When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have a CS and wife has a C4 so we found it fitting to get the son a Boxster for his first car. He also wanted an aircooled beetle. I've done Aircooled VW since I was 15. However they don't have anti lock brakes, air, good heat or air bags. PLUS!!! Just a good aircooled platform to work with is 5g plus and would end up with at least 2-5g in a good engine. I learned on my own so he has to do the work. We found an 02 with a bad rod for reasonable. Other than the rod and milage....the rest is in excellent shape. Recent top, Bilsteins etc.... So here we go......... I turned him on to some good Youtube videos and man did he remember most of the info. We started on Saturday. He got the rear bumper cover, bumper and exhaust off. We pulled it up to my next door neighbors Sunday afternoon for the lift to start the rest of the pull.
A Boxster would not necessarily be my choice for learning engine repair/rebuilding but I guess things have changed. With Dad's help/advice/counsel I'm sure it will turn out alright though.
After washing be sure to check the body water drains are not holding water and the door bottoms are dry.
Looks like I see a non-factory shock in the last pic.
Yeah there are several non stock items on it. Extremely good kid. Straight A's in school. Technical minded as well. Has already assembled 12 AR-15s in the shop. He handles a subgun with the best of them. Real responsible kid. Soaked up everything he could at Petite LeMans this year. It's gonna be his to lose. I just don't think we could have found a better project under 5g. He really wanted to go to Jake's assembly classes with me too.....LOL!!
I am now in my late 60's and I had my first car at nine. My dad helped/taught me how work on the car safely and fix it so I could drive it. Where I lived there many fields, old non town roads and fields that I was driving at nine.
Congrats in helping your son learn that which he will never forget. In a lifetime he will save incredible amounts of money doing his own repairs and the satisfaction of doing so!!
We finished up pulling it out tonight. A little bit longer than the pros but we tried to be extra careful. I'm regulated to picture taking for the engine disassembly.
I think what you're doing is a fantastic idea. Sounds like a good kid and if he has to work on it, he will appreciate it more and will take care of it more.
$5000 in today's money isn't that far off $1000 20-30 years ago so you are on the right track.
Can't wait to see the updates! I want to learn from this thread!
I have been looking for a 986 or 996 with bad motor as a project for my 13 & 4 year old daughter to work through. My youngest loves being in the garage, my oldest does not hate it, but would be pretty motivated knowing it will be her car.
Good luck with the project, please keep the thread alive with updates.
This is great. You're teaching him the right way, not just get him a car, make him build it. He will appreciate it much more if has his time invested in it.
We finally got a chance to start on some disassembly. Pictures, pictures!!!!!! We even used both phones. Lol. Also zip lock baggies and a sharpie. Wednesday night we might be able to find the knock. Lol !!!!! He's doing great. I did have to give him some help with the harness.
11-14-2016, 10:42 AM
Started on sons Boxster S........
