coss1600

I know this is a sensitive topic, but just wondering if there is any chance of a 2.7 boxster getting into the spec boxster series or get into a 2.7 series. The 97-99 are more expensive than 2001 around here. I am having a hard time justifying the price. Wondering if I can skip to a later car and hope the rules will change as I had found a reasonable Ly price 2001

BFT3.2

Not sure where you're located but if you're looking for a donor car to build up to SPB you should easily be able to find one for under $10K but might have to travel to get it. These are from PCA Mart that are in good overall condition but if you're going to gut it look for a car with a torn soft top, bad interior or some other aesthetic blemish that won't matter to you in the end but will keep the asking price down.

https://mart.pca.org/ads/50884
https://mart.pca.org/ads/50908
https://mart.pca.org/ads/50971 -Low miles and had LN IMS bearing done already

It goes without saying, unless building it yourself is something you're WANTING to do understand that will always be a more expensive route than buying a used built one. If you're sure you'll eventually be racing in PCA I would not build a non-spec car with the hope of the class rules will someday maybe change. Im not racing yet but I built mine to spec so I'll always have the option and it's a way easier resale if I ever decide to move on to another car.

Quadcammer

While i haven't found 97-99 donor cars to be hard to find or expensive, I don't see why you can't lump 2.7s in there also. Would be pretty easy to add a bit to the weight requirement for the 2.7 cars to get generally equal performance.

txhokie4life

You can run the 2.7 in PCA -- just not in the SPB class. I think it ends up in E class or something like that.

IMHO, I would go find an existing SPB and go that route -- probably just as cheap or cheaper than to build -- and you'll have a likely sorted car a whole lot sooner.

There are 4 for sale in Houston I am aware of, and I'm not even looking.

coss1600

That’s what I am saying, but the current SB guys are always sensitive for a car that might be potentially faster. I do get their concern though.

You are absolutely right. I am doing a home build because a car that i can drive allows me to work on it at my house quietly. If I get a built car, I won’t be able to do anything other than the shop and the track. Being able to sort out some suspension before hand in hpde or driving around is a nice way to find some bugs before the track day

I found a clean 2001 for 9k, I am seeing these 97-99 going for 10k minimum. That’s why I am super tempted.

Nickshu

The whole point of Spec classes are the cars are generally equal so your performance is largely driver skill. Adding different HP platforms would negate that. I guess if you figured out a way to restrict a 2.7 to dyno'd HP matching a 2.5 that would work I suppose. If the 2.7's have different gear ratios that would have to be addressed too. Honestly I feel like being concerned about saving $1000-2000 on the initial vehicle purchase is insignificant compared to the cost of running a competitive race car, even at the entry level.

Quadcammer

A very small inlet restrictor would likely achieve that. The gearing, although some people get up in arms, i think is a wash. Having run both in my 986 track car, the 99 gearing is better in some parts of the track or on some tracks in general, while the 00+ is better in others. They aren't huge differences. I don't think its much of an issue, but for instance, finding a g86.00 transmission with decently low miles in good shape is getting harder. If you will then eventually allow the g86.01, then why not go a step further and add the 2.7 platform. Anything to keep the class thriving is a good idea I think.

ace37

It’s certainly not guaranteed. Just find the right 2.5L donor car and you’ll be happier. You’ll likely have $30-40k in the car by the time you’re done, and the $1-2k difference is just like buying more tires. I’m probably over $40k now.

If you want a faster car you can always go for SPC or SP996. The fields are generally much smaller though.

RennPart

I think a limited slip should be allowed first, then 2.7L cars weighed down. Look at Spec Miata, they have 1.6, 1.8, and 1.8 VVT engines all lumped together.

orthojoe

Yes! +1000

I'm very surprised that spb still runs an open diff. I know that it has been shot down in the past because of cost issues, but I would argue lack of an lsd increases the risk of crash damage substantially. Crashing costs a lot more than a LSD. Dropping wheels happens a lot in racing, and an open diff increases the risk of hooking. It's also easier to keep the car pointed straight forward with a lsd. There's also the issue of needing to run without a rear bar as a band aid fix to having an open diff. The car is inherently handicapped and is never able to run to its full potential. I also have to imagine tire wear and overheat from wheel spin would be improved with an lsd. Again, I'm just surprised that spb still runs an open diff after all of this time.

SM really has it figured out with parity between the NA6, NA8, NB, and NB2s. one issue I see is that if a restrictor plate is needed for a 2.7L, it's more time consuming to check for in a Boxster over a Miata. Not horrible, but a pain.

Quadcammer

Stuffing a $1,200 LSD into a $600 transmission that likes to shed metal when gears let go....ehhhh

Lemming

I really do not think that adding 2.7s to SPB will change the field size enough to warrant the hassles involved. Plenty of 2.5s to pick from.

If you are worried about costs, stop looking for garage queens. Buy a crashed or repo car off of Copart. I got my '99 for $3,999 and my '98 for $2650 that way.

Agree with Quadcammer, although LSD would be great, not worth it for the 2.5 trans. I believe that Gladwell stated that adding an LSD to SPB would result in many more failures than we already have.

orthojoe

You make a good point. Transmission failures are an issue to consider.