Have you ever listed all your mods?
 

I've had my Boxster for just over a year now and in that time I've done a 3000 mile round trip around Europe (France Switzterland, Italy, Monte Carlo), driven on 8 UK track days and done Spa and the Nurburgring twice. 14K miles in total, but that's what I bought the car for!

But what really surprises me is the little tweaks and mods that I've done since buying...it must be something in my blood! Here's most of what I've done!

So the Car itself is a late '01 986S currently at 125K miles. A low mileage replacement engine was fitted at 104K miles. Mechanically, it's had a new waterpump, fuel pump and fuel relay.

So, let the mods begin:

* ENGINE: DNA Tuning Custom Map, Flat 6 Underdrive Pulley, Smooth air intake: 283bhp & 240lb/ft


* SUSPENSION: Retofitted MO30 Sports Suspension, complete new control arm set, 15mm/21mm (R/F) Hubcentric Spacers, EVOMS rear carbon upper strut brace, EVOMS 'swift-shift' gear shortener.

*BRAKES: Performance Friction pads, Goodridge braided Hoses, Motul RBF 600 fluid and GT3 front brake ducts.

*WHEELS: 997 Carrera III 18's with Bridgestone SO2 rubber (road) and 987 17's painted red with R888 Tyres (track)

*LIGHTS: Retrofit Clear Headlights (de-ambered) with LED indicators, LED sidelights and HID 5000K dipped Beam. Ring Hyper white DRLs. Rear LED red/smoke light upgrade and smoked central rear light. Door lights upgraded with LEDs and amber footwell illumination.

*EXTERIOR: Prestige Mohair Hood with heated glass screen, GT3 style front splitter, extended air intake, carbon wing mirror covers, Tequipment Sports exhaust bypass pipes painted matt black. Front and rear respray.

*INTERIOR: Retrofitted Sports seats, custom floor mats, aluminium-line gear lever, handbrake and silver centre console. Extended Carbon sills, Custom 'carbon leather' work (in progress). Custom silver grey Seatbelts, 996 'no smoker' 12V plug. Technovolt Voltmeter, Oil temperature and pressure gauges (in progress), Twin-tone Air Horn.

*AUDIO: Pioneer AVIC F910BT Double DIN Stereo/SatNav/DVD/USB/SD/iphone Head Unit, CDT Audio 6.5" Sub, 6" Mid Bass, 4" Mid range and tweeters, Genesis Profile 5 (450Watts RMS) amplifier.


I'm sure I've forgotten something :D

I think I'm there - my Box is exactly how I want it. In one years time, who knows - it'll either be a 996 Turbo or a 3.8 Engine... ;)

Mods
 

This thread is useless without pictures

Sorry to be negative on this one but.. Are you doing thoses mods for yourself or juste to show them off to get attention ?..

I see absolutely no point in such thread, it remember me a bunch of kids with their civic in a local car show, where most of them list the mode they (dream) will do soon..

Put a nice picture of your car in your signature and keep yourself to 1 line or 2 of your major mod, I don't think nobody care what kind of plug you put in your 12V outlet..

Don't take this personally ;)

Pictures are a must when you want to show off the mods. But, it will not add any resale price to your Boxster when you sale...some people get a little leary about mods when they buy. :cheers:

Like Gary, I have now plowed 3x the value of my car into repairs and mods, which I did because I enjoyed doing them, I have zero plans to ever sell the car, and very few people even notice them unless I point them out.

Vipola, I'd love to know, in intricate detail, everything Gary has done to his car. We are kindred spirits. I also know from six years on this forum that there are hundreds of other forum members that will enjoy reading it and ask Gary about one of his mods they want to do but couldn't source the parts or the process of installation.

BTW, in the spirit of this thread, most of (but not the most recent) repairs and mods can be viewed on this page of my web site:

http://www.iwantaporsche.net/repairs_mods.htm

You're making it too easy for thieves to steal your stuff.

