sml

I need to get into a 911 and prefer the modern 996 over the 993/964. I would track the car just 3 or 4 days a year.

Do you guys have any concerns about tracking a 996?

I've read all the info about IMS & RMS probs and I wasn't too worried and happy to take a small risk. (All cars have problems anyway.)

But then I heard that Porsche recommends against putting slicks on a 996 due to the wet/dry sump issues. Not sure if this is true.

Then my local porsche mechanic suggested not to track a 996 but buy a 993 or 964 instead.

What do you guys think?

If I was too lose the 996 engine, can you drop in the later version engines with the real dry sump?

himself

Detailed answers above. Short answer, do it.

-td

redridge

if you look at the pca website.... in the 996 Q&A section, somewhere in there, I read that the oil starvation issue on the m96 engine is a non issue... Noone (or at least PCA) has hard evidence of blown engine due to oil starvation. As suggested on the website, it is just a myth. But, Porsche will not honor warranty with slicks on the track.... I dont even think Porsche will honor warranty on a GT3 if they know that it was on the track.

With that said.... I put an x51 oil pan on. BTW there's always accusump, but for 3-4 DE/year.... I wouldnt sweat it.

jyoteen

you can run R compounds. IIRC they are not considered slicks.

To me, slicks = Michelin Race tires.

Plenty of people run 996s in POC and there's even a spec class.

sml

BTW .. I will never be a serious tracker (due to budget), so i wasn't intending to ever use slicks .. it was more just the principle and concern

ivangene

a serious tracker is a person who uses their budget tracking the car... no matter how small a budget we are talking about....

LVDell

Most that know me from my early days here are aware of my tracking in a 996 (and not my GT3 or Turbo as those are made for the track). I tracked my wife's CAB for quite some time. All we added were RoWM030, rollbar, GT3 seats and harnesses. Tires were were always high performance street tires that you can really push on track (S02, PS2). We've had that CAB for almost 8 years now and it was tracked VERY HARD for 3 of those years and was a daily driver for many of the years with now over 85K miles. She still looks and runs in immaculate shape. Not a sniff of any issues other than replacing a water pump, AOS, and coolant expansion tank.

If I knew then what I know now, I would just add a couple items to help with the track. Mostly it would include the the baffled X51 sump pan and the 3rd radiator. Quickest way to grenade one of these motors is to either starve it of oil or run it too hot.

sml

Thanks guys .. you've sold me on the 996 .. I prefer the 996 anyway so that's good news for me.

Might take a week or two to clear out my current car, then I'll post pics when I pick up my new 996

LVDell

Make sure and utilize the vast knowledge base here when you start down that path! Happy Motoring.....

sandersd

Just curious: what does having a stock suspension have to do with getting heat into the tires?

LVDell

Actually you can get heat into the tires. They just won't work properly (load and deflection) with the stock suspension and all the rubber (lack of monoball pieces everywhere) the car has. It is very important to match you tires with your suspension and setup. What many people fail to realize is that tires are part of the suspension and have a spring rate.

sml

That's a good question ... I would have thought that if the tyres are sliding sideways then the tyres are going to get warmed up.

Then if you can slide the tyres sideways with soft OEM suspension and well balanced race suspension, then what's the difference from a heat perspective?

LVDell

You will heat into the tires quicker by getting moving FAST in a straight line and braking. That side to side crap is to get debris off the tires not to warm them up.

rideau

I have tracked my 2001 C2 996 Cab since new. This is season 10 for it and all track days have been DE..., no racing. Car has 80km (approx 50k miles) and I estimate a total of 20km on the track at the end of this season.
I have installed the X51 oil pan, 3rd rad and upgraded to PSS9 suspension this year from M030. I now run Yoko Advan AD07 tires...good in wet as well and will go to AD08 for the next set. I have previously used Continentals, Michelins, Goodyears, Kumhos and the Yokos grip and wear very well in comparison to others.
I suggest you only modify for longevity untl you gain some experience...I discovered that the car was WAY better than I was for a number of years (and it still is).
I do make sure I have a "humbling session" every year. This is a pro racer driving my car with me as a passenger...makes me understand my true capabilities.
Have fun!

Van

My understanding is that a stock suspension is too "compliant" for slicks (or even r-compound DOT tires). What happens, because of the higher grip, the car exhibits more body roll, thus changing the alignment (specifically camber) more while the car is cornering. Because of this, you'll get fewer runs out of r-compound tires (because you'll cord the outside edge) than with an upgraded suspension. Throwing out $1,500 tires rapidly gets real old, real fast.