davidpg

Well, my 996 ownership experience since last fall and has taken a turn for the worse. Looks like the oil pump has let go and I've got to decide what to do with it.

It's still my dream car and I do love it, so seeing what my options are besides a new/replacement 3.4. I have contacts that heve a 2.7 Boxster motor that ran perfectly before it was pulled, and I can get it at a tiny fraction of what a 3.4 will cost me. If I can make a modern version of a 912 I might be willing.

I've searched these forums and the net generally, and can't get a definitive answer on what the swap truly entails besides using my manifolds and tapping for the exhaust. DME possibly an issue though not confirmed. Any of you guys have first hand experience or knowledge in doing this swap? I'm not concerned abour resale, I'd like to drive this car for the next decade if I could.

Thanks in advance for any help ou can offer This is the poor beast:

frederik

Well, the advantage of the 912 was that it was lighter. I don't think the 2.7 motor is much lighter than the 3.4, right, so keep that in mind. Great looking car btw, sorry to hear about your engine troubles.

Sam-Son

Apparently the stock DME will account for a 10% change in displacement. It should be a very straightforward swap.

The real question is... why?

Why bother. Spend the extra bucks and get a 3.4

a 2.7 in a 911 would be pretty gutless.

Then again I've always reviled 912s

davidpg

The 2.7 is indeed 75hp less, though the job cost will be 3 -4X less that a decent 3.4.

I do zero track and will not be doing any in the future either. I need more of a highway cruiser and this thing with a 2.7 would do the job. The rest of the car is solid all around, including the still buttery transmission...I'd prefer to not sell it as a roller, and have a driveable vehicle.

Porschetech3

Pull the oil pump and crankshaft from the 2.7 and fix the 3.4. They are the same stroke and will fit.

You could also take the 2.7 with some 101mm Nickies and have a 3.8 with all the 3.4 intake, heads, and exhaust..

Putting a 2.7 in a 996 for long term use is kinda sad..

damage98MO

Man that really sucks. I should stay off RL, it makes me paranoid. Do you know _why_ your oil pump failed? Were there any signs? Maybe your engine is salvageable?

Now I 'm doomscrolling Oil pump failures and issues.
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...with-pics.html
Maybe this upgrade will help me avoid the same thing... https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...p-upgrade.html
I was planning on having my indy refresh my Cooling system in the next little while, new hoses and water pump and thermostat and various other bits. Maybe while he is in there I should ask him to do an oil change and upgrade / refresh my oil pump spring piston and bolt. Well, while he's in there doing all those things, maybe I'll just get the entire oil system renewed as well. My car has 96K miles and was bought with no svc history, so...

Optionman1

Paranoia and 996 ownership really aren't a good match.

neilll

I have a 3.2 in my 996 which is probably as close as you’ll find. You have to drill and tap for the intake manifold; exhaust should bolt up(see below for clarification). I’ve never flashed my ecu but am going to this fall. ECU Doctors have told me they could put a 3.2 stage 1 flash on my 996 ecu.

At least when I did my swap 3.2 engines weren’t much more in cost than 2.7 engines but both were way less than 3.4 engines.

Honestly as long as the engine matches the right dme it’s pretty plug and play. The 3.2 is certainly still pretty responsive(especially since the intake manifold and exhaust from the 3.4 should theoretically allow it to breathe better). I do Think the 2.7 could be a little pokey but honestly it’ll probably still be fun; you can drive it that much harder!

neilll

I take one thing back; you have to drill and tap for the exhaust muffler hanger. The manifolds bolt up but the hanger bolts need to be drilled/tapped.

SealG996

Whlie you are correct in my opinion especially re Nickies. Australia is such a heavily policed place, one of our leading air coolled 911 writers the late Jeff Carter gave up on Porsche due to the harassment.If activites were street only he'd struggle to use the 2.7 here, and it was a major air cooled (lower powered) displacement. You'd need club activities to enjoy a 3.4 or Nickies upgrade here, with low speed limits, mobile speed cameras etc. So most gear heads survive off club booked track activities etc. down under.

Mike Murphy

You’re better off just buying a Boxster and selling your 911 as a roller. The original 2.7 is anemic as it is, but in an original Boxster, can still be at least a little fun. In a 911, though, I agree, that’s going to be pretty sad. At a minimum, a 3.2 Boxster S motor might work, but again, the hassle and conversion is not worth it. Sell the 911 and buy a Boxster is easy. At least here in the U.S. where cars are plentiful. You might not be in that situation.

ZuffenZeus

The earlier 2.7L engines in the 986 Boxster really underperformed by 911 standards and I wouldn't suggest transplanting that engine into the car.

A 2.7L in a 911 is like a little wiener on a body builder. Something aint right with that picture.

Icelia

If you do go this route, I would be interested in buying the 3.4, as I have a high mileage 3.4 that I would like to rebuild, but don't want to stop driving the car while I do so.

That said, I don't think putting a 2.7 into a 996 is the right path. Better to find a 3.2 and then flash the ECM with a hotter tune... that will get you close to the 3.4 drive feel. I think there just isn't enough displacement in the 2.7

Still, its your car, and bystanders can't judge.

neilll

The last 10,000 miles in my car tells it isn’t a situation of “might”; it definitely does work.

I would say hassle/conversion is not much to get worked up about. Either way an engine is coming out and going back in; when I bought my 3.2 it cost $3,000 and had a somewhat recent LN IMS bearing replacement put in. The cheapest 3.4 I could find then was $8,000. In a quick look at the market it looks like the respective numbers are probably more like $4,500 and $10,000. Everyone gauges value differently; I always thought I would swap in a 3.4 but quite honestly; my car runs well enough and is quick enough that I’ve never really felt that strongly about it. So if you can drill and tap maybe 15ish holes and save $5,000; maybe it makes sense to some people.

TexSquirrel

The 2.7 is one of the best M96 engines reliability wise.
It's what I would prefer in a 986 Boxster.
But in a second 996(My first one's getting a 4.0) I might consider a 3.2, but wouldn't go with a 2.7 unless that was all I could find and a rebuild of the original 3.4/3.6 was impossible.
The 3.2 would still be quicker than most NA aircooled 911s, so it would still be very enjoyable to drive.
If the decision comes down to 2.7 or roller, I'd go 2.7 knowing it would resell as a "running roller" somewhere down the line.

3.6L 320 hp
3.4L 300 hp
3.2L 247 hp
2.7L 222 hp

1995-1998 911(993) 272 hp
1989-1994 911(964) 3.6L 247hp
1974-1989 911 3.2L 217 hp
1965-1973 911 2L 130hp

Granted the aircooled are lighter, but their overall performance is lower.
I'd still like one because I think they would still be fun to drive even after driving my 996.