3.4 Conversion is Done - Car loaded on Wrong truck
06-20-2002, 05:52 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
3.4 Conversion is Done - Car loaded on Wrong truck
Well FVD just sompleted the 3.4 litre engine conversion (Engine, Upgraded cams, Headers, Sport Cats and reprogramming the ECU) and drilled rotors in my 99 Boxster. The chasis Dyno showed 276 HP at the rear wheel when it was completed. I had hoped for a little closer to 300 but the 5 speed took about 6-8hp out vs. the 6 speed. Anyway it is big jump up from the 163hp at the rear wheel it had going in to the conversion. After a few days of testing and making sure everything was just right (and getting my final payment check) the transport company picked her up. Too bad they got it mixed up with a 996 they picked up at the same time and now my car is on a "joyride" in the covered transporter up the east coast and not anywhere close to the midwest (where I am) Looks like I'm going to have to wait till the end of next week (already waited 5 weeks) to get her back. I've been close to just flying out and driving her back but I'm sure if I did that I'd hit a deer or someother unfortunate thing would happen just to top it all off. One more week won't kill me.
06-20-2002, 06:36 PM
#2
Keep us posted! I will be very interested to hear your driving impressions.
I have considered doing a 3.4L or even a 3.6L conversion. Roock in GA is now doing 3.6L conversions, and it's said that Ruf will do so later this year.
If you are making 276HP at the rear wheel, that sounds very good. Your car will be a stealth rocket! Again, any driving impressions you can offer would be most interesting. Also, the cost (if you don't mind sharing) and time/details of the conversion would be interesting too.
I have considered doing a 3.4L or even a 3.6L conversion. Roock in GA is now doing 3.6L conversions, and it's said that Ruf will do so later this year.
If you are making 276HP at the rear wheel, that sounds very good. Your car will be a stealth rocket! Again, any driving impressions you can offer would be most interesting. Also, the cost (if you don't mind sharing) and time/details of the conversion would be interesting too.
06-20-2002, 06:59 PM
#3
Instructor
Thread Starter
I did talk to ROOK about this conversion but they were not as responsive as FVD. They both seemed to be very good shops. ROOK did have some impressive track wins to their credit but when it came down to getting the car in to get the work done they never got back to me.
The cost on the 3.6 litre engine has really gone up from the 3.4. I was told dealer cost on the 3.6 is almost $19,000. My 3.4 engine was new and cost $9,000 and $6,000 to install.
I feel confident about the 276 HP at the rear wheel. The dyno at FVD is known as a very ruthelessly honest one and I was told that many people who have had work done elsewhere with high horsepower claims left there with his reality in check. I think I'm going to be happy with the results.
I'll keep the board posted on my driving impressions. When I finally get the car back.
Sounds like you have a couple of beauties in the garage. Nice work.
The cost on the 3.6 litre engine has really gone up from the 3.4. I was told dealer cost on the 3.6 is almost $19,000. My 3.4 engine was new and cost $9,000 and $6,000 to install.
I feel confident about the 276 HP at the rear wheel. The dyno at FVD is known as a very ruthelessly honest one and I was told that many people who have had work done elsewhere with high horsepower claims left there with his reality in check. I think I'm going to be happy with the results.
I'll keep the board posted on my driving impressions. When I finally get the car back.
Sounds like you have a couple of beauties in the garage. Nice work.
06-26-2002, 10:43 AM
#4
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No offense, but that seems a bit high. $15K to get to 276HP whereas I spent about $3K to get to 244.7HP. 
Oh well sounds like fun though, what part of the midwest are you in? I am in KC and am the midwest AM986 Club guy, would be happy to check out your car once you get it!
