VW engine

[socal1200r]

So it looks like I have to get my SC engine rebuilt. But I'm definitely not on board with some of the estimates I've been getting, which are $20K+, so I'm exploring some other options. The car only has 98K miles, and to me, it's ludicrous to spend that much money on an engine rebuild with this kind of mileage.

Will the 915 transmission bolt up to an air-cooled VW engine, and if so, which "type"? I don't track the car, it's only driven on dry sunny days, usually on the weekends, so I'm more concerned about getting it back on the road as inexpensively as I can. Replacing the 3.0 with a 2275cc GEX turnkey engine is something I'm exploring, but one of the main concerns I have is whether or not the 915 trans will bolt up to a VW engine.

Any helpful comments would be appreciated...

[Nditiz1]

As someone that moved from a vw engine in my 77, there is a lot involved. First off a 923 tranny was used. It is basically a 915 with different gearing, and a different clutch arm - push style. Then you have to get into the wiring as well as the special bracket to hold the engine and finally welded mounts to do so.

Dont do it. You are better off buying a used no history good numbers 3.0 and selling your eng as a core. You'll be out 7-8 depending on how much you can get for your core engine. Example - good leak down numbers engine 10500. Sell your dead engine for 6 as a core. You're out 4500 if you do the swap yourself. Add 1000 for anything you may want to do while trans it out, clutch, seals, etc.

[rwest]

I can’t speak to using a VW engine in a 911 as far as fit, but maybe give some more information on what is wrong with your engine, it might just needs heads done, which is much, much less money and will keep your cars value.

[Arne2]

Originally Posted by rwest

I can’t speak to using a VW engine in a 911 as far as fit, but maybe give some more information on what is wrong with your engine, it might just needs heads done, which is much, much less money and will keep your cars value.

Agreed. I can't see needing to split the case with only 98k. Rings, head bolts and a valve job most likely.

[faverymi]

Sell the SC

Buy a bug.

[Munky King]

High power VW engines are often described as grenades with the pins removed...

I’m not sure how much I buy into the description, but I would expect a much shorter life than your engine repaired and a VW engine is going to give you a lot more fitment hassle too.

[john walker's workshop]

Top end and steel studs, $7500ish. Shop around.

[socal1200r]

To say I was surprised at the cost estimates I've been getting to rebuild this engine would be a huge understatement. These parts must be gold-plated titanium and carbon fiber for chrissakes! The car's at this one shop that specializes in Porsches, and they did a compression test as a start. The driver's side cylinders are half of what the passenger side is reading, roughly 80 psi versus 170. So they told me head studs at a minimum, and possibly some cylinder barrels depending on how the mating surfaces are. In talking with the tech who worked on the car, he said some high-tech Gucci head studs could run $100 each, and there are 24 of them in total, so $2400 just for head studs! To me that's ridiculous, since I could get a complete head stud kit, with hardware, for under $500 right here at Pelican. 'Course there are other things that might have to be replaced, like piston rings, gaskets, seals, O-rings, timing chain, sprockets, etc. I'm getting an estimate from another shop, told them I absolutely do not need to have genuine Porsche parts, good aftermarket ones will do for me, to try and save a bunch of money in the process. I mean, good grief, isn't this engine basically just a vw engine with two more cylinders? Why in the world are they so expensive to rebuild?

[dannobee]

Because the labor to overhaul them is 60 hours. Back in the day I could overhaul a VW engine in about 6 hours, and I wasn't even fast at it.

Look at a parts diagram of a 911 engine and see if it looks the same as a VW engine.

Shop around, you can get the job done just as John said. And the aftermarket studs are better than the factory studs.

[adias]

Where are you located? It might be worth it to take the car to a specialist in another state where prices are reasonable...

[timmy2]

Ship the car to John Walker in Marysville WA. He won’t gouge you with SoCal pricing on “exotic“ cars....
He even listed his phone number for you.

[Reiver]

Nice looking 911...sell it or take the time to understand what is involved in a rebuild.

98k...I'd top end it only....

[Larmo63]

Pull the engine and fix it yourself. There are so many resources here and online in general + Wayne's book.

