986 Tuning Options

[SchuttsR1]

Hello all,

This is my first Porsche and was wondering what sort of tuning options are out there? Reflashes are fine but I was wondering if there is a jumper harness out there to plug a stand alone ECU in? Something like a Haltech, ECU master, or Link.

[997_986]

You could start with the "Sprintbooster". Quick to install and super cool.

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by 997_986

You could start with the "Sprintbooster". Quick to install and super cool.

Expensive snake oil. It's nonsense.

OP... if you want more HP get an S and go from there.

[997_986]

Originally Posted by Starter986

Expensive snake oil. It's nonsense.

[...]

Definately not, only people who have never tried it talk about it like that ;-)

[78F350]

Originally Posted by 997_986

Definately not, only people who have never tried it talk about it like that ;-)

From all that I've read, it does not increase power at all. What it does is bias the pedal response to be more aggressive. It simply modifies the signal from the pedal sensor to the DME (ECU). The signal to the engine from the DME is still within the normal range, but the SprintBooster may be telling the DME that the pedal is demanding 70% when the pedal is at the 50% position. IE, without having it installed you can get the same result by pushin that thang harder and faster with your right foot. Are you having trouble driving aggressively? ...here's a device that displays numbers and a green light to help compensate.

https://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/43038-sprint-booster.html

https://www.sprintbooster.com/presentation/HOW-IT-WORKS/

[78F350]

If you are familiar with Galletto you can modify and remap the DME on a bench. I've done very basic work with Audi and VW ECUs using Nefmoto, but have not messed with Porsche yet.

fooksm outlined the basics for DME 7.2:
https://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/31377-me7-2-boot-mode.html
https://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/32682-read-write-me2-7-ecu-whilst-still-car.html

I'm not aware of any of the frequent users here using a stand alone ECU with a stock engine, but there is this: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/forget-tt5-lets-go-off-the-deep-end-twin-turbo-v8-widebody-boxster/193174/page11/

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by 997_986

Definately not, only people who have never tried it talk about it like that ;-)

Many of us that have tried it still think it is expensive nonsense that adds nothing to the engine's output in actual dyno testing. If you can't depress the accelerator pedal fast enough, you have other problems..........

[997_986]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

Many of us that have tried it still think it is expensive nonsense that adds nothing to the engine's output in actual dyno testing. If you can't depress the accelerator pedal fast enough, you have other problems..........

I really appreciate your content. Of course it does not add 1 hp to the engine, but it delivers a huge amount of fun and makes you think you have a stronger engine.

If you never tried it please be quiet. It superfluous the "Sport Mode Button" (what does the same btw).
And I say it again: It is super cool!

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by 997_986

I really appreciate your content. Of course it does not add 1 hp to the engine, but it delivers a huge amount of fun and makes you think you have a stronger engine.

If you never tried it please be quiet. It superfluous the "Sport Mode Button" (what does the same btw).
And I say it again: It is super cool!

If you say so............... My customers are more interested in getting more out of their engines, not superfluous gimmickry................

[997_986]

All nuances are available here:
https://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/19704-anyone-tried-sprintbooster.html#post428470

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by 997_986

All nuances are available here:
https://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/19704-anyone-tried-sprintbooster.html#post428470

And what I said in that thread still stands...............if you can't get your foot down fast enough, the problem lies elsewhere.............

[Nickanator8]

To answer the original question and get back on topic: there really isn't much on the market for tuning these cars for more power.

There are a TON of products out there that claim 1-5 horsepower gains for a few hundred dollars each, but my understanding is that most people who have done dyno testing come to the conclusions that they don't do squat. 99% of mods out there are either snake oil or simply make more noises without any power gains.

You can do stuff with suspension, but personally, I prefer OEM. At least in my neck of the woods, or maybe my age, I find aftermarket suspension (coilovers) to be too rough and uncomfortable for daily use, which is how I use my boxster.

