Yeah I was looking at the competition size (82mm) plenum with GT3 throttle body, but this restricts you in the software you can get. So maybe going for the 74mm plenum and not having to change the throttle body will be better as it removes the restriction by the plenum and you can use pretty much any software. I guess I need to find out the benefit of the 82mm vs 74mm plenum. Haven't found this answer out yet on planet 9 and speaking with softronic they reckon its too large and thats why they don't do the software for it. Not sure why its too large, they haven't said.
Cayman tuning
- Thread starter gmcraib
- Start date
Graeme, Here's a link to the IPD Plenum site comparing the stock plenum with their 74mm and 82mm plenums: http://www.ipdplenums.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=12 It looks as though they recommend using the 74mm plenum with the standard TB. Jeff
Interesting, it says this: The IPD Cayman S Plenum will provides the most impressive power gains of any engine upgrade available and will truly transform your Cayman driving experience. The 74mm IPD Plenum is the best Cayman modification on the market and will further compliment other mods such as exhaust, software and beyond. and this: The 74mm Cayman S Plenum application is recommended for Cayman S enthusiasts looking for considerable performance gains without pushing the performance envelope. Wonder what they mean by that? Does the 82mm push the power band too far up the rpm range? I'd be happy enough to put the 82mm TB on if the competition plenum was wothwhile. It says this about the 82mm plenum: The IPD Cayman "Competition" Plenum was designed to meet the needs of the most demanding Cayman S enthusiasts. The "Competition" Plenums is even larger and utilizes the 997 GT3 82mm throttle body allowing it to deliver even greater air flow and substantial increases in performance. Doesn't really 'explain' though! From the graphs it looks like the 82mm plenum and TB work better with a performance exhaust, so might be better for me. I've started a thread on planet 9, hoping that some of the manufacturers weigh in. http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-boxster-modifications/77739-headers-plenum-software.html#post690291
Jeff, Did you look at the 987.2 info sheet, its interesting to see what they have to say about the DFi engine v's 987.1, dont you think? The DFI Porsche engine package is a finely tuned performance machine and additional power has proved difficult to find. The unique design of Porsche's new DFI intake system posed very challenging tuning hurdles but once again IPD developed a design that out performs the factory intake system without compromising reliability and drive-ability. From my experience with tuning a turbo engine most gain was from fitting a sports CAT exhaust, it gave huge increase in mid-range torque so if I was looking at doing anything I would start from here. I see Graeme is already onto to that, as well as the plenum and TB. I totally agree that any re-mapping should be done last and it should be customised to the engine and not off-the-shelf. Chris
I'm not sure that's actually the case Graeme. If you look at the Stock + (freer flowing??) Cargraphic Kat Bak Exhaust vs 74mm IPD Plenum plot, they're quoting a 24hp gain at the wheels. The following plot shows that the 82mm Plenum plus GT3 TB gives only an additional 9hp or so at 6,200rpm. I'm not convinced that for general road driving (unless you're wringing the engine's neck continually) you're going to feel a significant improvement from the 82mm Plenum over the 74mm unit. From what IPD are saying, it appears that they recognise this and that's why they recommend the 74mm Plenum for road use. It'll be interesting to see what response you get over on Planet-9. Jeff
mikem
Guest of the Club
Well, the new filter is on, if I had paid the £50+ K&N charge it would be going back what a faff, the plan is to let the ECU settle down and see what happens. I'm not expecting miracles but curiosity says have a go, I suspect I will return to standard it just seems a more robust solution. I had read about the oil / MAF sensor issues so checked that to get a reference point and will monitor it over the next couple of weeks. As for de-snorking just the term makes me chuckle, it's probably fine if you live in sunny California but for us it sounds like a quick way to force water into the airbox, (it's a surprisingly short run) with obvious consequences. Interested in the intake plenum discussion, Suncoast sell an IPD and claim +14BHP add to that a custom re-map and you ought to be +30BHP for around £1K and very easy to return to standard if needed. Different subject, and tuning in a manner of speaking, having had Xenons on my previous car my halogen headlamps are very poor so I'm looking to change the bulbs, does anyone have any experience here ?
