996GT3 MKII Project

[sportsandclassic]

PORSCHE 996GT3 MKII

Well where do I begin ? I purchased my 996GT3 in January this year and have loved the car since bringing it back home for the first time. I used the car for approx. 3000 miles and decided that it was time I gave it the personal touch so as usual I went slightly overboard!

For those of you that don’t know me on a personal level, I am the type of person that likes everything right and has to have it perfect. My obsession has even spread to my home and for all those out there that pointed out my messy garden hose well….. I have even got a fully retractable hose reel for that ! smile will get the picture later.

So the journey begins with taking the car into a Porsche approved body shop to have full front end re-spray as quite a few stone chips and also install my new bumper as the original one had a run in with a pheasant and lost frown

Collected the car after my 2 week break and got her back to the workshop, with not a lot booked in as in middle of the holiday season I took all the suspension off the car and sent it to K.W in Germany to be checked and overhauled. Removed front bumper and fitted mesh to protect the radiators. Whilst in there I fitted a second radiator cooling fan to the n/s radiator as MKII cars and RS do not have these…well for the extra weight I think I can live with it knowing it will be cooling better. (Just to add I have never had any overheat problems and am sure the system can cope with one fan but I felt the urge to give it an extra one)

OLD SUSPENSION READY TO GO TO KW

PICTURE FROM BEHIND BUMPER

PICTURE OF COMPLETED MESH INSTALLATION

MISSING FAN UNIT

Whilst that was on the go I decided to remove all lower control arms and remove the factory rubber bushes. We replaced the rear arms and cut the new bushes out but retained the front arms and replaced all rubber mountings with uni-ball inserts and soild caster pucks.

SHOWS NEW SOILD CASTER PUCK AND WORN ORIGINAL BUSH

CLOSE UP OF SOLID RSS PUCK

PICTURES OF NEW UNI BALL JOINTS INSTALLED AND ORIGINAL RUBBER MOUNT

Fitted another set of rear brake discs as previous ones were cooked and warped now. Fitted a set of PF pads with genuine Porsche discs. Will see how this is on circuit next outing.

Whilst waiting for the suspension to return from K.W I stripped the gearbox and replaced bearings and synchro rings as required. I also installed a new motorsport diff kit as my original one was shot.

OLD AND NEW DIFF PLATES

SETTING OF PINION HEIGHT TOOLING

PINION HEIGHT TOOL IN USE

WARMING UP A BEARING TO INSTALL

STEEL SYNCHRO RINGS FOR 3RD AND 4TH

The car was fitted with GT3 cup cables and new GT32010 shifter.

The flywheel was replaced with a RS conversion to single mass and new clutch installed.

DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL AND SINGLE MASS FLYWHEEL

We re-fitted the gearbox to the car and the new suspension was now back too!

REFURBISHED SUSPENSION IS NOW BACK smile

I ordered up a cargraphic exhaust system too, which I installed to the car…this does complete the car for anyone thinking of getting one. New headers, cats,exhaust boxes and tips!

Whilst the system was off it gave me chance to install my new RS lightweight front pulley which should really be fitted with the light weight flywheel as there is more vibration through the crankshaft and Porsche have had reported cases where the pulley has come loose.

OLD AND NEW FRONT CRANK PULLEYS

EXHAUST MANIFOLD PICTURE FROM UNDERNEATH CAR

ADJUSTABLE SUSPENSION DROP LINK RODS

Full corner weight setup and geometry, the car rides very well and is compliant with the road.(Still tweaking the geo and damper settings slightly to refine it and see what the difference is from last setup) Made my original drop links adjustable so I could re-attach them without loading up the anti-roll bars when fitted

I have since removed the GT3 cup gear cables as the noise transmitted into the car when driving and stationary was too loud and intrusive for me. The gear change was very good and precise but too much noise.

Had all wheels refurbished and bought a set of track wheels from another PH member… had these powder coated white for track use!

MY TRANSFORMED CAR

GT3 CLUBSPORT STICK ON BADGE

Will get some pictures of the geometry setup and garden hose reel when I get two minutes.

Mike

[paulrack]

Looks fantastic!

[phillipj]

Your car looks amazing! What a great write up! More pictures please! :thumbup: