Improving base Boxster gearing or 6 speed upgrade?

[atmorris]

I'm wondering a couple of things and would appreciate input from anyone out there who might have some experience along these lines:

a) how difficult is it to upgrade a MY03 base Boxster with the 6 speed "S" trans? ......and/or

B) what, if any, modifications can be done to the 5 speed, to shift the gearing a bit more biased toward the acceleration side. I don't seem to be able to find any CR gear sets or anything out there for the 5 speed. Lots of guys are AXing and racing Boxsters....they can't ALL be "S" models. :-)

and Please, no need to reply with the obvious "...get an S ", I'm aware of that route thank you.

[macsak]

i've always wished for lower (higher numerically) rear ends to be available for the boxster and boxster s

i don't need the ability to reach 72 MPH in second gear and over 100 MPH in third, i would, like to get a few more tenths off the line and some more grunt in the low end

an aftermarket opportunity, but so far, no options

aloha

steve

I'm wondering a couple of things and would appreciate input from anyone out there who might have some experience along these lines:

a) how difficult is it to upgrade a MY03 base Boxster with the 6 speed "S" trans? ......and/or

B) what, if any, modifications can be done to the 5 speed, to shift the gearing a bit more biased toward the acceleration side. I don't seem to be able to find any CR gear sets or anything out there for the 5 speed. Lots of guys are AXing and racing Boxsters....they can't ALL be "S" models. :-)

and Please, no need to reply with the obvious "...get an S ", I'm aware of that route thank you.

[FrayAdjacent986]

I'd say whatever can be done... is probably prohibitively expensive.

[986Jim]

I thought the same thing with my 95 GTI that I regularly raced. It had a 3.28 final drive and I bought a VW Motorsports 3.94 final drive for lower gearing.

Honestly it was a mistake and I hated it all the way. It put the car in a high rpm buzz all the time and for daily driving it was terrible. I wanted exactly what you guys say, more grunt down low, no need for 100mph in 3rd kinda thing, but after swapping out the ring and pinion it honestly ruined the driveability of the car. You think it will make the car better with lower gearing etc, but simply changing the gearing lower really is why the 6 speed was born because you still need that lower gear in the end so your not doing 4000rpm while driving on the highway all the time.

I remember on a trip from Toronto to NJ (English town) I followed my buddies Viper and we did about 100-120mph the whole way pretty well and my car was never below 5000rpm and it honestly ruined the whole trip, I wished for my stock gearing again.

After having it for a while, I longed for the regular gearing again and to have the stock setup. Eventually I sold the car and tho I loved it I don't miss the lowered gearing thats for sure.

[rick3000]

I would wait until your transmition is shot then upgrade it to a 6-speed. No need to do it sooner.

[atmorris]

OK, so pretty much as I thought, the 6 speed is the best/only route.

Anyone know if it's pretty much a plug-n-play change with the trans ? For example, will the 5 speed shift linkage work?, The B&M SS appears to be the same model for both non-S or S, is it? Any difference in the half shafts ? The 6 speed instrument cluster is different I believe, what is different about it? Does it have to be changed? etc..

Edited May 16, 2007 by Andy_M

[atmorris]

OK, how about this one........

From a post over on the Boxster Racing Board:

"Savowood, your 2.7 has a five speed with a 3.56:1 final drive...the five speed in the 2.5 Boxster has a 3.89:1 final drive...I'd bet (but I don't know for certain) that the ring and pinion from the 2.5 five speed would fit..."

Another racer confirmed that the R&P from the 2.5 would fit. A jump to a 3.89:1 FDR would definitely impact the acceleration positively. I would think it better for AX, and most of the tracks that DE's are run on as well, while still maintaining good "street-ability." I took a look and dCautomotive shows 2 part numbers for the 2.5L 35:9 rack and pinion: 012409143CA @ $668.89 and 012409143CQ @ 805.86. Not sure what the difference might be.

Opinions?

Edited May 16, 2007 by Andy_M

[macsak]

your last line with the part nos. says "35:9 rack and pinion" is this your typo, or are you looking at sterring parts?

like i said before, it would be great to change the rear end gear

aloha

steve

OK, how about this one........

From a post over on the Boxster Racing Board:

"Savowood, your 2.7 has a five speed with a 3.56:1 final drive...the five speed in the 2.5 Boxster has a 3.89:1 final drive...I'd bet (but I don't know for certain) that the ring and pinion from the 2.5 five speed would fit..."

Another racer confirmed that the R&P from the 2.5 would fit. A jump to a 3.89:1 FDR would definitely impact the acceleration positively. I would think it better for AX, and most of the tracks that DE's are run on as well, while still maintaining good "street-ability." I took a look and dCautomotive shows 2 part numbers for the 2.5L 35:9 rack and pinion: 012409143CA @ $668.89 and 012409143CQ @ 805.86. Not sure what the difference might be.

Opinions?

[Topless]

OK, how about this one........

From a post over on the Boxster Racing Board:

"Savowood, your 2.7 has a five speed with a 3.56:1 final drive...the five speed in the 2.5 Boxster has a 3.89:1 final drive...I'd bet (but I don't know for certain) that the ring and pinion from the 2.5 five speed would fit..."

Another racer confirmed that the R&P from the 2.5 would fit. A jump to a 3.89:1 FDR would definitely impact the acceleration positively. I would think it better for AX, and most of the tracks that DE's are run on as well, while still maintaining good "street-ability." I took a look and dCautomotive shows 2 part numbers for the 2.5L 35:9 rack and pinion: 012409143CA @ $668.89 and 012409143CQ @ 805.86. Not sure what the difference might be.

Opinions?

Try it! Just save your stock parts so if you don't like it you can always restore the original ratios.

My only beef with the 5 spd is that 1st gear is pretty tall so not much use for a big launch off the line. Most Auto-X courses around here are all 2nd and 3rd gear so 1st gear doesn't matter much to me. I would have no use for lower ratios or 6 spds. The guys going really fast do so because of their driving, not their gearing.

Edited May 19, 2007 by Topless

[atmorris]

your last line with the part nos. says "35:9 rack and pinion" is this your typo, or are you looking at sterring parts?

like i said before, it would be great to change the rear end gear

aloha

steve

OK, how about this one........

From a post over on the Boxster Racing Board:

"Savowood, your 2.7 has a five speed with a 3.56:1 final drive...the five speed in the 2.5 Boxster has a 3.89:1 final drive...I'd bet (but I don't know for certain) that the ring and pinion from the 2.5 five speed would fit..."

Another racer confirmed that the R&P from the 2.5 would fit. A jump to a 3.89:1 FDR would definitely impact the acceleration positively. I would think it better for AX, and most of the tracks that DE's are run on as well, while still maintaining good "street-ability." I took a look and dCautomotive shows 2 part numbers for the 2.5L 35:9 rack and pinion: 012409143CA @ $668.89 and 012409143CQ @ 805.86. Not sure what the difference might be.

Opinions?

No typo, that is the data that I found for the racks and pinions (number of teeth rack/pinion). Stock 5 speed 2.7L = 32:9 rack and pinion = 3.56:1 final drive ratio. Stock 5 speed 2.5L = 35:9 rack and pinion = 3.89:1 final drive ratio.