Hi folks. Mike here. I'm new to the forum and newly acquired a 2006 987
Cayman S
. I am looking for a race shop in the San Francisco Bay Area that does 3.8 X51 swaps. I'm interested in some other modifications too so a dealership is not an option for me. I'm sorry if this topic has been discussed at length but I did a search and didn't see any recommendations. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike
I don't have a bay area shop to suggest but if you want to make the journey up to Central Oregon we'd be happy to help. We can break the motor in on our dyno as well.
Thanks. I'd love to find someone a tad closer but will keep you in mind.
welcome Koozy! You should call Chris Murad at European Autotech in San Ramon. He has been active in the
Porsche
race scene for years and knows all the local shops. He takes care of my
Cayman S
(track-prepped 3.8L installed by Vision Motorsports in Socal). The number at European Autotech is [phone removed]. I'm taking my car in there tomorrow for a new power steering cooling system so I'll stop boiling my fluid at the track! I'm in Danville if you ever want to compare notes on doing some of the work you're considering.
Thanks, Dave. I'll definitely take you up on that.
Mike
Ive seen
Whats the ballpark for Vision to do that swap? Im guessing a LOT
When I did my 3.8L swap Vision quoted me about $4.5k for the R&R. I think that included the dyno time to do the custom tune for the Softronics flash.
There are several parts that need to be swapped or modified when you do this swap and most of these parts are included in that $4.5k number. I did need to buy new
Cayman
injectors for my 3.8 as the injectors from my 3.2 did not have the capacity to handle the extra fuel requirements to prevent a lean condition.
Thats actually less than I thought. Sub $5k for the work, plus a motor to throw in haha
@Koozy
Not sure why this slipped my mind, but have you looked at Sharkwerks yet? They are in Fremont
My thoughts as well, labor isn't crazy bad, as it is an intricate job. Then you see the cost of the 3.8L engine itself:
Rebuilt 3.8L 997S version for $17,999:
Porsche 997S 3.8 L Rebuilt Engine Years 05-08
For about $15K, you'll get a used 997 3.8L and spend maybe $7K having it rebuilt, so that price above isn't awful.
Basically, if you want a 3.8L engine in your Cayman, you should be thinking $20K - $25K, either rebuilding your 3.4 to 3.8 or swapping in a 3.8. In the case of the engine swap, you'd get to sell your 3.4L to defray some of that cost.
So you start with a $25K Cayman, sell the 3.4L for $6k- $8K, buy the 3.8L for $18K and install it for maybe $6K with all the extras. You're all-in for maybe $43K- $45K.
If you want to go to the track a lot, add in some good suspension (GT3 drop links, toe links, JRZ dual adjustable coilers, sway bars, etc) for about $10K and some Girodic rotors, Pagid pads and Motul fluid for about $2K. You've got a killer street machine and track toy for $55K. If you're really into the track, you might also do an under drive pulley and lightweight flywheel for nice blips and lower weight and a racing clutch to handle your track work. Maybe a few more grand there. Some extra coolers (power steering cooler, transmission, etc). Maybe a Tubi exhaust ($2k) to sound as good as you run, and now you're good to go for something like $62K-$67K.
Or you can just buy something like mine for $45K, it's got all that and more, with just a few hours on the newly rebuilt engine ;-)
LOL
@Dave_Car_Guy
TLDR: Buy my car! LOL
Just to be clear: it's not for sale right now. But if it WAS, that's the kind of price. My point being you are often better off buying someone else's completed project!
@Dave_Car_Guy
PM sent, think its time to move this out of the chat! haha
I can absolutely appreciate the savings and how prudent it would be to buy someone else's completed project. I would like to build my own. I know it costs more but there is something very satisfying for me to do this for myself, exactly how I want. Though I'd love to see some projects that are for sale that might change my mind. Post them here is you find something cool
or go mental and get a 4.0
GT3
in there....I think someone put one in a
981
S
