Powerplant options and what not

[Cloudsurfer]

Hi folks. I'm new here, so a formal hello to everyone. I have an 02 Boxster S with 70k on the clock. I purchased it from Porsche Lease where it was previously owned by a Pharm rep and thus the large amount of highway miles. No winters on the car and it drives great, very healthy currently.

In any case, I purchased the car with its known high(er) miles since I've been looking for a Boxster to do a 3.4 or 3.6 swap with ( I have access to a 3.4 with less than 20k on it), and the opportunity to start with a factory S was very attractive due to the 6-speed, larger brakes, etc. However, now that I've started looking at options, it would appear that FabSpeed claims 345HP from an S using their full exhaust with high flow catted headers, intake, and new DME software. If that is really the case, I would be very happy with 345HP out of my S (with the obvious advantages of using the motor that was designed to be in the car), though now we're doing that on a higher mileage motor. Part of me wants to assume that since it has made it this far without RMS issues or blowing up, etc that it wil be healthy for a while still, the other part of me says that it may be due for thigns like an Oil Seperator in the sooner than later future.

So, this leads to ask the viability of either leaving the motor in the car and just driving it with scheduled maintenance, pulling the factory 3.2 and freshening it sooner than later so I can stop worrying about it, simply putting a lower mileage 3.2 into it, or going ahead with my 3.4 or 3.6 swap. Either way, I'm rather inclined to do something before the current powerplant decides to scatter itself to all four corners of the earth.

Thoughts please? And thank you.

Patrick

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by bmwm750

Hi folks. I'm new here, so a formal hello to everyone. I have an 02 Boxster S with 70k on the clock. I purchased it from Porsche Lease where it was previously owned by a Pharm rep and thus the large amount of highway miles. No winters on the car and it drives great, very healthy currently.

In any case, I purchased the car with its known high(er) miles since I've been looking for a Boxster to do a 3.4 or 3.6 swap with ( I have access to a 3.4 with less than 20k on it), and the opportunity to start with a factory S was very attractive due to the 6-speed, larger brakes, etc. However, now that I've started looking at options, it would appear that FabSpeed claims 345HP from an S using their full exhaust with high flow catted headers, intake, and new DME software. If that is really the case, I would be very happy with 345HP out of my S (with the obvious advantages of using the motor that was designed to be in the car), though now we're doing that on a higher mileage motor. Part of me wants to assume that since it has made it this far without RMS issues or blowing up, etc that it wil be healthy for a while still, the other part of me says that it may be due for thigns like an Oil Seperator in the sooner than later future.

So, this leads to ask the viability of either leaving the motor in the car and just driving it with scheduled maintenance, pulling the factory 3.2 and freshening it sooner than later so I can stop worrying about it, simply putting a lower mileage 3.2 into it, or going ahead with my 3.4 or 3.6 swap. Either way, I'm rather inclined to do something before the current powerplant decides to scatter itself to all four corners of the earth.

Thoughts please? And thank you.

Patrick

It seems to me that you've got pretty low expectations of the engine if you think self destruction is imminent at only 70,000 miles. If it's healthy, you should be able to at least double that before it needs to be cracked open.

70k miles is just a bit over average mileage for the age of your car and there's nothing more gentle on an engine than highway miles.

[Cloudsurfer]

Blue-

I'm by no means saying I'm worried about the factory 3.2 blowing up anytime soon, I'm more planning for a long term battle plan. I have access to a factory 3.4 currently, and the price is right, so I'm just debating if I should pick it up while I can or not.

After looking into the FabSpeed exhaust and DME software, I'm VERY interested.

One would certainly hope that a well maintained Porsche motor like this go at least 120K.

Patrick

[j.fro]

Except for the DME programming, all of the parts from Fabspeed would work on any of the motor options you are looking at. If it were me, I'd take care of the intake and exhaust, enjoy that for a while, then swap the motor when the 3.2 is really looking tired.

For 25K for can have a brand new Carerra S 3.8 installed. For 10-15K you should be able to get a 3.4 or 3.6 depending. For 8K you could supercharge it. For 2-3K you could do the header/exhaust stuff. Dont bother with the exhaust stuff if your wanting lots of power later on and will go for the engine swap, Itd be a waste. I bet a member who has done a swap will tell you the best option due to their experience.

[blinkwatt]

@ bmwm750,

Does your Boxster happen to be black on the outside and black on the inside?

[Cloudsurfer]

Black on black? Nope, mine is silver on black. As far as things go, I will likely end up with the FabSpeed stuff on here in the near future, and then once the 3.2 gets tired re-evaluate. Have a temping 3.4 locally that is the right price now, but the more I think on it they will likely only get cheaper as time goes on.

My only real concern is that it would be far wiser to either yank out the 3.2 and sell it for what its worth or to freshen it while it was stiill running than deal with things after the 3.2 blew up. On the plan I'm looking at now that would be somewhere right around 100k most likely, so as long as the 3.2 can last tiil then life should be ok

Patrick

[racer_d]

While I haven't heard of FabSpeed before, It would be quite impressive to get nearly 100 more hp without a displacement or compression change. DME change.. ok.. Headers and intake I could see getting some HP. DME reprogram sure (but, now, what kind of fuel will be require - 94? 98? octane? )

While the "S" motor may have been slightly compromised due to not wanting to hurt 911 sales of the same year that were rated at 296hp, but seriously, do you think the Porsche engineers left 100 "easy hp" on the table?

Perhaps a bit apples to orange, but "old school" 911 race motors of 3.2 liter, twin plug, high compression, headers etc. motors hardly put out 320-330hp, on race gas.

A 70K miles "S" motor is hardly in need of repair, unless you have tested for compression/leakdown or the thing burns oil at an alarming rate.

Ive always wondered. How much horsepower could one get from a custom intake manifold. I know the X51 option gives a lot of horsepower, what could one expect from a 2.5, 2.7, 3.2?

[Cloudsurfer]

FabSpeed produce some of the nicest aftermarket equipment around. Fantastic engineering and amazing production quality.

However, I too, find it hard to believe that Porsche left 100 "easy" HP out of the factory motor. Detuned by 40 or 50 HP? Sure. Its a common fact that getting rid of restrictive OE emission control equipment can make power. Also makes perfect sense that a good tuner can squeeze a few more HP out of a motor by only assuming 93 (or higher, in the case of race chips) octane fuel, and not being held liable for certifiying the car OBD-II and emission compliant for 100k. Either way, an extra 100HP sounds far too good to be true.

Patrick