Building a 3.2L

[Boxy_02]

Hi There!

I am a new owner of a 2002 base Boxster with 103,000 miles, but in great condition.
I am looking at building up a 3.2L Engine to replace the 2.7. The car is an automatic transmission - my question is: Does the donor Engine I am going to start with have to come from original Automatic Car? or does it not matter if it was a Manual transmission car? Are the blocks the same?

Thanks!

[Dlirium]

build a v8!

[78F350]

The engine itself, does not need to be an automatic. There are some peripheral items that you can swap, such as the wiring harness and the plumbing. Some minor vacuum hose changes. Flywheel will need to be from (or new for) a 3.2 automatic

There are other considerations regarding year for the sensors, DME/ECU, throttle, etc.

Read this yet?
Porsche Boxster Engine Conversion Project - 986 / 987 (1997-08) - Pelican Parts Technical Article

Buy the 101 projects book to get started.

[KRAM36]

I would sell it and buy one with a 3.2l engine in it.

[JAAY]

3.8. Done.

[KRAM36]

Originally Posted by JAAY

3.8. Done.

Even doing this I would start out with an S model. There is more to the S then just a 3.2l engine.

[mikefocke]

Originally Posted by KRAM36

Even doing this I would start out with an S model. There is more to the S then just a 3.2l engine.

Yes, the brakes and suspension are "better".

But I had more legal fun in my 2.5 than my 3.2.

[Jake Raby]

Or just build a 3.6/3.8/4.0/4.2 from your OEM 2.7 core

Yes, I can.

[Dlirium]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

Yes, the brakes and suspension are "better".

But I had more legal fun in my 2.5 than my 3.2.

Huh? You're not making any sense at all...

[Porsche9]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

Or just build a 3.6/3.8/4.0/4.2 from your OEM 2.7 core

Yes, I can.

What can you build from a 3.2?

[mikefocke]

Well if you measure fun by how hard your right foot presses for how long and how you have to drive the car and not just get tugged along by a big displacement, then my 2.5 was more fun than my 3.2 even though, by measurements, the 3.2 was better.

My 3 prior roadsters were all less than 100HP (1.3, 1.6, 1.6) cars so my 2.5's 200HP felt more than adequate. I drove the Alfas/914 harder than any of my Boxsters.

The Spec Boxster race cars are only 2.5s, BTW.

Just a different way of looking at things.

[Boxy_02]

Originally Posted by 78F350

The engine itself, does not need to be an automatic. There are some peripheral items that you can swap, such as the wiring harness and the plumbing. Some minor vacuum hose changes. Flywheel will need to be from (or new for) a 3.2 automatic

There are other considerations regarding year for the sensors, DME/ECU, throttle, etc.

Read this yet?
Porsche Boxster Engine Conversion Project - 986 / 987 (1997-08) - Pelican Parts Technical Article

Buy the 101 projects book to get started.

Yes! I did pick up the book, just didn't get the chance to go thru it yet.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

My 3 prior roadsters were all less than 100HP (1.3, 1.6, 1.6) cars so my 2.5's 200HP felt more than adequate.

I drove the Alfas/914 harder than any of my Boxsters.

.

Alfa's.. :-)
Care to elaborate..?

.

[Jake Raby]

Originally Posted by porsche9

what can you build from a 3.2?

3.5, 3.6, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.1...

[KRAM36]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

Yes, the brakes and suspension are "better".

But I had more legal fun in my 2.5 than my 3.2.

We already know the S has better cooling too and according to Renegade Hybrids it has a better drivetrain.

https://youtu.be/P67OSN2DqAE?t=409

[mikefocke]

Giulietta Veloce Spyder 1.3 1960 bought used 1965, blew head gasket in 1967 and was essentially destroyed by a dishonest mechanic who took my money to rebuild it and then abandoned it out in the open with the top open when I was deployed. Floor rusted through. Waved to go faster at 100MPH in Indianapolis after the 500 race by a city cop directing traffic out of the city.

Giulia Spyder 1.6 1966 bought used in 1968, sold to buy the 914. I actually used it sometimes to tow a 18 foot I/O boat from DC to Annapolis with this one.

914 1970 bought new, sold a week before the warranty ran out because of the incompetence of the parts and service dealer organizations in that era. The joke around work was it had a reserved spot at the dealer's waiting for repairs and parts. But when it ran, up to the hills of PA to skiing, it was my first taste of mid engine handling. I was still young and immortal. Replaced with BMW 2002 1970

Got married, had kids, drove to work in a series of just issued cars like the Plymouth Horizon, Nissan Sentra and such.

Once I had the kids mostly off the payroll and retirement money well in hand, then Boxsters ('99, '01S).

[BYprodriver]

Best thread in 3 years, somebody has to hijack it!

[jsceash]

Originally Posted by Boxy_02

Hi There!

I am a new owner of a 2002 base Boxster with 103,000 miles, but in great condition.
I am looking at building up a 3.2L Engine to replace the 2.7. The car is an automatic transmission - my question is: Does the donor Engine I am going to start with have to come from original Automatic Car? or does it not matter if it was a Manual transmission car? Are the blocks the same?

Thanks!

The harness from your motor will work with a 3.2 motor just swap it.
The vacuum system tubing can be moved to the donor engine as well.
Any similar year 3.2 motor will swap into a 2.7 car.

I have a 3.2 block from a tip running in a 2.7 manual chassis. You can pick up front S brake calipers on Ebay for cheap and replace the rotor for about the same price as new non-S rotors and brakes. Rear brake let alone same pads S or non-S.

Good luck have fun.

[Boxy_02]

Jake - sent you a PM.

[Qmulus]

I want to hear the reaction when he sees Jake's cost to make a 3.6...