Anyone done the above mentioned conversion? I know someone on here has done this with their PCA stock class racecar, I just can't find his screen name for some reason.

Thinking seriously about upgrading my Grand-Am CUP 996 and want to ask a few questions offline of someone that has already been down this path.

Feel free to respond on list or to PM/email me.

Thanks,

__________________
Brian Bailey
Autometrics Motorsports Porsche 996 - Grand-Am Cup #45
'87 Porsche 944 Turbo - PCA GT3s

 

i know this won't help but...

when i was visiting a race shop in atlanta last week, their grand-am project decided to stick with the 3.4L for various reasons they claimed were an advantage at some tracks. ::shrug::

 

Look for JimB. I think he did this or maybe it was just the x50 upgrade when he rebuilt his car.

 

I know this isn't what Brian was asking.... but can you run the x50 on the newer 996s in GAC?

Brian, I know we've never met but I watch your results and there are a lot of people pulling for you! Good luck on finding some more power.

 

just an fyi

x50 -> for 996 turbos
x51 -> for 996 NA

 

It was JimB. He converted his car to 3.6 from 3.4. I don't see him here as much as I do on the 996 forum.

-KJ

 

The 3.4L is a great engine but unfortunately it went out of production 3 years ago. The series isn't going to maintain its competitiveness forever and has told us as much. Right now the 3.6L had two advantages. One is a higher Hp/weight ratio, the other is the low end torque advantage over the 3.4L. There might be a track someplace where the 3.4L would have an advantage, but I'm not sure I've ever seen it.

So right now, if a team wants to be competitive, and I certainly do, the only choice is to either run a 3.6L 996 or a 997. I'm looking into options for putting a 997 together for next season but at this point a 3.6L 996 makes more financial sense.

MJR911
Unfortunately the X-51 option is not legal for the series. Question was already asked. There are rumors that some teams are using X-51 engines, but the last time I saw the front running 996's torn down, all of the engines were in compliance witht he rules.

KJinDC
Thanks, that screen name rings a bell. I'll look for him over there. Have more than a few questions I want to bounce off of him.

__________________
Brian Bailey
Autometrics Motorsports Porsche 996 - Grand-Am Cup #45
'87 Porsche 944 Turbo - PCA GT3s

 

Brian,
Let me pick your brain for a second. In your class, how far off from stock are your motors, and how have you found the m96 for racing reliability?
Chris

 

The engines in the Porsches are not very far from stock at all. Our ECU was reprogrammed by PMNA to run 100 Octane. Custom exhaust after the stock manifolds. Cold Air Intake installed. Oiling upgrade done by PMNA as well. We also added the center radiator to help with cooling. Few other odds and ends here and there but nothing substantial.

Series doesn't really allow a whole lot more than that (could change the injectors if we wanted to, change cam timing, change engine management, but thats about it). I suspect a few teams might be using MOTEC and making a bit more power than us, but its nothing substantial as we've been able to run with the fastest 3.4L guys for the most part, though the 3.6L are giving us fits.

We've been pretty reliable to this point though we do have a small oil leak at the moment. Nothing a little time in the shop won't fix prior to the next race.

__________________
Brian Bailey
Autometrics Motorsports Porsche 996 - Grand-Am Cup #45
'87 Porsche 944 Turbo - PCA GT3s

 

do the 3.4L guys get a weight break?

 

125 lbs.

3.4L - 2925 lbs without driver
3.6L - 3050 lbs without driver

__________________
Brian Bailey
Autometrics Motorsports Porsche 996 - Grand-Am Cup #45
'87 Porsche 944 Turbo - PCA GT3s

 

Bavaro and Ellis (former PCA guys) seem to be giving the 997 a decent time. Brian, Do you think the 997 can be faster than the 3.6 996 if someone like Darren Law was in a 997?

 

Brian,
I just got back into town. I'll PM you with contact info. It's probably a lot quicker to talk for 10 minutes than to type for 30.
Jim

 

hmmm, to stay competitive in Grand AM, you will need more displacemnt . . . I suppose you could get one of these?

www.theracersgroup.com

 

JimB,
Thanks a ton. I agree, easier to talk than type for an hour.

Matt,
I think eventually the 997 will be faster. Right now it doesn't appear to be.

I don't think its the drivers as the Synergy Team has Kelly Collins and Brent Martini in their car. Those guys aren't exactly chopped liver and that car looks very well prepared from what I've seen. And the Mike's in the Bodymotion car are both very good driver's in their own right (had a great run with that car at the end of the Daytona race).

I just think the cars need a little more development. I also think that the aerokit will help that car when its released by Porsche and approved for use in the series by Grand-Am. Next year, more than likely, they will likely be the car to have. This year, the 3.6L 996 is still marginally faster.

Also, don't forget the 997 is currently being required to use the stock ECU. The 996 is not. So there is a very real chance the 997 is down on power to the 996's at this point. That will likely change as the series gets more comfortable with the performance potential of the 997.

__________________
Brian Bailey
Autometrics Motorsports Porsche 996 - Grand-Am Cup #45
'87 Porsche 944 Turbo - PCA GT3s