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2009 C2S 177K miles
Hey man, and hey to others familiar on the board. I still have my 2009 C2S and driving every day. I move recently to Atlanta... just purchased a house. Yes I paid way too much for it, but then I sold my house near Philly for way too much.
Quick Atlanta story: All my tools are in storage... moved to apt while looking for a house... and sure enough, my C2S popped a dash light and started bucking. Like all of us here, I knew what it was... coil pack... confirmed with my Durametric, original packs but now with around 177K miles on them. Now I have no tools... none. So I found a local shop that had a bunch of Porsches in for service. Well these guys talked down to me when I told them the code and diagnosis... went downhill from there. Overcharged? Oh yea.... and tried to charge me for new plugs which I had just replaced... I actually got mad at them. Well this place in Buckhead has customers that come in with sock-less penny loafers oozing "look at me" so really, I blame myself. In short, DIY or you will get bent over.
So I read the blue 2000 S is still in service? I think you wrote you had an issue. How many miles on it now? Did you sell off the stereo? You could probably by a few of those cars with the proceeds now.
Total honesty here... I miss my 2000 S. It was more fun to drive than my 2009 C2S. It was lighter, better handling, and just seemed to be a ... I dunno... smaller, better sports car. I finally got the C2S's suspension to where I like it by installing the DSC PASM controller, then tweaking the software via my laptop. DSC PASM controller is one heck of a great and cheap upgrade. I did not change the suspension parts, as they are all OEM.
Grant: for GT4 engine information, check out the Rennlist 997 forums... there are many folks who don't drive 911s there as the tech resources are pretty darn good.
So tell us about your GT4... I am totally jealous.
Peace
Bruce in Philly (now Atlanta)
Hey man, and hey to others familiar on the board. I still have my 2009 C2S and driving every day. I move recently to Atlanta... just purchased a house. Yes I paid way too much for it, but then I sold my house near Philly for way too much.
Quick Atlanta story: All my tools are in storage... moved to apt while looking for a house... and sure enough, my C2S popped a dash light and started bucking. Like all of us here, I knew what it was... coil pack... confirmed with my Durametric, original packs but now with around 177K miles on them. Now I have no tools... none. So I found a local shop that had a bunch of Porsches in for service. Well these guys talked down to me when I told them the code and diagnosis... went downhill from there. Overcharged? Oh yea.... and tried to charge me for new plugs which I had just replaced... I actually got mad at them. Well this place in Buckhead has customers that come in with sock-less penny loafers oozing "look at me" so really, I blame myself. In short, DIY or you will get bent over.
So I read the blue 2000 S is still in service? I think you wrote you had an issue. How many miles on it now? Did you sell off the stereo? You could probably by a few of those cars with the proceeds now.
Total honesty here... I miss my 2000 S. It was more fun to drive than my 2009 C2S. It was lighter, better handling, and just seemed to be a ... I dunno... smaller, better sports car. I finally got the C2S's suspension to where I like it by installing the DSC PASM controller, then tweaking the software via my laptop. DSC PASM controller is one heck of a great and cheap upgrade. I did not change the suspension parts, as they are all OEM.
Grant: for GT4 engine information, check out the Rennlist 997 forums... there are many folks who don't drive 911s there as the tech resources are pretty darn good.
So tell us about your GT4... I am totally jealous.
Peace
Bruce in Philly (now Atlanta)
| Terrific to hear from you. And yes, i still have it... but that's a bit of a longer story. grant - 2 years ago |
So, you have another car with a gazillion(s)miles. Good for you.
I don't recall where I went quiet. Your blue 986S has had a few iterations. A the moment it sits motor-less with 267,000 mile son the chassis. In many ways its been a poor use of resources, in others a great journey. And an old boxster, no matter how modified, is a great learning tool. A buddy of mien and I shared his very similar car at VIR this year (more on why as the story unfolds) and it was just a blast to push the car to and pas its limit trying to keep up with modern GT-whatevers.
You recall that I got your car, put an ebay stock motor in it, replacement IMS bearing from LNE, PSS9s, deep sump (Pedro's), seats, belts, blah, blah. It was a nice car but almost immediately began going downhill fast - first the moor started using oil - LOTS then slowly ate itself. It never failed but i recall its last track day, struggling, foot to floor to make it past 95 mph on the 1.2 mile back straight at VIR. Then drove home. Motor toast. This was, i believe, end of 2014.