Might be right there Jeff. Although the second curve is with stock exhaust, the 82mm plenum is a competition plenum so possibly best gains from high rpms. Not great for road or even track (I know I don't redline every gear on the 2 trackdays I've done so far) hence the name 'competition' [8|] Will see what they say on planet 9 about it.
Just to resurrect this thread, here's an interesting video comparing a run-off between a 2011 Spyder fitted with a 3.8L GTS engine and a similar car fitted with a 3.4L TPC Racing turbocharged engine (only 0.3 bar boost). Their costing gives $540/hp for the normally aspirated car versus $107/hp for the turbo car. Guess which one wins..? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSJWUuiLP5U&feature=player_embedded&list=UU0tkgVfXGT9ZCjiPc0d-38A Jeff
I checked out the mods and made a decision. Decided to go with softronics SRP (software and intake plenum with TB) and fabspeed headers with 200 cell cats. Main reasons are softronic plenum is made by porsche and its 80mm vs 82mm of the IPD version. They think that the 82mm TB is too large for the cayman, but I'm not clear why. The software is downloadable from them and you can flash the car yourself. Plus they are very active on planet 9. Fabspeed headers are good quality and have the cats in the original position (ie for O2 sensors). They use the best sport cats also. considered NHP headers but the have a weird mini-cat on the rear 02 sensors? this worried me about the performance of the sport cats. Would have gone with carnewal sport cats as he also uses the best sport cats and offers it on an OEM manifold, but I wanted to get an aftermarket manifold for improved perfomance. SO thats my choices, but I'm not buying them just now. Got far too much work on and my money took a fair hit recently with days off work and other outgoings. Plus I need to think about my future with the car, spent a bit already and resale values have dropped so you need to think about that before spending another 4k ish on it. And for 2k more (plus fitting of course) you could get a turbo fitted. But the choices are there if anybody else wishes to follow it up just now. I think its the best n/a mods for the car without being too instrusive (eg engine swaps etc). I'll wait until I have less on, probably august lol and then decide to do n/a mod, leave standard or maybe go for the turbo!! Oh forgot to say its a good idea to buy the durametric pro as well so you can see diagnostics - BEFORE (really important to have a base line!) and after.
Thanks for the update Graeme. Sounds as though you've researched the options and come up with an ideal "wish list" to meet your requirements. I think that the larger plenum is more suitable for track rather than road use and gives some top-end advantages, whereas the smaller plenum is perhaps better matched to the resonance intake system and maintains driveabilty for everyday use. Keep us posted on your exploits later this year when the bank balance (hopefully) has recovered. Jeff
I just watched the comparison between the GTS engined Boxster Spyder and the turbo 3.4 version. If I was going for more power it would only be the turbo route for me plus I would have to install a locking diff of some sort but unfortunately Porsche didn't do one for the Gen1. I was having a discussion with a couple of mates also Cayman S owners yesterday and we thought that to fit an aftermarket item may be effected in it's operation by the PSM system or vice versa.[8|]
Kevan, I think that aftermarket LSDs are available in the States (ref Planet-9) but I've not seen anything advertised in the UK. My Cayman has the factory-fitted LSD. I believe that the diff has a locking factor of 24% under load and 27% on the overrun (I think that these are fixed, although the overrun may be ramped using a split planet carrier) which tends to induce mild understeer under power and reduce lift-off oversteer. To me, LSD and ABD seem to be counterintuitive but I’m sure that Porsche have addressed the potential conflicts involved. I too was impressed with the performance of the 3.4L Turbo Spyder - and with a very low boost pressure too (4psi). However, I note that for their Stage 2 Tubo Kit they use a liquid-to-air intercooler to reduce the charge temperature with a separate front centre radiator to shed the excess coolant heat. They're quoting 450hp+ for the 987 application - $1,000 plus fitting. Jeff
$1,000 is cheap but imports from the states with postage and taxes usually ramp the price up a hell of a lot! I know that Quaife ( apologies for spelling, not sure of it ) do produce an LSD for the Cayman and fitted it's about £1,300 so again not too expensive but not Porsche approved and I do like having the warranty. However, if I decide to keep the car past 10 years then it will get the diff', maybe the turbo and a different exhaust too. It may then be interesting how they go with the original Chrono Pack if the necessary software can support the two engine maps.[
] [] My Cayman will be 7 years old in October this year and I will only be allowed to add 2 years warranty when the current warranty runs out the following year. Apart from the DFI engines I'm not really tempted to change the car otherwise a Gen2S would be on the cards but the possibility of spending less to have a car I know well upgraded is tempting, for around £3,000 I can have an LSD and another 100bhp. I can't get a Cayman R for that![][8|][:-] But everything has a down side, a 400BHP turbo 3.4 Cayman would be a bit difficult to drive in snow and I do intend to drive to the Alps in winter occasionally since my other hobby is skiing whenever I can get away.
