Too many Boxsters?

[78F350]

For the last rallycross, I was too busy getting my tow vehicle ready (replacing the rear struts and internals of the DEF tank) that I didn't take the time to get everything checked on the Frog.





The rear struts are modified VW Golf front struts: 6 months to live build thread
The bottom bracket on the left strut was not tightened enough. It rotated and the strut slipped down. No serious damage, but I only got one run and had to quit for the day.



I was going to swap the stock rear suspension from the Parts Car, but I'm not going to have enough time before the next race day. The Parts Car still runs great and has functional air conditioning. I'm going to put a spoiler and some good tires on it and run it one more time.

[78F350]

Night Rallycross next Saturday. I bolted some lights of the front of the parts car this afternoon. It is now officially the ugliest car I have owned. Ugly, but it's going to be fun for one last race. I expect to get serious about pulling it apart in August.

[78F350]

I think it's less ugly with matching wheels. Getting ready now for the night rallycross. Oil level is a bit high. If I was smart, I would have drained some while I was at home. Luckily, I did bring a filter wrench.

[78F350]

I had a good night at rallycross. The car held together well except for the engine cutting out a couple times near the end of the evening. It may have been from too much dust in the air filter or the fact that this car is running a DME from an '03 996.



I placed second in the 'Modified RWD' Class. Because parts have been removed and some non-standard parts added (such as the racing chicken), the car is considered modified. The thing is, with this car none of the modifications improve the performance. It's just a matter of replacing parts that were sold with whatever I had handy to get the car running again.



It's been a fun car to play with, but I think I'm done with driving it now. The gearing is really terrible for rallycross. I don't know if all of the '03 - '04 5-speeds are like this, but the gearing is very tall. I could do much of the course in first gear. I actually found myself throwing it down to first to rotate the car for an off-camber 90 degree turn at the end of a straight and it worked well.



I'll have some spare time in the next couple weeks to work on cars. I plan to pull the rear suspension and axles off this car to put on the Frog. From there I may keep stripping it and scrap it or I may haul it to another lot and store for a while.

[Smallblock454]

[78F350]

The Frog is back on stock rear suspension now. I didn't realize until I was well into the job that the modified rear wheel carriers that had been on it were from an S model. I could have just swapped on a pair that I had on the shelf. Instead, I took the base model rears from the parts car along with control arms and struts and put them on the Frog. To keep the parts car semi-driveable I put the S model parts from my shelf onto it along with some blown rear struts. Double the work that I should have done.

It was when I installed the brake rotors back onto the Frog that I realized there was a problem. The rotors that had been on it no longer fit. They rubbed on the calipers. Once I compared the parts that I had taken off with the parts I installed, I realized the problem. Installing a new pair of base model rotors made it all good.

I had planned to swap the damaged axle with one from the parts car, but there was a big difference. On the '04 parts car the axles were bolted to the transmission with M10 bolts instead of the usual M8 bolts. I don't know this history of this car, but it has a factory replacement engine in it. Maybe they put a 987 5-speed transmission in as well? That may explain the high gearing compared to my other 5-speeds.

[BRAN]

that is still my favourite

[78F350]

Originally Posted by BRAN

... that is still my favourite

My favorite too. I haven't had much time to play with it lately, but it gets used as a 'daily driver' a couple times a week.

[78F350]

I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with the Orient Red 2001. Right now it's a place to store the hard top that I took off PartsCar. I went for a sunset drive today. Even with many flaws, it is a blast to drive.





I'm not inspired to work on it yet, but throwing it around some curves, feeling the loose shifter, and smelling oil burning on the hot exhaust got me thinking that I should get my 914 put together and on the road.

[BRAN]

914? Absolutely needs to be put on the road.

[78F350]

Originally Posted by BRAN

914? Absolutely needs to be put on the road.