I made the questionable decision to put a lot of money into it to make it a fun, reliable track car. I worked with a local specialist who lt me and some friends pull and disassemble the moor in his shop. Great experience! This was a BIG, expensive rebuild, geared toward durability.
1. Block went to LNE and got nickies. 3.4L.
2. LNE conversion to traditional IMS bearing (oiled, just like an aircooled)
3. matchign JE pistons
4. Carrillo rods
Head went the usual route, sodium filled valves and local machine shop work.
Sent the very dead transmission to colorado for rebuild with limited slip
EBAY headers, stock muffler
A bunch of "while we're in there" maintenance.
Car has been very durable with 100s (???) of track days since then. However, the vry high oil use continued. We finally traced a significant amount to the scavenger pumps in the heads. That eliminated it from choking on oil. But it still uses an alarming amount; maybe 1.5qt in a normal DE weekend, driven very hard (typically Black RG in one of the fastest clubs in PCA - i tell any passengers that come along to "pedal dammit!").
All said, its still fairly slow. Surprisingly torquey, but no faster than my friends' slightly breathed on 3.2s from 2002 and 2003 respectively. I attribute this to poor breathing, but mostly to the fact that "your" car was so early that it had the earlier fuel injection which has a very slow feedback loop from O2 sensor to control unit. So it does nopt manage mixture very well. Oh well.
Fast forward to this June. 3rd run of the day (?) for me, Summit Point, a buddy riding right seat. First lap just about completed, approaching the bridge and pit in, do the 3-4 shift at ~6800 rpms. HUGE cloud of smoke, immediate loos of power, weird noises, so I quickly pit in. Hi [chief]. Hi Grant. Do you know your car is on fire?
SHIT!
Anyway, long story short, exhaust fire, but not known until they doused it in foam.
I saved the weekend by renting a "arrive and drive" Spec Miata for 1.5 days. What a blast! Highly recommended. I was on the war path to get one... but let's unfold the story a bit more.
I trailered it home and left my trailer at the same shop i built it with. The issue, which amazingly Ken (Smith, Rennsmith) guessed on the phone, as that a freeze plug let loose, and flooded the motor with coolant. And in fact it did. I will post some pics, but with the valve covers off and motor on a stand, the plug was just sitting there, between 2 and 3, smiling at us. Aside from that the motor inside looked brand new (helped, no doubt, by the bath it just took, but cross hatching and everything). We did find telltale signs of minor hydrolock and will be doing rod and main bearings +++ before re-assembly with all new freeze plugs. It a dicey decision bu the car is so old and trackified that i don't think it has much value - so i'm keeping it as a docile and affordable-to-drive ($80 rotors, etc) track rat.
So there you have it. I also have my original, stock 2004 986 which i race in Solo 1 (its fun, light and classes well in S1) and i just got a GT4. That, however, is too expensive to track regularly both in value and consumables ($600 rotors anyone?)
I expect to have "car 54" back on the road/track in the spring. if not, Spec Miata here i come.
Grant
Grant
gee-lenahan-at-gee-mail-dot-com
I don't recall where I went quiet. Your blue 986S has had a few iterations. A the moment it sits motor-less with 267,000 mile son the chassis. In many ways its been a poor use of resources, in others a great journey. And an old boxster, no matter how modified, is a great learning tool. A buddy of mien and I shared his very similar car at VIR this year (more on why as the story unfolds) and it was just a blast to push the car to and pas its limit trying to keep up with modern GT-whatevers.
You recall that I got your car, put an ebay stock motor in it, replacement IMS bearing from LNE, PSS9s, deep sump (Pedro's), seats, belts, blah, blah. It was a nice car but almost immediately began going downhill fast - first the moor started using oil - LOTS then slowly ate itself. It never failed but i recall its last track day, struggling, foot to floor to make it past 95 mph on the 1.2 mile back straight at VIR. Then drove home. Motor toast. This was, i believe, end of 2014.
I made the questionable decision to put a lot of money into it to make it a fun, reliable track car. I worked with a local specialist who lt me and some friends pull and disassemble the moor in his shop. Great experience! This was a BIG, expensive rebuild, geared toward durability.
1. Block went to LNE and got nickies. 3.4L.
2. LNE conversion to traditional IMS bearing (oiled, just like an aircooled)
3. matchign JE pistons
4. Carrillo rods
Head went the usual route, sodium filled valves and local machine shop work.
