OT: Porsche content, Boxster with Raby engine Options

[era vulgaris]

I know there's some Boxster owners here among us, so I just wanted to show off my newest acquisition, and give a quick thanks to World's own billh1963.
It's been a couple years since I sold my last 914, and I spent most of that time bringing a worn out 1967 Karmann Ghia back to near factory condition. I had it in a VW show back in Jan, and won a plaque (yeehaw!), and decided it was time to let it go and look for something new. I was planning on getting another 914. But then I stumbled across this beauty that Bill had for sale, so I drove down to SC to check it out. Just another Boxster, right? Well, you might think that, but under that engine cover is a stock 2.5L flat six built by Jake Raby! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)
Bill had Jake build the engine a couple years ago, and it's got about 1500 miles on it now. A fair number of those put on by me in the few weeks I've had the car! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) I figured if there were ever a Boxster to own, having one with an engine built by Jake would be the way to go. So I guess it'll be a little longer before I get another 914, but in the meantime I'll be having fun with this modern 914! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[aggiezig]

986 Boxsters are cool little cars and great value for money. I’m also curious to know what Raby does differently when he rebuilds these engines?

[era vulgaris]

986 Boxsters are cool little cars and great value for money. I’m also curious to know what Raby does differently when he rebuilds these engines?

His larger displacement performance engines are where I think he really throws in the kitchen sink with things like nickies cylinders and whatnot. His stock rebuild is just that, but done to Jake's standards, ie - tighter tolerances, better quality components, everything either new or rebuilt, and some of his own goodies in there like the IMS replacement. I think Bill had said that it took Jake a while to even find a block that met his standards as far as tolerances and such were concerned.
I have the list of all the parts that went in, but from what I've read Jake is pretty much the authority on these m96 engines, with Porsche shops from around the country sending their mechanics to his engine building classes.

I've always liked the look of the Boxster, but all the engine issues kept me away. If there's any Boxster out there least likely to grenade itself, IMO it's gonna be one that Jake built. So for me it was more about being able to trust it. Especially since the entire cooling system had been replaced also.
But it revs like crazy, and having driven basically just 914's and Ghias for the last 6 or 7 years, it's a rocket ship as far as I'm concerned (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) The whine and growl of that flat 6 is just addictive!