That is the same way with my NB people can't believe that it is 10 years old and has over 200,000 on it. They also don't know it has a body kit on it except for the wing. I know the boxster will be even more subtle once I start moding it, because I will most likely not touch the body, just some suspension and wheels and tires. Good job on the mods Gary H and keep driving it. I am so jealous of this..."I've done a 3000 mile round trip around Europe (France Switzterland, Italy, Monte Carlo), driven on 8 UK track days and done Spa and the Nurburgring twice. 14K miles in total." It is at least 250 miles to really good driving roads from where I live and then it is still nothing like spa or the nurburgring. There is supposed to be a new track being built in Austin TX that I can't wait to run at. It is supposed to be fashioned after the best parts of the best tracks from around the world.

Oh and I noticed a few of your mods Randall and my personal opinion is that you have one of the coolest 986's on the forum. :cheers:

Flattery will get you everywhere. But you've not seem my car up close and personal. Truthfully, the paint's in an awful state in my eyes although for a 13 year old abused boxster it's not bad. I even have three rust spots the size of a dime and nickel under the passenger side engine fan vent I need to get fixed sooner than later.

Hopefully there's enough room here for my extensive list of mods:
Zip tied mesh to roll bar.
Hard wire kit for radar detector.
Desnorkeled then Resnorkeled within a month.
A new front bumper because a deer modded my bumper/grill assembly and radiator.

I've been focused on keeping up with maintenace items like oil, CV boots, tires, alignment, etc.

Having recently joined the forum I'm going to use my first post to say that you (edit: I meant THANK YOU) to Gary H for starting the thread.
It gave me a chance to look at all kinds of mods in one thread and I appreciate it!

And thanks to Randall N for his mod list too.


To vipola for your post shown below, I don't think I've ever seen a post on a car board expressing sentiment quite like that.

LOL, thanks for the comments...I think :)

The point I was trying to make was that most of my mods have a purpose, or are an enhancement, or are genuinely useful. Be it for driving, for comfort or for track.

The point I was trying to make is that I DRIVE my car, not polish it every day or wince if there's the slightest drop of rain and leave it covered up in my Garage...and yet, almost without thinking have modded it (quite extensively) without it looking like Dogs Dinner.

The point I was trying to make is that it's all to easy lose track of everything you've done to your car to enhanced it just that little bit...and value?! Don't go there - I wouldn't have started if I was interested in resale value!

Vipola, I don't really understand how you can come across so negatively and then end with 'don't take it personally'!! How else would you take it? Attention seeking? Trust me, I've been there, done that - you may have heard of a small US forum called VWVortex? Well to have your Golf voted the best car on there - especially as I'm in the UK is a pretty big thing. Previously to that I had a 5-series BMW with an outrageous bodykit that even WCC (if they'd been around) would have been proud of, and in it I built a World-renowned Stereo system...but have now come full circle - from All Show and no go , to full-on Go with a little show :)

So, no. No attention seeking sought, but modding is my blood - so if anything I've discovered, anything I've done can help anyone else it' my pleasure to do so.

Oh - if you did lose your lighter and wanted to fill the hole (and didn't smoke) what would you do?

http://www.garyhanda.com/box/ns.jpg

More than happily share the part number with you :cheers:

Why the re-snorkle?

(Sorry, forgot that one too :D]

Okay, I admit my comment was rude.. I retract it..

There is many way to talk about mods..

When you show what you did, how you did it and why and all that it's very interesting and you learn alot, and everyone will agree for sure..

But it's when peoples just go crazy list mods just for listing mods and putting all kind of irrelevent details like the color of ther underwhere that really don't say anything, in the only goal of getting more line that the guy beside.. this is what I find useless..

Hope this will help you all understand what I tried to say in my previous comment :)

I didn't like it. Sounded cool but if anything I think it took away a little power on the low end. Put it back on and it feels healthier.

