Will a 3.2L mount to a 2.5L's 5 speed?

[truegearhead]

Blew up my motor last weekend and am trying to figure out if a 3.2L will bolt up to my 2.5L. Eventually I'll upgrade to the 6 speed but I'm trying to limit my spend for now. Does anyone know it'll bolt up and handle the power?

[Lemming]

I was told that it will bolt right up.

[goldsc_78258]

Yes it will bolt up. not sure about being enough for the power though

A friend ran one on a autocross Boxster with a 2.9 that made about 240 to the wheels for 4 years with no issues. that car is now in California still running

[seningen]

Originally Posted by Lemming

I was told that it will bolt right up.

Might depend on the clutch/flywheel you use -- make sure the spline count is the same
or swap the 2.5's flywheel to the 3.2.

Frankly, I'd source the 3.2L Tranny while you're in there and then sell the 2.5L Tranny.

Does your 2.5L have the center radiator? You might need that to help cool the 3.2

Mike

[mikefocke]

The bigger question is the engine controls and fuel supply returns. Those control easy swap.

Find a 996 0r 986 engine from the same era defined by same DME.

[truegearhead]

Good to hear about the transmission! Looks like I have two other hurtles 1) I have a cable throttle 2) I have an early DME that will need to be swapped. So since the 3.2 was only e-gas my plan is to use a 3.4L throttle body and a 3.4L each and immobolizer with a 3.2L engine. Does that sound like a winning combo?

[itsnotanova]

Yes the 3.2 will bolt up to a 5 speed. I have a friend that quit racing spec, so he decided to turn his spec boxster into a fun DE track toy. He replaced the 2.5 with a 3.2 using a cayman intake and a 2.7 5 speed. Yes the 6 speed is beefier and better suited for the job, but the 5 speed can handle the abuse if you're not too rough with it. I personally would switch to the 2.7 5 speed only because the 2.5 is worth twice as much as a 2.7 5 speed. Even better if you can find a 987 2.7 5 speed as they're supposedly stronger and have a gear ratio close to the 2.5 5 speed. They also come with larger cv bolts.

[itsnotanova]

FYI, 6 speeds go for $1000-1750 depending on condition. 986 2.7 5 speeds go for $300-700. 987 2.7 5 speeds $400-800. I'm thinking for your car and the type of racing you do that sticking with a 5 speed is your best bet.

[truegearhead]

Originally Posted by itsnotanova

FYI, 6 speeds go for $1000-1750 depending on condition. 986 2.7 5 speeds go for $300-700. 987 2.7 5 speeds $400-800. I'm thinking for your car and the type of racing you do that sticking with a 5 speed is your best bet.

Yep I agree. Thanks for the info!

[Paul]

My 1998 has a 3.6 and a 2.5 transmission. Over 40,000 miles so far with no issues other than 1st gear is way too low.

[truegearhead]

Originally Posted by Paul

My 1998 has a 3.6 and a 2.5 transmission. Over 40,000 miles so far with no issues other than 1st gear is way too low.

Wait...how did you do that? I thought 3.6Ls couldn’t be installed in the early cars. Did you rewire it?

[itsnotanova]

Originally Posted by goldsc_78258

Yes it will bolt up. not sure about being enough for the power though

A friend ran one on a autocross Boxster with a 2.9 that made about 240 to the wheels for 4 years with no issues. that car is now in California still running

He's using a 987 5 speed I sold him. If I remember correctly, his boxster had 2003/04 axles which have the larger bolt holes on the cv joint but still use the small bolts. 97-02 axles only use the small 8mm(?) while the 03/04 can use 8mm or 10mm. 05+ use 10mm only

[Quadcammer]

I have a 3.2 motor in my 99. Was running it with a 2.5 transmission, but stripped all the teeth off 4th gear. Has a 2.7 tranny in it now.

I run a cable throttlebody from a 99 996, with a custom intake tube. Added resonance flap wiring to DME and have my stock DME tuned by softronic. Maf is in a 3.25" tube from the 987 airbox.

[Quadcammer]

fwiw, swapping to a 6 speed requires a bunch of extra parts including the wheel hubs, axles, shifter cables, etc.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by truegearhead

Wait...how did you do that? I thought 3.6Ls couldn’t be installed in the early cars. Did you rewire it?

It has a 2005 Porsche remanufactured crate motor.

Yes almost everything electronic had to be replaced. Don't even think about doing it.