996 rebuild required -which way to go?

[911Fiddler]

Ive been absent from this forum for ages but still have the 3.4 996 Carerra with a 2003 Porsche rebuilt engine..
She has (at least) one scored bore. Runs very well but I get smoke at startup.
I'm planning to re-life the engine at some point.
Here is the menu of options, comments/recommendations please:

Option 1: Hartech rebuild, all 6 cylinders. Replace all 6 pistons.

Option 2: LN Engineering
3.4 Boxster Cayman 911 Nickies inc. 96mm FSR JE Piston set, inc. rings, pins, & clips.

Option 2: LN Engineering
3.4 to 3.6 911 Nickies inc. 99mm FSR JE Piston set, inc. rings, pins, & clips.

Comments/recommendations please: I'm particularly interested to hear about any experiences using LN engines.

[911Fiddler]

Yes, LN from the US. I think they now have a EU based agent.
LN are v impressive on the marketing front with a wide range of offerings.

[EGTE]

"LN are v impressive on the marketing front"

Yep, but Hartech are v.impressive on the engineering and racing fronts.......know where I'd go!

[skinny]

Option 4. Hartech rebuild into a 3.7

[g7jhp]

When anyone mentions 996/ 997 rebuilds my first thought it Hartech.

Others might be able but Hartech have that reputation for a reason and I'd suggest it'd be worth it whilst you own the car or if/when you come to sell.

[Rosewood Red]

Weren't 996 3.4s with their ferrous coated pistons supposed to be resilient to bore score?

[911Fiddler]

Correct but I have 2003 pistons with the delinquent, miserly, engineering cock-up coating.

[Rosewood Red]

Some good info here. The 3.4 M96 is meant to be pretty robust - I've heard that running them hot can be one of the reasons for them to bore score (well, the ones with the stronger pistons). I'd 'heard about' the 3.4 engines bore scoring but hadn't seen an owner post up about it.

All the best with which ever route you take, OP.