Mods, eh? Let's see... I started with a neglected but fortunately not abused '99 986. So far I've added:

-2003 front bumper
-2003 heated sport seats (luv 'em!)
-2003 3-spoke steering wheel
-2003 shift knob
-added double-stitched leather gaiter to handbrake lever
-leather-covered console compartment cover
-replaced the broken ashtray with the oddments tray
-decaled the visors to cover the labels
-decaled the third brake light
-de-badged the trunk
-de-snorkeled
-colored crest wheel centre caps
-polished the headlight lenses

Still to do:

-re-finish/replace the wheels
-2003 style head and tail lights
-replace the grit-blasted windshield
-997 shift lever assembly
-some nice Lloyds mats
-give Jake Raby a ****************-load of cash to do his thing

Great mod list Gary. While my box is just a stock 986S I have fallen down that slippery slope with my URS4. Lots of 5-cylinder turbo goodness. 30+psi.

Where did you get your extended air intake? Custom? Would like to see pics. I like my desnorkeled intake but more fresh cold air scooped in.

What size tires you rinning as race tires. I have a set of 275/40r17 rear and 245/40r17 front khumo victoracers that i have squeezed onto my 17's for autocross. You running any larger? Want to make sure they will still clear when lowered. Thanks

Great thread. Mark T, great mods. You and I have the same taste.

I bought my 986 new in 2001. I special ordered it and put a lot of options on it. I have also desorkled, added a 2003 top with a glass window, 2003 tail lights, clear front markers, 2004 5-spoke wheels, alumimum hand brake and shift knob, GR painted center console and Kenwood double din nav unit.

To come; hard back heated sports seat with backs painted GR, M030 springs and Bilsteins HDs lowered to ROW, and.......

I think mine are at the bottom in my sig. :)

I guess I am a bit of a purist. I like the way the car looks just fine. I mod it with a singular purpose. If it doesn't make the car safer, more reliable or turn quicker laps it doesn't go on my car. I know, totally boring. It is what it is.

My list:
1 Cobra Imola Pro kevlar racing seat bolted to the floor
1 set Tarett adjustable sway bars with drop links
1 B&K roll bar extension with pad kit
1 RSS UD Pulley
1 X-51 baffled oil pan
1 5hz GPS reciever/PDA/racechrono software for live lap timing and data analysis.
5 sets of tires in various states of shred.
3 sets of Boxster S II 17" wheels. They all match so I can swap em around.
1 Odessey 680 light weight 15lb battery
1 10BC fire extinguisher on custom fabricated mount
1 set Raybestos ST-43 racing brake pads (great for the track, a little intense for street)

That's it. The motor is bone stock and it still has a full interior with cold A/C and a stereo/CD changer but I rarely use it. The car is pretty well sorted and nearly always in the top 20 out of 100 cars. If the driver has his act together it might squeak into the top 10 on a good day. Not too bad for a lil 2.5L pea shooter.

Hi Topless - some great mods there. How much of a weight reduction is the battery vs stock? And the Seat?
How much work is involved fitting the Sump, how much does increase oil capacity by and does it still sit under the under tray?
Would you say fitting a baffled sump is absolutely pessary if using track tyres? Were you getting oil starvation problems before fitting?
I've never heard of Raybestos - have you used anything else for track and could you compare them to Performance Friction or Pagid?

Cheers


Stuklr: The extended air scoop:

http://www.garyhanda.com/box/nw3.jpg

http://www.garyhanda.com/box/nw1.jpg

More cosmetic than functional, but if it directs a little more cold air in then great.
(Also shows a 21mm spacer on the rear with a 10J wide wheel and a 25mm spacer up front. Soon to be 15mm rear and 21mm front)

Tyre-wise for track is a little unconventional:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...7_825237_n.jpg

225/45 up front and 245/45's on the back - promotes turn in, reduces understeer and keeps the rolling radius very similar to stock.

