Proper intro to my GT3
#1
Proper intro to my GT3
I've been lurking for a while and scouring the GT3 for sale adds for months. I was looking for a drivers GT3 and not a garage queen. I also didn't want to purchase a 10-25K mile track ****. The primary use for the vehicle will be driving to and from HPDE without a tow car. After several years of tracking an Audi A4 1.8T quattro I made the jump to the P-car world.
I started tracking the Audi, bone stock which allowed me to learn and progress my driving skills. Over the past ten years I've modified the car and increased my skills to point where I'm driving it at 9.5-10/10ths on track. The next step for the Audi would be to fully gut the car and turn it into a dedicated (tow only) race car, which I didn't want to do. Essentially it's 2:00 car at Buttonwillow CW 13, which isn't too bad for a heavy AWD four cylinder car with full interior.
About 1.5 months ago I purchased a 7.1 GT3 with 61K miles from a fellow rennlister Bgoldey. The car was located 4 miles from my house. It wasn't exactly what I wanted, but it was kind of meant to be. The original owner was Claude Leglise (PCA GGR pres.) who spec'd and purchased the car and put 55K miles on it. My understanding is that it was used a daily driver. The second owner put about 6k miles over the span of about 4 years. The car was used as a weekend car. The vehicle came with all records, window sticker, original purchase documents, all keys etc. It was originally dealer maintained and then once it came to San Diego it was locally maintained with no expenses spared. It most recently went through a 60K service, new MPSC2's and a new clutch (OEM not 4.0) were recently installed, which can be expected on a vehicle with this mileage. The car has a clean DME report, no body damage and is in great mechanical and cosmetic condition for 61K miles. The paint was protected by a film that was removed prior to sale. The second owner installed OEM 997 rear seats. There are no dings, some stone chips on the rockers and the front bumper was repaired and resprayed due to some damage caused by some freeway debris.
After viewing the car multiple times, getting to know the 2nd owner and family, test driving it, discussions with the shop that maintained the car and discussions with some local RL's I purchased the car (no PPI).
First night in its new home.
I started tracking the Audi, bone stock which allowed me to learn and progress my driving skills. Over the past ten years I've modified the car and increased my skills to point where I'm driving it at 9.5-10/10ths on track. The next step for the Audi would be to fully gut the car and turn it into a dedicated (tow only) race car, which I didn't want to do. Essentially it's 2:00 car at Buttonwillow CW 13, which isn't too bad for a heavy AWD four cylinder car with full interior.
About 1.5 months ago I purchased a 7.1 GT3 with 61K miles from a fellow rennlister Bgoldey. The car was located 4 miles from my house. It wasn't exactly what I wanted, but it was kind of meant to be. The original owner was Claude Leglise (PCA GGR pres.) who spec'd and purchased the car and put 55K miles on it. My understanding is that it was used a daily driver. The second owner put about 6k miles over the span of about 4 years. The car was used as a weekend car. The vehicle came with all records, window sticker, original purchase documents, all keys etc. It was originally dealer maintained and then once it came to San Diego it was locally maintained with no expenses spared. It most recently went through a 60K service, new MPSC2's and a new clutch (OEM not 4.0) were recently installed, which can be expected on a vehicle with this mileage. The car has a clean DME report, no body damage and is in great mechanical and cosmetic condition for 61K miles. The paint was protected by a film that was removed prior to sale. The second owner installed OEM 997 rear seats. There are no dings, some stone chips on the rockers and the front bumper was repaired and resprayed due to some damage caused by some freeway debris.
After viewing the car multiple times, getting to know the 2nd owner and family, test driving it, discussions with the shop that maintained the car and discussions with some local RL's I purchased the car (no PPI).
First night in its new home.
#2
Understanding that this was a street only machine there were several things that needed to be addressed in preparation for its use.
1. Remove wheel locks and replace with OEM bolts.
2. Pull some weight out of the frunk.
3. Cleaned out the radiators.
4. Installed rennline radiator grills.
5. Installed Pagid RS29 (yellow) fronts, RS14 (black) rears.
6. Cut brake pad sensors, soldered, heat shrink and tied down.
7. Installed rear PMNA caliper stud kit.
8. Bleed/flush brakes (removed ATE blue), pushed 2L of junk brake fluid through the calipers to try to remove as much ATE as possible, new fluid Castrol SRF. Some residual ATE still in there (annoying).
9. Had the coolant lines pinned, sharkwerks elbows, new expansion tank and cap, thermostat installed.
10. Trasmission oil flush Motul 75W90
11. Oil change Motul 300V 5w40
12. Track alignment (string method). Front -2.4 and +1mm toe, Rear -2.7 and -1.5mm toe. Sway bars soft. Corner balanced.
13. Tarrett thrust arm bushings, rear adjustable toe links and toe lockout plates.
14. Xpel wrap front end (bumper, fenders, lights, hood, rocker and 3/4 or rear quarter panel). The paint is in such good condition that I would feel bad destroying it.
