How bad is the M97 engine?
#31
Race Director
Dozens a year. Pretty much every weekend, throughout the country.
Personally, I HIGHLY recommend the deep sump and baffled oil pan for track use. I do have a friend whose motor went kaflooey on the track due to oil starvation. I put it in my track Boxste'.
Personally, I HIGHLY recommend the deep sump and baffled oil pan for track use. I do have a friend whose motor went kaflooey on the track due to oil starvation. I put it in my track Boxste'.
#33
I'd really like to do another HPDE this year so thanks for the input Mike. Seems like you track your m96(s) fairly regularly. Do you only track the boxsté to limit your risk & keep the 996 for street?
The canyons here are a blast so it's not a big deal either way. I just don't want to grenade it and have to gut my trading account.
The canyons here are a blast so it's not a big deal either way. I just don't want to grenade it and have to gut my trading account.
#34
Race Director
So the question you're posing the 996 forum members: "How reliable is the engine you don't own?"
Makes sense to me.
Makes sense to me.
Because the question is being asked of 996 owners. For me, track worthy and street worthy meet when you make repeated visits to 6000-6500 rpms. My understanding is that the M97 fixed the IMSB with a focus on street use, at the expense of track use. I am not aware of any difference in the bearing in the 3.6 and 3.8 M97 engines. Excuse me if I offended you in some way. I was under the impression this was a forum for technical discussion.
#35
Race Director
I'd really like to do another HPDE this year so thanks for the input Mike. Seems like you track your m96(s) fairly regularly. Do you only track the boxsté to limit your risk & keep the 996 for street?
The canyons here are a blast so it's not a big deal either way. I just don't want to grenade it and have to gut my trading account.
The canyons here are a blast so it's not a big deal either way. I just don't want to grenade it and have to gut my trading account.
#37
Race Director
I'd really like to do another HPDE this year so thanks for the input Mike. Seems like you track your m96(s) fairly regularly. Do you only track the boxsté to limit your risk & keep the 996 for street?
The canyons here are a blast so it's not a big deal either way. I just don't want to grenade it and have to gut my trading account.
The canyons here are a blast so it's not a big deal either way. I just don't want to grenade it and have to gut my trading account.
Regarding HPDE: In my opinion, the oil starvation issue can have a lot to do with two factors: 1) The track configuration: does it have large sweepers, such that the oil is forced to one side for extended periods? 2) Are you using super-sticky rubber and are you a good enough driver to be driving those sweepers such that you are generating high G-forces? If not, oil starvation is probably a very minor concern.
#38
Good stuff, thanks for the insight. Started using Pibb last fall & am getting ready to order a new batch. The track out here is nearly all left hand turns with half a dozen sweepers, so I'm not planning to go back.
#39
Race Director
I will say, however, I tracked my 996 "out of the box." Zero mods other than the header-back Fabspeed exhaust. The only issue I had was once I overwhelmed the AOS... my fault... oil level was too high, and again, the sweepers were the culprit that caused the problem.
Also, once while I was on the track, my seat belt alarm started going off like crazy. Now I can't get the seat belt light on the dash to clear. Again, happened during hard turning on a big sweeper.
I guess these cars were just designed for the drag strip.
Also, once while I was on the track, my seat belt alarm started going off like crazy. Now I can't get the seat belt light on the dash to clear. Again, happened during hard turning on a big sweeper.
I guess these cars were just designed for the drag strip.
#40
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
By the way here is a link to the 996 of Ferraris...
http://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/1...ial-c-6936.htm
The 308 V8s also had oil starvation issues when they changed the engine from longitudinal to transverse.
#41
Rennlist Member
#44
Burning Brakes