RS 987

Today, I'd like to share a few details of my project, which is extremely ambitious and will take several more years to complete!

I used to have a 997 C2, but it wasn't enough.
Then I switched to a 997 GT3. It was awesome! But it lacked something I couldn't quite understand.
So, I flipped the GT3 and jumped into a Cayman R! (Thats Right!! A GT3 for Cayman R).

Out of the box, the Cayman R felt special and promising. It did need work to match the performance I experienced in the GT3.

But that wouldn't be enough. It had to match the capabilities of the GT3 RS, (the ultimate dual purpose street/track car that Porsche makes in my opinion).

That's when Project Cayman RS 987 begun...

I consulted with a Grand Am race team and a local Porsche technician and have implemented the following upgrades over a 4 month timeframe: I will share pics soon!

Project Cayman RS 987 PDK

Target Weight: 2,550 lb's
Target Power: 385 hp
Target Power to Weight Ratio: 6.7 lb/hp

Completed Upgrades

• Wheels Painted Matte Black
• Rennline Track Mats
• Rennline Tow Hook
• Brey & Krause Harness Bar
• OMP Steering Wheel + Hub + Quick Release
• Scroth Racing Harness
• Pagid RS 19/29 Brake Pads
• GT3 RS Master Brake Cyclinder
• Stainless Steel Brake Lines
• Motul 600 Racing Brake Fluid
• Redline Water Wetter for Coolant
• De-snorked Drivers side leaf guard
• Fabspeed Race Exhaust
• IPD Competition Plenum
• GT3 Throttle Body
• Fabspeed Cold Air Intake (replaced EvoMS v-flow intake)
• RSS Wheel Spacers, 5mm: front / 7mm rear
• RSS Front Lower Control Arms
• RSS Rear Lower Control Arms
• RSS Rear Toe Links
• RSS Toe Link Lock Out Plates
• 997 GT3 RS Adjustable Front Sway Bar
• Tarret Boxster Spyder Adjustable Rear Sway Bar
• Tarret Front & Rear Drop Links
• Fire Extinguisher + Bracket
• Braile 21lb Lightweight Battery
• 85lb's of Carpet and Trim Removed - front, rear trunk and cabin

Pending Upgrades - Near Term

• Remove Air Conditioning
• Dimsport ECU Tune
• Forgeline 18" GA3R black wheels
• Fabspeed Long Tube Headers
• Or Possibly switch to Cargraphic full race system (for more torque)
• JRZ or KW or Bilstein Coilover Suspension Kit
• Front Splitter
• Rear Wing
• Lightweight Glass - Lexan
• RSS Pulley Kit
• Power Steering Cooler
• PDK Transmission Cooler
• Lightweight Flywheel
• Carbon Fiber Hood, Hatch, Doors
• GT LSD
• 6 Point Bolt in Roll Cage
  

orthojoe

Awesome. Thanks for sharing. Post up some pictures when you get the chance. How do you plan on getting to the 385hp mark? 3.8 engine swap?

orthojoe

Also, how do you plan on addressing the engine oil and coolant overheating issues that PDK caymans seem to suffer from at the track? I see you have a PDK cooler planned. Custom made?

RS 987

The majority of parts for transmission cooling, power steering cooling etc, are custom made parts that I will source from BGB Motorsports, one of the few teams that have successfully race prepared Grand Am spec Cayman's and numerous PDK cars. I haven't heard of many engine oil and coolant overheating issues on Gen 2 Cayman's as much as Gen 1's.

My wishful thinking (hope) is that I can get to 385hp with the following upgrades:

- Cargraphic Race Exhaust (incl. headers)
- IPD Competition Plenum
- 82mm GT3 Throttle Body
- BGB / Fabspeed Stage 2 Cold Air Intake
- Dimsport ECU Tune with 98 Octane Map
- Cylinder Work

385 would present a 55hp increase over stock. I think it might be possible with these upgrades.

On the horizon I have a 3.8L swap planned..

orthojoe

There have been more than a few guys that track their PDK Cayman Rs who have run into overheat issues.

My spyder is a manual transmission, but the last time I was at Laguna Seca it was low 90s ambient temp and I hit 261F on my oil temp, and 236F on my coolant temps. Not scary high, but still higher than you would like. The PDK cars run higher than that, so I can see how some guys have been hitting 250F coolant temps. It would be interesting to see what BGB thinks.

Keep us updated.

mrd_spy

350bhp with those mods.

Seems a bit odd to do all that to a PDK car after owning a manual GT3
There is even talk the gt3 82mm throttle body is to big for that engine.

Very hard to get more than 350bhp. People on here even took the **** when I said 350bhp was my aim.

fhp911

re the overheating, my '11 Boxster S manual trans would always overheat (needle into the RedZone) at the track when temps were above 100.

I installed the 3rd radiator (standard on PDK cars, I believe) and Voila! No more overheating.

orthojoe

You mean like this one sitting in my garage right now?

fhp911

sorry all -- that submission submitted itself? Why isn't it in the car??

orthojoe

Will be installed in 2 weeks. I'm having sharkwerks do this one.

khooni

awwww....... nice....

lucky for me. UK ambient temps are nothing like in Cali......

Still. is that the standard PDK setup? From suncoast?

khooni

pics please. Do you currently already have a center stripe? would love to see it.. tks

orthojoe

Yes, I believe this is the setup that PDK uses. Kit was purchased from suncoast. Ambient temps on the day my spyder hit those high temps (261F oil temp, 236F ECT) was high 80s/low 90s at Laguna Seca.

Ambient temps in the 60s, the ECT will hit 208F, and oil temps will get to 239F.

khooni

pardon my ignorance. What's ok and what's worrying w.r.t to oil temps. ?

orthojoe

I'm certainly no expert on this, but my 'feelings' are ECT 200F and oil temp 220F would be ideal.

ECT >250F, oil temp >300F is scary trouble

ECT > 230F, oil temp >270F is worrisome

Those are my thoughts. I'd be interested to hear what others think is ideal/good/bad