15. Removed OEM 997 rear seat and reinstall everything, 2nd owner had new carpet, all other OEM parts are in the attic.
16. New radio buttons (the original ones were a little sticky).
17. Drive it finally.
Trackday scheduled for Nov. 18, 19 with Audi Club at Buttonwillow.
Trackday scheduled for Dec. 1 with checkered flag driving. http://checkeredflagdriving.com/
Some pics to follow.
1. Remove wheel locks and replace with OEM bolts.
2. Pull some weight out of the frunk.
3. Cleaned out the radiators.
4. Installed rennline radiator grills.
5. Installed Pagid RS29 (yellow) fronts, RS14 (black) rears.
6. Cut brake pad sensors, soldered, heat shrink and tied down.
7. Installed rear PMNA caliper stud kit.
8. Bleed/flush brakes (removed ATE blue), pushed 2L of junk brake fluid through the calipers to try to remove as much ATE as possible, new fluid Castrol SRF. Some residual ATE still in there (annoying).
9. Had the coolant lines pinned, sharkwerks elbows, new expansion tank and cap, thermostat installed.
10. Trasmission oil flush Motul 75W90
11. Oil change Motul 300V 5w40
12. Track alignment (string method). Front -2.4 and +1mm toe, Rear -2.7 and -1.5mm toe. Sway bars soft. Corner balanced.
13. Tarrett thrust arm bushings, rear adjustable toe links and toe lockout plates.
14. Xpel wrap front end (bumper, fenders, lights, hood, rocker and 3/4 or rear quarter panel). The paint is in such good condition that I would feel bad destroying it.
15. Removed OEM 997 rear seat and reinstall everything, 2nd owner had new carpet, all other OEM parts are in the attic.
16. New radio buttons (the original ones were a little sticky).
17. Drive it finally.
Trackday scheduled for Nov. 18, 19 with Audi Club at Buttonwillow.
Trackday scheduled for Dec. 1 with checkered flag driving. http://checkeredflagdriving.com/
Some pics to follow.
Last edited by Belinko; 11-14-2017 at 03:25 PM.
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#10
Thanks for the warm welcome.
Mooty,
Thanks, maybe I'll see you in December????
Craig,
That's a good friend, great driver and the guy who gave me P-car disease. He's on RL under oldskewS4.
This is what really got me going in the GT3 direction. Me chasing him at Buttonwillow.
I "checked" the diff when the car was up in the air and there was immediate engagement when rotating one wheel relative to the other. We will see how long the diff lasts.
This Guy ^^^^
Mooty,
Thanks, maybe I'll see you in December????
Craig,
That's a good friend, great driver and the guy who gave me P-car disease. He's on RL under oldskewS4.
This is what really got me going in the GT3 direction. Me chasing him at Buttonwillow.
I "checked" the diff when the car was up in the air and there was immediate engagement when rotating one wheel relative to the other. We will see how long the diff lasts.
This Guy ^^^^
#11
Some more pics
Boggles my mind that Tarrett would use plain jane nylocks without washers. We used an OEM nut.
Installed and TQ'ed
Toe locking plates installed and TQ'ed
Toe link
First set of grills came damaged. Fortunately the kind guys at Rennline took care of me.
Install went smoothly
Boggles my mind that Tarrett would use plain jane nylocks without washers. We used an OEM nut.
Installed and TQ'ed
Toe locking plates installed and TQ'ed
Toe link
First set of grills came damaged. Fortunately the kind guys at Rennline took care of me.
Install went smoothly
#12
+1
have fun, looking forward to seeing your car develop over time. we are of similar mindset, here is my 95% .1 track car.
https://rennlist.com/forums/997-gt2-...l#post13754775
#13
Nice ride! A beautiful example. I hope it brings you nothing but joy!
Love the last B&W picture, too. Nice photography.
Strikes me odd that the clutch was replaced at 60K. I have 126K miles on my 996 GT3 and the clutch is still good (more or less). Bought the car with 5,500 miles on it, so I know its the original.
Love the last B&W picture, too. Nice photography.
Strikes me odd that the clutch was replaced at 60K. I have 126K miles on my 996 GT3 and the clutch is still good (more or less). Bought the car with 5,500 miles on it, so I know its the original.
#14
Clutch wear and tear depends on the driving situation. In Los Angeles, with lots of stop and go traffic, the clutches wear out around 60K, although the dealer says he replaced a bunch at much lower miles.
#15
One's left leg is no doubt much thicker than the right with a GT3 in LA.