The 914 was moved into the garage a couple weeks ago, but it was too hot to work on it. Now that the weather has cooled down for a few days, oops I bought another 986 project.

https://youtu.be/893b_LvkLVY?feature=shared

It started out on Facebook Market a month or two ago at $5,000. When the seller dropped it to $3,500 I made a $2,500 offer "cash in hand, ready to trailer away". The seller accepted my offer on Friday. He moved to Poland on Sunday and needed it gone.



Even at $2,500 I don't think it's a great deal, but I have a lot of parts in storage that I'd rather have installed on a car. ...and the 17" Sport Classic wheels are my favorite.

[BFeller]

For a few minutes it It looked like the steering wheel was right hand drive. I dunno why.

[78F350]

I did the video with the selfie camera on my phone. Didn't realize it was mirrored until I posted it.

[78F350]

The Xbox rolled over last weekend. I posted in the 'What did you do to your Boxster today' thread.
It happened at a fairly slow speed and the damage isn't serious (considering that much of it was made from damaged spare parts)







I adjusted the doors enough to get the windows working again, put some new mirrors on it, and replaced the top with one from my '04 parts car. Once I replace the windshield (cracked horizontally under the HooptieX decal) it will be good as new.





At a 'Gambler 500 Rally' in Missouri, I was letting people drive it on a small dirt track. One woman wanted to give it a try, but was uncomfortable doing it alone, so I rode along with her. Very slow laps at first. As she got a better feel for it, I encouraged her to go faster. She did. ...and lost control. Hitting the tire wall took most of the force, but terrain past the tire wall was sloped enough to roll the car. We settled driver's side down with nobody hurt.
"Don't worry about the car, are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine, sorry about that."
"I need you to turn the ignition off... Left hand. Good. Now we need this rolled over so we can get out. Just hold the steering wheel."
The bystanders had gathered around the car quickly and rolled us back onto the wheels. Like a pro pit crew they grabbed tools and quickly bent the fenders and top enough that it could be driven again. I took it around the track myself a few times just to loosen up and make sure the car was still in decent shape. No drivetrain problems after the left exhaust stopped smoking from the time on it's side.
Next adventure, Rallycross with the Frog on Sept 29th.

[Smallblock454]

I love this thread.

Really like the new review mirror.

And i have to say that i'm really jealous that you're allowed to drive that thing on public roads. Over here in Germany you would go in prison only considering to drive it on public roads.

[maxnine11]

Aren't you worried that the big chrome mirror and bracket is going to bump you from "Stock" class to "Modified" in the next race ??

[78F350]

Rallycross with North Texas Rallycross today. I finally got to race a whole day with the Frog. She held together well, only losing a muffler somewhere on one of my more exciting laps. The mufflers (resonators) weren't doing much anyway. This thing sounds Glorious from about 4,000 rpm up. A chorus of angels bellowing with raspy voices.

[78F350]

Video from Rallycross, Sept 29th:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKIqImAFiYM
I Love driving this car in the dirt. It's easy to see where I could have picked up a few seconds in the run.

[Smallblock454]

Looks like a lot of fun!

You should sign in for the next Rallye Paris Dakar.

[78F350]

A few minor updates...
The 2004 Special Edition had a whining noise behind the seats with engine revs. It turned out to be a failing bearing in the alternator. I replaced the alternator, belt and water pump. I'm planning to replace the idler pulleys later this month.



I decided that I'm going to give away the Orient Red car at an annual Christmas car swap that I do. It's a fun event among friends and acquaintances where we meet with cheap roadworthy cars and exchange them 'Dirty Santa' style. In the past, I brought a '98 and '07 Honda CR-V and received a Fauxrari (tarted up Mitsubishi 3000 GT) and a terrible Pontiac Grand Prix. I give away the cars I bring home.
Orient Red:


Fauxrari:


'98 CR-V


The '04 PartsCar is going to be gone by the end of October. The transmission went to a guy who is doing a Honda K-swap in a Porsche 914.