Check my website:
<a href="http://www.smiley.net/boxster/" target="_blank">http://www.smiley.net/boxster/</a>
Oh well sounds like fun though, what part of the midwest are you in? I am in KC and am the midwest AM986 Club guy, would be happy to check out your car once you get it!Check my website:
<a href="http://www.smiley.net/boxster/" target="_blank">http://www.smiley.net/boxster/</a>
06-26-2002, 11:07 AM
#5
[quote]Originally posted by Ken2KS:
<strong>No offense, but that seems a bit high. $15K to get to 276HP whereas I spent about $3K to get to 244.7HP. Oh well sounds like fun though, what part of the midwest are you in? I am in KC and am the midwest AM986 Club guy, would be happy to check out your car once you get it!
Check my website:
<a href="http://www.smiley.net/boxster/" target="_blank">http://www.smiley.net/boxster/</a></strong><hr></blockquote>
You get what you pay for unfortunately. The higher the output, the more it costs per hp....but I guess you already know this?
<strong>No offense, but that seems a bit high. $15K to get to 276HP whereas I spent about $3K to get to 244.7HP.
Oh well sounds like fun though, what part of the midwest are you in? I am in KC and am the midwest AM986 Club guy, would be happy to check out your car once you get it!Check my website:
<a href="http://www.smiley.net/boxster/" target="_blank">http://www.smiley.net/boxster/</a></strong><hr></blockquote>
You get what you pay for unfortunately. The higher the output, the more it costs per hp....but I guess you already know this?
06-26-2002, 12:33 PM
#6
The 3.6L prices I have been quoted with Roock are $23,000 for the full job (which may include a trade-in of the old 3.2L engine). With new exhaust, headers, and a few other goodies, they promise 350HP.
Ruf is unleashing the 3600S later this year. I have emailed Ruf with a request for prices, but received no figures back. Just a link to the Ruf website.
I love the idea of having Ruf do the job (and taking European delivery!).
Ken, I know what you're saying... Apparently it IS possible to modify the 3.2L S engine and receive more HP. But bear in mind that we were talking about a 2.5L 1999 engine that was removed. The S costs about $10k more to begin with. So, for a few grand (if any) more than the S, he has built his own "S-killer" (for lack of a better term). Not a bad route to take.
Ruf is unleashing the 3600S later this year. I have emailed Ruf with a request for prices, but received no figures back. Just a link to the Ruf website.
I love the idea of having Ruf do the job (and taking European delivery!).Ken, I know what you're saying... Apparently it IS possible to modify the 3.2L S engine and receive more HP. But bear in mind that we were talking about a 2.5L 1999 engine that was removed. The S costs about $10k more to begin with. So, for a few grand (if any) more than the S, he has built his own "S-killer" (for lack of a better term). Not a bad route to take.
06-27-2002, 05:37 PM
#7
Instructor
Thread Starter
Sean. My thoughts exactly. I bought the Boxster for 37k with 18" turbo twists and a full OEM carbon fiber interior kit. I probably have about 20k in the engine/brakes, valentine1 and a few other goodies. Cheaper than a Boxster S, faster and better looking with the 18" and the carbon.
Got back in town late last night. Car was in my garage. Jumped in turned the key ... nothing. Battery was toast. Transport driver said he had to start jumping it shortly after he got it loaded. Quick check on the reflectometer showed one totally dead cell. Call the dealer. Run to get new battery. Installed.
CAR STARTS !!!! Sounds great.
First drive was all I had hoped for. There is a very long downhill gentle sweeper right curve out my driveway just a bit & it's my favorite and very well known stretch of road. I firewall the throttle the rears spin and then bite in and an ear-to-ear grin is on my face. The engine make a glorious howl better than ever over 5k. Acceleration is hard and drives me back into the seat big time.
Tires spinn a little as I grab second and get into the sweet spot on accelerating in the curve. WOW does this little car really pull hard now. Third comes fast and the rush of speed continues. I used to leave the short straight at the end of the curve at around 90mph, this time it is 118 and I get off of it as this is not the time or place to find out the top speed. (that is another road a little farther away I'll get to this weekend). All I can say now is the car is incredibly faster than before. It is wicked fast in every sense. I am hooked.
I'm thrilled !!! Time for a trip over to Jim and Marks to take on the 2001 Boxster S and the 2001 Corvette. I think I've got em both smoked. I'll let you know.
