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Hello folks,
It was suggested I put up a build thread for my LS3 swap. This project started ~1 year ago as a result of a blown motor. After 96,000 miles, she gave up at the track in Texas heat. We considered a 3.8 swap, turbos, etc... and finally decided on the LS3 swap.
The car is being built for weekend track / HPDE duty... street legal enough to drive to weekend meets. It's being built by Modern Aircooled in Houston (fabrication @ Euro Race Concepts).
Car: 2006 Porsche Cayman S
Engine: LS3/525 from GMP
Intake: Edelbrock Crossram
Oil Pan: Corvette + Improved Racing baffle/windage tray
Transaxle: Original 6MT from the Cayman S + Guard LSD
Power Str: Pump from Vauxhall Astra
Others: Rear cage, Accusump, 3rd Radiator, BBK Shorty Headers, Borla XR1s, and other bits
Currently getting the exhaust fabricated, then will be either going for paint or to get the motor up and running.
The Cayman from the outside
Shift cables being routed
Custom intakes in the rear, being fed from side vents.
The LS3/525 with Edelbrock CrossRam that is going in the car.
Jesus, that things gonna be a rocketship! Looking forward to more pics and some video once it's on the road.
It'll be a rocketship - up to about 160mph (top speed due to gearing). It's a bit short for cruising on the highway, but that's not what it's being built for
Things may be delayed due to the floods in Houston, but hoping to have it ready towards the end of November.
How are floods in Houston slowing things down in Norway? (grin)
Thats it, NO PICTURES FOR YOU!
I'm from Houston, that's where my car is being built. I'm on an assignment in Norway for a couple years (1 down, 1-2 more to go). Engine blew right before I left, so it's a good time for it to be in the shop for a small overhaul.
Here's a few more. If you're looking for anything specific, let me know, I've got quite a few more.
1.) Engine from driver's side window, panel removed
2.) Engine Mounts
3.) Front panel removed (everything is built so it can be worked on easily)
4.) The divider panel roughed in
5.) From the underside...
That 'splains it I suppose, thanks for extra shots. I had a '10 Cayman S - always interesting to see them changed up. I barely fit as it was (6'3" with 36" inseam) so the bulkhead bump was always a no go for me. Finally sold it was I was enjoying the Swedish hot rod more than the teutonic wonder. Will the Porsche transaxle hold up under the torque of the LS?
When someone else is doing the work, always makes it tougher to get all the pics you might like to have.
Last edited by Michael Yount; Sep 4, 2017 at 09:30 AM.
That 'splains it I suppose, thanks for extra shots. I had a '10 Cayman S - always interesting to see them changed up. I barely fit as it was (6'3" with 36" inseam) so the bulkhead bump was always a no go for me. Finally sold it was I was enjoying the Swedish hot rod more than the teutonic wonder. Will the Porsche transaxle hold up under the torque of the LS?
I'm a bit smaller, so can tolerate this a bit easier. Putting in some Recaro SPGs as well, which buy me a couple inches.
The transaxle has shown to hold up for others pretty well. Unfortunately there's not a whole lot of experience out there yet. Apparently though, it's built off the design for an Audi diesel - with some pretty robust gears.
The only failure(s) I know about are with a guy racing his Cayman with TT 4.0L. Similar torque levels. He's upgrading to an Albins sequential. I'll probably follow suit if mine grenades, but too much $$ to put down for now.
Chuckle -- we rarely see mention of "Porsche", "LS swap" and "too much $" in the same thread. Have fun with it when you return!
Thanks!
You'll likely see it a bit more often. You can find older Caymans/Boxsters with blown motors for <$10k these days. The swap is fairly straight forward if you use the stock intake... it mostly fits with minimal cutting.
Not cheap - but for a light, mid-engine car with V8 torque, it's not too bad.
Porsche had well documented problems with Boxster/Cayman/911 motors with intermediate shaft bearing failures 97-08. $15k engine replacements made lots of cars available.
Do you have a part number for the oil pan? If it bolts to an LS3 it should also bolt to an LS1 right?
Pretty sure it is #12628771, and I believe it would bolt up. I'll try to check when I'm with the car on Monday. Planning to tu
rn it over for the first time (and hopefully start)next week.
Wondered what had happened -- are you back stateside yet?
Yes sir! I moved back in August, but been travelling 75% until this month. Oil in, engine turned over on Friday... in process of checking on what the ECUs are seeing/not seeing, signals/etc, and should fire it up next week.
Now - there's always surprises... but everything is plumbed, wired, and ready to go.
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Cayman LS3 Swap 
