming from? How is it that it is updated but no warranty? That doesn't make sense. The parts warranty should travel with the part. I'd pass on option number 2. Not worth any increased money as it is not significantly more powerful, has a questionable past, is not warrantied, and won't increase the value or saleability of your car. In fact, most Porschephiles would pass on it because of this. Option number 3 is your best bet. I'm surprised that Sunset has gone up on the prices. I wonder if that is an effect of the Euro's strength? Installation really is not that complicated. Take your time and you can do it fairly quickly. The engines are designed for easy R&R. Two fuel lines, two electrical pigtails, a ground, a couple coolant lines and four or six bolts is about all it takes. An experienced tech should be able to do it in a day, easy.

Just learned about this from KJ's website thru Harold. Sorry to hear about this, Paul. Hope everything go fine. Try talking to Ivan or Chris from http://www.imamotorsport.com/main.htm if you have time. I visted there few weeks ago and the owners gave me a tour of their work. They do lots and lots of rebuilds for all kind of 911s. Whole shop is committed to Porsches only unlike Currys. Just my 2 cents.

Paul - I dont know if you have given TPC a call but they may be able to add addtional options to your choices. I was talking with tom the night we installed 9eleven's exhaust and he said they buy these remans a good amount (for their track cars and customers). Make sure you get a quote from him not just a gut opinion.... good luck my man..

Paul, Definitely sucks. I had my 3.4 go on me with oil/coolant intermix As others have said, #1/3 sound best. I was about to say #3 until I realized that #1 includes install and #3 is probably now going to be a not-insignificant amount over $10k.. The thing about #3 is that if you get a new, warrantied engine from Porsche, I doubt anything would happen to it in the first two years. What are the circumstances behind #1? Do a user search on PatriotHoo. He bought my old car, and at some point posted about how remanuf engines were built to different specs. If #1 is an "updated" engine, it might be worth it. If #3 is and #1 isn't, #3 starts looking interesting. Phew that was confusing Anyway, I really am sorry to hear about this. Your car is so pretty, and I hear you've made it into quite a beast. Good Luck, Justin

Thanks guys... I've been on the phone with lots of folks. Friends in the biz giving pointers, advice and contacts and then the places that do the work or have the engines. #2 ends up not being a x51 but just a regular 20K mile 3.4 which could be had for a real song... like $3500. #1 is actually a 3.4 Porsche reman with the correct reman sn# and I have just finished making arrangements to get my car shipped there and let them get going on it.

Paul - good luck in the install. I hope everything works out perfectly for you! Oh, yeah, don't forget to post a pic of the new engine! (sorry, I couldn't resist the "pic thing!")