Got back in town late last night. Car was in my garage. Jumped in turned the key ... nothing. Battery was toast. Transport driver said he had to start jumping it shortly after he got it loaded. Quick check on the reflectometer showed one totally dead cell. Call the dealer. Run to get new battery. Installed.
CAR STARTS !!!! Sounds great.
First drive was all I had hoped for. There is a very long downhill gentle sweeper right curve out my driveway just a bit & it's my favorite and very well known stretch of road. I firewall the throttle the rears spin and then bite in and an ear-to-ear grin is on my face. The engine make a glorious howl better than ever over 5k. Acceleration is hard and drives me back into the seat big time.
Tires spinn a little as I grab second and get into the sweet spot on accelerating in the curve. WOW does this little car really pull hard now. Third comes fast and the rush of speed continues. I used to leave the short straight at the end of the curve at around 90mph, this time it is 118 and I get off of it as this is not the time or place to find out the top speed. (that is another road a little farther away I'll get to this weekend). All I can say now is the car is incredibly faster than before. It is wicked fast in every sense. I am hooked.
I'm thrilled !!! Time for a trip over to Jim and Marks to take on the 2001 Boxster S and the 2001 Corvette. I think I've got em both smoked. I'll let you know.
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07-16-2002, 01:40 PM
#9
Instructor
Thread Starter
Well I have just over 1000 miles on the 3.4 986 now. Some of you have contacted me for more details on the conversion and it has been great to talk to you and share our enthusiasm for the 986. We all need to tell Porsche to build a 3.6 Boxster to keep the model in the hunt. Yes it will eat into 996 cab sales but many 996 buyers want the coupe or targa body and the cab buyers will just have to choose between 2 or 4 seats. To keep the Boxster (best handler by far) in the power penalty box is just plain wrong.
I went under the car last week when I had a wheel replaced and the work FVD did is beautiful. The headers and cats (all stainless) are so beautiful I wish I could see them more often. All modifications are completely invisible and mods to the Motronic/wireharness are done so cleverly that you cannot tell anything has changed except for the FVD sticker on the Motronic box.
I have had the car in 97 degree heat with over 80 percent humidity and there have been no overheating problems. We went to July 4th fireworks and got caught in a traffic snarl and sat for 10-15 mins with AC on and temp climbed to just over 190. I do notice that at idle the car has just a little "lump in the rump" when before it was perfectly smooth. It is not bad mind you and over time I have come to like the feeling. The exhaust sounds wonderful. I kept stock muffler for appearance and to stay away from resonance. I know it cost me some power but I'm still happy with the choice.
I'm glad that I did the cam upgrade. Engine really hits hard at 4k and again a little at 6k. I was a little hesitant to do this ($3200) but now that it is done I highly recommend it to any 996 owners or 986 3.4 transplant candidates.
The car continues to impress me everytime I drive it. I have spent considerable time "checking off" some of the cars that I have been outgunned by in the past. The list:
01 Vette - Sweetest of all. This bastard is the Porsche salesman at our terrible dealership. I'd fire him just for that. He lives up my street and smoked me last summer.
01 Boxster S
00 996 cab
00 996 coupe
01 NSX
00 M3 Roadster
Would I do it again. Yep in a minute. Would I do it differently. No not really. I probably could have saved a little more money if I had found a 98 or 97 Boxster with 17" wheels and little or no options. These years have really dropped in price lately. I could have found 18 Turbo twist take offs and then bought Carbon interior and been a little ahead of where I am now. But hey hindsight right !
Do I wish I had just bought a 996 cab or Boxster S. No way on the 996. The Boxster is much better looking and handles much better. As for the S it would be nice to have factory warranty and newer year but my car came out costing a little less and drives away from the S in a hurry.
I hve some pics of the conversion process if you want to see em let me know & I can email to you. I do not have URL to post them to right now.
