996 Engine replacement update
 

Hey everyone,

Sorry that I haven't posted in a while. You may recall that my 1999 996 developed an engine problem the last time that I ran Shenandoah. The diagnosis less than expertly performed guaranteed the need for an engine replacement (bank 1 Cam chain broken while car being test driven).

So I searched for a while for 3.4 replacement engines, rented cars in between biz trips (the 996 was my daily driver)... Almost purchased some engines with leads from some of you but unfortunately they didn't play out.

Also toyed with the idea of buying an engine and doing an engine drop party with a direct 3.4 swap but was concerned about my own abilities, my tools, my lack of lift, space, etc.

So where am I now.. I ended up buying another daily driver that can do light duty towing and not be too big to drive all the time; a 2004 Durango (the new body style) capable of between 5750 and 7250 lbs depending on use of Load Distrib hitch.

Michael (Savowood) referred me to Roock in atlanta and I started talking with Fabian Roock about putting in a 3.6 or 3.8 instead for nearly the same budget as just buying a 3.4 and doing a direct swap... Since his shop has done this before, this started to sound interesting so I signed up and told him to find me a 3.6L.

We looked and looked and nothing good was showing up and then all of a sudden I located a fresh 3.6L X51 engine. Needless to say after talking to Fabian about it, the engine was mine shortly after.

Hopefully this week my car will make it to Atlanta and Roock will start the process and in 2 weeks I'll get to fly down and drive my new car home. :) The car will get dynoed to get the tuning right and should hopefully do a little better than the factory # for the 3.6 with X51.

Stay tuned ! :) It is like Xmas for me and looking forward to getting my car back.

Unfortunately I will no longer have the bragging rights of having a Bone Stock 996 and turning respectable lap times. But it should be interesting.

I am afraid however that with a tow vehicle and a modified 996 that I am truly sliding if not tumbling down that slippery slope you all warned me about. :)

Congrats! Now you will have the best of all worlds. The lightest non-e-gas 996 (does yours have LSD?) with the highest available stock n/a HP (non GT3 of course) available for the 996s.

TD,

Mine had a factory LSD and M030 suspension but has been swapped out with an 04 GT3 suspension which works extremely well. :)
Tks !

Paul,

I officially hate you. ;)

TD

So who's paying for all this? You or the shop that blew your engine?

what td said. w/ that car you will be able to embarass gt3 owners (the ones that don't know how to drive)

Me and my CFO are paying. I would have better luck claiming reparations then getting that shop to give me anything.

On the stock M030 and MPSC I was turning a 1:28-29 at Summit Main with Savowood in the car and that was leaving a little on the table in 3,4 and 9.

Never got to run it w/ the GT3 susp at Main but at Shen I dropped about 4 seconds down to a 1:40. Woulda really liked to see what it would turn at main with a stock engine and the susp. Not about to speculate at the moment but I can tell you that I am extremely anxious to get on the track this fall for those fast cool days ;)

You will have to ease into a little since it you are so used to the car but the new motor should be significantly faster. I mean, that seems to be more "risky" than hopping into an entirely new car because your "I need to be careful" senses may be dulled by your familiarity with the car. I am sure all it will take is about a day at each track.

I just see so many guys move up in hp (e.g., from a 997 to a 997 GT3) and then promptly spin in T9 at Summit due to the extra hp and extra speed they can now carry through there.

Good problem to have.

Sounds very exciting, Paul. Let's switch cars once it's done. :D J/K. Hopefully, I will be very much used to driving 911s by then.

Are you gonna wait till next season to go back to track or start sometime this winter?