Boxster motor thoughts, ...again... Options

[anthony]

I agree that it would be pretty cool especially if you could make it work with the stock boxster 6 speed tranny since jumping to a 915 is another $5000 can of worms.

[Steve]

I have over 230 reliable hp.

Scott,

I agree with what's been posted about 911 engines.
And I will never have the money to buy a 911 GT1
Unless I start playing the lottery and actually win.
If you do the work yourself its just the cost of valve cover gaskets, oil and filter.
Except for adjusting the valves and replacing the gaskets its no diferent than the maintenance on my Toyota.
Well except maybe twice the amount of oil.
But the Toyota's spark plugs cost twice as much as my Bosch plugs.
If you install a 993 3.6 you no longer have to adjust the valves and or change the gaskets.
The hassle with the 3.6 is the additional work to install and its a bitch to get to the lower plugs.
I think a 911 is more expensive to maintain than a 914-6 conversion.
There is more to go wrong with a 911's body and electricals than a 914-6.
What I mean by body issues is with a targa or cabriolet versus our simple removeable top.
You also have power steering, electric windows, locks etc. to maintain.

My own experience with 911 engine reliability dates back to 1986.
Back in 1986 I installed a 1974 2.7 liter six that had a top end overhaul.
I put 75,000 drunken abusive miles on this motor and was hitting the rev limiter every weekend.
This motor never broke down on me.
Four years ago I could tell the head studs were starting to come loose.
This is a common problem with 2.7's and stock head studs.
The cost of overhauling a 2.7 was more expensive than getting another engine from a wrecking yard.
So four years ago I bought a Euro 3.2 with 80k miles on it for $5500.00.
This motor puts out 231 hp with stock exhaust and catalytic converter.
I'm much older now (43) so I don't drink and drive anymore but I still beat the crap out of my cars.
So far I have driven this car for four years with no problems.
I am also more happy with the additional power and DME fuel injection versus the webers on the 2.7.
The 3.0, 3.2 and 3.6 are known to go well over 200k miles.
As mentioned there is some rare cases of 3.2's with valve guide wear.
Mine has almost new compression and no valve guide issues.
The advantage of the 3.2 and newer is you get the hydraulic chain tensioners.
But this is easy to add to a 3.0.
I would not recommend a 2.7 unless the engine has already been overhauled correctly with raceware head studs and other mods.
I feel the 3.2 is the best motor since its the least amount of hassle to put in.
You don't have to cut the 914-6 aftermarket engine tin to make it fit.
With the 3.6 you have to cut up the tin and its a bitch to get to the lower 6 spark plugs during maintenance.

The advantage of a boxster or 996 motor is obvious.
The motor will have all the latest updates and be much newer with less miles.
All we need is someone to make a kit and figure out all the problems.
I bought one of the first quick six mounts from MSDS back in 86.
We have come along way since then.
I now run a Richard Johnson mount so I can use my factory heat exchangers.

If someone figures out all the issues with installing a 986/996 motor in there car I might try that next instead of overhauling my motor or putting in a 993 engine.
For my next project it will be AC in my car.
This will allow me to to drive my car all year round!!
The heaters already come in handy.

Steve

[ArtechnikA]

There is more to go wrong with a 911's body and electricals than a 914-6.
What I mean by body issues is with a targa or cabriolet versus our simple removeable top.
You also have power steering, electric windows, locks etc. to maintain.

no power anything in my '71 911E. factory Targa top comes off and stows in the trunk just like the 914. (well - is has a vinyl cover and collapsable frame, but it is a simple mechanical latch and it does fit in the trunk. my new rigid fiberglass top stows conveniently behind the seats ...)

anyway - you just have to go back in time until you find a car that's as simple as you want. for a lot of people, the crossover point on reliability vs power vs simplicity vs creature comforts was the 911SC. the early cars didn't even have power brakes...

my '71 is pretty easy to uprate for additional power, at least as long as i stay in 915 territory.

(i'm planning to stay 'period correct' for my 911RS 'homage' and will probably do a 2,8 -- although a 3,0SC would be easier and as powerful...)

[machina]

I agree that it would be pretty cool especially if you could make it work with the stock boxster 6 speed tranny since jumping to a 915 is another $5000 can of worms.

hey guys,

just keep in mind that only the boxster S has the 6 speed tranny, and that unit is sourced directly from the 996 carrera. So the 6 speed tranny may be more $$$ than the more usual 5 speed out of the regular boxster S. Unless you can figure out how to make the carrera unit work.

dr

[JFJ914]

I agree that it would be pretty cool especially if you could make it work with the stock boxster 6 speed tranny since jumping to a 915 is another $5000 can of worms.

hey guys,

just keep in mind that only the boxster S has the 6 speed tranny, and that unit is sourced directly from the 996 carrera. So the 6 speed tranny may be more $$$ than the more usual 5 speed out of the regular boxster S. Unless you can figure out how to make the carrera unit work.

dr

IIRC, the 5 speed is sourced from the VW Passat FWD.

