How to fix-a-burnt-boxster-guide? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

mr_brink · 04-14-2006, 01:22 AM

Hi!

I bought a burnt Boxster. Now it looks like picture 1, but it should look like picture 2. Does anybody know a technical guide or something that helps me to put a new interior in the boxster? Something that makes clear in what order (firewall, wiring, dash etc) and where all the parts belong. Thanks!

blinkwatt · 04-14-2006, 01:43 AM

Did you happen to post about this a long time ago?

986Jim · 04-14-2006, 04:05 AM

Dude, if you bought a burnt car and need a manual to put it back together your way over your head. With such little knowledge you will spend more than what the car is worth in unburnt condiition even if you got the burnt up car for free. It's just not that simple or cheap. The interior bits from Porsche would cost $10,000 unless you get them used, but a used Dash is hard to come by.

I fixed up a burnt out Miata once. Putting the interior out of the doner car was not that bad, but some of the wires were all melted together under the hood and dash. I had to pull out most of the chassis wiring harness and cut it all appart and use an old wiring harness from an Talon Motor I had kicking around to match up wire colors so it all went back together sorta stock looking. That way we could trace back wires if need be.

With a burnt car, you have to assume everything is destroyed and replace it all. Even if stuff looks ok, wiring espically you ahve to change it because it will be the root of all your problems if you put an interior in and find out wires are touching etc.. There are just so many problems to deal with, if your not a really good shadetree mechanic you could be in for trouble.

Uhh yeah, anyway, good luck and enjoy.

Brucelee · 04-14-2006, 05:33 AM

Go with God my son!

Rail26 · 04-14-2006, 06:03 AM

Cue "TAPS".

mr_brink · 04-15-2006, 03:14 AM

Thanx for all the trust! Yes I did post the same pics before. To get advice on if I should buy this car or not. Everybody advised me not to do this, so thats why I did. I pretty much have all the parts together now. (for under 2000!) Including a complete wiring harness off another boxster. The only thing I need, is something that tells me exactly where all the parts belong. I am planning to do this piece by piece, and I will take a lot of time doing this. What is standing in my way? Would it be an idea to ask porsche for a thing like this? When I will start the project I will keep you up to date with the progression if you like....

986Jim · 04-15-2006, 04:15 AM

I would start by getting a factory service manual it will have all the pics and info in it you need. Somebody must know where we can get on cheaply? Amazon or something? I know ebay has the CD's cheap but your gonna need a book in the shop while you work unless you ahve a computer there so forget the cd.

eslai · 04-15-2006, 11:33 AM

Well, if you have a CD available, you can just print the pages you need--that's definitely the most economical choice! Porsche tech manuals are EXPENSIVE.

mach schnell · 04-15-2006, 12:08 PM

wait a minute, mr brink - "everbody advised me not to do this, so that's why i did" WHAT????? Okay, everybody, please advise mr brink not to send all his money to me so that he actually does do it

denverpete · 04-15-2006, 03:49 PM

Sorry, but this whole thing sounds like the old story of how to make a million dollars... Start with five million.

Seriously, I could understand if this was a '29 Duesenberg - but a 2000 Boxster? If you've got money to burn - I have a few ideas where you might actually make money at the end of the day....

I've been really trying to figure out how to give you honest advice. But I have no experience with rebuilding vehicles that have no existing parts. If you're not an expert, starting from complete scratch is so difficult.

If you go this route, I hope that at least you'll be doing something unique and special with it. Rebuilding to exact specs is ridiculous - why spend 3x the money for something you could buy stock? If you do it - do it YOUR way. Change it. Mod it. Make it something REALLY special. Something that everyone here will envy.

Good luck. Seriously, you are going to need it. Well, luck and a whole lot more money than I have laying around.....

RandallNeighbour · 04-15-2006, 06:18 PM

Mr Brink, you should buy the thick boxster repair manual from Amazon.com. It shows the whole dash assembly and how it goes together. Sounds like if you had this you'd be on your way.

If you get this car back in good shape and it doesn't look like a burned out car, and you do it really really cheap, you will earn the respect of every member of this forum.

I'm cheering you on!

As for everyone else, please note that I am finally glad to see another forum member who bought a Boxster in worse condition than I did. Misery loves company.