HiWind

so the year end refresh time is here and no more racing til Feb.

Although the 3.6 has served me well and leakdown and compression looks fine
I'm considering upgrades to help keep me with the turbos, 3.8s and 2010 997s. And considering it's been 4 years of racing - ±120 pracs, DEs, qualis & heats - I recon the rebuild must be this year and I'd rather do it early than late.

This vid shows the power differential (and maybe some skill deficit!) and the reasonably tight sounding engine
and me unhappy at the red flag.


so the upgrade NA options as I see it are bearings etc.. and other consumables
and then ...
1. simple: 3.8 .... 435 at the flywheel
2. tweaked: 3.9 .... sleeves & pistons - 450 bhp (lots of happy UK customers)
3. smokin: 4.0 .... crank, rods, pistons (custom mahle short skirt 3 ring, popular in the US)

I know its a personal thing and there are many ways to view it ... keen to hear your views

thanks!
Matt

Q&A

keep it original 3.6
996 Cup will be the next new hot cup car after 964 Cup and 993 Cup.
same approximate low production numbers. Very few compared to 997 Cup.
'tuned' engines are in my mind less interesting and will devaluate rather then valuate.

In europe the 996 Cup's are now eligible for several FiA classic / youngtimer race series but need to remain original.

invest in some good driving coaching. i am sure you can improve 2 seconds a lap.
if you've reached the max of your car in two years, if in good condition, You can swap it for a 997 Cup.
(your 996 Cup will be worth more then a 07/08/09' 997 Cup then)

tkerrmd

Very good advise totally agree, all factory spec is way to keep car

Or just take that money and move up to a 997.2

stujelly

what kind of shift is that??

HiWind

^thats the sqs Stu ... great once you get used to it and money-shift preventive

re the spec discussion ... not so sure the 996 will make the air-cooled levels
but the 4th option is to build a new engine and keep the stock one whole

QA: re the 2secs faster ... 1 sec maybe

Q&A

Then you are almost there. ha ha
I really think the 996 will go towards 964, 993, RS, Cup prices. Look at 996 GT3 RS street car.
Currently everything Porsche ever made with low production numbers is turning into a very hot property.
I'd invest my money rather in a 964 Cup then in Coca Cola stocks.

Speaking of which: I happen to have a 964 Cup and 964 RS America for sale :-)

m42racer

I don't agree keeping it stock and here is why.

The first time you get your new stock engine back and in the car and go racing you get your doors blown off and you say to your self. I have an investment here as its still a 3.6L. Then you get out of the car and wish you had that 4.0L engine.

Been there done that. 4.0L is the only way to go. Did it and have zero regrets. Well worth the money spent. I bought the car to race not as an investment. I could wrap it around the guard rail, so I might as well have fun doing it.

I can think of a lot better investments than a Cup car. I owned a 74 RSR that had a lot of previous owners and had once been turbo'ed. It was put back to original spec and today is worth over 1 mil.

Do the 4.0L. you will not be sorry.

Fracture

I remember reading the 'pulled the trigger' thread from 2012 twice, beautiful car
and the video makes it even more appealing

If you're going to the pull the motor and have the luxury of a little bit time, why
not wait until you've had a look inside and determine what needs to be done
then decide what you can commit to.

Jamie_GT3

There 80.4mm stroke Crank, Ti Rods, Pistons and Liners all for a 4.0L, with 4hours on them available at a discount. Let me know if you're interested. I have a 997GT3RS 3.6L donor engine available, don't know if it would work well in a 996 cup, could just remove the intake variocam and put cup S cams in it...

shoot me a message if interested...

tedean

+1

Be the best at driving first, then move up to a diff car.

hf1

I would keep it stock. Be as fast as you can be with the car you have. There will always be faster race cars (classes) out there. You won't scratch that itch until you reach F1.

HiWind

thanks for the advice, encouragement and the single but well received complement
All very useful ... will get out my thinking pipe ... send more input if it pops up

ps - for those asking re the video setup:
-standard (now lo-tech) GoPro Hero2 at 5meg with brightness correction setting on
-with $10 mic wrapped in some foam in engine bay plugged into the gopro input jack
-with 3m thin wire (through rear firewall grommet)
-also key to have a good camera mount (I use Brey Krause - pm for details)
- key is the mic means you cut out all the cabin and wind noise and hear the rear music

Glen

Go with the grunt...stock is boring...

HiWind

Agreed ... There isn't stock racing here; classes in all 3 series are time based
So horses for courses it is ...

HiWind

found this


... which is nice