400 HP Boxster engine options???

[ksjohn]

Thank you for all the advise. And there is more to this than just hot rodding a Boxster.

Next spring I am buying a 911. I have wanted one for 35 years and I have the money currently in a savings account specifically for that purpose. Once I have the 911, I will sell my Boxster because I know I will never drive it. Same thing happened when I bought the Boxster. I used to have a sweet BMW 635csi. But once I got the Boxster, I never ever drove it. So I sold it.

I have been looking for a project car for a couple years down the road. Something I can build and paint, take my time on, have fun with and not really care about the final value. I do not intend on putting a ton of money into it, mostly a lot of my own time. I have looked at lots of options, but I have not found anything that really lights my fire. No Mustangs or BMWs or Alfas...... Again, I am going to do this on a fairly low budget as far as project cars go.

But I do love my Boxster! Love the way it drives! Great little car! So it occurred to me that a Boxster Frankenstein project might be a lot of fun! A salvage title, roller Boxster S would be a perfect start if I can find one. I do own a Z-top that I never put on my current Boxster that I would probably install.

Then comes the engine. If I am going to do this, it needs to have north of 300hp. And I am simply not going to do an m96 engine. One of those in my life at any point in time is enough for me. I want something I can drive when it is 20 degrees. (I never drive the Boxster when it is cold because I want the engine to stay healthy) And I am open to the challenge of getting everything to work and have something derivable. It has been done, it is just not easy.

Regarding the engine, I have been reading more about the Audi 2.7t. Seems to be a very robust power plant with all forged internals and twin turbos stock. Very tunable, reliable engine. Worst I have heard is they are prone to engine leaks, but that would be addressed before it was fitted to the car. And they are pretty inexpensive to buy.

Anyway, I am going to build something fast and fun and this is my current thinking. I may change my mind, but who knows.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by ksjohn

Thank you for all the advise. And there is more to this than just hot rodding a Boxster.

Next spring I am buying a 911. I have wanted one for 35 years and I have the money currently in a savings account specifically for that purpose. Once I have the 911, I will sell my Boxster because I know I will never drive it. Same thing happened when I bought the Boxster. I used to have a sweet BMW 635csi. But once I got the Boxster, I never ever drove it. So I sold it.

I have been looking for a project car for a couple years down the road. Something I can build and paint, take my time on, have fun with and not really care about the final value. I do not intend on putting a ton of money into it, mostly a lot of my own time. I have looked at lots of options, but I have not found anything that really lights my fire. No Mustangs or BMWs or Alfas...... Again, I am going to do this on a fairly low budget as far as project cars go.

But I do love my Boxster! Love the way it drives! Great little car! So it occurred to me that a Boxster Frankenstein project might be a lot of fun! A salvage title, roller Boxster S would be a perfect start if I can find one. I do own a Z-top that I never put on my current Boxster that I would probably install.

Then comes the engine. If I am going to do this, it needs to have north of 300hp. And I am simply not going to do an m96 engine. One of those in my life at any point in time is enough for me. I want something I can drive when it is 20 degrees. (I never drive the Boxster when it is cold because I want the engine to stay healthy) And I am open to the challenge of getting everything to work and have something derivable. It has been done, it is just not easy.

Regarding the engine, I have been reading more about the Audi 2.7t. Seems to be a very robust power plant with all forged internals and twin turbos stock. Very tunable, reliable engine. Worst I have heard is they are prone to engine leaks, but that would be addressed before it was fitted to the car. And they are pretty inexpensive to buy.

Anyway, I am going to build something fast and fun and this is my current thinking. I may change my mind, but who knows.

Most people admit it is funner driving a Boxster over a 996, with the exception of the power. They have basicly the same engine just bigger cylinders in a 996. My 2000 has it's original engine with 3.6 Litres & it eliminates all the failure prone oe parts, it passes CA smog. If you need to take it to a mechanic or sell it you don't have to write up a special service manual on how to work on it.

[rfuerst911sc]

My S is in the neighborhood of 320 - 330 at the crank with over 282 at the wheels . That combo with the mid engine chassis is a ton of fun to drive . She is tough to handle in the rain but even in the dry can be a handful if I am not careful . Every weak point has been addressed and to look under the hood it all looks stock . If need be any Porsche shop could work on it .

I have driven a LOT of water cooled 996's and some 997's and they are great cars . But they are GT's not sports cars . They are not tossible they are too heavy. But on a highway set the cruise at 100 and they are fantastic. Just my opinion others may disagree . Have fun with whatever whatever you choose .

