Phoenix from the flames - Porsche Boxster with an Audi 2.7T

Phoenix from the flames - Porsche Boxster with an Audi 2.7T

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Escy

Original Poster:

4,038 posts

157 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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For anyone that's not aware of my previous Boxster the build thread is here - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

To re-cap it went from this...




To this...



The car was still due to be mapped and I didn't have a proper insurance policy on it so it was a big financial loss. The reaction on the forums has been overwhelming and a gofundme page was set up to try and get the project going again. A massive thank you to everyone that donated.

I started off getting another Audi A6 2.7t donor car.


This weekend I picked up another Boxster. It's a 2.7, has done 98k with full service history, 4 previous owners, the last one for 8 years. It's a decent spec, has the factory sat nav (with a phone!), hardtop, litronic headlights and sports exhaust. It's crazy how much some of those parts sell for and I'll have to sell them to make the project viable.





Hopefully the mileage is a good omen.


It's not all good news, the car was cheap for a reason. It was sitting for the best part of a year due to an immobiliser fault. The previous owner took it to a garage that didn't know what they were doing, there was a bag in the boot, they'd changed the ignition barrel, ECU, alarm/body module, key and starter motor. The starter motor rang some alarm bells. The car was doing a few funny things, one of which was the release buttons for the boot and bonnet didn't work (which is why the bonnet is not closed properly in the photos). I had a look and the part number on the replacement alarm/body module was wrong which explained why functions weren't working. I swapped that over and the engine ECU and it started up on the 2nd key i'd been given, so much for an immobiliser problem, that starter motor must have been the last thing the garage replaced.

After they got it running for the first time in nearly a year it sounded bad, it has a tapping sound and the car is burning loads of oil. I've had a little look at it since collecting the car, cylinder 2 has a misfire, the car is burning loads of oil and it's down on compression on that cylinder. I think it's a seized lifter. I'll strip it down when I get a chance.

Here is a video of the noise.
https://youtu.be/aF-zkizY-O8

I got it brought back (he had to turn it around the other way due to too much weight at the back)


There won't be much progress for a while. Firstly I need to strip the A6 and get rid of the shell, then i'll get the Boxster in the garage and see if I can sort out the engine noise.

I'm back in the game smile

Solocle

3,641 posts

92 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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Sweet to see it back in the forums!
One question. Why fix the Boxster engine when you're replacing it wink Might be worth more as parts, but you'll know more than me.

Escy

Original Poster:

4,038 posts

157 months

Monday 11th September 2017
quotequote all
They are worth more as a complete running engine. I sold the engine as parts on the old Boxster and it took ages to shift bits. There isn't much of a DIY culture with Porsche's when it comes to engines so there is a small market.

It depends on the damage when I open it up, i'm hoping for just a siezed lifter. If the camshaft lobe is worn the whole cylinder head is scrap. I bought the car with the assumption the engine is scrap so if I can repair it, it'll be a big bonus for my budget. A used 2.7 engine is around £1800 on ebay.

LanceRS

2,182 posts

145 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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Good luck with this one. Do you think that it will be easier the second time around?

Escy

Original Poster:

4,038 posts

157 months

Monday 11th September 2017
quotequote all
It depends on how I go about it. If I copy how it was before it won't take long as everything I fabricated is salvageable. The problem is I need quite a few expensive parts. One thing I learnt about the last build was cheap aftermarket parts are rubbish and decent aftermarket parts are very expensive. The middle ground is probably cheaper Chinese parts re-branded.

The other option is, as the replacement Boxster is a 2.7 with a 5 speed, I can bolt the engine straight up to the gearbox. I can then see what would need doing for clearance. If it's reasonable I'd be tempted to fit a standard 2.7t engine and get it running on the Audi ECU. You can get 350bhp on standard turbos. The turbos can be upgraded at a later date. With this route, all the parts will be factory Porsche or Audi so hopefully no issues.

Basically I don't know yet.

GrantD5

577 posts

96 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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Looking forward to this!

Baron_Vilhelm

5 posts

87 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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Best of luck with the mk 2

bungz

1,961 posts

128 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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Your determination is commendable.

Best of luck with this!

Veeayt

3,139 posts

213 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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The answer should be pretty obvious - go the stock way, then improve. Why making the same mistake again?

Uggers

2,224 posts

219 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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Veeayt said:
The answer should be pretty obvious - go the stock way, then improve. Why making the same mistake again?
Because mistakes are to learn lessons from. Without which we'd still be living in caves.

Good luck with the project and look forward to seeing the results!

Robmarriott

2,736 posts

166 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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Think I actually prefer the new colour choice!

MDifficult

2,177 posts

193 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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Very best of luck, I really admired the first project so having sufficient brave-pills to give it another go is remarkable - can't wait to see the updates!

dom9

8,216 posts

217 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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Good luck Escy!

Dr G

15,408 posts

250 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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Bookmarked; I really like the idea of using 'standard' bits.

Almost an exercise in doing an exercise in what a "Boxster Turbo" could have been had Porsche felt it justified.

RC1807

13,010 posts

176 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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Wow, very good luck, Escy!

was8v

1,991 posts

203 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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Fantastic!

superkarl

60 posts

145 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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A great deal more can be had from the 2.7tt in standard format by using KO4 turbos and beyond that hybrid turbos utilising wheels and housings from the rest of the VAG range. 400-1000hp is achievable in the standard format.
I guess the benefit of your first build was packaging.
Fitting two turbos which are outside the V certainly doesn't make things easier.

I dare you to try and convert the engine to run with turbos inside the V

chrisga

2,125 posts

195 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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Good luck, enjoyed the last thread and was gutted when it went up in smoke. Have bookmarked this one. So get to it!

hman

7,490 posts

202 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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what is the second exhaust for?

HybridAero

1,402 posts

108 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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Awesome to hear and phenomenal response via GoFundMe.

I know it's a sore subject but did you find out what caused the fire?