[Steve]

[QUOTE=ArtechnikA,May 31 2004, 03:19 AM] [QUOTE=Steve,May 30 2004, 09:53 PM] There is more to go wrong with a 911's body and electricals than a 914-6.
What I mean by body issues is with a targa or cabriolet versus our simple removeable top.
You also have power steering, electric windows, locks etc. to maintain. [/QUOTE]
no power anything in my '71 911E. factory Targa top comes off and stows in the trunk just like the 914. (well - is has a vinyl cover and collapsable frame, but it is a simple mechanical latch and it does fit in the trunk. my new rigid fiberglass top stows conveniently behind the seats ...)

Sorry!
I do not have much experience with early 911's or Targas besides there motors.
I was basing the Targa on the manuals I have.
I own a 993 cabriolet that I just had to spend $2k on to get the top repaired and aligned.
I am also not looking forward to replacing it someday because it wore out or the rear plastic window fogged up.
I wish they made a real Targa out of the 993.
I like the 3.6 with no valve adjustments and the 928 like rear end.
Even though its no big deal to adjust the valves.

I am curious on how the boxster conversion will work.
With the 901 or 915/916 you can use a shift rod.
With either boxster tranny you will most likely have to use cables.
Is it possible to use the whole shifting mechanism including the Boxster shifter?
Has anyone looked at the hassles of heating and airconditioning?
AC would not be any harder than the four but heating would be a hassle.
I know of V8 conversions where they stuck a heater core between the air intake and the hood.

Steve

[Hawktel]

Humm, the Boxster Motor Debate.

Let me think last time this came up:

The motor will fit, but its way tight.
The tranny won't fit. You'd need to open up the rear and move things out I think it was a inch on each side.
You have to run a boxster Dash.

And, in the end, all of these would be able to be overcame with hard work, grit, determination, and dumb luck.

I think someone is going to do one for the novelty of it. If you could pick up a boxster Motor/Tranny/Dash for 2500-3000 I think it would be a hard one to beat. And boxster prices are falling all the time.

[machina]

does this help anybody?

looks damn familiar (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

dr

[seanery]

why do you need to run a boxster dash?

[machina]

why do you need to run a boxster dash?

the ecu checks for the proper code in the dash.

I guess each motor is keyed with the dash panel, part of the immobilizer deterent system.

dr

would be cool to get rid of all the electrics and slap a set of triple throat webers on it.

[seanery]

that or tek III with fuel & spark on it.

[machina]

just FYI,

here is a 5 speed boxster tranny, $500.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...2480877851&rd=1

dr

[grantsfo]

Why not just keep Boxster engine in the Boxster and make it more like a 914? Lots of sub$20K 2.5 liter Boxsters out there.

There are some great looking Boxster race cars starting to make their way to the tracks.

Boxster Racecar Photos

[Mueller]

You have to run a boxster Dash.

I guess you didn't read my post (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Currently the car, motor and transmission are in a shop in the Bay Area getting put together, they wanted to use the factory FI, so the struggling point was the ECU and it's lockouts for anti-theft. Supposedly a new ECU was found in Germany which bypasses this. ($1000)

I'd bypass this stuff and run an aftermarket FI, the Megasquirt would be fine for this application to keep costs down.

[Hawktel]

Honestly, I read that part! I was just spouting the conventional wisdom!

I think a 914 with a boxster plant megasquirted would be damned cool. A super charged Megasquirted plant would be even cooler!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[seanery]

Kennedy just responded.
They have no parts to adapt a 901/914 to a modern 996/986 engine.

[seanery]

the reserve on the Boxster 5 speed trans listed above is $1750.

[75boxster]

That tranny is nothing more than an 012. Same as a front trak Passat or Audi A4. You can pick those up for way less than 1k. I have a Passat 012 in my garage that has a blown diff and it look the same bolt hole for bolt hole. I am sure the gears are different though.

[SilverBullet]

I think this is the second post I've ever added to the BBS, so excuse my ignorance and lack or response if you reply to this, but I now have the Boxster-S motor and the 6 speed Trani. I bought the 3.2 at the WWC swap meet. It has 1,500 miles on it, and it came complete with brain and injection... $4k out the door. The trani I got from Brad. Now I need to make it all fit into the 14. Britain has been forwarding many threads onto me so I can read up on all of your concerns. It should be a fun install. Since I'm not active on the BBS you will probably have to get your pictures from Brad, who will be helping me with this install.

[Pnambic]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif)
Welcome welcome welcome!!!
Make sure you keep us posted. Brad can show you how to get pics up here real easy.

Should be one helluva fun project!