Need advice 99 Boxster Engine

This is kinda long but I find I get better advice if I don't try to cover up my mistakes so:

The car is a 99 Boxster, Zenith Blue, Grey full lether interrior, Litronic lights, orriginally grey top - now a blue top with glass window, heated seats, lumbar supports 64K miles.

Generally speaking I'm fairly smart - other times I just can't find a clue to save my life. Part of my problem stems from wanting to belive that the manufacturer - Porsche - in this case, has the owerns best interest in mind - (I lost my clue and can't do a thing with out it). Sometimes I get really focused on something and let other things slide. Sometimes it just all comes together and I really shoot myself in the foot (well more like kneecap in this case)

So really, I'm not a moron, except in this case - really.

What I did and didn't do to my Boxster: A Confession.
First - I belived Porsche when they said 15K oil changes, I mean what the hell, it's got 9 quarts of Mobil One - that aught to be good for 15K and it's Porsche - that know what they're doing right?

Second - I had project in the garrage and I left the Boxster out in the rain (yes I had the top up - see not a total idiot) The project too longer than I'd planned and I really wasn't paying attention much else - Until I parked the Jeep next to the Boxster on the first sunny day in about 2 months (that's the Pacific North WET not west). I noticed a bit of condensation on the windows - Ok they were soaked - I doubt I could have done a better job with a hose. Turns out my top was somewhat less water resistant than I'd thought. Also the lumbar support on the drivers side seems to leak someplace pump wont shut off until I finally reset the memory position for the seat.

Third - a friend accidently dropped a gas powered Echo weed wacker on the left rear corner, I've got two door dings on the right rear quarter - etc. All in all I'm looking at some body work on the rt front fender, left rear, a new trunk lid, possibly a new hood (although maybe not - might be able to do a paintless repair on it). Mostly comes down to labor vs part cost.

I know this is all going to cost me more than the car is worth. I'm actually ok with that, dispite my own stupidity and neglect I actually do love this car.

So I've ripped the interrior appart - the seats are going in for reupholstery - the leather got so saturated it's now stiff and cracked -some mildew too but I seem to have fixed that, but I just can't leave the leather like it is. I fixed the broken hinges on the oddiments box lid -Porsche sells a Hinge Kit - so I'm obviously not the only one who's done that.

Next up is the top, I've cleaned it but I'm going to get a steam vapor cleaner and make sure I've taken care of the mildew. While I'm at it I'll do the rest of the interrior just for the sake of completeness - in cluding all the vents.

I've shampooed the carpets and I get no smell from them at all - I'm still going to steam clean them just in case - no signs of mold or mildew under the carpet. I think once I get the seats redone the interror will be fine.

I've got a quote on an upholster kit from GAHH - looking for other recommendations for leather kit suppliers? - I'll probably use a local upholstery shop to install the new leather.

As for the Engine - I noticed a small oil leak (first one) and I'm going to have it checked but I've been toying with the idea of engine upgrades. So as I see it, I have three options:

1. Keep what I have - flush all the fluids, start doing the oil changes at 5K, fix the source of the leak, possibly new main seal (it would be my first), possibliy the IMSB in which case i might do an LD engineering bearing fix - assuming it's not a total engine rebuild. New clutch - will probably do this myself.

2. Total rebuild - Nickies, full LD engineering upgrades, bored to 2.7, maybe cams - maybe not - need advice on that - maybe use sightly higher compression pistons. etc. If I do this I'll probably do the work myself - in my youth I did 5 full engine rebuilds, helped with 6 others, helped with a auto tranny rebuild, sever clutch jobs, and new syncros in one manual - so I'm not worried about the wrench work. And since I'll have it out of the car it I won't be doing Yoga Car Maintenance.

3. Get a 3.2 or 3.4 - go the full tear down, Nickes/LD upgrades route then do the engine swap. At which point I'll have a 2.5 for sale for some Spec Boxster racer who needs another engine. This brings up a few questions:


How do I find a used 3.2 or 3.4 that doesn't have a cronic RMS problem (which I assume is actually fairly rare) - can I get service records from the VIN? Carfax maybe? And where do I look.

I assume I need to swap the front bumper and get the third radiator (I'll go back and re-read the 101 Projects book to be sure) Anything else I sould be thinking about? Problems areas I should be aware of before I head down this path?

Then, how much if any work should I do on the 2.5 - sell it as is? do the RMS and IMSB? will Spec allow engines with 2.5 Nickies and would anyone buy a total rebuild with nickies for Spec Racing?

[harryrcb]

Originally Posted by VincentB

This is kinda long but I find I get better advice if I don't try to cover up my mistakes so:

The car is a 99 Boxster, Zenith Blue, Grey full lether interrior, Litronic lights, orriginally grey top - now a blue top with glass window, heated seats, lumbar supports 64K miles.

