Cayman or 987 Boxster engine cover on 986 Boxster
 

Hello all!

I'm just curious if anyone on this forum has used a 987 engine cover on a 986. If so, how did you secure it in place? From my understanding, the 987 engine cover uses torx screws. Thanks!!

sorry, but why would anyone do this?

Agree..why would you want to do this? The original securing system (twistlock) is so much easier.

i used the torx screws. pull off the clips on the mounting tabs and replace with smaller ones (the smaller, universal, body clips worked for me). i thought about retrofitting the 986 system to the 987 cover, but the 986 cover is much thicker and i would have had to fabricate spacers.

fyi, you do this to reduce weight and increase space in the engine compartment for intake mods, engine swaps, etc.

Exactly.. Its to increase space. I did the the 997 plenum and TB modification and I like a little more space. Another reason is the 986 engine cover is plastic with an aluminum heat shield. It tends to rattle over time. I like the fact the 987 cover is one solid aluminum piece. I'm sure it will reduce the rattle and secure nice and solid. Weight savings is always a plus!

Thanks for the info Radium King! .. Just what I'm looking for.. Any chance you can direct me to these universal body clips (link) ? Where did you get them? Thanks!

these guys - they are all over the car holding things together; i just had a bunch laying around from all the parts i've stripped off to save weight. i presume they come in various sizes; i had enough of the proper size.

https://www.belmetric.com/metal-hardware-c-12_128_130/ns35ylw-speed-clip-sheet-metal-nut-p-717.html?zenid=he1fcgbg0rop921fapskkr4pe3

Ok, that's what I thought you were talking about. Thanks!

There was a recent Spec Boxster racing incident where the 986 engine cover came loose during an incident and allowed fire in the engine compartment to enter the passenger compartment.

Thus, Spec Boxster race cars are recommended to use the 987 metal engine cover that attaches with screwed fasteners to replace the 986 composite engine cover that uses the quick release clips to help prevent the engine cover from becoming displaced in an incident.

You are correct, the screw is a Torx T30 head.

Here is the OEM parts list:

• 987 engine cover (PN 98751321102)
• Oval-head screw m6 x 16 (PN 99907327902)
• Speed nut M8 (PN 99959186901)

As you can see in the photos, I have everything sitting in my workshop and plan to install next week.

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...psyolychgw.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0psgazuu.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...psvxxa7qbl.jpg

Awesome info.. Thanks alot thstone!

Good to know. I actually thought Porsche converted to torx fasteners to make it more of a pain for owners to service their own cars. At a DIY maintenance day for Boxster owners one day, I saw a friend struggle getting one of the torx bolts out (and stripped it in the process). I thought to myself what a pain to have switched from quick release! I don't think I'll be changing it cause I am too lazy and prefer quicker access to my engine, but good to know it's a good change.

Here is the recap from my Boxster Spec thread;

Back from a long racing weekend at Laguna Seca - what a rollercoaster!

Details of my weekend coming in the next day or so, but first, a reminder of what can happen - this Boxster had contact with another car and went into the guardrail. The engine cover popped open from the side impact and the engine caught fire. With the engine cover off, the fire came inside the car. Driver was able to get out and was ok. Car is a total loss.

POC met with all of the Spec Boxster drivers and recommended three changes;

1. Get a full containment seat for additional protection in side impacts.
2. Remove the quick disconnect fasteners on the engine cover and replace with bolts to ensure that the engine cover remains in place during an accident.
3. Replace engine cover with metal version if your car has the composite engine cover to provide better fire protection.


http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9rxdf6fq.jpg

whats the weight on the 987 cover? the 986 one is heavy and could save a few pounds...

They are supposed to be lighter than the 986 engine cover according to comments above. Maybe thstone can compare the weights for both after he does the swap. For folks who don't track their cars, however, would they still be able to fit their rear speaker kits on top of the 987 engine cover? It looks like the 987 engine cover is more bulbous on the top than the smooth shaped 986 cover.

You might be able to get the carpet on but it looks like the box would be a no go.

How do 987 owners get their speaker boxes on?...are they different?

I think the difference is in the carpet insulation. My mother's 987 has only the cargo net on top of the carpet and it's just as flat as mine is when the storage box is off.

Ok, so in theory, if you also source the 987 carpet, the speaker box should still fit.

Working on this today - will post weight, size, and installation photos later today...

986 carpet fits 987 cover - you have to trim some insulation off the underside. dunno about speaker box.

You putting on speaker box so that you can listen to tunes while on track? :D

Here is the install....

First, the screws and captive nuts that I listed earlier don't match so I ran to the local hardware store and bought 8mm cap bolts that worked fine with the above listed captive nuts.

The install was very easy. Simply remove the old cover and remove the quick release captive nuts using a small screwdriver (they are tight but just pull off). Then push on the new captive nuts, install the metal cover, and install the bolts. I used a screwdriver to align the new captive nuts with the cover holes to make it easy to start the bolts.

The old composite engine cover weighs 7.8 lbs; the 987 metal engine cover weighs 4.0 lbs for a savings of 3.8lbs.

The 986 carpet cover fits over the 987 engine cover but the slightly larger hump in the 987 cover can be seen if you look at the photo carefully. I'm not sure if the rear compartment/speakers could be installed or not.

New bolts from hardware store...
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...pshwzk9fal.jpg

Old captive nut...
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...psbuqguptl.jpg

New captive nut installed...
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...psnub1rcib.jpg

986 cover (left) vs 987 cover (right)...
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9zmc3xin.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...psai5ahav8.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...psekv2r14v.jpg

Final install...
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6zpt89qc.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...pscgvp6umq.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...psijgrkfpg.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...pswph6tesn.jpg

Nice clean install. Thx for posting.

I had a quick look at the 987 cover and it looked like that one would have to trim the rear bottom edge of the speaker box to make it sit properly...this assuming the front pegs line up

I did a bit of snooping around for some 987 speaker box pictures and managed to fine this one which appears to show this very feature in a factory 987 box.

Perhaps someone with a 987 could post a 1:1 template that would serve a pattern for 986 speaker box modification...and dremel away

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1483332678.jpg

you can just barely see the cover hump relief feature on the rear bottom edge. perhaps someone with a 987 could confirm.

Ah yes, I see the cutout. Interesting. It also looks like the carpet does need to have some insulation shaved off because the receivers for the speaker box don't look like they stick out enough.

Hey Tom,

Can you repost this? Photo bucket has eaten all of your images. Are the porsche 987 captive nuts that are clipped to the engine bay tabs M8 or M6?

Ive done this after my engine swap. M6 screws and speed nuts

Okay thanks, it looks like the Porsche speed nuts are M8 though. Where did you source your M6s? Did they fit the engine bay tabs well?

Sure, I'll update the photos tomorrow... (there is a nice warn corner of hell reserved for the folks at Photobucket)

thats odd. My factory retaining bolts were m6. I ordered the speed nuts on amazon.

It really doesn't matter. M6 or m8 speed nuts will work fine, just obviously be consistent.

I was able to remove the twist pock fasteners from the boxster lid and move them to the Cayman lid. Requires popping the star washers off the twist lock pin and reusing them. Not difficult.

My 2005 has the Bose system and the speaker sits on top of the carpet on top of the engine aluminum cover.