Question of the day. Is it possible to swap out a GT3 decklid on a 2011 for a GTS decklid, without any serious modifications? (warranty void?) I have a client who is asking this question. New to me.

 

I dont know of anyone that has done this ... so you are in new territory. I do recall a few months back someone asking the same question on this forum.

I expect that the dimensions of the decklid and mounting h/w for the struts and latch are the same so the lid would basically fit.

I would be concerned about the following (in no particular order):

- the missing downforce on the back of the car in the absence of the GT3 wing

The aero design on the GT3 'anticipates' the presence of the rear wing
element, removing it could seriously compromise the handling and safety of
the car at speed.

- "mating" the GT3s airbox (with one intake opening) to the GTS decklid h/w
that expects two airbox intakes from the GTS airbox (I doubt you could retofit
the GTS airbox to the GT3 to avoid this but it may be an option)

- fan operation and cooling; the GT3 has a fan mounted on the left/driver side
of the underside of the decklid to provide cooling, having not seen the GTS
I dont know where the fan is in that car. I suspect its in a different location,
the electrical connectors etc might also not be compatible, although there is
probably a good chance of this, study of PET and/or workshop manuals might
shed some light on this.

- operation of the GTS decklid spoiler.
I believe the GTS has an electrically operated spoiler that is raised/lowered
either at a certain speed, or operated by dashboard switch. I would question
that the GT3 wiring harness is setup to enable this, if it is a single wiring
harness for all variants then the ECU would have to be flashed.

All in all I think there are too many difficult unanswered questions here, I think it would undoubtedly void any warranty claims (it would if I worked for PCNA and saw this on a car requesting a warranty claim) and honestly, if the car
was ever to be resold, all this would most likely have to be undone, or the
car would need to be heavily discounted to account for this.

My advice to your client is dont do this, if you want a GTS decklid, trade your GT3 in and buy a GTS ... it will be cheaper in the long run.

 

Thank you. I suspected the same. I appreciate your time spent on the reply. I am sure you have better things to do!

 

Not a problem, always a pleasure ... I think the shorter answer would be that there are so many electrical and mechanical unknowns that would have to be researched before you got to the point where you could embark on doing this that you should change careers and become a lawyer in order to charge the billable hours!



If your client wants a GTS tail, he should really buy a GTS ... and unless he is prepared to pay you for all the research needed to check that it is possible ... its not really worth your time I think!

 

looks like you have a client who no longer wants the "boy racer" look rear wing.

i think in this case the client may wish to look at another car with lesser "wing".

this is not uncommon as a lot of mature owners dislike the wing look on their GT3's.

 

it would probably be cheaper to put an RS decklid on an NB/GT3 than to do this ...

I personally like the wings on the cars, its functional and part of the GT3 "signature"

and I suppose I am mature in years, but certainly not in spirit!

 

I think it would be very cool if there was a less obnoxious looking wing that was known to be functional with correct downforce etc.

 

I don't really think any of the GT3 wings are remotely obnoxious but beauty is in the eye of the beholder ... Or not

are you calling my babies ugly?

 

Larry, I am a FIRM believer in the Porsche mentality. Everything is there for a reason. I cant think of a manufacturer of special autombiles who does it better, day in day out, year after year.

 

Key word, function: If it serves it, it belongs there... otherwise it's just bling.

 

What about a ducktail from the Sport Classic? Of course less downforce...but probably enough for most U.S. daily driving needs?!

Or upgrade to an RS engine decklid and unbolt the aluminum side supports.

 

there are a couple of potential problems with either of these solutions:

1) you are changing the amount of downforce generated and engineered into the cars
handling/suspension, this will not reveal its effects until you are at high speed, however they could
be significant/dangerous

2) I dont know what the inside of a Sport Classic deckid looks like, its probably similar to that of a
Carerra S setup; I do know what the inside of an RS decklid looks like, IMHO both would require
some modification/replacement of the GT3 airbox etc in order to function correctly. I am not sure
that is possible (in the case of the Sport Classic) or desirable. Both the RS and Carerra S airboxes
have 2 intakes that 'mate' with their respective decklids, the NB GT3 only has one. hence my
comments.

Basically I think the client would be better buying a car that had the design components they desire (like a Carerra S or a GTS) rather than butchering a GT3 in this fashion, but it is their car and their money.

 

Isn't the GTS decklid same as any other 997 Carrera decklid?

 

it probably is modulo some cosmetics....

 

sell the GT3 and buy a GTS.......am I missing something here?