I went under the car last week when I had a wheel replaced and the work FVD did is beautiful. The headers and cats (all stainless) are so beautiful I wish I could see them more often. All modifications are completely invisible and mods to the Motronic/wireharness are done so cleverly that you cannot tell anything has changed except for the FVD sticker on the Motronic box.
I have had the car in 97 degree heat with over 80 percent humidity and there have been no overheating problems. We went to July 4th fireworks and got caught in a traffic snarl and sat for 10-15 mins with AC on and temp climbed to just over 190. I do notice that at idle the car has just a little "lump in the rump" when before it was perfectly smooth. It is not bad mind you and over time I have come to like the feeling. The exhaust sounds wonderful. I kept stock muffler for appearance and to stay away from resonance. I know it cost me some power but I'm still happy with the choice.
I'm glad that I did the cam upgrade. Engine really hits hard at 4k and again a little at 6k. I was a little hesitant to do this ($3200) but now that it is done I highly recommend it to any 996 owners or 986 3.4 transplant candidates.
The car continues to impress me everytime I drive it. I have spent considerable time "checking off" some of the cars that I have been outgunned by in the past. The list:
01 Vette - Sweetest of all. This bastard is the Porsche salesman at our terrible dealership. I'd fire him just for that. He lives up my street and smoked me last summer.
01 Boxster S
00 996 cab
00 996 coupe
01 NSX
00 M3 Roadster
Would I do it again. Yep in a minute. Would I do it differently. No not really. I probably could have saved a little more money if I had found a 98 or 97 Boxster with 17" wheels and little or no options. These years have really dropped in price lately. I could have found 18 Turbo twist take offs and then bought Carbon interior and been a little ahead of where I am now. But hey hindsight right !
Do I wish I had just bought a 996 cab or Boxster S. No way on the 996. The Boxster is much better looking and handles much better. As for the S it would be nice to have factory warranty and newer year but my car came out costing a little less and drives away from the S in a hurry.
I hve some pics of the conversion process if you want to see em let me know & I can email to you. I do not have URL to post them to right now.
07-16-2002, 03:39 PM
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There is a review of the RUF Boxster 3600 in this months Excellence. Sounds like a sweet car.
From what all I have heard in the industry... avoid Rook.
From what all I have heard in the industry... avoid Rook.
07-16-2002, 03:46 PM
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Boxster 3.4,
pls post me pics of the install. You have my e-mail. Thx.
I agree with all your above comments re 996 Cab - I am a current owner and as commented, I would pursue the Boxster route whilst waiting for next car. The 986 is definitely a nimbler handler compared to the 996, perhaps more fun to drive FAST too.
Must be nice for others to view your cars as just another std Boxster until you drop some gears on them! Must be fun.
BTW is there a break-in period for the engine or can you MAX the car after conversion upon receipt?
TIA & enjoy.
pls post me pics of the install. You have my e-mail. Thx.
I agree with all your above comments re 996 Cab - I am a current owner and as commented, I would pursue the Boxster route whilst waiting for next car. The 986 is definitely a nimbler handler compared to the 996, perhaps more fun to drive FAST too.
Must be nice for others to view your cars as just another std Boxster until you drop some gears on them! Must be fun.
BTW is there a break-in period for the engine or can you MAX the car after conversion upon receipt?
TIA & enjoy.
07-17-2002, 02:56 PM
#13
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Thread Starter
Sorry bu I can't make the TWEEK FunFest. My wife is 8 1/2 months pregnant. Looks like it will be a great time however.
Have a blast !! <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />
Have a blast !! <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />
07-18-2002, 09:04 AM
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I'll take some pictures. One of the things I was wondering is you said your engine was $9K and install was $6K, but later said the cam upgrade was $3200. Was your total $15K including the cam upgrade or was your total $18.2? In other words if you didn't do the cam upgrade could you get out for around 12K?
Also do they upgrade the wiring harness and instrument cluster to the 996 unit ala RUF or is it still your original instrument cluster/harness?
As for RUF pricing, according to Excellence a finished 3600S is 90K, but now word on how much just the conversion costs, but based on early 3.4 conversion pricing from RUF I would guess 25-30K for the 3.6 engine and related items only.
