Supercharger - Imagine Auto

[Dfer]

Originally Posted by oliverg

Ah thank you very much Dennis. I don't think the S kits work with the standard Boxster? Do you know how much he wanted?

Kindest regards

Don't know much technically. Fitzgerald would be able to answer that.
We didn't get around to discussing price. I am arranging to have a drive to check it out but I suspect I will go the 3.4/3.6 route when the time comes.

Cheers

Dennis

[oliverg]

I spoke at length to Peter Fitzgeral regarding the SC he has for sale.

He imported it into Australia (it is the TPC one) and the first car it was installed in was a 2.5 - the engine blew within 2 months and Peter says he was the first person in Australia to rebuild a 2.5 engine (which he did for the client).

He then installed it in another client's vehicle and changed the injectors back to stock and changed the DME back to stock but did something funky with the 7th injector and restricted the boost level to 5.5 - apparently the initial 2-3 seconds after planting your foot the boost on the stock TPC with upgraded DME is around 9 (which is way too much for an engine of this compression). The second engine blew too.

Last car he put it in was a tiptronic - and after a few months, the transmission died. 14k to install a new tranny.

So now this evil supercharger sits ready waiting for the next victim!!!!! Peter wouldn't sell it to me as I have a tip. He assures me that he's ironed out the bugs (!!!!!) now. (I would think so, after 3 cars!)

He then tried to sell me the 3.4l upgrade. He has a 'brand new' 3.4 engine that was deployed in a guy who did track in it. Apparently there were sump issues with Boxsters with sticky tyres and oil starvation so the 3.4l blew and he rebuilt it. (So when he says "brand new" its 'sort of brand new') He wanted 30k ($AUD) which is about 22K $US for fitting and supply - but would be willing to give me a 1 year warranty on the engine itself.

Personally, I think 30k is way too high - I know I can get a 3.4l with all the bits for around 10k-12k $AUD and I can't see it costing 18-20k to install it! Am I wrong? Does anyone know how much (average) a 3.4l non egas 996 engine goes for?

I'll keep everyone posted anyway. Take care all!

[ohioboxster]

I would avoid this kit for sure because the things he is telling you make no sense. First is boost level I need to clear up your unit of measure are we talking foot pounds? (ft. Lbs.) If so the factory SC from TPC come with a pulley that creates 4.5 Ft. Lbs of boost. If he detuned his kit to 5.5 I have a feeling someone installed a different size pulley on the SC unit. If this is the case, motors are blowing for just cause. Compressed air is hot and will cause detonation. Detonation over time even extremely short time equals a blown motor no if ands or buts about it. I have installed SC kits in the past and have never seen boost shoot up in the first two seconds as he described. Now, if the blow off valve is bad I can understand a build up of pressure. The ladder makes no sense to me. Next the IA kit is the one where you change the factory injectors not the TPC kit. Finally, how in the world could you control an additional injector if you disconnect it from the factory ECU? If it was wired direct the motor would flood with gasoline. The whole thing just doesn't add up. The best part is he readily admits to blowing up three cars and still thinks you would buy the kit. Honest to a fault or just plain stupid?

[rennsport986]

oliverg

i'm a 2.5L owner from Sydney, Australia.

I've just started toying with the idea of a 3.4L conversion or turbo kit (preferably 3.4L conversion but depends on cost). I have spoken to the Porsche specialist who does all the mechanical work on my car, and he's advised that the labour cost should only be around AUD$6k-$7K for the 3.4L swap.

My problem is sourcing an engine and ECU, and I also have no idea what sort of price would be reasonable for these items in Australia. I would have guessed that AUD$10K-$15K would be realistic.

I met a chap in the Porsche Club NSW who has done a 3.4L swap into what was a 2.5L Boxster, and it made around 180kw at the wheels, although it was running a touch lean at the time. This was prior to me considering on embarking on this project, so I'm kicking myself for not asking him more questions at the time.

