How to recoup most money/parts out of a damaged 3.4 engine?
 

Hello all, I'm new here, lurked in the 944 forums sometimes. Now have a 996 with a bad engine.

I'm just about ready to drop the 3.4 engine from my 996. Id really like to just get a 3.2 engine from a same year Boxster S and raise it in and have myself a nice 996 that's down a handful of horsepower. So getting just a few bucks for whatever I can from the 3.4 would be nice.

The engine had serious oil/coolant mix in the pan and couldnt be turned by hand. there were metal chunks in the oil housing filter, milkshake in one exhaust manifold and coolant in the other. What I'm not sure of, is if I should dismantle it and sell the parts, sell it whole as is, or take it apart to figure out everything that is wrong with hopes that things aren't as bad as they seem or even if the block/heads are cracked they may still be worth something to someone)? Also, what's the best way to sell forums, eBay, or Craigslist?

Do the accessories and parts like (intake manifold, throttle body, power steering pump, maybe flywheel) sell for much money?
Would a known bad engine be worth anything to any one if I haven't disassembled it to know exactly what's wrong?

I think I'd probably enjoy tearing the engine down but I want to get out on the road sooner rather than later. So anyone have input on what to do to recoup some money out of the engine?

Thanks!

From what I've seen your entire engine core is probably worth $2.5K or less. Many people won't touch it because it may be seized, but you may get that money. It's pretty much done. Running ones get $6500-$9K so I guess $2k for yours when it needs pulling apart wouldn't be bad. My advice : Sell it all at once, don't part it. Parting takes valuable time. Very valuable time.

However I think it's awesome what you are doing. You should start a thread in the 911 Technical section on the engine swap. I would be interested to see this and what your ideas are as there are a lot of 996s that need engines and in the future probably a lot of people are going to do what you are doing.

Hey Sal, thanks for the input. I will start a thread soon with my plan and hopefully documenting any quirks that come up.

I wouldn't down grade the motor, those are fairly heavy cars. Get a newer 996 motor and make sure the essentials are covered (i.e. IMS/RMS).....

MattR

Matts right. Unless you have or have a lead on a more inexpensive Boxster engine, they cost pretty much the same.

you will have to remove /replace to many parts for a Boxter engine into a 996.

replacement engines are cheap and easy to replace in a 996 now . . will have to know if you are fly by wire or old school gas pedal cable type..

good luck and 996 is a super easy/cheap car to work on ..

The 3.2 engines with some sort of "it runs" warranty tend to start at $3000-3500 and 996 engines start closer to the $6000 range.

Id rather not get dragged down in the debate about what is acceptable power to weight. Im just hoping for helpful feedback on what to do with the block once it's out.

it all junk... the crank and case is ruined with the IMS . piston cylinders is junk
valve covers and cylinder heads are machined matched sets so cannot sell those either.
FI system is universal . perhaps a few hundred bucks maybe?

might has well get the 2.5 boxter engine.. win the award for making the lamest 996 around ..lol

They're pretty much plug and play from my understanding as long as your motronic version matches up. If your motronic is off, then yeah, it won't work easily. Boxster guys have been doing it in reverse for years and I've heard of one other 911 owner doing it and describing it as a "straight swap".

Any input on what to do with the shot block?

See, some of that was helpful.

I have pondered doing a 2.7 swap and getting 912 badges made. I don't take myself, cars, or what other people think nearly seriously enough to care that other people think my 996 is lame.

912 is a 4 banger...lol

Less of a literal thing and more of a spiritual successor...

Really, at the end of the day, it's a 40hp loss if I remember correctly. This could probably be made up with some fancy intake/exhaust work or even flashing it.

I haven't gone there, but I think it's around 250HP vs 295HP or something along those lines - so no the 996ster won't be lame. What's lame is my '75S that puts out 165hp. So yours will have at least 85 more than mine starting with a stock Boxster engine, which ain't too bad if you ask me.

Park it in a bad neighborhood for a couple days and then claim insurance.

In all seriousness the engine is worthless and many places selling re placements will require it as a core.