[DRGETZ]

Thanks-- going to stick with Porsche engineering design choices for now.
Macster from Rennlist shared this great explanation in support of Not installing an underdrive pulley...

Can't help you with the shaving the "boss" question.

I can offer that I'm not a fan of underdrive pulley setups. While one can get away with spinning the power steering pump and possibly the alternator at slower speeds, the last thing a hard working Boxster engine needs to slower flowing coolant.

You can see why for yourself: Get a flat bottom stove top pot and put in around an inch of water and place on the stove at high heat. After a while notice bubbles start to form. Gently move the pot in a circular fashion to swish the water around. Notice how the moving water dislodges the bubbles?

Let the water get hotter. The bubbles form faster now and are larger in size. One finds he has to move the pan with more vigor to remove the bubbles.

This is essentially what is happening in the Boxster's cooling system. The coolant needs to be circulated at a high rate of speed to help prevent the formation of those bubbles, pockets of steam, preventing them from getting too large.

If they are not removed where they form gets even hotter -- and they form at the hottest areas already -- and the bubbles/pockets of steam prevent coolant from contacting the hot spots and carrying away the heat. As a result localized overheating (and damage) can occur.

There are tubes cast in the head water passages to act a tiny jets to direct/aim coolant directly at the hottest spots to increase the velocity and force the coolant has to ensure no bubbles form and remain in place.

Slowing down the flow of coolant is the wrong way to go and for just a piddly amount of "HP" gain.

Far and away if one is tracking his car the biggest benefit in cutting lap times and increasing speed is not by making mods to the car -- other than those intended to help the car sustain the ravages of tracking (mods like better oiling) -- but in improving one's driving skill with expert guidance and counsel from a highly regarding driving instructor.

Not only does this make the driver a faster driver but a smoother driver which is not only safer for everyone involved but reduces the stress on the car and its subsystems.
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