What's an early 996 with a bad motor worth?
 

There was one a few weeks back in the classifieds, and that got the wheels turning in my head. Seems that there are more than one of these floating around out there. Used motor 5-10k, IMS upgrade, new clutch, a weekend or two of work, and I am off to the races.
My name is Fred, and I am addicted to projects.

How desperate is the seller to get rid of the roller?

Well all I can say is if the motor in the Boxster let loose, I'd be singing like a spring time bird with an offer of better than 4K. Likely the answer is part it out.

So, for the 996, if the seller doesn't see the parting out as a solution, the car is worth what can be sold off in a day. Front end bodywork, trans and wheels.

I think there is more wrong with a 996 than the IMS. I readily pass any stock 1st gen 996 with my 993 on the track (even on the straights). You'd have to modify it and start throwing good money after bad. I have seen nice supercharger kits for the 996. :D

G

What's it worth? Not a lot... Broken cars are always cheap.

What about a V8 conversion from Rebel? Somehow it seems OK to do this to a water cooled 911. ;)

Send to Las Vegas and Renegade Hybrids.

Sounds like a driver problem, the 996 is faster than a 993 in most every way. I've owned four, people that say they aren't good cars simply don't know what they are talking about.

You can get a good driver 996 for $20k, so back the dollars up from there. 20 good car - 6 good used motor - 2 IMS upgrade and misc = 12k. Personally I'd say $10k, and have seen 996s that need work in that range.

You would probably want more than $2k in savings if you are buying it with a broken engine. I'd pay no more than $5K and then go from there with a good engine and upgrades to make the total vehicle cost $15-17.

there are a lot of little things that factor into a project like this, pus time and labor, I am thinking $5-$7.5 tops. after all there are a lot of good running 996s with higher miles selling for a lot less then $20K.

You could drop in a LSx GM motor and end up spending less than a used 996 motor. Lighter, more reliable, way more power.

But when they sell broken, they're typically $5-10K

I was thinking of doing it right as a keeper type car, not for a profit. The upside of having the engine out is that you could knock out some of the common stuff like the air/oil separator, change the clutch, etc.

Straight up. Go ahead...talk a walk on the wild side! :D

angela

I started to type, "But you have to fabricate locations for radiators, run coolant lines" And then I remembered...

I've seen a few 996's turned into track beasts - they respond to weight reduction, etc. much like my 993 and there is lots of aftermarket stuff available.

A stripped 996 on the track is a very capable weapon that will outperform many people's abilities easily.

A stripped 996 on the track with a 400HP LS7 in the back of it... outright terror.

I'm surprised I haven't seen more of this happening... unlike putting an LS engine in a 930, where you gotta figure out the watercooling system... it's already there on the 996.

Oh I wasn't talking about fixing a car up for profit either...even though you aren't doing something for profit it still has to make economic sense...to me it wouldn't make any sense to buy a 996 that needs an engine only to save a potential $2,000 when I could get one for $2,000 more that possibly won't need an IMS.

a member here bough a high mileage, solid running one for around $10K, so I'm thinking $5K.. direction..


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/599113-996-ls-v8-conversion.html

So, where does one look for a good high-mileage 996 these days?

In CA where probably most early 996 were sold in the world.

I can find a hand ful from dealers for under $17k in LA. Amazing. I have been predicting that the 996 will hit 928 price territory - another 5 years and these will be there.

With those type of used prices, it is almost not cost effective to buy a broken one. Just buy a good used one and drive it.

G

Please dont put a chev into a Porsche. :(

i wouldnt have any qualms doing it to a 996.