Boxster supercharger?

[The Glademister]

I've read the forced induction info on the technical page...

Pelican Technical Article: Boxster Superchargers / Boxster Turbo Chargers - 986 / 987

Great stuff. Thanks Wayne!

But I'm not having much luck finding a supercharger kit specifically made for Boxster. It mentions "supercharger kit developed by Stephen Kaspar for Imagine Auto" which appears to have fallen on some misfortune. Any leads on where such a kit might be found?

Looking to make a 2000 2.7L into a screaming Solo 2 SSM car.

[JMatta]

Looking to make a 2000 2.7L into a screaming Solo 2 SSM car.

Or blow it up...the M96 has questionable reliability and inherit weaknesses that would only be exaggerated by any nominal degree of forced induction. It may scream for a while, but be prepared to rebuild or replace in a very short period; the mechanicals were not designed for or are robust enough to handle the added stress over any period of time.

(I am not an engineer or tech, but this is the opinion of the experts I respect).

[The Glademister]

Originally Posted by JMatta

Looking to make a 2000 2.7L into a screaming Solo 2 SSM car.

Or blow it up...the M96 has questionable reliability and inherit weaknesses that would only be exaggerated by any nominal degree of forced induction. It may scream for a while, but be prepared to rebuild or replace in a very short period; the mechanicals were not designed for or are robust enough to handle the added stress over any period of time.

(I am not an engineer or tech, but this is the opinion of the experts I respect).

Nor am I an engineer and I've been reading as much as possible regarding performance upgrades. This project will be budget driven and long term. What form the engine takes, suspension mods, interior changes, etc., etc., won't be know for quite some time. I do believe that the stock Boxster has huge potential for this class but we'll have to be mindful of costs.

[s_wilwerding]

If you currently have a 2.7 engine, you can put in a 3.6 from a 996. That would be a better route - turbo/super charging these engines either a) will dramatically shorten their lifetime or b) will be dialed down so much that your engine is OK with it, but it won't produce much power.

The 996 engine swap is comparable in price to a turbo/super kit, and you have a reliable, stock engine. 996 3.6s engines are relatively easy to find, too.

[The Glademister]

I've been reading about that also. Unfortunately the target class doesn't allow engine upgrades (same block as stock). You can do just about anything else to the intake, valves, cams, etc. Now if we were talking XP... that's a whole 'nother story!

[JMatta]

Based upon the SSM rules, the mods to make the engine powerful enough and not a time bomb would be highly cost ineffective...unless you don't mind rebuilding the engine annually. If I were to incur that type of annual expense, it would be wheel to wheel, not Solo.

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by The Glademister

I've been reading about that also. Unfortunately the target class doesn't allow engine upgrades (same block as stock). You can do just about anything else to the intake, valves, cams, etc. Now if we were talking XP... that's a whole 'nother story!

Yup, if he's talking about a track car, then all bets are off. Isn't the goal of a track car to blow up the motor? You aren't driving it hard enough if you don't!

-Wayne

[Steve986]

Which parts of the 2.7 engine are weak, other than the IMS?

How will 5lbs of boost destroy it?

[s_wilwerding]

Originally Posted by Steve986

Which parts of the 2.7 engine are weak, other than the IMS?

How will 5lbs of boost destroy it?

Generally the issue is with compression. The Boxster is already a very high compression engine, and adding more boost generally leads to holed pistons. 5 lbs is probably OK, but again, it will likely shorten the lifespan of the engine.

The other issue is that the Boxster was really designed as a consumer engine - the pistons, crank, etc. are designed for the amount of HP that the engine delivers. There were not really over-engineered such that you can over-stress them much without issues.

[The Glademister]

Originally Posted by The Glademister

I've been reading about that also. Unfortunately the target class doesn't allow engine upgrades (same block as stock). You can do just about anything else to the intake, valves, cams, etc. Now if we were talking XP... that's a whole 'nother story!

Interesting update - I was just reading Jan. SCCA FastTrack newsletter and it appears there's about to be a rules change for SSM allowing engine upgrade. Sub-frame assemble rules will remain as is but the option of dropping in a 996 engine my have just opened up.

Also, I'm strictly speaking in terms of autocross here guys so much of the discussed stress factors would be mitigated and of less duration than track use.

[Steve986]

I hate to beat a dead horse, but how will it shorten the lifespan of the engine? What would you expect to fail first?

On this forum it seems EVERYTHING shortens the lifespan of an M96 engine, even Mobil 1!

[JMatta]

If you search the various 986/996 forums, you'll find many examples of engine failures beyond the IMS. The M96 is susceptible to failed sintered metal crankshafts, very weak connecting rods/fasteners, cracked cylinders, etc. I do not profess to be an expert, only repeating what Jake Raby, Charles Navarro, JFP in PA and others have found. I personally know several owners who have had failures due to oil starvation...you add forced induction (read heat) into the equation and you are simply looking for failures, as hot spots are already an issue with the heads/cylinders.

I'm sure someone with greater technical expertise can add many comments on the subject.

[goldsc78258]

I would much rather have a big(=Torque ) NA engine with pistons, cylinders IMS upgrade and connecting rods from LN engineering than a turbocharged one . you could convert a 3.6 to 4.0L it would make for a more cost effective reliable engine.

[randy_k]

Originally Posted by goldsc78258

I would much rather have a big(=Torque ) NA engine with pistons, cylinders IMS upgrade and connecting rods from LN engineering than a turbocharged one . you could convert a 3.6 to 4.0L it would make for a more cost effective reliable engine.

+1 I'm old school. And even in the day. Adding a supercharger etc to any engine, puts more stress on the parts than they were disgined for. 2 bolt to 4 bolt main bearings required and on and on. Not sure why you would want to increase the stress on an engine that by most of it's failures. Is stressed enough already.
Just my 4 cents. Ifnlation and the price of gas considered.
Randy

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by Steve986

I hate to beat a dead horse, but how will it shorten the lifespan of the engine? What would you expect to fail first?

On this forum it seems EVERYTHING shortens the lifespan of an M96 engine, even Mobil 1!

Known failure modes from m96 forced induction:
snapped rod bolts, snapped crankshaft, oil overheat beyond it's designed working range resulting in failed rod bearings, cracked heads due to detonation or hot spots, failed pistons due to detonation, failed cylinder walls, failed rod bearings due to oil starvation. Excessive heat, and cylinder pressure from detonation are the enemy.

Of all the possible FI platforms available (Ford, Chevy, Honda, Nissan, Toyota) the Porsche m96 is the least interesting to me. The cost/benefit looks lousy.

[turboflyer]

The performance enhancer you need for the boxster is the new Boss 302. Just saying. Cheaper in the long run.

[Wayne 962]

As I wrote in my Engine Rebuild book, in order to really build a great forced induction engine, you need to design it from the ground up. If you bolt a turbo or supercharger onto a regular production engine, you will always be dealing with compromise issues and problems associated with the fact that the engine was never designed to be forced induction. That said, you can strap a turbo or SC onto an engine and get some great power out of it, but reliability typically goes out the window.

-Wayne

[wosaibfm]

being around drag racing cars for sometime, i vote thumps up to waynes post. design it from teh ground up or leave it alone.