Interesting article in this months Excellence regarding RUf's V8 in a 991 project. Article indicates the V 8 engine they're using will fit in a 997 as well. More HP and torque, less weight, no IMS issues.... Might even be able to get rid of the stock coolant tank and cap setup that's so prone to failure. Wonder if it's cost effective Vs. replacing a broken- beyond - repair stock engine ? Could a V8 like the one Ruf is using find it's way into future 911 Porsches from the factory ?

 

it is not a first time, there are race cars that run LS7 block with gt3 gearbox.

i do not think a cost of such project is something an amateur can sustain. racing teams can afford it, an individual - not sure, it only makes sense for a purpose built race car that goes into particular class.

still, if one gets m97 engine blown and it will be a simple enough kit available on the market to 'fit' LSx block into there instead of M97 engine - it may make some sense to do, cost will be probably in a comparable area of something close to $20K.

 

It has been reported Porsche is moving to a mid-engined platform for the 911 and likely a V8.

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ned-911-a.html

 

I remember reading that article and the post that went along with it. Also read an article where Porsche's new CEO said he wanted to market a car capable of competing with Ferrari's current offerings at a similar price point. A mid- engined Pporsche with a 450+ hp motor would do the trick . Kind of a cheaper version of the Porsche GT but more expensive than a 991 Turbo. Can't be a huge market for a car like that but it's not about market size it's about ego size. However, as Porsche starts marketing more rebadged
VW's it might make it harder to sell limited market prestige vehicles to the well healed. As Audi already has a mid-engined chassis available, Porsche might just rebadge that car and call it a Porsche GT or what have you.
Ferrari doesn't market an SUV, yet.

 

I can't see Porsche changing from a H6 considering that's all the car has ever had, and CG is better on the H6.

 

^I just read the article on the new Excellence and Ruf estimates that the motor weighs 50lb. less than the 9A1 DFI motor, 100lb. less than the Mezger flat 6 and has a lower CG when installed in the car than the flat 6. This is due to it having the bulk of its mass concentrated low. It is a flat-plane crank like in a Ferrari V8, peak power at 8500 rpm and the limiter doesn't intervene until 9000 rpm.

IMHO, I think that the issues here will be, first, the cost of the engine and, second, that RUF will have to develop a system to integrate the motor into existing cars for which he hasn't already done such integration. The company is using its own in house-developed ECU so it would have to be thoroughly developed and tested for each variant of 911 in which it'll be installed, in order for it to work with the other systems in those cars. Again, this is my own, uninformed opinion. Others may chime in.