With the recent demise of my 3.4 engine (2000 C4 cab with 50,000 miles) due to the oil/coolant intermix I have done alot of research on options and pricing. Thought I would share the information I have gathered.

Pricing on Remanufactured engines from both Sunset and Suncoast

3.4 E-gas $11,010.06/$2,229.63 core charge
3.6 $8,543.78/$2,336.81 core charge
3.6 X51 $9,600.73/$2,566.24 core charge

Shipping seems to be $300-$400 each way to Chicago area. Remember that the core charge is refunded only after the core is returned to the dealer, then returned to Porsche and torn down to see if it is "rebuildable." I am not sure what impact a cracked cylinder head or cracked liner has on this refund, although Porsche does not seem to want to tell anyone what the problem with the engines are. Does anyone have any knowledge of how Porsche handles this.

Also, Suncoast says you can use a 3.4 core on a 3.6 engine, but you get the lower credit for the core return, so this could be a couple of hundred dollars.

R&R of the same engine (i.e. 3.4 for 3.4 or 3.6 for 3.6) seems to run from $1,500 to $2,500 depending on dealer or independant. Upgrading from a 3.4 to a 3.6 cost more. Roock quotes $4,000 to $5,000+ for a turnkey. They also said the price togo to a 3.8 (997) would be about the same. There was a 3.8S engine listed here in the classified for only $9,010 with a core charge of $2,376, but I have not checked this out with a dealer.

Other options, flat6 innovations is offering a rebuild, including new sleeves, and a proprietary IMS upgrade (they say better than Autofarm) for about $14,000. There is a shop in the Los Angeles area (not Motormeister) that has 3.4's foir $6,500, with a $2,500 core deposit, refunded if rebuildable, some reductions if a head is cracked, or a liner. 6 months 6,000 mile warranty. They say they check all heads and blocks for cracks, and have a proprietary upgrade to the IMS. Don't know too much about this one.

Of course there is always LA dismantlers, but there are alot of question and comments about these guys, and their pricing is almost what a remanufactured engine goes for.

I ahve been keeping an eye on the used market, and there seem to be engines (some new) that come on the market on a regular basis, but they also go real fast. There was a party on the classifieds here that had 3 3.6 engines, supposed to be new or almost, $11,000 for all three, or $3,500, $4,000 and $4,500 seperate, but he sold them in 2 days to a party that bought all three, I got there a few days later and they were gone. I would have gone for the $4,500 3.6 still in the crate, but too late.

By the way, I went to the dealer where I bought the car in 2000, and they said there was not way Porsche would help if the car was 8 years old.

Hope this helps others with engine failures. There seem to be alot of posts in the last few weeks.

 

seriously, our story needs to be told. Ben, web desingers - who's with me on building www.porscheenginefailure.com

 

I'm with you after this experience.

 

Amazing that the 3.4's are now more expensive than the 3.6's. I have heard a couple of explanations of this. One is that the 3.4's are being replaced more often, so that the engines that are now available through Porsche are new stock price at the new exchange rate, and the 3.6's hit the country before the exchange rate caused Porsche to increase its prices, which was done in the last couple of months. Others say it is what the market will bear. Still the weakest engine, with the old IMS design, for thousands more, FRUSTRATING!!!

 

Will a 3.6 fit in a non egas 3.4? you still need the wiring harness and DME for 3.6 swap..?

 

There is another member here "pjalexandre" who put a 3.6 in his 99' non e-gas car. Done by Fabian Roock in Atlanta. He says there are no problems, but I know there is a little more involved, may be just chaning out the throttle body. In my discussions with Fabian Roock I was focused on the swap with an E-gas 3.4. He siad they use the 3.4 engine wiring harness and DME. The wiring harness need some modifications, and the DME is reprogrammed to run the 3.6. Also some modes for the Vario Cam Plus found on 3.6's.

 

Here is what they do (there are other ways that cost more)
Swapping a 3.6 into a car with E-gas 3.4.

they use the 3.4 engine wiring harness and DME.
The wiring harness need some modifications
the existing DME 5.22 from the 3.4 is reprogrammed to run the 3.6 (fuel maps)
they add a dedicated controller to trigger the Vario Cam Plus
they reuse your old egas throttle body from the 3.4 with it's mating black t connector that fits onto the air distribution plenum on the 3.6

That's it.

 

How do I make sure if its egas or not? any way to convert non egas to Egas?
thanks.

 

hi am a new user in this forum and have noticed your ways of swapping 3.4 to 3.6 i made the same swapping and ancounter some problem i did not do any modification on the wiring with the DME of the 3.4 am able to start le car but cannot run to full power of the engine so i got a DME 3.6 exchange the fuel pompe and the air cooling and still no communication with the DME 3.6 will realy appreciat some advice from u regarding this matter sincerly new user

 

Your French to English is wwaaaaayyy better than my English to French.

 

Thanks My996, i received your message the otherday. it will also be great if i could get your telephone number so that i can contact you directly, so that we can communicate better, so that i could access the necessary information for the car modifications. i really appreciate all your help.

 

Try Kelly Moss Racing in Madison. The rebuild all sorts of Porsche motors from RSR's to 356's. I am not saying they would be cheaper but it would be closer to you and may help in your decision.

http://www.kellymoss.com/

 

Fair question, is this mostly seen as an issue for the 99-01 3.4 motor? Sorry for the dumb question new to Porsche.

 

My engine is still strong but someday......

 

Buy mine . Like new factory crate motor w updated Seal. Also has brey krause oil pan kit. $6K plus core