2006 Cayman S LS3 race car

Ok! Where do I even start, I'm building this car for a friend of mine, it's a 2006 Cayman s . The purpose of this build is for lapping days and a few races a year. At our home Le Circuit Mont Tremblant in Quebec Canada the lapping "competition" has excelled at an insane rate over the last 5-7 years. With the release of all these new cars 997's and now 991's the lap times are dropping quick! It used to be if you were a decent driver and had a decent setup you could pretty much play with everyone in a Cayman but now it's a different story. Now if you have a Cayman you're 10 sec a lap down from the average and even if it's just lapping nobody wants to be getting buzzed every straight but screaming rs's. we knew we wanted to stick with the Cayman for all the obvious reasons ITS AN AMAZING CAR just happens that it's a little under powered for what we want to do with it. So options were turbo... But didn't want to go that route for the never ending heat problems especially during enduros. next a 3.8l swap but that's just crazy money, might as well sell the car and buy a 996 gt3. So the final option of course the good old LS series engines. We opted for the Chevrolet performance 6.2L ls3 crate motor that makes 525 hp and 489lb/tq (not to shabby for a motor with the cam in the wrong place and push rods...) So the project began, out with the old motor (ITS FOR SALE AND IN PERFECTLY GOOD CONDOTION WITH 41,000km) fully gutted the car every nut and bolt from the interior, hood and trunk. After that was all done we sent it for the cage to be built. It's a custom spec cage done by a local shop that has done a fabulous job. While the car was out I got the motor and renagade kit in and started piecing everything together to see what I had. (since there's no instructions) I guess I kinda get it, you probably shouldn't be doing this project unless you have a pretty extensive mechanical background. But never the less it would take only a few days to have someone make up something to use as a guide line. I got the car back and got right to work. I'm kind of a neat freak when it comes to race cars so time has been put into making sure everything is up to race car Cleanliness, nothing sucks more then Getting filthy trying to diagnose a problem at the track when it's pouring rain or 100° So far I have fitted the dash back in, made floating floors, door handles, mounted the electric power steering, and now welding in the cross brace/hand brake cable holder I will try and keep as updated as possible. Please feel free to ask question, add comments or suggestions, some times the littlest of things can help solve a problem or encourage new ideas when in a jam. Enjoy, Dylan

"... at the track when it's pouring rain or 100° Hey, Substitute and instead of or and that could be Tucson AZ from July-Sept. Keep up the good work. Rink

So jealous... the Cayman deserves that kind of power Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

Today I Got the engine bay cleaned up and and tacked in the brace/hand brake holder If you haven't tried cleaning engine bay glue from the sound proofing I highly suggest it, it's really a blast ? Just Waiting for motor mounts to try the first fitment. Motor Should be in by the end of the week. And hope to have it fired up in the next 2-3 weeks!

:hilarious::hilarious::hilarious:

Is there a slick way to remove that sound-absorber glue? I've got to do the same thing eventually.

Liking the sound of this project. Keep us updated.

Straight orange peel oil is fantastic at dissolving glues.

You are lucky to have such a track in your back yard. I took my GTS there last summer for a DE and plan to go back next July 4th. Great spot!

Orange Peel is great stuff. Unfortunately I didn't have any at the time I was doing it. I just used paint thinner and scraped it with a plastic scraper. Frequent fresh air breaks help for not dying. Wear gloves, soak a rag, rub it all over the glue one spot at a time then scrape it with something plastic to not damage the paint. Do it in sections of about 1 square foot. You don't want it to dry half melted.

I'm super fortunate to have Tremblant as a home track! We'll see you then I'll be there as will the Cayman. Come say hi!

Well motor install is going to go to next week. Who would of thought corvette motor mounts would be 5 days to get... Finished up the welding on the brace today, painted and ready. Some more trimming will be needed but I'll do that as the motor goes in as to not trim more then Needed. Fuel system is next on the list as I wait for the mounts. Going to go with a full custom system, big in-tank pump to a dash 8 braided line going straight back. Line will be ran inside the car. Last thing you want to have under the car is fuel lines

The train is chugging away, mounts are in, fuel system is done, chassis wiring harness is in. Motor should be test fit tomorrow if all goes as planned. And chassis wiring will start soon. Awaiting a transmission this week. I'll hopefully get a trade done for a boxster trans and make everything easier. Here's a few pics of the progress

I like how you did the fuel pressure regulator! that's nice!

do you think that oil pan will fit? I had to get corvette oil pan, its a lot shorter.

Not sure if it will fit nobody really has any answers. But either way I want to get a good baffled pan. Ls's have a tendency to go dry when being raced. Thanks for the regulator. It's a pain and takes time to do the lines but worth it in the end. Also flipped the intake and welded the oil sensor port closed. going to make a box in the trunk for the intake.

do you remember what year corvette pan you have?

I used gm part number 12624617 and will probably eventually add a sump to it

Great build, really excited that there's another v8 cayman (I'm currently looking for a Cayman to do a very similar build)! Regarding the transmission, why did you choose a boxster tranny? Do you know if the base Cayman (5sp) is similar strength to the Cayman S (6sp)?

The whole strong tranny weak tranny thing isn't all that true. They can all hold plenty of power. The only reason I ended up going with the boxster tranny is because the kit is ment to work with it and I was able to find someone who wants my Cayman trans. It was easier then making new brackets and getting a new bell housing and clutch. The renagade kit is only made for the boxster. They do not have proper mounting for the Cayman yet. So they recommend using the boxster tranny in the Cayman.

Project is still alive ! Just got my trans built from Mark Hergesheimer over at Hergesheimer motorsports over in lake forest California. Before I continue I would really like to thank mark for the work he has done. They do an incredible job over there, if your ever in the area and need a shop with very knowledgable people this place is definitely to be considered. So current status is that I'm waiting for the trans mounts. Should have them today or tomorrow. Wiring is fairly complete minus Altenator and starter solonoid. We have decided to go with wilwood race pedals booster less and get rid of the stock master/ booster setup. I believe this will be able to give a better pedal feel. Since the traction control and abs won't work either way why not. I'll post some picture late when I get to the shop!

Couple update pictures Tranny should be going in this week and hopefully starting her up

Update? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

hey Wade, yes updates are coming. I have just re-started working on the car. its a difficult project to work on full time as I stated it while opening up our new shop. ( cant say no to new clients ) and the owner of the cayman isn't in a rush for delivery. so new stuff is: motor and transmission are in a re adjusted as needed. I didn't like how the motor wasn't sitting flat in the engine bay. I have to shim the motor mounts to get it back to flat. ls3's have some oiling issues so I wanted it to be perfect. currently the water lines are being done and should see a start up in the next couple of weeks. we have gone ahead and ordered a set of moton 2 way coil overs with remote canisters. as for the dash I am still undecided between an aim mxs and a 5 inch motec. pictures and maybe a start up video with be coming soon so keep looking out for it! thanks!

Quick update. Finished mocking up the dash and some of the interior. No the mono steering wheel isn't staying. It was just for testing purposes

can we bump this back to the top I cant find the pin out of the Porsche gas pedal connector maybe someone can help ?

Dam thats sick!

Quick update. Almost done! I'll be changing the type of ducting being used. I don't like how it looks. But you get the idea. Naca ducts from the quarter windows will feed an air box in the trunk, and the vents in the quarter panel will feed air along the motor and out the ducting and out side. To help keep engine bay temps down.

That's interesting what you're doing with the ventilation. I haven't seen that on the other LS/builds (or maybe just not noticed it). Seems like it could really help get some more air moving through there.