Short of spending thousands of dollars on forced induction you're stuck at the power figure you're currently at. Even if you could justify the forced induction costs, there really isn't any space to stick a turbo or supercharger, let alone the additional cooling components needed to make it reliable.

My two cents? Just enjoy the car for what it is: an excellent canyon carver designed for momentum and cornering, not straight line power. If you wanted straight line power you should have bought a different car.

[78F350]

Enough about the Sprintboopter

Originally Posted by SchuttsR1

Hello all,

This is my first Porsche and was wondering what sort of tuning options are out there? Reflashes are fine but I was wondering if there is a jumper harness out there to plug a stand alone ECU in? Something like a Haltech, ECU master, or Link.

SchuttsR1, As you may have noticed, there are not many good answers to your question. Is your goal more power or specifically tuning/stand alone ECU?

Over the years, there has been plenty of discussion about more power from more air and exhaust, reducing parasitic drain with PS delete and smaller crank pulley. The true gains have been noticeable, but still minimal when actually tested on a dyno. Neil made some great videos: https://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/64917-how-much-power-can-you-squeeze-out-986-boxster-s.html

One of my non-street 986s has a 996 intake, tune, and headers. My butt-dyno says it's more torquey, but it may mostly be altering the range for the peak of the curve.

There was a supercharger kit produced for a while, but they are rare and again, the gains were minimal for the expense.

Engine swaps seem to be the best way to gain significant power in these cars.

[SchuttsR1]

Thank you for the response. I have a 3.2L that is swapped into the base model car. I was looking at forced induction to give it a bit more of a kick and swapping fuel to E85 to help with the charge cooling. I was going to use a smaller single turbo to help with the down low torque. I was curious on what the limitations of the factory sensors and computer were?
I currently swap an ecu masters emu black between two cars but they are supposed by a plug in patch harness. They do support vw and I have seen cam and crank trigger setting in the drop down menu that should support these engines. That is why I asked if any one has done this before.

Originally Posted by 78F350

Enough about the Sprintboopter


SchuttsR1, As you may have noticed, there are not many good answers to your question. Is your goal more power or specifically tuning/stand alone ECU?

Over the years, there has been plenty of discussion about more power from more air and exhaust, reducing parasitic drain with PS delete and smaller crank pulley. The true gains have been noticeable, but still minimal when actually tested on a dyno. Neil made some great videos: https://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/64917-how-much-power-can-you-squeeze-out-986-boxster-s.html

One of my non-street 986s has a 996 intake, tune, and headers. My butt-dyno says it's more torquey, but it may mostly be altering the range for the peak of the curve.

There was a supercharger kit produced for a while, but they are rare and again, the gains were minimal for the expense.

Engine swaps seem to be the best way to gain significant power in these cars.

[SchuttsR1]

Originally Posted by 78F350

SchuttsR1, As you may have noticed, there are not many good answers to your question. Is your goal more power or specifically tuning/stand alone ECU?

I have done a 3.2L swap on my base along with a 2.5L 5 speed. I like the bump in torque but I would like a little more than what the NA engine has to offer. I was looking to add a small turbo to the car along with the addition of E85 to help with the intake air temp.
I have a ECU Masters EMU black that I swap between two cars and I would love to add it to the boxster. Unfortunately they don't make an adapter harness like the other two cars but it looks like the crank and cam shaft triggers are supported. I would like to use the additional safety options the EMU has over the stock ECM as well.

[78F350]

That makes a lot more sense of what you are asking for.
Even though it's a V8 swap, you may glean some useful info from this page: https://sites.google.com/view/boxsterv8swap/home

I have scrapped a few 986s and can probably find enough old wiring harness parts for you to assemble your own adapter if you are up to it.

Also, I think that somewhere in this thread, truegearhead mentions having a custom harness made for his twin turbo V8 swap. You could contact him and see if they can fabricate one for your needs. https://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/77421-time-trial-build-thread-aero-widebody-any-other-nonsense.html

The Engine side of the EMU Black should be pretty simple. Getting wired to the rest of the car for full function will be a bit more complicated.