Mister Quickie

I saw an ad in one of the pca mailings for an outfit that can convert a non turbo 996 to a turbo. I asked since the turbo engines are built to withstand more than the regular engines would my regular engine die faster? I was told my regular engine would be ok with the extra load.

Since the turbo is almost $70k more than the base, why doesn't everyone just buy a base and pay $15 (in lieu of $70) to end up with a turbo

I remember the guy who sold me the car advised me vehemently to change nothing, not even the wheels. My friend who got me into Porsche's in the first place agrees.

IF i were to do this, I'd do it now (at $23k miles) rather than after I put another 100k miles on the car)

The question is, what would you do and why?

'04 non-S, non-turbo, 23k miles

soverystout

I wouldn't do it. The M96 engine in the non turbo 996 and the turbo motor are completely different beasts. The turbo motor is far more robust and was built for forced induction. You are just asking for trouble by boosting a NA 996.


You make this sound like a simple solution to getting a turbo powered Porsche when there is no such thing as a simple solution with these cars.

function12

I wouldn't do it either. If Porsche though the engine could handle a lot more then they would have given it a lot more HP.

jumper5836

Good way to blow up the engine. If the engine was strong enough, Porsche would have used it in the Turbo.

knfeparty

Use the $15k to buy a modded 944 turbo. It will be just as fun for a lot less dough, and if you wreck it it's actually worth more in parts.

AND you can still keep your 996 intact.

tooloud10

There's WAY more to a 996TT than just sticking a turbocharger in the engine compartment. You can trade your 996, add $15k to your budget, and own a REAL turbo outright.

Edgy01

Back in the air cooled days I had such a car. A 911SC (3.0) converted to turbo specs, with a modest 6 lbs of boost. It took a 172 hp engine up to a conservative 270 hp, capable of an easy 162 mph (when you ran out of gears).

I wouldn't even think to do that with a wasser boxer. The air cooled engines were robust, and much more durable for such enhancement. A friend of mine had his 997C4 supercharged at great expense and wound up paying more money, again, to have the darn thing removed.

Unless you are just committed to a particular 996, simply consider buying a used 996 turbo. Prices are down so much now that it's a far smarter way to spend your money. The issues (and there are many) in getting an engine to run correctly after turbocharging are vast and complex.

nick49

Mister Quickie, where do I start?.........oh never mind.

DreamCarrera

+1, it's a no-brainer.

Mister Quickie

Based on the responses, I'm going to pass on turbo charging my engine, thanks folks

Mister Quickie

Any opinion on this:
http://www.vf-engineering.com/vf_old/996-34.htm

300hp -> 420 hp ...

but again, is the 996 NA engine capable of handling the extra power or will it wear out more quickly?

silly question but what's the difference between a turbo charger and a supercharger?

NZ951

I have turbo charged a few high compression motors, really its all in the tuning and your power goals with an unopened motor. Dont be put off by people that have never done it, talk to a tuner that has and get the real story, of course there is a point it might make it as quick as a Turbo model, but other changes mean its not, like brakes etc.

NZ951

Turbo take exhaust gases to spin a compression wheel in a turbo to produce air pressure, the Supercharger uses a belt driven off the motor to spin a compressor wheel.

Basically Turbo is more complicated to install with the exhaust work, but is way more efficient, the SC is easier to install, but the drag on the motor robs a lot of power. (in a nutshell)

Dharn55

I think there are quite a few supercharged and turbocharged 3.4 and 3.6 cars out there. VF does them, there is at least one other company that does (or did) superchargers, and now one or more that are doing turbochargers. Check with Vivid Racing.

There are quite a few naysayers here, and I have not done one myself, but if they were blowing up engines on a regular basis you would certainly be hearing about it on this site and the other 996/997 sites.

IMHO

LordVicious

Superchargers are AWESOME ... IF you plan on driving your car north of 200 mph! All that horsepower and virtually NO additional low end torque. In other words ... this prolly aint gonna do what you want it to do.