Laguna_Dude

Pete, Can you expand on this thought a bit? I'm having Alex at SW put the RSS toe steer and rear link kit that he offers in, along with the 3.9 upgrade.[/QUOTE]

the stock 997.1 GT3/RS dampers, springs and sways limit the car significantly. sure you can put different springs on it, but you can't adjust the dampers, which makes that a waste. And the sways are not stiff/bulky enough to get the job done. Even with full-metal ball joints, etc., unless you replace the dampers, springs and sways, all you've done is provided slightly more feedback to a mediocre stock setup with no real adjustability to provide the tools to truly balance the handling. If you're simply street driving, don't even bother spending $$ on the suspension period...as the stock equipment is more than adequate to get the job done. But if you plan on tracking regularly, upgrading to some Motons or JRZs, Eibach springs (w/helpers), beefier sways and full metal ball-joint goodies would be the next step. And would dramatically improve the car's handling. Also, safety mods like cage, fixed-back seats, harnesses, etc. would be appropriate as well. Safety first. I went down this road (minus the 3.9) and was very, very happy with the results. But as you can see, it quickly becomes a slippery slope.

Carrera GT

"Something had to be done."

Well said.

Carrera GT

Pete, Can you expand on this thought a bit? I'm having Alex at SW put the RSS toe steer and rear link kit that he offers in, along with the 3.9 upgrade.[/QUOTE]

I'll leave it to Sir Excellence (kidding) to address the PASM versus real suspension question. I'd be interested to know what else you've got in order to fully build this car. If you don't have a Guard LSD in the build, then you should reconsider. Same for brakes -- not mandatory, the stock brakes work reasonably well for moderate track pace. At the least, I'd get the ducts for rear cooling. Brembo or PFC or whatever would be a great upgrade. Maybe a step of Stoptech GTR if the budget allows. But something for brakes would be a worthwhile consideration.

If you don't have at least half-way adequate safety gear (DAS roll bar and HANS) then I'd discourage too much track driving until you addressed the safety aspects of near 500hp, 3000lb and rear engine ...

Laguna_Dude

per Carrera GT, a motorsport LSD is also important if you plan to track regularly... might even be worth it on the street. Most overlook the LSD.

BBMGT3

For the past 2 months I've been pondering how to ship my car or my engine halfway around the world to CA to get the SW3.9.

I just sent my diff to Guard - its still not back - and the experience (customs, damage en route) has been somewhat unnerving.

Not sure I could do the engine...

FFaust

aussie jimmy

kermit get's under people's skin.

Snowboarder54

[QUOTE=MM3.9GT3;8705372]Snowboarder: I am in Sonoma on vacation. Where is this "loop"? I want to drive it, even though it will be in my Hyundai Sonata rental car. Feel free to PM me.


Sorry, I can not do that! However if you are in Sonoma your not far from where I live. Just jump in the Sonata and drive over to the coast. there is a local car show here at the Gualala Arts Center which attracts some interesting cars from all over the state! I'll give you a taste of the 3.9 and who knows, you may get on a portion the loop and not even know it.

Snowboarder54

Yes indeed. Worse then any Lover I have ever had!

aussie jimmy

utkinpol

what I hear all the time is the sort of reversed rule stating that stiffer springs benefit from softer sways, so it looks like if you go into 700+lbs springs territory you do not really need to beef up sways as well. Or is it an inaccurate statement?

From my own build I can say stock matching set of recent NB GT3 sways seem to work fine with 600/700 springs and JRZ RS. I do not see any need to get stiffer bars at the moment, in fact front is on full soft and rear in middle seems to do the job. Stiffer front bar would not likely do much good imho.

stout

Oh dear. Sorry 'bout that!

Crazy Canuck

Hmmmm ... can you just send the engine to SW or do they need the whole car???

BBMGT3

I think you can send the engine alone - apparently a guy in Singapore did it I think - and obviously you would need to take out the ECU I would assume. The SW3.9 "package" includes the LWFW, uprated clutch and exhaust; all three of which are relatively straightforward jobs that are easily put in. The engine is the hard bit.

I also wonder how well the EVOMSIT software would handle "international" fuel. Probably a stupid questions actually.... but I wondered!

stout

Yes, I identify with this statement, and especially with what's in bold. Rings very, very true after my experiences in the cars.

If you like the 996 GT3, you will love, LOVE the Boxster Spyder. Best handling factory Porsche road car I have driven, period. It comes with conventional dampers with genius damping.

pete