You only need a top end anyway, unless something catastrophic happened.

Grow a set and start wrenching.

[SCadaddle]

Find a reputable shop to fix your 911 engine. Otherwise, IF you are dead set on an engine conversion, find a beater Subaru SVX with the 3.3 flat 6 that makes 233 HP stock. You can probably find a complete SVX with a running engine and engine management computer components for less than $2,000. It's been done before. HOWEVER....if you are in California you might have emissions testing hurdles with such a swap. I'm with Timmy2----send it to John Walker.

[SCadaddle]

Originally Posted by socal1200r

To say I was surprised at the cost estimates I've been getting to rebuild this engine would be a huge understatement. These parts must be gold-plated titanium and carbon fiber for chrissakes! The car's at this one shop that specializes in Porsches, and they did a compression test as a start. The driver's side cylinders are half of what the passenger side is reading, roughly 80 psi versus 170. So they told me head studs at a minimum, and possibly some cylinder barrels depending on how the mating surfaces are. In talking with the tech who worked on the car, he said some high-tech Gucci head studs could run $100 each, and there are 24 of them in total, so $2400 just for head studs! To me that's ridiculous, since I could get a complete head stud kit, with hardware, for under $500 right here at Pelican. 'Course there are other things that might have to be replaced, like piston rings, gaskets, seals, O-rings, timing chain, sprockets, etc. I'm getting an estimate from another shop, told them I absolutely do not need to have genuine Porsche parts, good aftermarket ones will do for me, to try and save a bunch of money in the process. I mean, good grief, isn't this engine basically just a vw engine with two more cylinders? Why in the world are they so expensive to rebuild?

On the SC 3.0 engines, the only studs that break are the lower ones that are made of Dilivar. There are 12 of them. The upper studs are steel. They don't break. It can be as simple as replacing the lower 12 studs with the factory steel studs that are about what, $12 each? The upper 12 steel studs are more than likely fine. You don't remove and replace those. But you've got to tear the entire engine down to the crankcase to replace the studs. Now you are in to a "top end" build where you might as well at 98k check the valve guides (at least the exhaust valve guides) for wear and perform a valve job.

So you've got some homework to do around here. Use the "search" function and read all about the evil alloy known as "Dilivar" and while you're at it, search around for "Alusil" and find out how to determine if your pistons/cylinders are either "KS Alusil" or "Mahle Nikasil" before you take it all apart.

My friend the long time PCA member (more than 40 years) who has owned just about all of the production cars since the 60's once told me "Every model of Porsche ever built has it's own Achilles Heel"----and he's correct. With the SC's, the 3.2 Carreras and even the 964's it was the Dilivar head studs.

[Coastr]

You’ll devalue the car by more than the cost of a rebuild if you put a Vw engine in it. Don’t do it.

Either sell the car as is and take the loss or spend the money on a rebuild. Either way, the money is gone. It might still be in your bank account but you have a dead engine liability on the other side and it’s left your balance sheet.

Sucks but that is classic car life.

[timmy2]

You haven’t said why you took it in to a shop.
What was going on that made you take it in?
Low on power, excessive oil consumption, rattles and noises?
What year is your car?

[mb911]

I can tell you first hand that aside from being an horizontal opposed engine porsche 6's are nothing like a 4cyl vw engine.. I personally would just find a good running engine to put in. Mepstein always has some for sale in the classified section.. I would not do a swap on that car .. I would sell the car before doing a swap on a pre 99 911

[mepstein]

Here’s a strong running 3.0 with a recent top end. $11K. Sell your core engine for $6k and be back on the road for another 100k miles. It’s complete so the removal /install could be done in a weekend with no special tools.

Read the reviews for GEX engines. They've been known for years to be crap. You would need to change quite a few parts to make a four cylinder work in your car. Induction, ignition, clutch flywheel, pressure plate, engine mounting, etc.

[Dpmulvan]

Where do you live?? putting a vw motor in a perfectly good Porsche 911 is a really bad idea.
You will end up spending just as much time and money and own a car that nobody wants.
You will lose in every way.
Sell the car or fix it properly
its like buying an offshore racing boat and putting a trolling motor in it.