The Turbowerx kit you mentioned does appeal to me, and it is the cheapest turbo kit I have seen for the Boxster so far. I'd be interested to know if anyone has any feedback as to how effective/reliable these kits are.

Keep me posted on how you get on, it sounds like your plans/research are a lot more advanced than mine.

Cheers.

[oliverg]

Ohio - yes you are right - detonation was one of the reasons one of the cars blew. Also, my lay person translation of what he told me may be a bit skewed by my sheer lack of understanding. He did tell me the TPC injectors that were OE were special ones though - I remember that distinctly because I thought "ah just like the IA one" He struck me as completely honest but .. I honestly would say that even though he assures me that the problems are fixed now, I wouldn't be buying that particular kit!!

Rennsport - I thought before I started researching that it would be about 12-15k $AUD for a 3.4 swap - when he asked for 30k I almost died! He started off by saying "well usually you'd pay 40k" and I think I had an accident involving a new set of underwear. Your friend got 180kw to the wheels? That's about right from what I know, although with the new 100RON fuel we have now (Optimax Extreme) something funky could probably be done with the DME to increases that further - do you know if your friend was using the 2.5's cats/headers/muffler? The engine this guy was selling had custom cats for a 3.4.

If we go ahead with importing the Turbowerx twin turbos, I can have the install done here for you in Melbourne and would be prepared to give you a substantial discount (ie cost price!!) to be a guinea pig!

It was my thought to start doing 3.4 drops for a fixed price, then taking the 2.5s and rebuilding them and fitting the twin turbo kits and selling them as a package. Got to do some return on investment figures and see if its worthwhile.

If I can help you in any way I'd be only too happy to oblige

As Jim says. "Happy Motoring"

[rennsport986]

The guy I know with the 3.4L conversion had a full exhaust (extractors/cats/muffler) made or customised by Starr Performance in Melbourne. I'm not sure if his exhaust setup is the same that they would usually recommend for a standard 2.5/2.7/3.2 Boxster/S.

I've been in contact with Starr Performance who were very honest with me and advised that the exhausts that they have for normal 2.5/2.7/3.2 986's DO NOT provide any performance increase, just a much more aggressive sound. This is in contrast to the race exhausts they do for GT3's which do provide additional horsepower.

I'd be interested to get an idea of some ballpark costs for the turbo kit. I must admit though I have some reservations as to how bulletproof the 2.5 engine will be when turbocharged. I also haven't come across any feedback for the Turbowerx kit, so am unaware how good/bad it may be.

[Loper]

I certainly don't mean to hijack this thread or go off on too far a tangent, but has anyone installed a Turbo/Supercharger into a 987 yet? or are they too new yet? and is it worth the cost for the increase? And, of course, does anyone know anyone that's even selling performace parts for the 987 yet? I've been having trouble finding them so far.

I've seriously considered doing it, although like most I'll probably wait until the warantee is expired rather than void it prematurely.

For reference, this is for an 06 987 (Boxster), non-S, 2.7L. I'm pleased with the stock performance so far, but I've always been one to tinker with my cars/bikes, but this is my first Porsche, so it's still a little new for me.

Thanks in advance!

im confused as to why anyone of you even want to do this to your boxster's. so for $8000 all you get is 50h.p. + wear n tear on the engine + you just blew up the price of a $50,000 boxster, that is over priced in the first place. now you have a car that for sure nobody will buy. because its just too expensive.

i bet for $8000 i could buy a used civic, put a turbo or a sc kit and blow away any boxster that cost $58,000 with a turbo kit.

do the math doesnt work out. if it was h.p you were after you bought the wrong car. esspecially with cars on the market today with stock 300h.p. dam even a $25,000 mazda comes with 275 h.p add a turbo kit for what $8000. the boxster can't compete.

save the money if i were you. nobody is going to buy these kits...............maybe 1 out of 100 boxster owners.