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Well, super pumped to be back as a 997 RS owner. Finally got my additional detached garage and lift finished, so now have the extra room needed. Rennlist always comes through, as I was able to find a bone stock 2011 RS. White/Red accents, and pretty much exactly how I'd have spec'd it. In fact, it's so virgin, it doesn't even have the coolant pipes pinned, so that along with all the "motor out" service/parts will be the first thing we do. I had a pumpkin 997.1 RS back in the day as a track rat car, and I really missed that driving experience. This time around though, I'm going to give it the full clubsport build treatment for both street and track use. Just like my 991.2 GT3 and 981 GT4 clubsport build threads, I'll be doing the same comprehensive upgrades, to make them awesome on track, but still very enjoyable on the street. While it is more work, and more expensive to start with a stock car, it's kind of nice to know exactly what you are dealing with from the start. Plus, I'm very particular, and I would have sold all the aftermarket parts that came on the car anyway.
All are pretty well-proven upgrades by 997 standards, but this time around I'm springing for TTX shocks, because I now know their ride quality on the street is amazing, and on track they are stellar and worth the cost. Also plan on doing LSD testing/tuning, which is something I didn't do back in the day, I just installed the Guard 40/60 ramps and clutch pack and called it a day. I always suspected the car would drive great on track, but even better on the street with stock ramps, and upgraded internals with more pre-load. I'll start posting pics as more parts start rolling in, but here's the snapshot of the current build and parts on order/in-hand.
Ohlins TTX shocks - 120/170 Nm
Rennline rear upper monoball shock mounts (only sealed unit on the market)
Full monoball suspension connections (using all sealed wherever possible to ensure longer life)
Adjustable front caster arms (shim style) - to allow for OE brake duct re-use
Sach's performance clutch kit - (Same as 4.0 clutch, but less than half the price direct from Sachs, and direct bolt on to 3.8RS or 4.0RS) 4.0RS has a totally different crank, which was matched to the flywheel that is 2lbs lighter than the 3.8RS flywheel. This means less vibration damping if you use on 3.8RS, since 4.0RS has a lighter crank from the RSR, and different harmonics. Better to stick with OE 3.8 RS flywheel (it's already a LW unit), and add Dundon ATI damper, for long term reliability. Plus, it's a steel SM flywheel, and can be used through multiple clutch changes. The rush to get the 4.0 LWFW never made sense to me from both a cost and engineering standpoint. Performance Clutch Kit Porsche GT3 RS, OE 99711691593. (sachsperformance.com)
Trans valve disc update
Dundon ATI Harmonic damper
Function first trans-mount insert (street soft)
Guard LSD rebuild kit - will be testing new Guard clutch pack and cone-springs with OE 28/40 ramps and then maybe Guard 40/60 ramps, if I want more lock. I previously used 40/60 ramps in my .1RS, but I think the stock 28/40 ramps with better internals, and ALOT more pre-load will be very, very good on track, and much better for street driving. Interesting to see that Guard updated their friction ring design about 18 months ago, to that setup that should run cooler, as it now has cut-outs all the way through each friction discs. Nice to see they are continually updating their design.
Brembo HD rotors - Type V Endurance front, Type 3 rear
Caliper stud kit
Stainless line kit
Ferodo DS1.11 pads
Demonspeed caliper puck replacement kit
Supersprint center muffler w/ side muffler delete kit - high quality center muffler with helmoltz resonator which greatly reduces droning, which is typical of side-muffler deletes. Still meets all track sound requirements, and great for the street. Wiin-win.
Excited to follow the progress here. E92 M3, 981 GT4 and 997 GT3 may just be a perfect (modern) garage to me.
Where do you typically track at? I don't track myself but try and make it to Mid-Ohio once or twice a year to spectate. Maybe I'll see you there one time.
Excited to follow the progress here. E92 M3, 981 GT4 and 997 GT3 may just be a perfect (modern) garage to me.
Where do you typically track at? I don't track myself but try and make it to Mid-Ohio once or twice a year to spectate. Maybe I'll see you there one time.
All around the mid-west I guess, I get up to Mid-O every year for various different events! Such a great track.
Guard rebuild kit for the OE LSD housing. This is very easy to do. Stock housing is perfectly fine. If you decide to just do the clutch-pack kit and no ramps, it only costs you about $1100 in parts, vs. $2500-$3600 for ramps, or entire Guard unit.
Guard likes to sell whole diffs, and they are great, but this allows me to test with OE ramps, which are way nicer for street driving, or if you get caught in rain or crappy weather. My 991.2 GT3 has the same 28/40 ramps and it seems they have made some changes to the internals, and that setup is great on track and street. I think they addressed the 997 issues of low preload or crappy friction discs, but kept the same ramp angles to make the car better on street, and less understeer.
