BoxsterLS376 introduction - LS3 conversion :)

[martsink]

I'm so glad I found this thread. I'm about to begin a project of my own but with a lesser budget. Got an aluminum LSX block that I want to put in a Boxster S. The only minor problem is that I'm still looking for a roller

[JRL]

Hey John,

It's been a few weeks since we last communicated so it's about time for another visit. What is a good day and time. Don't want to crowd your space or irritate your boss

Randy

[BOOTLEG]

I have my 01 S Roller. Looking for the right LS. I agree with 376's logic on the crate LS but would prefer a more economical option. Commentary on other LS options? Seeing L33 pullouts on EBAY ~$1-2K. Anybody thought about LFX?

[martsink]

Originally Posted by BOOTLEG

I have my 01 S Roller. Looking for the right LS. I agree with 376's logic on the crate LS but would prefer a more economical option. Commentary on other LS options? Seeing L33 pullouts on EBAY ~$1-2K. Anybody thought about LFX?

I got a 5.3L LM4 Aluminum truck engine for $500. It came on 03-04 trucks. Gonna need to swap out some parts to Camaro/Corvette, but it seems like a great start for a budget build. I might get 799 heads and an lS6 cam if I have some extra $.

[BoxsterLS376]

Greetings all,

Cheaper motors can definitely be found out there, but don't forget that generally you get what you pay for!

This is one you may want to keep an eye on, 50K miles motor and trans no reserve... only @ $400 with 2 days left~
1998 Camaro Engine LS1 and 4L60E Tranmission LS2 LS3 LS7 LS9 LSX 69 Camaro | eBay

One suggestion is trying to find a C5 Corvette motor as it may save you a bit. It is a bit more money, but it is a bit more motor too~ You will need to swap out the oil pan to a C5 pan, plus if you can get the aluminum motor mounts with it that will save you about $300-$400 all together. Here is one on Ebay for $3400 with ECU & wiring~ 2000 Chevrolet Corvette C5 LS1 5 7 Liter Engine with ECM 87K | eBay

Hopefully i'll get the motor back in the car tomorrow and try to start figuring out the wiring~
More to come~
Thanks!
J

[martsink]

Is the clutch that comes with the kit proprietary to the kit, or can I get away with the stock Boxster clutch? I'm about to place an order with Renegade and I'm trying to figure out what I need and don't need. My engine is a pretty stock 5.3, so I don't think I need a performance clutch just yet. Thanks!

[BoxsterLS376]

Originally Posted by martsink

Is the clutch that comes with the kit proprietary to the kit, or can I get away with the stock Boxster clutch? I'm about to place an order with Renegade and I'm trying to figure out what I need and don't need. My engine is a pretty stock 5.3, so I don't think I need a performance clutch just yet. Thanks!

Quoting Renegade the stock clutch "will work" but really not going to take much abuse so unless you want to do a clutch job soon after your new install I'd go ahead and get the upgraded clutch... it is simply a Kennedy Engineered product...


Made some more progress as things are really starting to come together, although there is quite a bit left to do to get it running, feels like we are getting somewhere. Motor is pretty much in its final resting place as all I need to do is make a few more spacers for the transmission mount to lower it a bit, but everything now has clearance clarance!

Bought time to shell out some more dough to get this bad boy running! I've got some adapter plates being made for the throttle body, pretty sure I'm just going to use some piping with a 120* bend for the throttle body adaptation, didn't really get into any of that in the new video but check it out and let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks!
J

http://youtu.be/qC2iBviLzrg

[shockandawe]

Does Renegade cut the same amount of sheet metal when they do the conversion? Is it necessary to cut so much? The spacers you made for the trans mount ,did they tell you that it was needed? If so shound'nt they have been included???

[Pdwight]

I dont have a "Dog in the race" but the more I read and follow this thread the less impressed I am with Renegade and the more impressed I am with you BoxsterLS

If they are going to sell a turnkey kit it should be just that with complete detailed instructions on how and what is needed for this undertaking.

[BoxsterLS376]

Originally Posted by shockandawe

Does Renegade cut the same amount of sheet metal when they do the conversion? Is it necessary to cut so much? The spacers you made for the trans mount ,did they tell you that it was needed? If so shound'nt they have been included???

Hello,

Guess that depends on which sheet metal you are referring to and what kind of accessory setup you are running, water pump, alternator etc... With regards to the front of the engine compartment where the emergency brake is relocated then definitely some needs to be cut if you are running the Renegade water manifold as the motor tucks in far enough that you have to cut the area where the shifter cables go through to make clearance for the manifold. Metal is also cut away where the ebrake holder is so that need to be relocated unless you don't want an e-brake which is possible if it is a race car I guess~

Also the sheet metal where the front motor mounts hang, you could probably trim less depending on the accessory setup, but with the Renegade A/C and alternator mounts that area needs to go~

On the back on the engine compartment I probably cut more off then they did but I looked at the area and it basically only serves as a drip tray so I cut away whatI thought was unnecessary and can weld back something if needed.

Regarding the spacers etc.... this is a custom installation and in no way did I jump into it thinking it would bolt right up. There are several things along the way which I feel should have been disclosed from the onset when I was asking very specific questions. Small things like spacers and bolts were expected, I think the biggest thing which pissed me off was the motor mount situation as I asked very specifically about anything else I would have to buy, and no mention was made by them until I has a long weekend to get the motor sorted out and found out I didn't have everything I needed Come to find out that the WEVO transmission mounts were even a custom application for this exact install - V8 to Boxster conversion, but yet I didn't find that out until I called and asked about them specifically after seeing them in their pictures on an installed car

All that aside they have still been helpful and responsive, but I would really think for $7K it wouldn't be that hard to make this kit/install a LOT more user friendly...
:dance:

Originally Posted by Pdwight

I dont have a "Dog in the race" but the more I read and follow this thread the less impressed I am with Renegade and the more impressed I am with you BoxsterLS

If they are going to sell a turnkey kit it should be just that with complete detailed instructions on how and what is needed for this undertaking.

