What Now? The Little Baz-tard

[1990C4S]

Fork in the road time on the project I am calling The Little Baztard.

I just bought this project 1998 Boxster, 120,000 miles, very cheap ($3k), but in pretty good shape. I just want a project car as I moved into retirement. I do not need a track car, or a super-fast car, this will be a summer car for my wife. Ideally reliable.

Where I am now:

The car was sort of pulled apart when I got it, not terrible, but a bit of work to do for sure. The previous owner(s) wanted to build a track car, but they didn't wreck anything. It's still reasonable to make it a summer daily driver.

I got two engines with the car, and the original five speed trans. The original 2.5 engine has bent valves, I think it's scrap, and not worth looking at again, other than being a parts donor. The 2.7 engine has decent compression (150psi) on all cylinders (one needed a bit oil soaking to coax the rings into working), should run. Mileage is unknown. Waiting on a decent borescope to look inside, but I'm 90% sure it will be a decent running engine.

The wire harness on the 2.7 (to the ECU) doesn't seem to match the 2.5 harness, no big deal, I can swap it over. the ECU needs cable operated throttle as, as a 'get it running' fix I can use the old throttle body.

I do have the original key, the immobilizer module, and the ECU, so it should run.

I'm sort of on the fence here...sell it, or fix it, part it out. I don't think I need to sink a ton of money into this. I need one headlight, a bumper, and a fender. Plus some IMS stuff, main rear seal etc., assuming it runs.

I do have a heated shop for the winter and lots of space until at least April.

Open to suggestions, I'm leaning to putting the engine back in to see how it runs.

[speeder]

Ok, I thought that this was a callout post. Those aren’t allowed! G’day!

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Can you power up the ECU to check for past codes and the ones you need to resolve going forward?
Addressing the most complex aspect is the idea.
I would want to know the ECU powers up & comm works with the harness you want to use.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by speeder

ok, i thought that this was a callout post. Those aren’t allowed! G’day!

:d:d

.

[LWJ]

I can say as the owner of a Boxster, they are awesome cars. My tech savvy isn’t as strong as yours and I don’t know if I could do this. I am comfy with ancient iron.

[808 WRX]

Looks like a fun project!

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by 3rd_gear_Ted

Can you power up the ECU to check for past codes and the ones you need to resolve going forward?
Addressing the most complex aspect is the idea.
I would want to know the ECU powers up & comm works with the harness you want to use.

Past codes would be primarily related to the 2.5 engine, no? Once I get an engine connected and communicating, I might as well add fuel and fire it up.

I think I need to get the 2.7 minimally connected and running, that way I know the ECU and immobilizer are going to work, and I can make sure it doesn't smoke or knock.

I still need to figure out why the 2.7 harness does not have an ECU connector, but aside from that, it's not a huge deal.

[KFC911]

I just dropped by to defend Baz .... and I don't care what he did....

So nevermind...

[rfuerst911sc]

If you move forward with trying to get her running and while the front bumper is off clean the radiators. Separate the AC condensers from the rads and clean in between them . It's amazing how much crap can get stuck in between them . Depending on how many miles you drive cleaning the rads is an every year or two maintenance event .

[jhynesrockmtn]

I would think parts are readily available. I'd get it running and see where you are at. That seems like the bigger part of the project no? The rest is finding the missing bits and bolting them up. My buddy, who has a Porsche collection most would envy, bought a very early silver Boxster when they first came out. It sat for years due to a terminal failure with the engine. Can't quite remember what, but it was a known issue in the early 2.5s. He eventually got the engine rebuilt and still drives it. He had a 2014 while the 2.5 was down and sold that when the older one was done. He just likes the early car better.

[Baz]

Nice color Boxster, 1990C4S! Plenty of folks here more knowledgeable than me who can offer opinions and advice.

I'm still enjoying my Boxster and was fortunate to get lots of help in my thread:

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1159908-whats-skinny-boxsters.html

Keep us posted with your little "Baztard"!

[Steve Carlton]

Why do I get the feeling you were somehow responsible for this project?

[1990C4S]

Semi-responsible. The other 50% is my wife telling me 'a Porsche is nothing special'. Her mind will change.

Also thinking Baz-Turd might be better. The original name makes it sound like Baz is a 'tard'. And this will never be anything better than a grubby daily driver. At best.

[Baz]

[rattlsnak]

The issue is price/cost. You could easily spend more than its worth putting it back together. You can buy running ones for @$5K now.

[DWBOX2000]

This^. Though 5k will get you one that will need 5k soon is my guess. I’ve learned to buy the best conditioned one you afford , drive and maintain. As awesome as these are, the parts are too dam expensive that one can exceed market value for a real nice one quickly. Anyhow, best of luck. I look forward to your posts and progress.

[TimT]

Do you have the 2.7 ECU? Also your probably going to need a PIWIS for coding, and getting all the components to play together. You can get knock off PIWIS on Ebay.. you'll also need the VIN for the 2.7

Also you're going to need the learn code for the ECUs

Are they base model or S?

I have both an ECU for base or S 2.7 with associated VIN for each ECU that are available

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by TimT

Do you have the 2.7 ECU? Also your probably going to need a PIWIS for coding, and getting all the components to play together. You can get knock off PIWIS on Ebay.. you'll also need the VIN for the 2.7

Also you're going to need the learn code for the ECUs

Are they base model or S?

I have both an ECU for base or S 2.7 with associated VIN for each ECU that are available

I know the 2.5 engine (and the car) was a base engine, I think the 2.7 is also a non-S, but I have to figure out how to to confirm that fact.

I'm pretty sure I have the original ECO, immobilizer, and key. So I think they should all work together.

I'm just digging onto PIWIS, it looks a lot like Volvo VIDA (cable, VMware, and a bunch of time to get it working). It looks like the image can be downloaded?

I'm a ways off from needing anything other that rags and wrenches, but I appreciate this info.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

I know the 2.5 engine (and the car) was a base engine, I think the 2.7 is also a non-S, but I have to figure out how to to confirm that fact.

I'm pretty sure I have the original ECO, immobilizer, and key. So I think they should all work together.

I'm just digging onto PIWIS, it looks a lot like Volvo VIDA (cable, VMware, and a bunch of time to get it working). It looks like the image can be downloaded?

I'm a ways off from needing anything other that rags and wrenches, but I appreciate this info.

I thought the S was 99 and later and a 3.2 only. My 2001 was an S.

[rfuerst911sc]

Boxster S of that era are 3.2 litre .