Sent the very dead transmission to colorado for rebuild with limited slip
EBAY headers, stock muffler
A bunch of "while we're in there" maintenance.
Car has been very durable with 100s (???) of track days since then. However, the vry high oil use continued. We finally traced a significant amount to the scavenger pumps in the heads. That eliminated it from choking on oil. But it still uses an alarming amount; maybe 1.5qt in a normal DE weekend, driven very hard (typically Black RG in one of the fastest clubs in PCA - i tell any passengers that come along to "pedal dammit!").
All said, its still fairly slow. Surprisingly torquey, but no faster than my friends' slightly breathed on 3.2s from 2002 and 2003 respectively. I attribute this to poor breathing, but mostly to the fact that "your" car was so early that it had the earlier fuel injection which has a very slow feedback loop from O2 sensor to control unit. So it does nopt manage mixture very well. Oh well.
Fast forward to this June. 3rd run of the day (?) for me, Summit Point, a buddy riding right seat. First lap just about completed, approaching the bridge and pit in, do the 3-4 shift at ~6800 rpms. HUGE cloud of smoke, immediate loos of power, weird noises, so I quickly pit in. Hi [chief]. Hi Grant. Do you know your car is on fire?
SHIT!
Anyway, long story short, exhaust fire, but not known until they doused it in foam.
I saved the weekend by renting a "arrive and drive" Spec Miata for 1.5 days. What a blast! Highly recommended. I was on the war path to get one... but let's unfold the story a bit more.
I trailered it home and left my trailer at the same shop i built it with. The issue, which amazingly Ken (Smith, Rennsmith) guessed on the phone, as that a freeze plug let loose, and flooded the motor with coolant. And in fact it did. I will post some pics, but with the valve covers off and motor on a stand, the plug was just sitting there, between 2 and 3, smiling at us. Aside from that the motor inside looked brand new (helped, no doubt, by the bath it just took, but cross hatching and everything). We did find telltale signs of minor hydrolock and will be doing rod and main bearings +++ before re-assembly with all new freeze plugs. It a dicey decision bu the car is so old and trackified that i don't think it has much value - so i'm keeping it as a docile and affordable-to-drive ($80 rotors, etc) track rat.
So there you have it. I also have my original, stock 2004 986 which i race in Solo 1 (its fun, light and classes well in S1) and i just got a GT4. That, however, is too expensive to track regularly both in value and consumables ($600 rotors anyone?)
I expect to have "car 54" back on the road/track in the spring. if not, Spec Miata here i come.
Grant
Grant
gee-lenahan-at-gee-mail-dot-com
| Fabulous Bruce In Philly (2000 S Boxster, now '09 C2S) - 2 years ago |
I am getting a bit nostalgic seeing that car. It really was great for me.
Nice hearing from you.... keep at it.
On my C2S, I DIY everything... except that coil pack horror. I keep it running tip top. My next project I hope will be a center radiator kit this spring before the Atlanta hots come to town.
Peace
Bruce
Nice hearing from you.... keep at it.
On my C2S, I DIY everything... except that coil pack horror. I keep it running tip top. My next project I hope will be a center radiator kit this spring before the Atlanta hots come to town.
Peace
Bruce
| Re: Fabulous grant - 2 years ago |
Whether or not all the DIY and rebuilds have been a wise use of money, they have been a fun and educational ride. And i will say that the car has a very honest quality - way beyond when you had it of "i tell you what I'm doing, and i do what you say, if I can". It doesn't lie, or bite.
I love the mid-engine chassis. And while the 981 chassis is much better dynamically, its also heavier, bigger and less pretty.
You would probably no be impressed with the level of dirt etc on it. Its a track rat, a lovable rat, BTU dirty, not 100% finished etc.
If ever you are in the area please stop by. We'll have a drink or two and you can drive it. not in that order.
Happy Holidays,
G
Grant
gee-lenahan-at-gee-mail-dot-com
I love the mid-engine chassis. And while the 981 chassis is much better dynamically, its also heavier, bigger and less pretty.
You would probably no be impressed with the level of dirt etc on it. Its a track rat, a lovable rat, BTU dirty, not 100% finished etc.
If ever you are in the area please stop by. We'll have a drink or two and you can drive it. not in that order.
Happy Holidays,
G
Grant
gee-lenahan-at-gee-mail-dot-com
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