I have a customer who owns yet another 996 with a blown up, piece of crap M96 engine.


I finally did it/had it. I told him he can have his car back with a factory-new 480hp engine for about $19k.


The engine would be a new LS3.


Yep. It finally makes sense to me and I actually want to do one.


Standby for a build thread if he bites.

We did a 525hp LS3 in a striped out 928. The biggest problem was getting wide enough wheels and tires to try to get a handle on wheel spin. The aftermarket aluminum torque tube couldn’t handle the power. Custom exhaust lets the entire neighborhood know there’s nothing stock about the car.

Though many will malign a Porschev, it probably makes more sense than reinstalling an engine with design flaws. If you end up doing it, document the build.

I like it.

Here is the Cayman version with a Ford V8: https://www.google.com/amp/www.roadandtrack...nderfully-nuts/

Donor car outside my shop 2 weeks ago
Click to view attachment

I see nothing but upsides to LS conversion on M96 cars.

Another donor possibility:

https://jalopnik.com/heres-how-a-corvette-w...h-of-1806727930

Food for thought


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZfUln_t4MY

Those are exactly my feelings about that VW T4 motor.

There was a very slick LS1 powered 914 at Octeenerfest. I was impressed with how smooth and quiet it was at idle. Smoother and less noise than a T4. My only issue is the loss of front trunk, a major plus to an air cooled 914.

Just buy this one: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/1999...6283818010.html

Way cheaper than building one.

My customer is now telling me he wants to find a 997 with a blown up engine so I can do the conversion on that car because he likes the 997 better.

I still can't believe I'm planning on doing this conversion, but with the terrible state of the '99-'08 engines, I've been driven to it.

Not too far away from me

No mention of it being smog legal...wonder why?