2001 3.2 blown; 2.9 swap? V8 swap?

[headdead]

It looks like my 2001 986s 6speed 94,000 miles has blown its engine. On starting in my driveway it had an extremely rough idle, flashing CEL, engine codes:
P0300 random cyl misfire detected
P0301 cyl 1 misfired
P0304 cyl 4 misfired
P0507 idle control rpm high
P0442 evap control system leak (small)
P1341 manufacturer cntl ignition system or misfire
I pulled the plugs to inspect the intake/exhaust cam relationship, but I can't even turn the crank with a 24mm wrench on the crank bolt.
I'm assuming an IMS failure w/ associated piston/valve contact. I'm thinking total loss.

I am not crazy about installing a used 3.2, even w/ a new IMS bearing, so I am looking to replace it with either
1) 2.9 engine from a 2010 Cayman. More power, no IMS issues. I can get an ECU and wiring harness with the engine, but I can't find answers about:
- clutch compatibility w/ my existing 6speed
- immobilizer/key cylinder compatibility
- exhaust issues
- instrument cluster compatibility.
2) Renegade Hybrids offers the parts for a Chevy LS3 V8 install. Has anybody found a link to an actual install?

Any experience with either of these installs?

[J2Hanson]

I don't have direct experience with swapping in other engines but I have read enough to determine that going outside the "engine family" can be more difficult. Not impossible but expensive and time consuming. It has to do with the interface with the engine computer and other systems in the car. I've read that swapping in the donor car instrument cluster is the way to go. Admittedly a late model Boxster/Cayman engine would be great swap. I've followed this subject in case of need but our 99 Boxster still runs well without any issues.

[recycled sixtie]

This is just my bias but I have been following the attempted sale of a Monster Miata - Miata with a v8 that is and it does not seem to sell. I think that if you put an extreme engine in it, then it costs big $$$ and then you come to sell it you need to get big $$$ out of it and it is a tough sell to a limited market. Just my .05 cents....

A larger Porsche engine I can relate to.

[BYprodriver]

There is a 2001 Boxster rebuilt 3.6 engine available at the top of this page under Feb. classified. 300HP 273ft.lbs of torque. Simple R&R with no modification required.

[headdead]

Thanks for the link, but I don't want another IMS engine. I am not trying to start a flame war, but I will never again be completely comfortable with any IMS shaft engine.

Can anyone share any experience swapping in the new 2.9 engine?
Renegade Hybrids still has not posted any links with details of their LS3 V8 install in a Boxster, so if anyone has done it please post your experience.

[BYprodriver]

[QUOTE=headdead;7349478]Thanks for the link, but I don't want another IMS engine. I am not trying to start a flame war, but I will never again be completely comfortable with any IMS shaft engine.

2001 is the 1st year with the single row IMSB. LNengineering.com upgrades the IMS with a triple row ceramic IMSB which will outlast the car & engine. That's what I install in all my engines.

[mikefocke]

It is always a matter of cost versus benefit.

Unfortunately your engine seems too old for you to benefit from the class action settlement coming from Porsche.

The original IMS you had had a ~1% chance per vehicle year of failing. The LN bearing seems to be ~10 times better. Those are the lower cost solutions and you pay about $1k more to get the 10x.

A Raby engine with "The Solution" eliminates the ball bearing IMS entirely and force lubes the bearing similar to the one on the other end of the IMS shaft, one I've never heard to fail. But it is super expensive (somewhat offset by the many improved parts elsewhere in the engine).

Or you can be the first I've heard of to try an IMS-less engine swap including all the physical issues, ECU issues (different intake, exhaust), wiring issues, etc. And who knows what issues that engine will have after we've known it for a dozen years.

Good luck.

[The Radium King]

here you go:

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/boxster-and-boxster-s-986-forum/620465-09-400-hp-dfi-carrera-s-engine-swap-into-986-a.html

or how about here:

400 plus HP in 986 - 09 Carrera S DFI engine

first things that come up when i google 'dfi 986 conversion'; fancy that. harry is, from what i can tell, only one to put a dfi engine in an m9x car to-date. you would have to really hate ims bearings to go through what he did.

from what i know the renegade kit is not out yet. precision chassis works is doing a subi boxer converion also.

[headdead]

Thanks for the link, Radium King. It's pretty obvious why there are so few posts on this swap. What am amazing saga Harryrcb has undertaken.
It remains to be seen if the Renegade Hybrids V8 install is any less problematic - lots of talk but not much documentation that I can find. In a car this old, my smartest move is probably a used 3.2 or 3.4 with updated IMS.
Thanks all for the advice.

[The Radium King]

i think the path to success is less arduous than harrys if you want to do a dfi engine. first, he started with a 997.2 motor so he had to revise motor mounts; if you used a 987.2 motor i don't think you would have that issue. further, he had to adapt his old transmission to the new motor; i think things might be simpler if you used a 987.2 tranny for the conversion. the big ? is the ecu. i *think* that all the things the ecu talks to outside of the engine (hvac controller, abs controller, gauge cluster, etc.) speak a pretty generic language, so it might be a matter of ecu and engine harness swap, adaptor cables to speak to the rest of the car and perhaps change a few select components. otherwise, AC compressor is the same, presume PS pump is the same, dunno about fuel system but assume different given dfi. finally, i think you could avoid cutting the hole for the oil filter by using an lne adaptor, sandwich plate and remote filter.

[The Radium King]

regarding the renegade hybrid 996 conversion, he pulls all the accessories of the front of the engine to make room and uses an electric water pump and electric PS pump. he uses and adaptor plate for the oem transmission and mentions that he has the electronics sorted out but doesn't list the materials on his price sheet.

a 986 conversion should be just the same, so uncertain why he hasn't come to market yet. i *assume* that it is related to the mid-engine configuration (the only real difference between the 986 and 996) and either (a) it doesn't fit well, or (b) he's having cooling problems.