Paul 996

For me the 3.6 cost about the same $ as going the 3.4

The tradeoff was a low mileage 3.6 w/ 9K miles and only a 6mth warranty vs a 3.4 crate w/ 2years.

Car had to be transported to a shop in Altanta that has done these swaps before and lived there for about 3 months all said and done. (it shouldn't take that long normally but the shop moved to a bigger location in the middle).

trackjunky

This is an oft-asked question. Search is your friend on this, but beware, not everything is factual. The safe assumption is that where possible, Porsche has made some changes to improve the longevity of the 3.4l motor, but the basic design remains the same.

Autofarm's site show's their fixes to the IMS and I'm certain Porsche has something similar. Just my 2 cents.

cdaniels

I predict the 3.4 crate motor will be better than new...When Porsche rebuilds an engine I hear they go to extra effort to be sure all is ok.....my 2 cents....For the record my 3.4 engine with 56,000 miles has had zero problems.....and I run the ______ out of it.....day in...day out!

phaphaphooey

There was a thread on Renntech recently about a guy attempting to drop a 3.6 in his 3.4 car and he had nightmare after nightmare in attempting to make it function. As others have said, it can be a fair amount of work.

Paul 996

Yeah I remember that one... I tried to strike up a dialogue with that user since I had a shop doing my conversion at the same exact time. Funny thing is the guy would never divulge who was doing the work.. In the end I concluded based on his super detailed "how do I" questions that it was a botched DIY attempt.

Doug Donsbach

Had to have been something like that. It is really straightforward to drop a 3.6 into an e-gas 3.4 chassis.

boxhead

From the looks of the crinkle deformation, it looks as though the tube (and I'm surprised at the thin wall) was "crushed" --like stepping on a coke can standing straight up.

Also, the stud at end of the IMS did not shear.

Curious if the IMS bearing gave out, resulting in excessive play in the IMS, which would bend and deflect many times, eventually fatiguing in the middle and then crinkling??

Lastly, from http://www.autofarm.co.uk/engines/wa...led/shaft_tech
I gather that since 02 there have been improvements to IMS, does that seem to be the case? (Autofarm never addresses what fails and causes the catastrophic engine failure)

cdodkin

You need to read this Autofarm (Total 911) article which covers the IMS issue in more detail:

http://www.autofarm.co.uk/pdf/Total911_July06.pdf

Specifically:

All 996 engines have an intermediate shaft that runs
the length of the underside of the block and is chain-
driven from the crankshaft. This, in turn, drives the twin
camshafts on each bank of cylinders. At the end of this is
a sprocket which turns on a bearing. The sprocket is
retained by a small stud that can break, causing the
bearing to fail. At first, this manifests itself as a noisy
rattle, which turns into a death rattle as the cam chains
come off, leading to further internal damage.
Porsche changed the design of this shaft no less than
four times during the life of the 996; partly to solve the
bearing failure issue, and partly to reduce an annoying
rattle on start-up. Later types, therefore, have a larger
bearing and a different sprocket designed to mate with a
special toothed chain, whereas the earlier ones drove a
conventional double chain. Because of this, it is not
possible to fit the later type intermediate shaft to an early
engine without also using a later-type crankshaft.

cdodkin

Be careful what you start here - someone left and someone got banned last time this topic was 'discussed' on the forum....

slashmatt

So, the original poster never showed any evidence that this was an IMS failure, it just "seems to be".

I'm going to consider this 996 IMS Myth Busted #2.

spender

Sorry to hear this, and that it wasn't covered by your warranty. However a lot of jurisdictions have "lemon laws" that should get you a full refund if it dies within 30 days so so. Did you buy from an individual or a dealer??

ivangene

3 year old thread revived for ?

Ericginpa

Wow! Looks like someone's got an agenda!

Here's a recommendation for slashmatt,don't change yours. Nobody cares.

Marc Gelefsky

Troll, Busted.

porsches996

What do you mean by...

''the consensus seams to be an IMS''.........


Did you have the engine check by a specialist or the engine.
IToo easy to say...''ho i had a problem with my engine yesterday and i PROBABLY bust my engine so i will right it up in Rennlist just to get some condolences from rennlist friends...

Please show up some pics and more explanation...otherwise it is too easy and i do not believe you at all like many other rennlister...

Bye Bye