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Hey Guys,
I've been racing Spec Miata for several years and recently sold my car. I have an '03 996 C2, that I am considering converting to a dedicated track car. It already has JIC adjustable coil overs, cup sway bars, TRG end links. Besides the obvious, installing a deep sump kit and baffle, IMS update (which has not been done and there's 110K on the odometer), what else is recommended? I know a lot of guys DE their 996's but how viable are they as race cars? How are they on tires and what is the flavor of choice? How about brake pads and wear? I know that this will be a much more expensive endeavor than a Miata, but racing never has a finish line in terms of dollars spent. I appreciate your comments. - Mike
I have built my 2003 996 C2 as a DE car. I trailer it to the track but it still has license plates and I occasionally drive it on the street, but rarely now.
Here's a list of most of what I have done:
All poly suspension bushings
Solid rear subframe bushings
Wevo semi solid engine mounts
Function First transmission mount insert
Feal 996 C2 coilovers with monoball top mounts (adjustable front top mount) 7K front / 11K rear
GT3 sway bars front and rear with Tarrett drop links
Cup car ride height
Alignment set to -3 camber front and -2.5 camber rear, zero front toe, slight toe in rear
GT3 Euro seats
Schroth GT3 6 point harnesses
Agency Power bolt in roll bar
997 GT3 shifter
997 GT3 master cylinder
Rebuilt all calipers w/ stainless steel pistons and running Ferodo DS1.11 pads with stock ATE rotors
IPD plenum and 997 GT3 throttle body
LN Engineering 2.5 quart deep sump with 997 return tubes and pickup extension, as well as skidplate.
DCT flat bottom large diameter steering wheel
Odyssey 925 lightweight battery in Rennline aluminum mount w/ shut off switch
SoloDL lap timer connected to SmartycamHD mounted on roll bar
Rennline track mats metal floor mats
I have 3 sets of Oz Racing wheels in 18x8.5 front and 18x12 rear. I have Hoosier R7s on two of them and Pilot Sports on the third set for rain tires.
I run Joe Gibbs XP9 oil for the track. Unfortunately it only lasts 750 miles. This has been less of an issue now that I trailer to/from the track.
My car had an LSD installed by a previous owner, I have been told that makes a big difference in these cars but I don't know the difference since I've never drive one w/o it.
I have built my 2003 996 C2 as a DE car. I trailer it to the track but it still has license plates and I occasionally drive it on the street, but rarely now.
Here's a list of most of what I have done:
All poly suspension bushings
Solid rear subframe bushings
Wevo semi solid engine mounts
Function First transmission mount insert
Feal 996 C2 coilovers with monoball top mounts (adjustable front top mount) 7K front / 11K rear
GT3 sway bars front and rear with Tarrett drop links
Cup car ride height
Alignment set to -3 camber front and -2.5 camber rear, zero front toe, slight toe in rear
GT3 Euro seats
Schroth GT3 6 point harnesses
Agency Power bolt in roll bar
997 GT3 shifter
997 GT3 master cylinder
Rebuilt all calipers w/ stainless steel pistons and running Ferodo DS1.11 pads with stock ATE rotors
IPD plenum and 997 GT3 throttle body
LN Engineering 2.5 quart deep sump with 997 return tubes and pickup extension, as well as skidplate.
DCT flat bottom large diameter steering wheel
Odyssey 925 lightweight battery in Rennline aluminum mount w/ shut off switch
SoloDL lap timer connected to SmartycamHD mounted on roll bar
Rennline track mats metal floor mats
I have 3 sets of Oz Racing wheels in 18x8.5 front and 18x12 rear. I have Hoosier R7s on two of them and Pilot Sports on the third set for rain tires.
I run Joe Gibbs XP9 oil for the track. Unfortunately it only lasts 750 miles. This has been less of an issue now that I trailer to/from the track.
My car had an LSD installed by a previous owner, I have been told that makes a big difference in these cars but I don't know the difference since I've never drive one w/o it.
I have thought about it but I don't see my temps get that high really. I do have the low temperature thermostat from LNE installed. Even last summer with ambient temps pushing 100 at the track I didn't feel like the coolant temps were high enough to be concerned about. Maybe I'll put one in the next time I flush the coolant but not in a rush.
I have thought about it but I don't see my temps get that high really. I do have the low temperature thermostat from LNE installed. Even last summer with ambient temps pushing 100 at the track I didn't feel like the coolant temps were high enough to be concerned about. Maybe I'll put one in the next time I flush the coolant but not in a rush.
You have the 3.6, which I believe has better head cooling. My understanding is that head cracking is more common on the 3.4. I am not sure what the actual difference is though.
