Boxster Has Been Down For A Month

[70Sixter]

FYI Suncoast in FL is competitive with Sunset. I've used both and always compare prices.

I'll be anxious to hear about the new thermostat. I already did the screw-on oil filter (1st class machining!) and the magnetic drain plug.

[ddb]

I was off today, the weather was nice this morning, it is supposed to rain this evening and all day tomorrow, so it was the perfect time to finally take my car out for a spin. Since my original post I had to replace my alternator pulley which further delayed me driving the car after the work detailed above.

I had already completed the cooling system air purging procedure with the car stationary but wanted to make sure all of the air was out during this drive, so I left the bleed valve open. It was 80 F this morning and I drove ~80 miles around a beltway at 70 MPH with the cruise control on. The water temperature peaked and held steady at 185 F (from the ac diagnostics) until I ran into traffic and jumped off the beltway. I understand from folks here in the know that the water temperature gauge is neither accurate nor linear. At any rate, my gauge would normally run right between 8 and 0 before the changes. This morning FWIW it was right on top of the 8. I wish I had checked the water temperature prior to changing the thermostat but adding the thermostat was an afterthought after my water pump had failed. The other variable is the condition of my radiators which haven't been cleaned in 5 years. BTW, I forgot to list a new coolant cap ending in 03 replacing an 01 in my original post.

I didn't push the car hard as most of the 80 miles were on the beltway, but my initial impressions of the Maxspeed exhaust and BMC air filter are good. With the lack of a better description, the car sounds and feels like it should from the factory IMO. It feels and sounds free-flowing. On my next outing I will drive it more at lower speeds with higher revs to get a better idea about drone, or lack thereof, etc.

In the near future I think I will add Pedro's techno Torque2 and later reflash the ECU.

[Boxtaboy]

Did you notice an increase in sound from the air intake box after dropping in the BMC?

[JAAY]

I have a bmc in a stock box and it is de snorked. Sounds great and not ricey.

[violametallic-S-]

Ddb, you don't seem to be as excited as you were before getting the setup...

Boxtaboy, the bmc filter is a great lil mod. Worth the money. Sounds great, you can just hear the intake sucking in more air over the oem filter. And I think I feel a slight power gain.

[ddb]

Boxtaboy,

Honestly, with the complete exhaust system being new and the BMC installed at the same time I'm having trouble determining exactly where the noises are coming from. My guess is it is a combination of exhaust note and intake noise. Regardless, it sounds and feels fantastic!

violametallic-S-,

I'm excited! I was just a little cautious this morning worrying about all of the cooling system and pulley changes. The drive went well so I'm ready to better explore the exhaust changes. In fact, the predicted rain hasn't yet materialized so I just got back from another 70 mile drive. I hate to describe it in human terms, but it is like the car has been congested all of these years and now it can breathe freely! Maybe it is just my imagination (and I don't care if it is), but the car definitely feels faster and sounds wonderful!

I still haven't driven the car very hard, enough to make the exhaust and intake scream, but I will on the next outing.

I've now driven 150 miles, does anyone know how long it takes the DME to adapt, the best that it can, to the changes I made?

BTW, any idea what the old OE manifolds and secondary pipes are worth? Has anyone scrapped them for the value of the metals in the cats?