Porsche 997: Horsepower Modifications
Is fast not fast enough? Celebrate April Fools Day with us by adding these simple modifications to increase your horsepower exponentially.
This article applies to the Porsche 997 (2005-2012).
It's well known that the Porsche 997 is a borderline race car for the street. However, there are some people who simply cannot be satisfied, they want more. It is well established that the best way to do this, is with extensive modification.
![](https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.rennlist.com/1600x1000_85/618/porsche-911-gt2-rs-12-48618.jpg)
With these modifications the only limiting factor is your tolerance for awesome. KNOW YOUR LIMITS, because while speed doesn't kill, immediately becoming stationary does.
Wings
![](https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.rennlist.com/450x213_85/623/rear-wing-48623.jpg)
DIY Cost – $3,000-$10,000
Professional Cost – $5,000- $12,000
Skill Level – Easy, drill through your carbon fiber trunk lid, and mount accordingly.
There is no better modification for increasing horsepower than a big wing. The bigger the wing, the better, as air that is caught and channeled under it helps push down on the engine, creating an area of high pressure. This ram-air effect makes more horsepower on the principle of more air + more fuel = more power. It's not rocket science, or is it? Expected horsepower gains can be between 1.37 horsepower for a small spoiler (approx.), and in excess of 50-100 horsepower for a big double decker (exact).
Stickers
![](https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.rennlist.com/304x304_85/634/this-sticker-adds-5hp-48634.png)
DIY Cost – $5-$500
Professional Cost – $6-$10,000 (high quality)
Skill Level – Difficult, requires good hand-eye coordination and precision work. Ill-placed stickers have been known to cause crashes in the 997 community
Stickers are a double whammy, with the correct placement of stickers, it is possible to alter the aerodynamic properties of the body, with the high and low spots created by the sticker causing pressure differentials, and subsequent changes in traction. A well placed sticker can not only increase slickness and reduce drag in key areas, but they are known for increasing horsepower through the transitive property. By allowing passersby to know what modifications and add-ons your car has, their envy is converted and gathered into the horsepower-generating vortex and transported directly into the engine.
This is a lot of information to process, fortunately, most stickers are certified with the amount of horsepower imbued in them. In general, stickers are good for between 5-25 horsepower each. Ask your local vendor for recommendations for which sticker pack is right for your ride.
Big Subs
![](https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.rennlist.com/500x355_85/636/huge-subwoofer-48636.jpg)
DIY Cost – $5,000-$10,000 (don't be a tightwad)
Professional Cost – $7,000-$12,000
Skill Level – Difficult, an improperly installed sub can cause an accident, be careful.
Subwoofers generate horsepower on the principal of air movement. As the subwoofer pulses, it moves the air around it, generating forward thrust. So a rear-facing sub will enhance froward thrust, while a forward facing sub will make your car reverse faster. With this in mind, sub placement is crucial, as a sideways facing, or angled sub most be matched by an opposing subwoofer, if not, the vehicle could be susceptible to rolling over. Obviously, the larger the sub, the more air you're displacing, so ask your local vendor what the rated horsepower of the sub you want is before installing. While "too much" is generally impossible, you wouldn't want to be the first to find out otherwise.
We recommend multiple subs at slight angles, surrounding a main rear-facing sub as pictured, for maximum available air displacement.
Expected horsepower gains can be between 75-1,000 horsepower, depending on the size of your subwoofers.
![](https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.rennlist.com/1600x1200_85/674/epcp-1201-15-o-porsche-997-techart-gt-street-rs-front-48674.jpg)
Pro Tip
911's have long been known as "widow-makers" in the automotive community. It is often incorrectly assumed that this is due to rear-engine layout, but that would be incorrect. The pendulum effect of having all the weight in the rear of the car is non-sense spoken by pseudo-intellectuals who just want to sound smart.
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