986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

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- - Boxster Subaru conversion interest? (http://986forum.com/forums/boxster-general-discussions/25697-boxster-subaru-conversion-interest.html)

Always contemplated an Audi V8 swap in the Boxster. Subscribed!

I'll start a new thread with some more pictures and info in the next few days.

cool. with the Porsche/audi 5-speed are you using the oem transmission mounts - ie, does the engine fit far enough forward? any other fit issues?

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Radium King (Post 348246)

cool. with the Porsche/audi 5-speed are you using the oem transmission mounts - ie, does the engine fit far enough forward? any other fit issues?

Yes, the engine cradle was built around using the OEM style transaxle mounts to position the engine in the engine bay, and it fits... barely. For me, it was important that none of the engine's oil pan would hang down below the level of the floor pan so I probably raised the engine up higher than the others who have done this in the past. As a result, the cam position sensor is extremely close to the top of the engine bay, and one of the breather lines coming off of the driver's side valve cover will need to be relocated so I can use an unmodified engine lid. This package will be using solid engine and transaxle mounts so I'm not worried about the engine torquing under load, but if it weren't for that, something would have to be done to either space the whole drivetrain down to prevent the engine from hitting other things. These are all relatively small issues though. The biggest problem is going to be the intake manifold and throttle body. I'll go into that in more detail later.

perhaps check into a cayman/987 engine lid - apparently same mounting points as a 986 but more room to clear the taller m97 intake manifolds.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcpaz (Post 221925)

I'm doing a Boxster/Subaru engine conversion and I was wondering if there is an interest in a build thread here. Not sure what the demographic is here or whether most are purists, but if people are interested in watching, I'd be happy to post up some information/pictures as I go along.

To be honest I think everyone on here has petrol in their vanes so of course we would be interested. Personally i see this route as a good was of saving some of the early 2.5 cars where the replacement engine costs mean the car would more likely be scrapped upon serious engine failure.

Show us the way….and watch us beat a path to your door!

Good stuff!

Awesome welds BTW. Never seen anything that precise outside of aviation.

You do really good work, but can I'm asking, "Can I afford it?" I know you said you were not ready to sell the Audi V-8 as a kit vs. the Subie kit (from your race car)….BUT can you HELP those of us who have blown Porsche engines? Seems a shame to scrap a perfect car, aside from the engine.

There HAS to be a less expensive alternative than spending $10-12 grand for a Chevy LS/LT conversion by Renegade or a Raby rebuild - so us "regular guys" can afford it.

Has anyone seen a Honda engine in a Boxster? There are tuners for those engines pushing 800HP for less than $10k. Was looking to spend around $6k myself. Could sell my engine (and a kidney) on ebay for a couple grand and only be out labor and $4k or so.

Would you be able sell the "old" Subie as a kit kcpaz?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homeboy981 (Post 348333)

The truth about QUALITY engine conversions is that no matter what engine you use (Subaru, LSx, or Audi V8) it's not going to be cheap. Just yesterday I was going through some of the invoices from customers in the past where we did engine conversions for. I just don't see how you could do a conversion for less than $10-$12 in parts, and that's not including the cost of the engine. There is just too many details that need to be factored in that most people don't even think about. Simply mounting the engine and transaxle in the chassis is the easy part. There are so many other systems that need to be integrated and need to be modified to work properly. It's not like the old days of small block Chevy's where all you had to do is bolt the engine in, run a fuel line to a carb, hook up an ignition box and a throttle cable and go on your way. There is a lot more to it than that. Here's just a quick run-down of things that you would need to address in a Subaru conversion...

- Subaru turbo engine
- Engine adapter kit
- Clutch
- Engine cradle
- Motor mounts
- Headers
- Post-turbo exhaust system
- Complete engine management system for Subaru sie of things
- Turbo scavange pump
- Complete intercooler system (air-to-water system means adding a third radiator up front on the non-S cars)
- Speed sensor kit for Subaru ECU (bolts to CV joint)
- Plumbing for fuel system
- Plumbing lines (hard lines) for coolant line adaptation to chassis
- RPM signal modifier for tachometer
- DBW throttle pedal kit (if Subaru engine is drive-by-wire
- Turbo charger (the Subaru turbo won't work in the Boxster chassis very well at all
- Plumbing for the turbo charger
- Custom A/C compressor lines
- Custom power steering lines
- Modified brake booster reference line

These are just the items I can think of off the top of my head.

The point is, it's not as simple as most people think. Having said that, I still think that the conversion is worth it to the right person, in the right circumstance. If you are someone who is in love with the Boxster chassis (and I think that most people on this forum are), and you are interested in owning your car for a decent period of time (longer than a year), then I think in the long run, the conversion makes sense, especially if you find yourself in the position of owning a car that blew it's engine. If you're a Boxster owner who is looking to make more than 300HP at the rear wheels, and also meet the criteria above, then I think you may be a good canidate for an engine conversion. If you purchase a car with a blown engine solely for the purpose of doing an engine conversion, then I think you are the right person for this sort of conversion.

On the flip side, if you aren't willing to spend at least $12K in parts to improve whatever it is that you don't like about your current Boxster, and your car runs and drives perfectly fine, then an engine conversion is not for you. If you're a "tinkerer" who thinks that an engine conversion sounds like a fun weekend project, then an engine conversion is probably not right for you.

Personally, I LOVE the Boxster chassis, and they are a blast to drive. I don't however, have any love whatsoever for the M96 engine. I think the Boxsters could have become greater than they were had they not been cursed with such a problematic engine. An engine, that never really made impressive horsepower on top of all of it's other flaws. Once the early cars started becoming available for around $3000 with blown engines, I knew the time was right to start developing an alternative to simply scrapping the cars out, or spending way too much to replace the blown engine. The cars are too good to simply write them off as a loss because the engine are an issue.

To answer your other question... Yes, I do have Subaru engine conversion kits available for sale. you can email me at precisionchassis@gmail.com for more information

Please someone ban kcpaz for posting all this car porn! I would love to have the Audi v8 in my Boxster. Jk don't ban him.

I love the 914 conversion. Out of curosity, how pennies would one have to save for that. I had a '75 914 that I wish I kept and converted (the guy who bought it from me turned it into an electric car).

The cost to convert a 914 or a Boxster is basically the same. If anything, the 914 has the potential to be more expensive because you have to add a radiator system that never existed, not to mention the inevitable rust issues associated with almost every 914 in existence. We are currently finishing up putting a Subaru 3.3 H6 engine in a 914 using a Boxster 5 speed transaxle. Should be a pretty awesome car when finished.

you guys really do some amazing work

Nice, the exhaust may be a touch loud ! :eek:

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen wilson (Post 374666)

Nice, the exhaust may be a touch loud ! :eek:

Yes... VERY loud ;)

Obscene pictures

BTW, The welds on the intake plenum are awesome...!
Is that an Audi V8 engine?

.

Yes, its an Audi ABZ engine.

Awesome! Any news on this project?