3.6 crate motor kit or rebuild the 3.2?

[Joe Bob]

3.6....no other option....

[Rob Channell]

Originally posted by anthony
What's the ballpark price on a 3.6L "crate" motor?

$7850-9950 from Timmins' website.

http://www.instant-g.com/Products/EnginesForSale/index.html

These were prices for motors he had available in 2003. The best thing would be to contact him to see what he had available now and for how much. Post your results back here if you do. I'm kinda curious as I'd like to do this at some point in the future.

[nostatic]

the one thing not yet mentioned is that if you build out your 3.2, you have a "known quantity". Should be good for 100K+ unless you build something really nuts. If you buy a crate 3.6, you really don't know the condition of the valve guides, etc. Could go 60K miles. Or not.

[rdane]

The engines Timmins currently has..as of last week any way were all in the "40K mile range". The crated numbers he has listed are correct and up to date.

The "old" and "new" engine is a concern voiced by the full time guys I have talked to about installing one of the crate engines.

[Rob Channell]

Originally posted by rdane

The "old" and "new" engine is a concern voiced by the full time guys I have talked to about installing one of the crate engines.

If it lasts forever then you never have a good excuse to add the turbo.....

[Shuie]

The 'known quantity' factor is legitimate. Most of the 3.6 conversions I have seen documented here have turned out well. Maybe a little over budget, but they still have worked out well overall. I remember a few that have been nightmarish (full rebuilds needed after the swap) and I'll do my best to learn from those experiences and avoid a similar situation.

Mileage, maintenance, and oil changes can be documented. The thing that worries me the most is getting a motor that has been overreved. I don’t know how you document that. Maybe broken rockers or valve springs on the intial inspection?

Granted that Dr. Timmins doesn’t know what happened to a motor before he owned it, but at least he has a reputation as an honest person and his crate motors have been run and checked out before they come out of his cars. Im a big fan of the 'buy the seller' theory when it comes to stuff like this and Timmins has a great rep and a lot of satisfied customers.

I’ve read that LA Porsche offers a 6 month warranty on their motors. I’ve read old threads where people have used them and been happy with the service. This is nice.

Of course, a documented motor like Craig's or the freshly rebuilt '97 v-ram from a reputable shop like the one on the for sale forum would be ideal.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Sherman, why not build your 3.2 up with a turbo kit?

Anyone know the cost/hp/weight/difficulty differential versus going 3.6? or against a factory 3.3 turbo?

My 3.2 will need a rebuild/sway someday, I'm still amazed it runs as hard as it does with 238K on it, but it's days have to be numbered.

[Shuie]

Nothing against turbos, but thats not an option for me. Going turbo on the 3.2 would involve a piston change and a lot more sorting than building my 3.2 MFI dream motor. Id also need to change the rear of my car (tail,flares) to run a turbo. The 3.6 is almost plug and play in my car.

[3.6 911]

Steve Timmins is a great guy and you can't go wrong with his conversion kits. They are complete and he will stand behind the whole conversion with tech support.
I did my through him and was not unhappy.

[Joe Bob]

I have one in mine....he's a little slow once he has your depeosit...but he supposedly runs the converted motor in HIS car to sort out details...so THAT could be the lagtime.

He does NOT supply a smog legal motor for CA. It is up to YOU to get the exhaust system that is needed.

[Shuie]

Z, did you use a 993 or a 964 motor? I know you have a G50, but I don’t remember the details of your swap. Maybe it’s new, but I saw on his site that he can deliver an exhaust with the crate motors (the 993 motor having more limited exhaust choices). I don’t have to deal with the emission tests here since my car was built before '80.

[Joe Bob]

It's in an SC and it has a 915....been two years now since the install....

[Jcon]

I started out looking for a 3.2 foir my SC to modify and rebuild. In the end I bought a 3.6 and it's a blast. The car now feels the way I always thought it should. Do your research first though. Things like exhaust really add up quick as do the multiple oil coolers. One fender unit will not cut it.


Jeff

[randywebb]

One tidbit -- Steve Timmins is a professor (at U. Del. I think) with joint appointments. So he isn't doing this as his sole source of income, perhaps as a labor of love. On the downside, if gets busy with research, that could mean a delay if he doesn't have others working with or for him. Myunderstanding is that he has the conversion all figured out and it is about as turnkey as it can be. If I lived near TRE or another shop that had done it before, I might just go thru them. At minimum, I'd talk to them and ask if they wanted to do part or all of the "Timmons kit" install, etc.

[Shuie]

The biggest challenge I have with these cars in general is that there is no TRE, Supertec, or Rennsport type of shop within a days drive from here. If I lived within 1000 miles of Timmins, TRE, Rennsport, or Henry's shop I would bring the car to them and stop bugging you guys. There are three local mechanics outside of the dealership here that I would trust with an oil change, other than that, my only hope is DIY and this board.

[wheatdog]

Sherman,
I've been following your posts and have done a lot of the same research. Emailed Dr Timmons who said doing the 993 install yourself isn't bad and he supplies all templates for tin mods and all the tech support you will need. I'm looking more towards a low mileage v ram from Cal porsche recyclers and doing my own install with Dr. Steve's kit. I'd like to have the chips upgraded though and I don't know if they're plug and play or need to be dyno tuned. If it takes dyno time, I'm screwed cause I haven't found one around our area. Plenty of dirt track floggers but no Porsche techs. The Louisiana Porsche dyno famine!! One way or another, it's gonna be 993 time this year. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Mike (Soon to be penniless)
'86 Carrera Targa

[Shuie]

Mike, wheatdog, just sent you a PM