Thanks much for the compliment! I'm hardly reinventing the wheel here but definitely pointing out some shortcomings of the kit and hopefully helping folks to understand what they are getting into before getting $20K in the hole on a project~ Like I mentioned they don't really advertise it as a "turnkey" kit, but they do offer a turnkey package which will cost you $30K and now after going through the process, I can definitely see why. It is a lot of work. But if I do this again it will go much much smoother, plus this is a side project and not something I can just sit down with for a few weeks and bang it out, although I'm sure it could be done.


Quick update too, I had some time to test fit one of the axles and it really appears to fit quite well, geometry dosn't look too bad either so hopefully nothing to worry about there, just have to see if they can harness the ponies Also found a place that specializes in LS wiring harnesses so i'm gonna call them and see what they can offer to make this a smoother install~

Thanks!
J

[Lcrivers816]

Hey bud,

Where can I get the motor and transmission mounts from? Direct from Renegade? I wish they told me that I needed the weld in crossmember in order to keep the e-brake =( Guess I'll be ordering that.

[shockandawe]

When you finish maybe you can make up a extra set of spacer,and or whatever's needed I would gladly pay you for them ,thanks.

[BoxsterLS376]

Originally Posted by Lcrivers816

Hey bud,

Where can I get the motor and transmission mounts from? Direct from Renegade? I wish they told me that I needed the weld in crossmember in order to keep the e-brake =( Guess I'll be ordering that.

Greetings,
You will actually need 3 different bits here, the aluminum motor mounts from a corvette which I sourced used ones from Ebay for about $100~ as they are not available from GM anymore. The actual motor mounts are urethane mounts available from Hinson Supercars, don't have the part number on me but you should be able to find them on their website.
The transmission mounts are available through Windrush Evolutions - AKA WEVO~ Again i'll have to look for the part numbers when I get home unless I already posted them, but that took some back and forth as well as it seemed noone really knew what was going on and it took like 4 phone calls to get them ordered so you may be better off waiting til I find the part number

Originally Posted by shockandawe

When you finish maybe you can make up a extra set of spacer,and or whatever's needed I would gladly pay you for them ,thanks.

Hello,
I may be able to do that for ya, I have made up some temporary ones for now but I think about 1/2" of spacing is about right. I'll just order some aluminum bar stock, drill some holes and cut them to size. If you don't have the tools available you a machine shop could probably make them for you too, or possibly your local metal supplier could cut them to size then all you need to do is drill the proper hole size. I'll get some finished up this week and post pics/dimensions.

Thanks!
J

[BoxsterLS376]

According to my invoices the Hinson Supercars part number is #4050 and the WEVO transmission mounts were listed as WEVO Boxster BLUE

[Lcrivers816]

Thanks brother! You're the best. I'll keep you posted on my build!

[shockandawe]

Thanks ,without your direction, taking on this project would be scary.

[martsink]

Hey, what are you doing about the EVAP canister and oil separator. Are you keeping or deleting?

[shockandawe]

Do you use the boxster ac compressor or LS3 ?

[BoxsterLS376]

Originally Posted by Lcrivers816

Thanks brother! You're the best. I'll keep you posted on my build!

You are welcome - definitely keep us posted!

Originally Posted by shockandawe

Thanks ,without your direction, taking on this project would be scary.

Glad I could help!!

Originally Posted by martsink

Hey, what are you doing about the EVAP canister and oil separator. Are you keeping or deleting?

Haven't made it that far into the thought process yet but my initial thoughts are that if the Chevy motor dosen't need it then it goes bye bye. I know the oil seperator is integrated into the Porsche motor so that garbage isn't coming back for sure, perhaps a catch can of some sort will be in order, but most definitely not the Porsche unit...

Originally Posted by shockandawe

Do you use the boxster ac compressor or LS3 ?

The renegade mounts utilize the Porsche A/C compressor, although I'm sure you could make a chevy compressor work with some effort.


So I had a bunch to do this weekend but still managed to spend several hours trying to figure out the mounting situation for the gas pedal. I think I have a good setup figured out and made a prototype which is probably a bit sturdier then is necessary, but it shouldn't go anywhere! I'll post some pictures this week but essentially I just bent a piece of steel to make a "U" shape, or an "n" shape to be more specific, then made provisions on the legs of the "n" and bolted angle iron to them with some adjustability. With some more work it could be made better but will definitely get the job done.

Also regarding the wiring for the gas pedal, luckily I have some friends who work at a stereo shop and I was able to get a bunch of wire to extend it pretty cheap!! The one thing they didn't have which has slowed me down was EMI/RFI wire shielding! I figured since chevy thought enough of it to have it in place I should probably do the same thing to my wire extensions~ Couldn't find a local source so I ordered some online which should be here this week. Not sure exactly how much extension is necessary yet but i'm going to make it a bit longer then necessary so i have plenty of room to route it safely - but you should figure a minimum of 4-5 feet. I'm going to run my wire along the top edge of the engine compartment so i'll probably give it a good 6 feet to be safe but i'll give you an exact figure once it is in place.

[JRL]

Hey John why can't you use the Boxster accelerator pedal assembly - it is drive by wire isn't it? Seem like the wires would be the same or at least similar enough. What am I missing?