Hey Guys,
I've been racing Spec Miata for several years and recently sold my car. I have an '03 996 C2, that I am considering converting to a dedicated track car. It already has JIC adjustable coil overs, cup sway bars, TRG end links. Besides the obvious, installing a deep sump kit and baffle, IMS update (which has not been done and there's 110K on the odometer), what else is recommended? I know a lot of guys DE their 996's but how viable are they as race cars? How are they on tires and what is the flavor of choice? How about brake pads and wear? I know that this will be a much more expensive endeavor than a Miata, but racing never has a finish line in terms of dollars spent. I appreciate your comments. - Mike
When you say "race car", what is the duration of the events you'll be running? Are we talking DE, or longer races? For DE I think the cars are good to go from the factory, and any improvements you make are just icing on the cake. If you're going to be running longer events, then I think there are possibly more considerations you'd want to take to make sure the car can deal with the extended heat and loads that are going to come from that on the drivetrain and brake systems.
I'm on the same path as you. Miata race car for competition and I recently built a '99 c2 996 for a track day car. While I'm still in the process of sorting the suspension on the Porsche (spec 996), my impression was that both of the cars are quite similar; in that both had to be driven as a momentum car. I expected the 996 to be able to really power out of the corner... but was surprised at how the weight of the car really slowed it down. Mine is not nearly as nimble as my sorted Miata, nor is it as fast. I hope to improve on this as I learn the particulars of running this platform... but,after my first time out last week, I was quite humbled.
+1 on the 2qt sump. I had installed a 1/2 qt sump extension + x-51 baffle.... even on re71r's the oil pressure was dropping in the corners.
+1 on the short shifter as the oem shifter is not very quick.
Also, you'll need a good seat as the oem seats don't restrain you well.
You'll have to ask Splitting Atoms about how to fit wide Hoosiers inside the front fender wells without shredding them on the radiator bracket... I suspect he uses an adjustable caster puck in the lca's to help center the tire in the wheel well.
I'm on the same path as you. Miata race car for competition and I recently built a '99 c2 996 for a track day car. While I'm still in the process of sorting the suspension on the Porsche (spec 996), my impression was that both of the cars are quite similar; in that both had to be driven as a momentum car. I expected the 996 to be able to really power out of the corner... but was surprised at how the weight of the car really slowed it down. Mine is not nearly as nimble as my sorted Miata, nor is it as fast. I hope to improve on this as I learn the particulars of running this platform... but,after my first time out last week, I was quite humbled.
+1 on the 2qt sump. I had installed a 1/2 qt sump extension + x-51 baffle.... even on re71r's the oil pressure was dropping in the corners.
+1 on the short shifter as the oem shifter is not very quick.
Also, you'll need a good seat as the oem seats don't restrain you well.
You'll have to ask Splitting Atoms about how to fit wide Hoosiers inside the front fender wells without shredding them on the radiator bracket... I suspect he uses an adjustable caster puck in the lca's to help center the tire in the wheel well.
+1 on the sump...I had the X51 baffle alone and it did not help. The 2.5 quart has eliminated visible pressure drop in corners, even on slicks.
I'll have to say the LSD made my car a whole different ballgame. Having read many of Slakker's racing exploits, and descriptions of cornering teqniques, I was not able to understand his perspective. That is, until I added LSD. Changed the way I drive it for sure. Enormous improvement in trail braking corners. It is the way these cars are meant to corner. Eye opening. Can't wait to get back out there
+1 on seats and harnesses, I can drive with the wheel instead of hanging on to it.
As far as tires, I'm still having fun on 225F and 255R 17". But I'll step up to 245F 275R 18" for my next set (NT01). I believe that is what the spec guys are running. Also note I'm on OE row030, so a little suspension limited.
I'll have to say the LSD made my car a whole different ballgame. Having read many of Slakker's racing exploits, and descriptions of cornering teqniques, I was not able to understand his perspective. That is, until I added LSD. Changed the way I drive it for sure. Enormous improvement in trail braking corners. It is the way these cars are meant to corner. Eye opening. Can't wait to get back out there
+1 on seats and harnesses, I can drive with the wheel instead of hanging on to it.
As far as tires, I'm still having fun on 225F and 255R 17". But I'll step up to 245F 275R 18" for my next set (NT01). I believe that is what the spec guys are running. Also note I'm on OE row030, so a little suspension limited.
+2 on seats and harnesses....before that I felt like I might fly out the door on corners even w/ sport seats.
FWIW I am running 245 fronts and 315 rears for tires.
I'll have to say the LSD made my car a whole different ballgame. Having read many of Slakker's racing exploits, and descriptions of cornering teqniques, I was not able to understand his perspective. That is, until I added LSD. Changed the way I drive it for sure. Enormous improvement in trail braking corners. It is the way these cars are meant to corner. Eye opening. Can't wait to get back out there
+1 on seats and harnesses, I can drive with the wheel instead of hanging on to it.
As far as tires, I'm still having fun on 225F and 255R 17". But I'll step up to 245F 275R 18" for my next set (NT01). I believe that is what the spec guys are running. Also note I'm on OE row030, so a little suspension limited.
M96 experts say don't do a LWFW unless you have a built engine with the FW balanced to the crankshaft and the #6 bearing reinforced. Without doing so you risk a broken crankshaft.
05-10-2018, 12:07 PM
996 C2 street to track??