(I originally went for this combo because teh tyres weren't in stock in the regular Porsche sizes. His worked and I've stuck with it.

Where did you find that exended air intake?

Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Porsche-Boxster-Full-Body-Kit-/290414044556?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM& hash=item439e06a58c#ht_1673wt_905

Quote Gary H:
"Hi Topless - some great mods there. How much of a weight reduction is the battery vs stock? And the Seat?
How much work is involved fitting the Sump, how much does increase oil capacity by and does it still sit under the under tray?
Would you say fitting a baffled sump is absolutely pessary if using track tyres? Were you getting oil starvation problems before fitting?
I've never heard of Raybestos - have you used anything else for track and could you compare them to Performance Friction or Pagid?"

I think the battery and seat shaved about 30lbs each and I add in 15lbs for the roll bar ext. A modest weight reduction but it also lowered the cg a bit. The seat adds a lot of driver security so you are not sliding around in the car at 130 mph.

My local track is the Fontana Roval and it is well known for killing m96 motors. I have 4 friends who tossed their motor on the banked turn 2 and got to go shopping for a new one. I didn't want to join that fraternity just yet so I added the X-51 pan. I am optimistic that it will help as long as oil temps don't soar too high. Installation is simple. The baffles need to be trimmed to fit our car and use very light sealant so it doesn't squeeze inside the motor.

Raybestos is well known in racing circles in the US. High in quality and low in advertising budget. The ST-43 has a very high temp range and a lot of bite. It can be used on the street but I find the car hits ABS easily on street tires. I do like them better than Pagid orange or yellow which tended to gum up my rotors over time. Here is my source. They will custom cut a set of pads for any racing application: http://porterfield-brakes.com/manufacturers/Raybestos/ST43.html

MY97, Tiptronic, owned for 7 years

Maintenance/Repairs:
Tiptronic rebuild ×2
MAF replacement ×2
ABS pump replacement
Water pump replacement
Ignition switch replacement
Brake rotors/pads/sensors replacement
etc.....

Mods/Upgrades:
996 front bumper
Glass window roof
Clear/red rear lights
Clear side markers
Jaycar kevlar front speakers - meh...
Rear parcel shelf console
PNP rear speaker kit - big difference to sound
Centre windblocker - a must :D
Full coil-over suspension, lowered
Aftermarket xenons - only $50 from eBay, what a difference in light output! :D
Audi auto dimming mirror - very useful as I drive a lot at night for work :D
double DIN GPS/MP3/DVD unit - excellent for obvious reasons :cool:
reverse camera - not actually that useful
VW in-dash cupholders - no more left hand Coke, right hand steer :D
Head-Up-Display - necessary for long trips to reduce eye strain from glancing at the speedo (no cruise control)
Brushed aluminium pedals
"Glitter" silver full respray :cool:

Planned (parts already in hand):
Remote central locking with proximity entry
Remote trunk release
Updated coolant cap
DLM fix
Spacers
Auto wipers/headlamps

Dreamin:
3.4L engine

Could you give more details of your HUD?

Cheers

The unit I bought was very similar to this, but without the OBD connector:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Heads-Up-Display-MPH-HEAD-UP-Head-Up-Vehicle-Speed-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem19c1175f40QQitemZ11061 3716800QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries#ht_4736wt_893

It required splicing into the speedo signal (from behind the radio), the tacho (from OBD), illumination (radio), 12V and ground. It also comes with a water temp sensor, which I haven't connected. I might use it for oil temp instead at some stage.

My car is off at the painter's coz some woman reversed into my car and then fled when my car was parked (from a witness). I will take some pics when I get it back.

I installed it a year ago. But never quite finished it. I wanted to bury the display unit under the dash, requiring me to cut a hole into that long plastic dash trim near the windshield. Never got around to doing that. So the unit just sit on top of it for now. Fully functional though, just not as integrated looking.