Mvez! Glad to see you’re back man. Been meaning to really update my car so your build is coming at a perfect time. Congrats on the new ride. Can’t wait to see the thread
Nice, man. Borrowed from some of your other threads for my current 997 street / track build, and will borrow more from this.
What are you planning for headers? Stock, or Supersprint to go with the center section? Do you track at NCM? That's where I have to meet sound.
Also, are you doing the LSD rebuild yourself? Would love to see a DIY on that.
Stock headers for now. Don't really feel the need to chase HP in this car, and after recently doing a long-tube, catless header setup on my 370 to make some power, it came at the expense of my ears. I don't want mega-drone or huge volume. I always found my previous 7.1RS to be plenty loud with stock cats and side-muffler bypass. I can always add supersprint headers later if I wanted. I REALLY like their modular system. It's not ridiculously priced, is super high quality, and will meet sound anywhere, and won't be any louder than stock, with less drone actually. NCM is my home track, I'm in Louisville.
I won't do the LSD because my car will be in the shop for all the other motor-out big stuff that I don't do, but I'll document it the LSD portion so that it will be easy for people to see what to do. It's relatively easy to pull the LSD from the car and do yourself, if you are a DIY'er with the proper tools. At worst, people will now have a local option to have their LSD rebuilt instead of having to ship or take it far away to a "specialist". Any competent Indy who services your GT3 can do this rebuild for you, and quite inexpensively.
Mvez! Glad to see you’re back man. Been meaning to really update my car so your build is coming at a perfect time. Congrats on the new ride. Can’t wait to see the thread
Stock headers for now. Don't really feel the need to chase HP in this car, and after recently doing a long-tube, catless header setup on my 370 to make some power, it came at the expense of my ears. I don't want mega-drone or huge volume. I always found my previous 7.1RS to be plenty loud with stock cats and side-muffler bypass. I can always add supersprint headers later if I wanted. I REALLY like their modular system. It's not ridiculously priced, is super high quality, and will meet sound anywhere, and won't be any louder than stock, with less drone actually. NCM is my home track, I'm in Louisville.
I won't do the LSD because my car will be in the shop for all the other motor-out big stuff that I don't do, but I'll document it the LSD portion so that it will be easy for people to see what to do. It's relatively easy to pull the LSD from the car and do yourself, if you are a DIY'er with the proper tools. At worst, people will now have a local option to have their LSD rebuilt instead of having to ship or take it far away to a "specialist". Any competent Indy who services your GT3 can do this rebuild for you, and quite inexpensively.
I'm leaning strongly towards the full SS system, as I don't have my stock headers. It looks really solid. I figured NCM was your track based on location. I'll see you up there soon (Basalt 7.2 "MEZGR" plate).
That'll be great on the LSD. I read a few removal / install DIYs and am pretty confident I can handle. Just figured the rebuild itself would be above my pay grade. But I do have a good mechanic who can step in as needed.
Interesting to see the size difference between a Racing Diffs 981 GT4 clutchpack (left) and a Guard 997 GT3 clutchpack (right). Racing Diffs also make a clutchpack rebuild kit for the 997 GT3 for about $500, which is almost half the price of the Guard clutchpack.
GT4 just doesn't need much lock. Plus, Porsche actually "deactivate" 1 friction disc on each side by running 2 on top of each other, instead of alternating fashion. So we can actually add more lock to the GT4 just by alternating them, similar to how the 997 GT3 arrangement is. I'm going to install them in OE configuration first, since these upgraded discs will have more bite, and then if I want more, I can put them in alternating arrangement.
Racing Diffs make rebuild kits for all kinds of cars, and well known for these parts in the track community accross the pond. Another upside of rebuilding is you don't have to remove all the side carrier bearings, which is a problem for the GT4 since they won't sell them individually. Nice to have some other high quality suppliers for LSD components for the 997 GT3. I decided to go with Guard rebuild kit simply because I wanted the 40/60 ramps on-hand as well, but the Racing Diffs 997 rebuild kit has holes in the friction discs as well, and they are clearly a high quality alternative to Guard, and way better than stock.
I will probably try the 997 Racing Diff clutch pack when it's time to rebuild the next time! Would be interesting to see how their cone springs (pre-load shims) compare to Guards? This would definitely affect lock, but my guess is they are similar, since that is one of the biggest flaws of the OE LSD. Might pick up a set and compare before install. If the car works like I expect it to with stock 28/40 ramps, then I'll probably sell the 40/60 ramps. This means you could rebuild the stock LSD for about $500 in parts. Pretty freakin awesome!
01-30-2023, 04:17 PM
GT3RS - Full Clubsport Build
Good to be back!