[husker boxster]

https://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/d/kansas-city-porsche-cayman/7018033619.html

[ksjohn]

Thanks for the link. The cayman roller would be a fun platform to play with.

Originally Posted by husker boxster

https://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/d/kansas-city-porsche-cayman/7018033619.html

[maytag]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

My S is in the neighborhood of 320 - 330 at the crank with over 282 at the wheels .

What's the displacement? Still running factory electronics?

I'm salivating just imagining, Haha.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by maytag

What's the displacement? Still running factory electronics?

I'm salivating just imagining, Haha.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

It is a 3.6 built on my 3.2 block with all kinds of exotic goodies inside care of Jake Raby . Still utilizes factory ECU but with a custom Jake Raby in house tuning program . I could pull more out of it if I switched to his custom cams but I see no need for more power , currently it is a great sleeper and behaves well like starts great hot or cold , good idle , better MPG than stock if I keep my foot out of it etc. in my opinion it is darn near perfect . If I had more disposable income I'm sure the addition of his in house custom cams , a 996 intake system and some playing around with the exhaust could easily get me in the 375 hp arena .

[itsnotanova]

Originally Posted by ksjohn

Regarding the engine, I have been reading more about the Audi 2.7t. Seems to be a very robust power plant with all forged internals and twin turbos stock. Very tunable, reliable engine. Worst I have heard is they are prone to engine leaks, but that would be addressed before it was fitted to the car. And they are pretty inexpensive to buy.

Anyway, I am going to build something fast and fun and this is my current thinking. I may change my mind, but who knows.

I have a 3.4 996 with 278hp at the wheels in my boxster. It's fun but not enough for me. Most oil leaks on the 2.7 are the oil lines connected to the turbos. It's highly unlikely you'd keep those small KO3's when installing that motor into a boxster anyway. I have a 2.7t waiting to be put in my boxster but I plan on going with a single turbo. Guys are getting 700hp+ out of those 2.7t's. I'm shooting for a more reliable 500hp. I'm not sure the suspension could handle more than that. I also plan on using a cayman 6 speed to make the swap easier. The mechanical part of the swap looks to be very easy. Electrical, now that's a different story.

[ksjohn]

Originally Posted by itsnotanova

I have a 3.4 996 with 278hp at the wheels in my boxster. It's fun but not enough for me. Most oil leaks on the 2.7 are the oil lines connected to the turbos. It's highly unlikely you'd keep those small KO3's when installing that motor into a boxster anyway. I have a 2.7t waiting to be put in my boxster but I plan on going with a single turbo. Guys are getting 700hp+ out of those 2.7t's. I'm shooting for a more reliable 500hp. I'm not sure the suspension could handle more than that. I also plan on using a cayman 6 speed to make the swap easier. The mechanical part of the swap looks to be very easy. Electrical, now that's a different story.

Hi Woody, thanks for the info!

Ideally I would like to keep the twin turbos. But then I need to learn a lot more about turbo powered engines, pros and cons....

I was reading a long thread about a guy in England I believe. He did install a 2.7 with both turbos in his Box. He had several issues with working out an intercooler and the air supply piping. But he was also working on a very tight budget in a carport which probably didn't help much. I agree, the electronics will be my biggest struggle as well.

[itsnotanova]

I believe the guy in england already did one boxster with the 2.7t and went with a single turbo on that car. That car burnt to the ground and now he's building another one on a budget. There's also a rally boxster in England with the 2.7t. I believe the stock location of the turbos is too low for use in a boxster chassis. You also have limited space and that's why the single would be easier.

[ksjohn]

Originally Posted by itsnotanova

I believe the guy in england already did one boxster with the 2.7t and went with a single turbo on that car. That car burnt to the ground and now he's building another one on a budget. There's also a rally boxster in England with the 2.7t. I believe the stock location of the turbos is too low for use in a boxster chassis. You also have limited space and that's why the single would be easier.

Yes, I saw that. I thought his new build used both turbos in the stock location, but I could wrong. I am pretty sure he is using both turbos though. I will see if I can search and find some info on the rally car.

I have been doing some more research on the 2.7t. Looks like you can get just over 300hp with stock setup and a chip. Stage 2 mods get you 350 to 400hp. I need to see what the average cost of the stage 2 parts would run.

I am thinking that I would get a used engine and do a minimal amount to it internally. Would need to do all the seals. Probably worth pulling the heads and having them done.