] [] My Cayman will be 7 years old in October this year and I will only be allowed to add 2 years warranty when the current warranty runs out the following year. Apart from the DFI engines I'm not really tempted to change the car otherwise a Gen2S would be on the cards but the possibility of spending less to have a car I know well upgraded is tempting, for around £3,000 I can have an LSD and another 100bhp. I can't get a Cayman R for that![][8|][:-] But everything has a down side, a 400BHP turbo 3.4 Cayman would be a bit difficult to drive in snow and I do intend to drive to the Alps in winter occasionally since my other hobby is skiing whenever I can get away.Coming back to this after a while away doing other things. Decided against the turbo idea, just not sure about the reliability. Maybe not so much the engine but other parts like drivetrain and transmission. So went the safer option and ordered the SRP and fabspeed headers. Plenum kit has arrived and is sitting in a box waiting to be fitted, headers are on their way. I haven't gotten the tuning file from softronic yet as I have to get around to sending them my file for them to play with. Have been out and about with the durametric pro, doing some data logging. Its a pretty cool peice of kit! One thing its definately handy for - REAL engine temperature..... (not 80deg nonsense that we have to put up with when its actually 70-90 or even more)
Headers are on! Was a right b@st@rd to get the old ones off, the bolts were heavily corroded. Even on the exhaust flanges, which had been removed in the last 2 years for the GT exhaust. If anybody is attempting this don't beleive the planet 9 guide, they live in a different enviroment. You will have difficulties with corroded bolts in the UK and even the OPC says that snapping bolts is common. Not a difficult job but allow plenty of time for hard to reach parts, seized bolts, broken bolts and that was on a ramp - nevermind on axle stands!! You will need lots of heat and lots of WD40. Nice effect of the new pipework 'blue-ing off'. The ECU is still adjusting but so far noticed a difference in sound (not louder, just extra flavour) and possible more mid range (ie torque) but who knows. Plenums are next to go on, then I will do software. Of course when time permits.
In case anybody is wondering about time, I'll add this: We started on the friday night as we wanted to use the engine heat with the intention of slackening the bolts for starting saturday. Well on the LHS we snapped 3 bolts but the RHS was easier. Admittidly we used more heat on the RHS as we had learned from LHS. Took about 2 hours. Saturday we slackened off the exhaust flange bolts most of which were badly corroded. Took ages, due to difficulty of access and limits to spanner ranges. Again lots of heat and WD40, but still about 2hours. Forgot to say we slackened off the O2 sensors first, do this while all pipes fixed to car. We spent about an hour on 1 bolt alone (top bolt on LHS flange). RHS seemed to be easier, perhaps less corrosion or maybe we just got better. Took the manifold down and spent another 2 hours carefully drilling out the snapped bolts. Be really careful here its a soft aluminium block and you don't want to catch the threads in the engine. We found a stud extractor wouldn't shilf the bolts and drilled it out in incremental steps and drill bit sizes to break the bolt. Took about an hour to fit the new manifolds and torque up all the bolts. Again the top bolt on LHS exhaust flange was tricky as access is restricted. So that is about 8 hours in total. If you are doing this take the car for a good run first to get lots of heat in the engine. Soak all bolts and O2 sensor in lots of WD40 for half an hour (or overnight if possible - but obviously losing engine heat) Blowtorch all bolts to try and free the rust, but be prepared for a few snapping. Seems to be half snapping is the normal, I think we were 'lucky'.
did all the tuning on a gen 1 Cayman a few years back. So you got the 996 GT3 throttle body and plenum now ?. my before and after rr at a indy who did not know I had changed any parts on my car. I also used Softronic and ran the car as a daily for 2 years with no issues.
the 996 GT3 bits
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