Carpokes Porsche Forum

I have a spare 968 motor and have thoughts about building a 16 valve turbo. I’m not going for big power but I know this is not for the faint of heart. If there are ready-to-install parts I can buy rather than have custom-built, the project would be more palatable.

Can we list out vendors for these parts and real-world feedback please? I can update the first post once we’ve amassed enough information so it’s consolidated in one place. I figured this would help others who have similar naughty ideas and want to see consolidated information.

16 valve intake: https://triplesky.nl/product/porsche-96 ... -manifold/

16valve cross-over turbo pipe (not using SFR):

16valve Exhaust manifold:

Motor harness: Kroon

Turbo: one of Chris White’s recommendations?

Pistons:

Rods:

Engine Management:

16 valve intake: Hayward Performance, good quality, small clash with the AOS/water neck. (Use S2 AOS lid, modify water neck to face forward)

Pistons:
Nothing off the shelf and depends if your going bare block or sleeves. Below will have custom options
Mahle Motorsport
JE
Wossner

Rods:
Molnar
Carillo
Pauter
Pick your budget

Harness:
Bas is going custom Maxx ECU harnesses

Engine Management
Pick your tuner then pick your ECU and mod harness to suit. (Maxx/Link/Haltech)


Valves springs/Retainers:
Catcams (boost dependant)

Valves:
Custom OEM valves are expensive was cheaper to get custom one piece SS Valves made

Turbo
Tial did have some Garrett GTX custom turbo mounts for sale for a while but they may be gone again

cp99 wrote: Tue Apr 28, 2026 2:39 pm I have a spare 968 motor and have thoughts about building a 16 valve turbo. I’m not going for big power but I know this is not for the faint of heart. If there are ready-to-install parts I can buy rather than have custom-built, the project would be more palatable.

Can we list out vendors for these parts and real-world feedback please? I can update the first post once we’ve amassed enough information so it’s consolidated in one place. I figured this would help others who have similar naughty ideas and want to see consolidated information.

16 valve intake: https://triplesky.nl/product/porsche-96 ... -manifold/

16valve cross-over turbo pipe (not using SFR):

16valve Exhaust manifold:

Motor harness: Kroon

Turbo: one of Chris White’s recommendations?

Pistons:

Rods:

Engine Management:

There is no option for an exhaust manifold/crossover. Speed Force has gone dark, along with the cash from several people including myself. You can use your stock manifold and modify it for a 951 crossover, or a custom job, and there is a new option coming out with a group buy soon but the header/crossover won't be ready for six months after the group buy closes, IF they get to 200 units.

For pistons, you can look at Traum. They're made in the USA and they're big with the import scene and seems a lot of flat six water cooled guys go with them too. That's the route I went, and yes, my block is sleeved. Still waiting for a header so we can get it done.

Lol 200 units good luck

Based on my research, stock 951 rods should be plug and play and they are forged.

Alot of the other components will need to be fabricated unfortunately, which is the main reason folks typically go for the 2.7L 89 head since all the 951 components bolt directly to it, as well as it being the only head compatible with the 3.0L block.

Lindsey Racing has a service to convert a standard 2.5L head to be compatible with the 3.0L block. I know you want to stick with the 16V head but wanted to mention this.

cp99 wrote: Tue Apr 28, 2026 2:39 pm I have a spare 968 motor and have thoughts about building a 16 valve turbo. I’m not going for big power but I know this is not for the faint of heart. If there are ready-to-install parts I can buy rather than have custom-built, the project would be more palatable.

Can we list out vendors for these parts and real-world feedback please? I can update the first post once we’ve amassed enough information so it’s consolidated in one place. I figured this would help others who have similar naughty ideas and want to see consolidated information.

16 valve intake: https://triplesky.nl/product/porsche-96 ... -manifold/

16valve cross-over turbo pipe (not using SFR):

16valve Exhaust manifold:

Motor harness: Kroon

Turbo: one of Chris White’s recommendations?

Pistons:

Rods:

Engine Management:

If you are not going for big power then you may want to go with an 8v head. These are real torque monsters and way more usable/fun on the street. The 16v will give you higher max hp that is only really usable on the track.

Fejjj951 wrote: Tue May 05, 2026 8:44 pm

cp99 wrote: Tue Apr 28, 2026 2:39 pm I have a spare 968 motor and have thoughts about building a 16 valve turbo. I’m not going for big power but I know this is not for the faint of heart. If there are ready-to-install parts I can buy rather than have custom-built, the project would be more palatable.

Can we list out vendors for these parts and real-world feedback please? I can update the first post once we’ve amassed enough information so it’s consolidated in one place. I figured this would help others who have similar naughty ideas and want to see consolidated information.

16 valve intake: https://triplesky.nl/product/porsche-96 ... -manifold/

16valve cross-over turbo pipe (not using SFR):

16valve Exhaust manifold:

Motor harness: Kroon

Turbo: one of Chris White’s recommendations?

Pistons:

Rods:

Engine Management:

If you are not going for big power then you may want to go with an 8v head. These are real torque monsters and way more usable/fun on the street. The 16v will give you higher max hp that is only really usable on the track.

Not my experience at all, maybe a modern turbo and the S2 transaxle helps with that though.

This is common knowledge in the 3L turbo community. Here is 1 small example.

16 valve head comes into its power band at a much higher RPM range compared to an 8 valve. Their port velocities are about 2k to 3k rpm apart both on intake and exhaust. They require a different mind set in selecting turbos and intake manifolds. Without variable cam timing and a good designed resonance intake manifold drivability becomes more difficult from the lack or l or lower bottom end. They will work great on the track if geared right for the right rpm drop. For a milder built and better drivability the 8 valve is the way to go, simpler and more compatible for an all out build.

How long is a piece of string. An 8V will never flow as much as a 16V.

Well speaking from my experience of owning both larger sized 8v (3.1ltr) and 16v (3.2ltr) race motors and also being a highly impressed passenger in Thom's 3lt 16v street car, I would say that there may be some truth to the concept of the 8v developing tq earlier in the rpms however with modern turbos, ECUs, fuel and spark control that disparity is pretty easily overcome these days. See attached dyno chart showing a very healthy tq curve (at the wheels) in my 16v motor at less than 18psi. There's no doubt that making a 3lt 8v street motor is potentially much more affordable though. As always, it often comes down to desired use of the car (and where it will be driven most often) and budget. The added caveat is how much someone is going to charge you to build/tune it vs how much of the work you can do yourself. Plenty of clever people in this forum have put their own engines together and can advise you accordingly (if the info is not already in here and elsewhere). Oh, and Thom can also speak about the differences based on his previous big bore 8v motor so I'd tap into these people for very relevant information.