A photo of my HUD (not the most ideal lighting, but you get the idea):

Shame it's been removed - good job with the stereo splash screen though - did the same with my Pioneer AVIC. I can see your GPS antenna is on top of the dash? Mine works perfectly underneath that plastic panel.
Any details on the HUD (model make etc.) would be great and I'll do the digging.
I take it you're in Australia?

My AVIC install:

http://www.garyhanda.com/box/avic.jpg

All the way back to carburetor engines the air filter housings have had that metal, anteater type intake. If it was good enough for my dad's 396 turbo jet to breathe through, it should be great for a Porsche with the factory cold box set up. I experimented like you then settled for this compromise, I removed the tray cup that partially blocks the intake opening. Then I polished it with a variety of methods which I'm sure is totally subliminal in effect but hey placebos work all the time. Anyhow, it's my take on the intake.

i used to service the oil bath aircleaners....oh lordie...i am that old

I had a car with one of those - a '62 Strato Chief if I remember right. It had a generator rather than an alternator, and a blow-by tube straight to atmosphere (no PCV). Bought that car out of a field for $50 - put a battery in it, cleaned the plugs, and drove it for a year or so. Things were so much simpler then...

Awesome thread. More info on the LED indicators please. What and where to purchase? Any error code? I have just de-ambered my headlights, this sounds like an interesting option instead of getting chrome indicator bulbs.

:cheers:

My '71 914 1.7 had an oil bath air cleaner. It was a mess to clean but I didn't mind it. It did a great job of cleaning the incoming air, especially in the dusty area I was living in at that time.

When I had the intake vent out I was thinking of doing something similar to your setup. I was also considering getting another snorkel and reshaping it into a more free flowing air horn but it would require alot of flow modeling and bench testing. I used to do alot of CFD in grad school but for the small gains that would yield, I'll just stick with the stock snorkel.

Haha I was going to get another snorkel and chop it shorter. The idea you had would be a fun winter project if you had all the necessary equipment. I have to think Porsche already has that covered pretty well. I really didn't understand the function of the piece I removed, that thing that looks like the dip cup they put holy water in. It certainly looked to me like it was blocking the inlet. As for cones, I think anything that breaks the airbox would just suck hot air, I have seen people put cones into modified closed boxes, I wonder how that set up is?

The Evolution Motorsports high flow air intake for the 986 boxster is an excellent bang for the buck. It utilizes a cone shaped air filter and a revised snorkel, along with a dedicated air box. It gives a little bit of a bump in hp and creates an awesome sound !
http://www.evoms.com/marketplace/marketplace.asp?curr={95F6530B-7E67-4228-8E06-69F6D2E00060}&depth=30&parentid={95F6530B-7E67-4228-8E06-69F6D2E00060}

* De-amber side and rear
* Bike rack


Do snow tires or a hard top count?


To the OP - Yes, I just did (list all of my mods)...




/

Yup, the problem with removing the amber and then using silver bulbs is that you now have no reflector in the housing so are reliant on the output from the bulb alone to indicate - which at night with HIDs is poor and during the day is even worse.

I found the brightest opposite pin LED indicator bulbs I could find and they are awesome.
As I've only done the front (the rears are silver with a reflector) I don't have a rapid-blink problem (which is sorted by in-line capacitors). No codes thrown on the dash - the car's too old, but does have a field day when you plug in the diag. tool :)

Front:

http://www.garyhanda.com/box/newf2.jpg

Rear:

http://www.garyhanda.com/box/exh1.jpg

Thanks for the reply. What do you think of these "built-in resistor" LEDs? Should be bright enough?


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1156-BA15S-18-LED-Turn-Signal-Light-Bulb-AMBER-NO-ERROR-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5d2c6f1b38QQitemZ40017 7437496QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries

Just installed:
Proximity entry/remote central locking
Rear boot remote release