Cobb AccessPort for 2.7 to 3.4 engine swap
 

I'm looking for input on a potential engine swap to turn my 981 base into an S. I found a dismantler that will sell me a similar mileage 3.4L engine and give me a $3k core refund if I bring them my 2.7L engine. So far as I know, the only other additional thing I would need is a tune for the 3.4L to be put onto my existing DME.

So what tune? It appears that the Cobb AP OTS tunes do NOT include the seemingly trivial upgrade to the GTS or 991 3.4 tune, while Softronic does include that for the same price. In addition, Softronic will give me the engine swap tune (change the 2.7 to 3.4) with the 991 upgrade, all for the same price as the AP. But... I do want that Cobb PDK tune as well. So I could potentially get a pro-tune on the AP to get the 991 power while also getting the PDK tune, but that requires a tuner who can change the displacement, which is at least a 7 hour drive for me.

So the basic question is this: can anyone recommend a Cobb Porsche tuner who can get me a remote tune that puts the base 991 maps and 3.4 displacement change onto my DME? Since it is just the base maps, it would seem possible and safe with no dyno time (not a real pro-tune), and it should get the car running with the 3.4.

As an aside, I have considered just selling the car and upgrading to an S. However, the engine swap is only about $6k for me, whereas upgrading to an equivalent S would cost me $8-10k (including tax and registration)... if I could find another one with acceptable options. Also, while in the old days of the 987, the S had several upgrades over the base (all 4 calipers, gearbox, radiators), that is no longer true. With the 981, the S only gets the bigger engine, bigger front brake rotors, and some aesthetic changes. So I'm looking into just doing an engine swap.

!!! This Frankenstein stuff can be done? Definitely gonna watch this thread... I picked up my first Porsche as a '13 Base, and I love it, I really do, but I did tune it, cuz I would love it a bit faster... and I eye S options often, and have realized as you that its' 10K+ to "Swap" (and the different just does not seem worth that), but ... Of course I wonder, if at that point you have a devalued car for resale though... hmmm...

I think the big question is whether you can DIY the engine swap on a modern Porsche with all of the integrated electronics, especially on a PDK car, and whether the extra depreciation (compared to a S) and time spent (probably many, many hours) are worth it. Fabspeed can do remote tuning for Cobb.

I've done my homework here, and I'm pretty sure this is as close to a plug-n-play swap as you can get. Certainly it would be easier than any previous swap I've done. Nearly everything is identical on the 2.7 vs the 3.4: injectors, wiring harness, intake, headers, PDK, etc. are all the same part numbers. So far as I've been told, there are no changes to the electronics except for the software in the DME itself. I don't think it could possibly be an easier conversion.

But it still might not be worth the cost + the 4-5 days to swap. Anyway, I should've known better than to get a base... I live at 6800' and we're down almost 20% on torque up here. It was a stupid move, and I'm going to pay for it one way or another :)

Thanks for the replies and suggestion about Fabspeed.

Why don't you call John T at BGB?

For a remote tune? I thought BGB uses Softronic tunes?

If I were going to upgrade the engine at all, I think I'd go straight to 3.8.

OTOH $6K sounds like a pretty good deal, to put it mildly.

Just about positive John or Jan (RMW, John's original tuner) can. He also has tons of experience with your swap.

Sounds like you've done your homework. If you end up doing this it would be great to post a few pics and the results of your work.