A couple of other quick questions. What sort of intake does FVD put on the 3.4? Is it just leaving the factory Boxster intake in place or do they put on something like the EVO intake?
BTW, congrats on the little one on the way, not sure how you pulled off a 3.4 conversion in the middle of a pregnancy, I need your secret for that!
Thanks,
Ken
Also do they upgrade the wiring harness and instrument cluster to the 996 unit ala RUF or is it still your original instrument cluster/harness?
As for RUF pricing, according to Excellence a finished 3600S is 90K, but now word on how much just the conversion costs, but based on early 3.4 conversion pricing from RUF I would guess 25-30K for the 3.6 engine and related items only.
A couple of other quick questions. What sort of intake does FVD put on the 3.4? Is it just leaving the factory Boxster intake in place or do they put on something like the EVO intake?
BTW, congrats on the little one on the way, not sure how you pulled off a 3.4 conversion in the middle of a pregnancy, I need your secret for that!
Thanks,
Ken
07-18-2002, 11:11 AM
#15
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Thread Starter
Ken,
Okay I drug out my invoice. Now I will have to put it away and go for a drive to feel better.
Engine was 9k, Install was $6500, Headers and Sport cats were another ~$2400 Motronic was $1500.
Bottom line ~$19,400 for engine w/complete install if you do not do muffler.
~$22,600 for engine above with cams ($3200).
FVD fabricates a carbon-fiber airbox as part of the install cost.
Still have 986 guages in cluster. Redline is still indicated at 986 level (6600 or 6800) but now light does not come on till 7200 or 7300.
I greatly respect Ruf and their products. I'm sure the 3600 will be incredible. When I first began this process I contacted FVD, Roook, Gemballa and Ruf about the 3.4 conversion. Of the 4 only FVD and Gemballa got back to me and were willing to provide me some real info on the process and were helpful. I never heard from Ruf even when I left messages like "I'm ready to do this now lets talk"
FVD on the other hand was alway responsive, did email and digital pictures constantly and got me in two weeks after I visited their shop and was sold on them.
Bottom line is getting the work done and given the volume of cars Ruf does in a year and thier clientelle (mega instusrialists, rock starts and super wealthy german women who want twin turbo cabs with tips) I felt like I was not going to get any bandwidth with them.
If you want a 3.6 in your S FVD will be happy to do it for you. Just remember that new 3.6 crate motors are EXPENSIVE now. Best option would be to troll for a almost new one from someone who has front ended their new 996.
<img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" />
Okay I drug out my invoice. Now I will have to put it away and go for a drive to feel better.
Engine was 9k, Install was $6500, Headers and Sport cats were another ~$2400 Motronic was $1500.
Bottom line ~$19,400 for engine w/complete install if you do not do muffler.
~$22,600 for engine above with cams ($3200).
FVD fabricates a carbon-fiber airbox as part of the install cost.
Still have 986 guages in cluster. Redline is still indicated at 986 level (6600 or 6800) but now light does not come on till 7200 or 7300.
I greatly respect Ruf and their products. I'm sure the 3600 will be incredible. When I first began this process I contacted FVD, Roook, Gemballa and Ruf about the 3.4 conversion. Of the 4 only FVD and Gemballa got back to me and were willing to provide me some real info on the process and were helpful. I never heard from Ruf even when I left messages like "I'm ready to do this now lets talk"
FVD on the other hand was alway responsive, did email and digital pictures constantly and got me in two weeks after I visited their shop and was sold on them.
Bottom line is getting the work done and given the volume of cars Ruf does in a year and thier clientelle (mega instusrialists, rock starts and super wealthy german women who want twin turbo cabs with tips) I felt like I was not going to get any bandwidth with them.
If you want a 3.6 in your S FVD will be happy to do it for you. Just remember that new 3.6 crate motors are EXPENSIVE now. Best option would be to troll for a almost new one from someone who has front ended their new 996.
<img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" />