Can you run adjustable coilovers if you run the stock shocks and set to stock height? There are no adjustable shocks for my 997 C2 non PASM car.

 

yeah, you can run custom adjustable coilovers (MCS makes some) that have spring perches that accept stock springs. The damper can be whatever, but the dimension of the spring perch has to be the same, and the stock spring has to be the same.

They're about $7000 a set, I think.

It's in Appendix F - street category clarifications:

Coil Spring Perches
The intent of the Street Category allowance for alternate shock absorbers is that the dimensional characteristics of the shock absorber and spring location must remain consistent with those of the original units, as per Section 13.5.A.3. In the case of coil spring perches on aftermarket shocks, the vertical distance of the spring position above the lower shock mounting point must be no less than the distance found on the original equipment unit. If the characteristics of the shock (e.g., gas pressure) are such that this positioning results in a change in the car’s ride height, that change is permitted.

 

Wow $7000 is a little rich for me at my level. Is there anything else for maybe half the price?

 

Not much that's legal in street class. You have to keep the OE springs which are an odd shape and incompatible with most coilovers. You can get custom-valved non-adjustable Billstein HDs or retrofit koni yellows into OEM struts, but that's about it for a budget option.

 

?

 

That is a good option unless your 6'6" like I am

 

Koni yellows are not out yet and I saw no HD's for the back on Pelican.

Edit I just saw that you said to modify my stock strut with koni yellow's I did that with my 944S2 and that works OK. Jason at Paragon is making it sound that Koni is coming out with a set for the 997. I will not need it till the spring but I'm looking at all my options for winter upgrades.

 

Another option is to retrofit PASM.

 

Would that be better than Koni's? and how hard is it to make it work?

 

I think I'd rather have Konis- a lot more adjustability, less stuff, no electronics, no additional weight.

Sounds like you should just wait on the Konis. I have really enjoyed mine on the street, track, and autocross.

 

Maybe I will call Jason next week and see if it's a pipe dream or they are coming out. I need rebound for PPIR as that track is very wavy. That being said the PASM drops the car 10mm and aren't the springs stiffer? I'm just looking at all options to making the car better.

 

PASM has stiffer springs and sits 10mm lower. You don't have to actually use the PASM shocks to use PASM springs, but you do have to have a complete retrofit with the electronic bits even if you don't use them. Conventional wisdom is that PASM may actually be just as fast (or faster) than a DA setup due to the magic of adjusting the shocks on the fly for various loading conditions. I found there are a lot of 1st gen PASM shocks available used which helps keep the cost down.

 

Honestly, for that kind of money, I think he'd be better off selling the car and investing the money he was going to invest in PASM in buying a more competitive car -- even if he wants to stay within the Porsche family.

 

I budgeted about $3k to retrofit PASM on my 987.2S from used components and worked pretty much everything out; should be similar for 997.1 as it's essentially the same retrofit, just different part#s. More expensive than Bilstein HDs but a lot cheaper than MCS.

You're probably right, though. 987.2S with PDK+SC+PASM are unicorns that don't exist so I have little recourse aside from building that unicorn myself, but more competitive Porsches are out there if he's not stuck on a 997.1.

 

I'm not stuck on a 997.1 but I am stuck on Porsche. I have been looking at 997 GTS and 981 Boxster GTS. They are still a little rich for me. I looked at a 987 Spyder but the soft top cuts to low for me in the back, plus the 987 is a little small as I'm 6'6" tall. I'm not sure 997.1S would help much for the price so I'm looking to stay with my car for 1 more season. Maybe, A 2013 981 Boxster S Launch car is starting to get close to work for me. But I do like the room a 997 gives me over an Boxster.