Audi Engine Swap Kits Now Available For 996 911 Turbo

Suitable Workaround

Much of the appeal of the Porsche 911 comes from its flat-six powerplant, and that has remained true throughout the iconic sports cars' lifespan. However, the track record of Porsche's legendary powerplants of that specification isn't flawless, with versions like the M96 suffering from a fatal flaw or two - in this case, the much-debated intermediate shaft bearing issue. However, a company called Renn27 has developed a suitable workaround in the form of an Audi engine swap kit for the 996-gen 911.

Photos: Renn27

Fixing Flaws

With prices continuing to skyrocket, even the less-coveted 996 911 Turbo is getting pretty pricey, but the lesser Carrera model is still cheap. Thus, swapping out that car's stock powerplant with something a bit more modern, reliable, and powerful makes a good bit of sense, at least for now.

Photos: Renn27

Suitable Alternative

That's where Renn27 comes into play - the company has figured out a way to shoehorn the twin-turbocharged Audi 2.7-liter powerplant into the 996, a pretty iconic engine that rose to fame following its debut in the B5 S4. With the right mods, it's a rock solid option that also has serious power potential for those that want more.

Photos: Renn27

Long Lasting

However, Renn27 did make some modifications to the engine to make it easier to package in the 911 - chiefly among them, replacing the dual turbo setup with a single hair dryer. It also adds an air-to-water intercooler, and says that this combination is deadly reliable, with easy 100k+ mile potential.

Photos: Renn27

Communication Is Key

At the same time, this setup also churns out 500 or more horsepower, which is a healthy boost for a stock 996 911 Carrera 2 or 4. On top of that, since Audi and Porsche belong to the same family and share the same Bosch Me7 engine management, the engine communicates nicely with Porsche's electronics to boot.

Photos: Renn27

Strange, Yet Compelling

The idea here is to make the 996 fast and reliable, without making any concessions, and it appears that's precisely what Renn27 has achieved. It's also cheap and reliable to maintain and operate the Audi 2.7, making this strange yet compelling engine swap a pretty interesting alternative for 996 owners seeking an upgrade.

Photos: Renn27

>>Join the conversation about the Audi engine swap kit right here at Rennlist.com.

>>For help with your do-it-yourself maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section.