steve_wilwerding

The most popular engine mod now is to put a 996 engine (either a 3.4 or 3.6 liter, depending on year) into a Boxster.

Suspension-wise, the cars are already pretty good. You can get what's called an M030 option, either from the factory or aftermarket, that is a little more of a sport suspension. Past that, people have putting PSS9s on their Boxsters.

It depends on what you mean by mods. People do little things to their Boxsters like add Litronic headlights, add on board computer functions, new doorsills, rear speakers, etc. However, most people don't mod the exterior appearance of the car. Those that do usually use Porsche body kits, so the car still looks roughly correct.

If you mean mods in the engine sense, most people don't do that either. Modding a Boxster engine is expensive and unreliable, and often devalues a car pretty fast.

Where did you get the plastic adherence stuff? How many coats of that did you put on before the red paint?

I don't know if it be worth ordering an extra set or not. I was just asking because I'm thinking of doing the same thing and it is something to think about.

Thanks.

One question:

What sort of brake rotors are used on the back? I assume they are some sort of special rotors that work with the existing e-brake but also work with the big reds. So, I assume when it's time to replace rotors, you'll need to special order the backs. Is that correct?

I'm quite certain it's covered in the owner's manual.

I did my top cable replacement today. I kind of combined both suggestions for removing the gears - I heated them up, then levered against them using a vise-grip and side cutter. They popped right off. Everything went pretty well and I didn't have to retime the top.

Here is a pretty crummy picture showing the length of the old vs. new cable. The ends on the other side (the side you can't see) are equal, so as you can see, the new cable is somewhat longer than the old.

I actually have quite a bit of track driving under my belt, but, in regards to brakes, I'm thinking more in terms of safety. If I do get a 3.4L engine, that means that my Boxster can basically go as fast as a 996. I happen to think that if a Boxster can go as fast as a 996, it ought to brake as well as a 996. I've also heard that if you want to track a 3.4L Boxster, it's generally a good idea to have a third radiator.

I agree with you, though. Most people change a lot of things (suspension, spring plates, etc.) to make their cars faster, when more seat time is what would make them faster. I understand that, but I'm not sure that investing in bigger brakes and better cooling falls into that category.

As I sit here and dream about adding a 3.4L engine to my 98 Boxster, I think of what else I could do to improve its performance on the track. Probably add a third radiator, and definitely bigger brakes.

I notice the Pelican parts sells a kit for $3000 that basically includes Boxster S calipers and rotors for a base Boxster. So I ask myself, why can't I just buy calipers off a wrecked Boxster S and new rotors and do the same thing? Are there any issues with mounting the new calipers?

I figure buying my own stuff would cut the cost at least in half.

Thanks.

Everything about the new cable seemed to be the same as the old cable, except that the housing and cable are two inches longer. The new cable is square ended, and it seems to be the same size.

I'll probably yank the transmissions out again next weekend and try to lever off the gears like you suggest. I'll take pictures this time around.

Hey Tool Pants-

Is it possible to buy the worm gear as a separate piece? Then I could just install the new worm gear on the end of the new cable, and I wouldn't have to mess with trying to get the old cable out of the old worm gear.

I'll tell you, I tried pretty hard to get the cable out, and it wouldn't budge.

Short answers:

You pretty much need to use Porsche coolant, as that is what the cooling system is designed to use.

Usually the temp gaude needle is in the middle of the 0 in 180. As long as yours isn't much beyond that, I wouldn't worry.

I need the part number for the illuminated mirror insert in the visor of a 1998 Boxster. I assume the part number is the same for the right and left insert, but if not, I need both part numbers.

Thanks.

Unfortunately, I didn't take any pics, and my car is back together with the old cable/housing.

I tried levering off the drive gear as you had suggested, but I couldn't get it off. I figure it won't cost much for the dealership to replace it, and if they break anything, they can pay for it.

A WORD OF WARNING

The new top cables, part # 986 561 717 03, will not work with the old drive cables. This weekend, I tried to replace my old cable housing with the cable housing from the above part #. The new cable housing is about 2 inches longer than the old housing, which means that the old cable isn't long enough to stick out both ends.

So, if you're going to do this job, you have to replace the whole cable. I tried getting the gear off the end of the cable, but it wouldn't budge, so I'm taking it to my dealership this week to have fixed.

This morning, in a fit of extreme stupidity, I thought I'd try my hand at removing the airbag sitckers on my visors with denatured alcohol. I first tried to remove the stickers on top of the mirror covers (I have illuminated mirrors). The stickers came off, but I was left with what looked like a red, white, and yellow mural. So, at this point I'm in for new mirror covers.

Then I read on another Board that you have to buy the whole insert. So, I thought I'd pry the insert out. Of course, in the process I broke two of the plastic tabs off that hold the clip that keeps the mirror cover up. So now I have two mirror covers that look like crap and one mirror cover that will no longer stay up.

What are my options here? I don't think I can just buy inserts, since I have illuminated mirrors and the inserts are wired to the visor. So, I guess I'm looking at two new visor assemblies? Does anyone have any idea what that's going to cost? I'm guessing I'm in for several hundred dollars at this point, and I'm just so pissed off that I screwed with it in the first place.

For anyone contemplating trying to remove your airbag stickers, DON'T.

Thanks TP.

The noise is completely normal. I think it is caused by the hydraulic valve tappets before they are filled with oil.

There's no reason you can't drive a Boxster immediately after starting. It's actually better for a car to be driven gently (shift before 3,000 rpm until the engine reaches temp) than to sit at idle.

Buy a B&M. It is nearly identical to the factory piece (I think B&M even makes the factory piece) and costs about 2/3 less.

Hey Tool Pants,

I'm getting ready to do the cable replacement in the next couple of weeks. I read the other post, and it sounds like rather than replacing the cables, you just replace the plastic housing (I assume you just "unscrew" the old and screw on the new). Is this correct? How much tougher is it to just replace the whole cable?

Thanks.

I know that FVD sells 3.4 L 996 engines for $9000 with a core exchange. I know because I'm pricing them to install in my Boxster.

I don't know of anybody on your side of the pond who does it, but it basically involves buying a 3.4 liter engine from a 996 and installing it in your Boxster. Check out http://www.roockusa.com.

I'd think it would be cheaper to buy either a used 2.5 or do the 3.4 conversion, rather than trying to rebuild a 2.5.

I'm quite certain that no one is allowed to use asbestos in brake pads anymore.

Is there any way to put Porsche's TSBs onto a CD that could be distributed to members of this Board? Do TSBs already come on CDs?

I know that Loren and Tool Pants have TSBs - I'm assuming on a CD. Could these be copied? Are there copyright issues?

I would love to have all the Boxster TSBs on a CD, if that's possible.

Thanks.