Help With 996 Engine Removal Please!!!

bxtech · 05-21-2009, 03:35 PM

Hello all,

Wondering if some of you more experienced 996 people can help me out? I am removing the engine and transmission from a 996. I got everything disconnected and I am ready to "drop" both of them. Questions I have:

- I have the factory shop manual and it tells me to use a special support fixture that adapts to a regular floor jack to support/lower the engine and trans. Do I really need this special fixture? I was planning to use a rubber pad and/or a block of wood (in between the gap under the bell housing) on top of my floor jack to lower them. Will this be okay? What have others done? I would imagine that not everyone uses the special PORSCHE support fixture!

- Would I be able to "drop" the engine and trans unit like on the late 80's and earlier 911's?? I have removed and installed several of those in my years of playing with Porsches. I have a rubber pad that goes on top of my floor jack pad and I jack the engine/trans unit up right under the sump cover of the engine. Everything "balances" on the jack fairly well and is fairly easy to install this way. Where should I put the jack pad on the 996 engine so that everything will "balance"? I don't feel too good about jacking up on the oil sump cover.

If anyone can please share their personal experience and/or advice............I would really appreciate it!

Thanks in advance!!

jwetering · jwetering's Garage

Haven't done this, but I did a partial drop last year in order to install a coolant bottle. Seemed pretty similar to the old aircooled setup when I looked at it. I do know that the water jackets run under the motor near the bumper end. Stay away from those, I saw a post where some guy tried to jack the car and they looked pretty thin after he broke them.

I am interested also if anyone has direct experience....there's a thread happening on Rennlist now that I think about it where a member dropped the motor using a motorcycle jack. He'll have some good info for you.

Why are you dropping the motor?

bxtech · 05-22-2009, 03:06 PM

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I kinda figured about the water jacket in the rear. There's actually a drain plug right there in which I used to drain the coolant.

Looking on other forums and online, it looks like people use a motorcycle/ATV jack under the engine and a regular floor jack to support the trans. There are also some pics posted and it looks like that setup works out quite well!

I've located an ATV jack to borrow and will be picking it up tomorrow! Then, down comes the engine! Wish me luck!!

bxtech · 05-22-2009, 03:15 PM

BTW, any other personal experiences and/or tips on this subject would be greatly appreciated! It's interesting to see how others find unique ways to do certain jobs and make them easier! The forum is a great place to learn!

Porsche84 · Porsche84's Garage

I've done a bunch of GT3 Cup engine drops at the track. We used two jacks. The tough part is moving the engine out from under the car (if you don't have a lift). The unit is quite tall sitting on the jacks so do some measurements and get the rear bumper up high enough. At that hight, the floor jacks are barely tall enough to reach the engine and trans. As far as removing things, you need to remove the pan covers and get access to the front (trans) motor mount bracket. I've removed it by unbolting the two 8 mm (12mm deep socket) nuts, but you should loosen the other bolts on the tranny mount, but don't need to remove that bracket. This will make it easier to line up when re-installing. You may need to drop the unit a bit to get to the clutch slave cyl and the throttle cable. Remove the started (disconnect the battery first). If you are working on the tranny, draining the oil under the car is easier than on the bench.