So if I found a suitable 997 donor car, couldn't I use that motor, loom and DME in my 996? If necessary I mean.
I did read somewhere on the forum that someone simply added a relay/switch to make sure that only one bank could run at a time. I'll need to research that further...

 

Not trying to discourage you in any way but in general these type of surgeries are a pain to pull off unless someone that is an absolute expert does the job. You don't want to be left with lights coming on the dash and impossible to diagnose gremlins. Is there enough upside in power to justify this? A regular 2002-2004 996 3.6L will drop right in like it was always there. No major modifications required. Better yet, no future explanations needed to the next buyer of the car or to the mechanic trying to service it with a 996 service manual staring at a 997 engine.

I'm admittedly snake bitten from when I added a Supercharger kit to a BMW E46 years ago. That car never ran right and no one wanted to touch it because they could not use traditional methods of diagnosis.

Here is an example low mileage unit for under $10k. While it is out you can replace the spark plugs and IMS if it is serviceable. And anything else worthwhile before it goes in. How much is engine replacement labor? I always wondered that.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/03-Carrera-R...xXOP6V&vxp=mtr

Please don't take my advice as lecturing - I feel bad for your situation myself and have been down similar roads before.
My goal would be:
1. Get the car on the road again

2. Minimize the modification to keep it explainable to the next buyer/mechanic

3. Prevent future failure and capitalize on labor savings while motor is out (replace plugs, coil packs, any easy to change gaskets, IMS bearing, AOS and anything else where the parts are fairly cheap and labor is cheap do to easy of access)

Also if this is a weekend car, consider taking your time. This way you can really shop around from the parts side and mechanic side to get the best overall deal.

 

If yours is a 2002 then you do have VarioCam Plus. So just grab a low mileage 3.6L (02-04 around $8-9k) engine off eBay and swap it in.

 

thanks to both for your info 996_911C2_Dhru & B8_RDC...

I'm looking to buy a complete - probably damaged - car so I can part out the remainder and pay for the whole operation. While I could buy just a motor from ebay and a few other sources fro $10k, it makes better financial sense to me to get a whole car for $10k or so, use the motor and sell the rest...

Or, if it's a decent car, maybe that's the one that gets the V8 implant...

 

naw, the current one would be for the boss... I'd be shot if I gave that one away...

 

Jason over at 9XX Motorsports is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the 996 and 997 platforms