Martin S.

I did a little budget sketch. Here is what I calculate it will cost to get a 993 ready for the track, in a serious way. I did not add in the cost of a seat, $800 to $2,500 and any other interior goodies.....note delete the items in BLUE as they are not permitted in PCA Stock, a savings of nearly $18,000. Of course you'd have to get a coil over system with some decent springs, let's say, Sport Bilsteins with some springs, less than $3,000, maybe, so the net saving would be closer to $15,000.

My motivation for this exercise, Porsche Owners Club Southern California, has an anything goes GT class. Assuming a person was a good driver/ skilled racer, and could win a championship, I wanted to see the real cost of that $100 year end trophy.

1. An optimized driver willing to spend the time and money for seat time and professional coaching as needed, and I need a lot! $$$$$
2. Data Analysis/Data Logger, $1,200 to $2,000,
3. Lap Top to analyze the data, $1,200,
4. Camera system, $300 to ????
5. 993 GT2 front wheel carriers (Uprights) uprights and tie rods, $1,300
6. Complete ERP, Tarrett Engineering, Rennline or Porsche 993 RS rear suspension links $2,500,
7. Two way shocks and struts such a Moton, JRZ or MCS with springs, over $5,000, closer to $8,000
8. Re-gear the transmission to close ratio G-50/32 specs, about $6,000, sans labor, with factory main shaft and gears,
9. Light weight fly wheel, $1,000
10. Porsche Motorsports or Guard limited slip, $2,000,
11. ERP, Tarrett Engineering, Rennline or Porsche front camber plates, $500
12. Strut connector bar, $300
13. 993 RS front and rear sway bars, $800
14. Tarrett Engineering adjustable drop links, $650
15. Rear spring perches for the new coil overs, about $300,
16. Rear shocks drop link connectors, $300
17. Big Red brakes and rear rotors, about $1,700
18. Slotted front rotors, $600
19. Pagid pads, about $500 a set
20. 993RS motor mounts and transmission mount, $700
21. 993RS shifter rod and short shift kit, $700
22. Secondary oil cooler, $1,000
23. Front spacers, about $100
24. Two (2) sets of wheels, O-Z Allegritta from Tire Rack, $3,400
25. Competition alignment and corner weighting, $500
26. Rear bump steer optimization, $500
27. Front air dam, side skirts and 993 RS Club Sport tail, $2,000 for aftermarket products
28. Crawford 60” wing and uprights, $1,500
29. FD Motorsports Sport exhaust system to include X pipes and mufflers, $2,000
30. FD Motorsports Platinum shifting rod, NLA I hear, $300
31. Factory short shift kit, $250
32. Roll cage, maybe $3,000
33. Optima Battery and mounting tray, $450
34. Cut off switch, $300
35. Window net,
36. Right side net
37. Cool shirt system, remotely mounted in trunk

Looking at over $40,000 in parts, some are estimates, now add in labor...and let's not forget that a 993 donor car with a good motor is probably $30,000. Let's see, $40,000 + $30,000....hmmm, we are deep into Cup Car territory here.

Note, none of the above costs "count" if you build the car over time. I have been setting up my 993 since 2001....a little here, a little there. My next hot item, a G50 32 tranny from a 993 RS CS car...well, the gears anyway.

trophy

List looks comprehensive, but I think you are short on costings on a few items that could make A big difference in price overall.

LW flywheel and clutch is now over $2000
G50-32 parts are closer to $10,000 if you are changing 1st.
Guard LSD is over $2500
Painting of body kit around $2000

Overall I would think you are about $10,000 short. The labor would be substantial overall. Yes you would be in cup territory, but the ongoing running costs would be substantially less!

