Hoopumpers

I have a 2012 Boxster Spyder with 9k miles on it.
6MT, sport buckets, PSE

I've owned a number of high performance cars, many of which are/were far more expensive or exotic. The Spyder is the first car that has ever made me say: "I am keeping this thing forever". I feel it is the most perfectly balanced, rewarding, involving and fun road car I've ever driven. It's also stunning to look at and quite rare from a production standpoint. Steering, transmission, weight, suspension are nearly flawless. Other than a few very minor modifications to camber, a 3rd radiator and 6pt harnesses, it is (ok...was) completely stock.

I've always said the car has only 2 faults:
1. It has the word "Boxster" written on it
2. It could use another 100bhp

The first issue was largely fixed by removing the rear badging

The second issue is more involved. I've done a fair amount of research on options to eek more power out of the 3.4L stock engine. I've also driven an aftermarket TPC Turbo setup on a similar car. From my point of view, neither were going to get me where I wanted to be.

The fact is, we all know that Porsche won't erode 911 sales by making a better mid-engined car (unless it's a super/hyper car). So, the boxsters and caymans are neutered.

That's where Dwain, Roland and the rest of the Vision Motorsports team came to the rescue. They were looking for 3.4L engines to tear apart for testing and were offering a reasonable deal on a brand new 3.8L motor with X51 powerkit.

- Engine will be mounted about an inch lower for clearance
- Custom intake will be fabricated
- Coding will mash up 997 and 987 settings
- Aasco lightweight flywheel
- Sport clutch and pressure plate
- And a few other simple mods should yield a target power output of 430bhp

Here are a few shots of the car before work began, and some progress along the way

Hoopumpers

The transaxle has been bolted to the new engine, flywheel installed and all mounted back in the car. Final assembly, intake and tune are all that remain. Hoping to pick it up later this week.

skxf430

What an awesome build and nice to see this done in Socal. Please keep us posted on your progress and thoughts on the car.

hf1

^ +1

il pirata

Nice.

Will you/did you weigh the difference between engines or the car when finished?

Hoopumpers

Good question. Supposedly the weight difference is negligible, but I'll try and get more scientific info than that

Alan Smithee

Glad a Rennlister took advantage of their offer, and that it is going into a Spyder. Looking forward to the result! If my Spyder had another 100hp, I wouldn't have sold it.

Brave to give up your warranty - or have to fight Porsche for it. And, more importantly, are you not concerned about eventual smog inspection?

ChrisF

Subscribed

Z356

Rob: Best of luck with this project. What did you decide to do about the stock factory Limited Slip Differential? We have had some interesting conversations at this forum with Alex Ross of Sharkwerks and Matt Monson of Guard Transmission about the subject:

https://rennlist.com/forums/987-981-...s-today-3.html

And also at Planet 9:

http://www.planet-9.com/987-cayman-b...dissected.html

Let's us know which way you went as far as LSD!

http://www.guardtransmissionllc.com/...differentials/

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

.

Hoopumpers

Alan, this should pass smog with flying colors. It's 100% stock from Porsche. It just happens to be the engine designed for a Carrera S with Powerkit

Eduardo, it's a good point. There are a variety of other upgrades that may make sense someday: Guard LSD, brake upgrade, more rubber. Will get some seat time and see how it behaves.

hf1

Is this a DFI 3.8?

Hoopumpers

^ Yes DFI 3.8

Alan Smithee

Hate to be the voice of reason, but I am pretty sure the replacement engine must be the same year as the car or newer, and that a visit to a BAR referee will be required, even if it does pass the sniff test...

orthojoe

That may be true, but how would the smog tester know? I agree that he will be fine with smog testing.

Hoopumpers:

Alan Smithee

I do not pretend to be an expert on this - my cars are all either too new or too old to require inspections - but I expect all will be told when the plug goes into the OBD port.