andy sanborn

Hey all, running a track car which, after installing a full bodied front splitter, is getting too hot for my liking (overheated at NJMP this past hot summer)

I have a 997.1 gt3 front bumper on the car and am looking into what it takes to put a 997gt3 center rad (with the forward lean bracket) that exits up and out the smile by the hood.

Anyone here done this? any advice and is there a bigger center rad than the factory gt3 997. center rad?

Thanks

Apex Wheels

A shop in the UK did this some 7 years ago and CSF did an article on it with a parts list. I am hoping to do the same on my Cayman sometime soon and have the link below bookmarked for this very reason.
https://csfrace.com/how-to-cool-a-cayman/

I do not know of anyone that makes a larger than stock GT3 center rad but PWR does make thicker left and right radiators for those getting rid of their A/C condensers. Good luck and hopefully someone who has done this can provide some more feedback as well.

- Brandon

andy sanborn

Thanks Brandon! btw, I have about 8 sets of your wheels and they are great

jscott82

I did on a 987.1, assume it's the same for a .2

It's a MUCH larger radiator... Unlike the tiptronic radiator upgrade, the GT3 has a laundry list of brackets, air guides, and hoses. It's not a hard install once you have all the right parts.
Even though it's all factory parts that can be sourced individually, I'd recommend buying it as a kit.

Apex Wheels

Do you know of anyone that sells a GT3 center rad kit, I only ever find the standard Tiptronic center kits? secondly, did you change your A/C line to the GT3 part to run the upper duct as well, or leave it alone? The CSF link I put above doesn't mention that part but it should bring some additional performance with it.

- Brandon

jscott82

No AC in this car...

I got tge kit from Bilt racing... its not on thier site, but call them, they have the parts list...

Zach L

You'll have to piece together the parts. I've come across a part numbers list at one point but can't find it any longer.

andy sanborn

Yes, I have pieced together all the bits (and being a race car, there is no A/C)., but before I pulled the trigger on ordering everything, I was just checking in to see if anyone knew of a larger rad than the GT3 variant. Guess not.

Any who, thanks all for the info. Hopefully i will get it all in and on next couple of weeks

andy sanborn

Brandon, Yes, there are many 997 GT3 rads, (stock, CSF and PWrR) to name them, but I was looking to see if there was an even larger center rad. Does not seem so, so I will endeavor to get things ordered today.

I do not have AC so no worries there,

As to the upper duct, I am getting my hands on a part that is an upper duct, but the part number cannot be found online. Guessing its a "Motorsport" part. Being I am doing 2 cars, I will either fab a second one or try to find a motorsport shop and order it.

Of course, now I'm questioning if I need to start a thread as to which of the 3 available rads is best... LOL... Ugh. It seems as if the stock GT3 rad is made of stronger Alt (the fins don't seem to bend as easily I am told), the CSFa nd PWR seem to have more space between the fins (not sure if that helps or not) and I hear the aftermarket ones seem to hold up less under impact.

in fact, I have a parts car (wrecked track day car) that had PWR's on it and all 3 rads are bent, so they are unusable.. fortunately I bought the car for the motor/trans and did not know about the aftermarket rads, so no loss there.

andy sanborn

Jscott and Zach, I do have a parts number list and can share it if some want to see it

jscott82

ya post it up... i think I have a spreadsheet with what I had... I did not want to post it, as I may not have captured every part. would not hurt to compare notes.

andy sanborn

From what I can tell, I need…



996.106.037.75 Radiator (2)

997.504.487.90 Retaining frame (2)

997.504.141.90 Air Duct (2)

997.504.485.81 Retaining Frame (2)

997.106.638.92 Hose (2)

997.106.639.92 Hose (2)

930.113.430.00 Rubber Mount (8)

997.106.565.00 Adaptor Bleed (2)

900.378.035.01 Hex Head Bolt (4)

999.591.882.01 Speed Nut (4)

999.072.048.01 Hex Head Bolt (4)

999.084.447.01 Hexagon Nut (4)

This does not include the motorsport air deflector, which I will post later

FTR, notable issue is the "standard" center rad kit, fill the center radiator from the top and exits from the top, while the GT3 is a bottom fill, bottom exit, hence the need for different radiator hoses. Additionally, the GT3 radiator has a vent on the top to insure one can vacate the air... Not sure how that works with my (and seems to be standard) vacuum fill system, but i'll figure that out when I get it all in and mounted

jscott82

Here is the list I have... Comparing to yours looks like you have a few updated parts numbers... The only thing I see different are the vent lines....


**** For anyone reading this in the future: The list I am providing, I pieced together AFTER I did the install, I'm not 100% confident this is complete or 100% accurate... ***


GT2 Parts
997.504.489.81 Chimney

GT3 Bumper Parts
997.575.327.90 Bumber vent (smile)

GT3 Radiator
997.504.487.90 Rear Support
997.504.485.80 Lower Support
930.113.430.00 Rubber Mount
900.378.035.01 m6x16 bolt
999.591.882.02 m6 speed nut
999.072.048.09 m8 x 25 bolt
999.084.447.09 m8 nut
997.575.141.90 Front Duct
997.106.638.90 Right hose
997.106.639.90 Left hose
997.106.565.00 Vent adapter
997.106.766.90 Vent line
997.106.866.90 Vent line

The Duke

I had thought that the chimney didn't work because there something in the 987 that blocked it that was not in the 997?

jscott82

Now that you mention it, I did have to fiddle with it quite a bit, but I got it to work.. iirc, it was more that I was trying to put it together incorrectly.. once I figured it out it went in.... but it's been a while since I did it.... hopefully Andy will post back with a better idea...

But, as mentioned , ac lines would be in the way.