MartinC2S

10k short but you have two short shift kits in that list. ;-)

jscott82

Not to rain on the parade... But without some limiting factor (race class or checkbook) the sky is the limit.
Why just one transmission? You need one for each track you visit.
Why a stick with a G50, There are some terrific sequential shift boxes out there.
Why stop at 30-40k for a motor? I know guys that have spend upwards of 85k (yes for an air cooled motor) lots of R&D time.... Or move to water cooled...
Why not active aero components
Race ABS and traction control would be great

The list just goes on and on.... Even for my "stock" race car where I really cant upgrade anything, I've spent close to your numbers just tweaking the stock stuff. Its a running joke with my friends "I've spent over $30k (not including the car) to keep it stock"

That being said... The sad news is:
A decent $25k 993 with upgraded springs ($2k), brake pads ($400), and R comp tires ($1k) is an amazingly fast machine... With the right driver behind the wheel the $28k beater would run circles around the pie in the sky 993 we are outlining here with me behind the wheel...

Sorry for the interruption....... Back to your regularly scheduled program....

oh... I almost forgot the team and the hauler to carry them around in.....

kjr914

Rule #1 of Porsche Club is that we don't talk about (the $$$ spent on) Porsche Club.

And, misquoting I'm sure....
"What part of Porsche racing did you think sounded cheap, was it the Porsche part or the racing part?

Martin S.

"but the ongoing running costs (compared to a Cup Car) would be substantially less!

Here is the really good news: I know you already know this, but just in case, you can build a really nice dual purpose street/track for far lees...
1. PSS 10, $2,750
2. 993 RS Sway bars, $750
3. Tarrett Motorsports Drop links, $500
4. FD Motorsports Stage III muffs $500

Use standard Cup II wheels with DOT 100 tires such as Nitto NT-01

That's about $4,500 for a car that will go as fast as the average Joe can drive it. Stick to DE and autocross....once you get to wheel to wheel racing, open up that checkbook/Debit Card, or so I am told.

Martin S.

I agree on the above costs with the exception of the paint, probably closer to $5,000, and don't forget that donor roof to get rid of that pesky sun roof. God only knows what that costs.

race911

First, there's no reason in today's world why you'd prep a 993 to really any extent for wheel-to-wheel duty. (Similar to what I faced with my '73 S circa 2000, so I got a beater RS America to get back into racing.)

So you refresh/lightly modify a 993 for a dual purpose car, and as we're all pretty much in agreement, it's more capable than most will ever want to or can push it. Near direct comparison is the faux RS with the stock class RSA--about 4 seconds a lap at Thunderhill, on equal tires. Understand the RSA only deviated from as-delivered in a good shock/spring/bar package, some brake pads, and 200 lbs. weight reduction. I even retained the catalytic converter.

Don't get me wrong, I love that the yellow car was built up a couple of levels beyond what's described in the OP. I love even more that it cost me just a fraction more than what it would have sold for stock after the owner decided the car as-built didn't meet his long term goals.

mcipseric

Moderator, please delete this thread! Our wives might read this thread.

race911

I think I'll point my wife in the direction of the thread. Then she'll have another data point on how little I spend on cars.

KaiB

The FIRST rule is NEVER BUILD A RACE CAR!!!

Buy a nice one for one third of the build cost and go racing.

ofd

I agree 100%, anyone looking for a well set up car should have a look at the one I have for sale in the Regional Forums, Rennlist Canada.

race911

Yeah, until you realize that even a car built near state-of-the-art five years ago is pretty obsolete, if you really want to be at the pointy end of the class/grid. Not going to even mention how much safety equipment (and thought for proper installation) has changed.

Now, if you're a beginner, and whatever professional expert you're consulting with gives an older build a clean bill of health.......yeah, no reason to spend it on a new build.

993inNC

Ask Rob Blake or Matt Distephano what either of them had in the 993 they set up (same car - Rob sold to Matt). They went RS but it'll probably be a very accurate representation of what a "proper" car would cost to build. You'd be better buying of course...........but I'm sure you know that! :-D

tcsracing1

either find one already completed or buy a 996GT3 Cup or street.