Transporting an engine in the back of an S6

[v8a6]

I have a 2002 S6 Avant. I found an Porsche 3.6L engine in the US, but the seller wont ship to Canada. It is an 996 m96 short block.

In long block form, they are apparently about 450 pounds. The short block will be less, but I dont know by how much.

I want to transport it in the back of my S6, if possible. It sounds crazy, but I swear I saw a pic somewhere on here of someone transporting an engine in the back of their Avant.

So, who has first hand experience doing this? I need to know if it is possible, and any other details, like how to get it in and out without destroying my car or the engine.

Am I crazy, or what?

Engine looks something like this in long block form

[cab509]

I feel like you should be fine, if anything just build a subfloor under the folding floor and call it a day. Just my thoughts since I put a lot of weight in the back of my avant pretty much every week.

[Toolaa]

^^
If you look at the photo you posted that guy has the engine strapped to a wood base. That will be necessary so the thing doesn't tilt over when you are driving.

You could add a few long 2x4's to act as a counter balance the slide the engine all they way to the back of the hatch. If someone holds the 2x4's inside the car it should be stable enough to just reach an engine lift below the hatch to carefully lift it up. If you don't have a lift you could probably get 4ppl to simply lift it by the wood sort of like carrying a stretcher. But if you go this route bolt the motor right in the middle of the wood frame.

As far as weight goes it's not going to be a problem. I would be more concerned about fluids still in the motor sloshing out and getting into your car.

Just curious what are you going to use the motor for and how much did you pay for it. I've always dreamed of taking on an early 80's 911 project car before they water cooled the engines.

[CHEROHALA]

think you'll need to brace the flooring... its mainly cardboard... also depends on your ride height. I couldnt do it in my s6...

[A4V8swap]

I put a 1.8T in my B5 avant before. You'll be tight on vertical height, especially with that pallet underneath it (aka it won't work). I put a small board down and it was basically hitting the roof just about. Plus getting it in with a engine hoist is basically impossible without damaging something (ended up putting wood on the rear bumper, lowering the engine on the wood and un-chaining it and sliding it in like that), it was very ghetto but the car was a POS and didn't care much (long gone anyway). Scratched up the bumper that was about it, if we spent more time on it probably could have avoided it. If you had a forklift I could see it going smooth. Fork it under the engine and slide it in.

[rollerton]

Short block? Short block will be a Piece of cake. With all that stuff removed from the engine I bet two guys can just lift it into the back. Put plastic down and a 3/4" plywood over that and just tie the thing down.
I hauled a flat-6 2.7 a looong time ago in the back of a VW squareback and it fit.

[BCsniper]

I think this is the photo you might had been thinking of





when going through the why do you drive an avant thread I also came across these

[v8a6]

Short block? Short block will be a Piece of cake. With all that stuff removed from the engine I bet two guys can just lift it into the back. Put plastic down and a 3/4" plywood over that and just tie the thing down.
I hauled a flat-6 2.7 a looong time ago in the back of a VW squareback and it fit.

Good info.

[v8a6]

I think this is the photo you might had been thinking of...

Yes, those were the ones!

[v8a6]

OK, so Im going to have to get a pic of what the guy is including in the short block. If it is stripped of the heads and all the other external stuff, then I think Ill give it a shot. If he ends up including some of that stuff, then it may be better just to rent a van for the trip, and save myself a lot of headaches.

[v8a6]

Just curious what are you going to use the motor for and how much did you pay for it. I've always dreamed of taking on an early 80's 911 project car before they water cooled the engines.

Engine will probably be about $4-5k. It is for this car...

03 911 C4S

[Aldo]

IMS failure?

[v8a6]

IMS failure?

Not sure. I bought it with a blown engine. It looks like a d-chunck failure, but they will have to rip the engine apart to know.