Can X50 Turbo Powerkit be retrofitted on a standard 996 Turbo?

[cibergypsy]

The question says it all... can the X50 Turbo Powerkit be retrofitted to a standard 996 Turbo, as the X51 is on a regular Carrera? I know the dealer said this option had to be ordered from the factory as there was no retrofit but, as all you know, the X51 IS available for retrofit on normally aspirated Carreras. Why is this so? Or is it possible? Thanks for the help.

[wross996TT]

Well...the components could be fit....the question is with all of the aftermarket options available why would you want to do this? You would need K24 turbos (and there are hybrids that are better), GT2 ICs...the other supposed upgrades are "stronger transmission" although there is no evidence of this for those that have opened the tranny up. There is also a debate on the ECU being modified, but aftermarket flashes are much better.

[Loren]

My understanding on the transmission is slightly different gear ratios.

Also X50 gets a GT2 muffler (larger bore pipes).

[nmlss2006]

Is it true then? This seems to be something that noone has clarified 100%: some say the GT2 transmission is exactly the same, despite a different part #, some say it's supposed to be more solid (though this sounds... improbable)... some say the gear ratios are different (but why would they be? The difference isn't that significant).

[Loren]

According to the parts list - X50 get a different gear set.

I likely have a list of the exact ratios somewhere buy can't find it right now.

[wross996TT]

All I can say is Tom Kerr (see here has opened the tranny and found no difference in the X50 transmission (from a standard TT), not gear ratios or steel synchros...perhaps his tranny was left out (but I doubt it).

[Loren]

So why does Porsche stock two sets of part numbers and gear sets?

I did not see the remark about the same ratios just no steel synchros - I'll see if I can find my X50 technical info tomorrow.

[wross996TT]

Loren, I'm just reporting what others have seen (just the messenger). I know the actual differences between the X50 and standard are often debated, even the literature is not real clear. In any case, you can certainly upgrade a standard TT to the X50 mods (GT2 tranny, GT2 exhaust, K24 turbos, GT2 ICs, ECU re-map)...at what cost I don't know (~$17K for the factory X50 option). Would I do it...absolutely not as there are cheaper aftermarket solutions that are better IMHO.

[nmlss2006]

The syncros would make sense - and would possibly justify a different gear set, right?