Generally speaking I'm fairly smart - other times I just can't find a clue to save my life. Part of my problem stems from wanting to belive that the manufacturer - Porsche - in this case, has the owerns best interest in mind - (I lost my clue and can't do a thing with out it). Sometimes I get really focused on something and let other things slide. Sometimes it just all comes together and I really shoot myself in the foot (well more like kneecap in this case)

So really, I'm not a moron, except in this case - really.

What I did and didn't do to my Boxster: A Confession.
First - I belived Porsche when they said 15K oil changes, I mean what the hell, it's got 9 quarts of Mobil One - that aught to be good for 15K and it's Porsche - that know what they're doing right?

Second - I had project in the garrage and I left the Boxster out in the rain (yes I had the top up - see not a total idiot) The project too longer than I'd planned and I really wasn't paying attention much else - Until I parked the Jeep next to the Boxster on the first sunny day in about 2 months (that's the Pacific North WET not west). I noticed a bit of condensation on the windows - Ok they were soaked - I doubt I could have done a better job with a hose. Turns out my top was somewhat less water resistant than I'd thought. Also the lumbar support on the drivers side seems to leak someplace pump wont shut off until I finally reset the memory position for the seat.

Third - a friend accidently dropped a gas powered Echo weed wacker on the left rear corner, I've got two door dings on the right rear quarter - etc. All in all I'm looking at some body work on the rt front fender, left rear, a new trunk lid, possibly a new hood (although maybe not - might be able to do a paintless repair on it). Mostly comes down to labor vs part cost.

I know this is all going to cost me more than the car is worth. I'm actually ok with that, dispite my own stupidity and neglect I actually do love this car.

So I've ripped the interrior appart - the seats are going in for reupholstery - the leather got so saturated it's now stiff and cracked -some mildew too but I seem to have fixed that, but I just can't leave the leather like it is. I fixed the broken hinges on the oddiments box lid -Porsche sells a Hinge Kit - so I'm obviously not the only one who's done that.

Next up is the top, I've cleaned it but I'm going to get a steam vapor cleaner and make sure I've taken care of the mildew. While I'm at it I'll do the rest of the interrior just for the sake of completeness - in cluding all the vents.

I've shampooed the carpets and I get no smell from them at all - I'm still going to steam clean them just in case - no signs of mold or mildew under the carpet. I think once I get the seats redone the interror will be fine.

I've got a quote on an upholster kit from GAHH - looking for other recommendations for leather kit suppliers? - I'll probably use a local upholstery shop to install the new leather.

As for the Engine - I noticed a small oil leak (first one) and I'm going to have it checked but I've been toying with the idea of engine upgrades. So as I see it, I have three options:

1. Keep what I have - flush all the fluids, start doing the oil changes at 5K, fix the source of the leak, possibly new main seal (it would be my first), possibliy the IMSB in which case i might do an LD engineering bearing fix - assuming it's not a total engine rebuild. New clutch - will probably do this myself.

2. Total rebuild - Nickies, full LD engineering upgrades, bored to 2.7, maybe cams - maybe not - need advice on that - maybe use sightly higher compression pistons. etc. If I do this I'll probably do the work myself - in my youth I did 5 full engine rebuilds, helped with 6 others, helped with a auto tranny rebuild, sever clutch jobs, and new syncros in one manual - so I'm not worried about the wrench work. And since I'll have it out of the car it I won't be doing Yoga Car Maintenance.

3. Get a 3.2 or 3.4 - go the full tear down, Nickes/LD upgrades route then do the engine swap. At which point I'll have a 2.5 for sale for some Spec Boxster racer who needs another engine. This brings up a few questions:


How do I find a used 3.2 or 3.4 that doesn't have a cronic RMS problem (which I assume is actually fairly rare) - can I get service records from the VIN? Carfax maybe? And where do I look.

I assume I need to swap the front bumper and get the third radiator (I'll go back and re-read the 101 Projects book to be sure) Anything else I sould be thinking about? Problems areas I should be aware of before I head down this path?

Then, how much if any work should I do on the 2.5 - sell it as is? do the RMS and IMSB? will Spec allow engines with 2.5 Nickies and would anyone buy a total rebuild with nickies for Spec Racing?

My initial advice to you is sell the car pick up a nice boxster S, you will have your engine, 6 speed trans , bigger brakes and better suspension, then think about mods.
If you are stuck on keeping your car, that's ok too. I have both a 3.2 and 3.4 engine for sale. Glad to help you out anyway I can. the 3.2 will come with a new RMS and LN Engineering IMS bearing. you will however need the DME's to go with those engines and you will have to change out the immobilzer, alarm system and key/switch in order to make the work. I have all those components as well. And yes you will need the third radiator. If you are interested please send me a note to harryrc1@gmail.com