996 GT3 MK1

[Pretzel]

All the bits are from online, various Porsche specialists, the gearbox mounts are coming from the USA, obviously I haven’t been out to any motor factors or main dealer.

Loads of bits came from these guys https://www.design911.co.uk/fu/prod1...c&utm_content=

Cheers, the same nuts fit my 993 which I replaced the engine mounts on recently but forgot to order new nuts. Usually get my parts from local Porsche dealership but obviously not possible at the moment.

[Damo]

Good update, I was going to ask where you got your parts but I see someone has already asked that question with a reply :)

[ditchvisitor]

Ordered the bushes from the US on Friday afternoon and they arrived today, easy to fit into the mount and chucked it back on and all torqued up, waiting for the other underbody/gearbox mount to be powder coated before I can get the undertrays back on.
I went for the 60A road/sport bushes over the 85A track only for a little more compliance.

[Kitz]

Really interesting thread , I wish I had your mechanical aptitude .


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[konlew]

Great thread!
All the best from 993 C2S user :-)

[ditchvisitor]

Really interesting thread , I wish I had your mechanical aptitude .


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Thanks! Tbh it’s pretty straight forward mechanically to work on, take it slow and steady and most thinks have videos on YouTube or how to’s on the Internet, I was brought up working on cars with my Dad and built a Westfield from scratch with him when I was at college so that helps.

Planning on buying a Defender shortly and doing it up as my take on a Heritage homage so will start a thread on that too!

[ditchvisitor]

The secondary gearbox mount is back from being powder-coated as it’s was a little rusty and would annoy me no end!! All back on the car and torqued up.





Undertrays refitted


Getting pretty adept and swift at taking bits on and off these days!!

[ditchvisitor]

Have wanted a plate for the car for ages, I found this one and the plates arrived today, yes it’s illegally spaced, and yes says G3T not GT3 however!!!

[andy tims]

Looking good Mike.

Not sure you can still get them, but I’ve got looky likey German plates for mine.

[deanlad]

Lovely car, great work. Nice plate.
Also ideal for one of the Rolling Stones, or superfan. Or GT3 owner :-)

Must be a real buzz when opening garage door, rewarding carrying out this maintenance/upgrades and a bigger buzz to drive it.

[ditchvisitor]

Lovely car, great work. Nice plate.
Also ideal for one of the Rolling Stones, or superfan. Or GT3 owner :-)

Must be a real buzz when opening garage door, rewarding carrying out this maintenance/upgrades and a bigger buzz to drive it.

Thanks! Yeah I do have to pinch myself sometimes when Ive not driven it for a while and I open the garage door and it’s there under the cover. I absolutely love working on it and making upgrades/sorting bits. It’s getting collected next week to have a few bits done, I’ve not driven it since new engine mounts/gearbox bushes/exhaust and next week it’s having new suspension and brake caliper refurb!

[wileeeeeey]

https://i.imgur.com/zphJ5FT.jpg

What a picture. Lovely car.

[ditchvisitor]

So the exhaust is now fitted bar the manifolds, unfortunately the bolt issue was too much so it’s getting collected today to have those fitted and the full suspension refresh done! Can’t wait to get it back and drive it with all the new parts fitted, it was awesome before so god knows what it will be like!






New plate is also on the car!

[Cat7]

Would like to hear that soundtrack when it’s finished. Looks awesome, are you almost finished or do you have other things planned?

[ditchvisitor]

Would like to hear that soundtrack when it’s finished. Looks awesome, are you almost finished or do you have other things planned?

Will try and get a clip up once it’s all done. I’m planning a remap at some point, I would also like to get the calipers refurbed and also the wheels although that will probably be next year.

[Iain73]

Looks awesome mate. I’ve been thinking about buying a similar era 911 for ages but I don’t know how to use a spanner! 😂

[Neilo]

New plate is also on the car!

Great car
Loving this thread only thing makes me feel a bit inadequate I can only just about wash mine

I am looking to change my reg plate for a 6 digit plate, it has a 17” front plinth on already so will probably keep to that size for ease.

Is your plate stuck straight onto the bumper?

Neil

[ditchvisitor]

Great car
Loving this thread only thing makes me feel a bit inadequate I can only just about wash mine

I am looking to change my reg plate for a 6 digit plate, it has a 17” front plinth on already so will probably keep to that size for ease.

Is your plate stuck straight onto the bumper?

Neil

Afternoon Neil, no I took the bumper plinth off and then I knocked up some metal strips that are about an inch wide that I screwed to the plastic inserts in the bumper (that the plinth normally attaches too), then used the number plate foam sticky pads to attach it. Was worried it wouldn’t stay on if stuck it straight to the bumper

[ditchvisitor]

The car was picked up last week to go over to Ben at String Theory Garage (he is based at Caffeine and Machine), who is sorting the manifold bolts for me and doing the full suspension refresh. I gave up doing it myself after snapping a number of bolts off!! This is very common as Porsche use steel bolts which obviously rust and expand causing all sorts of issues, added to the this the fact that my manifolds have never been off made them totally trashed and rotten!!!

In order to be able to ensure that the bolts are precisely drilled out Ben ordered a Stomski jig, essentially a bolt on adapter that comes with all drill bits and thread tapping tools thus ensuring it is all done properly.

Nearside manifold, note the 6 snapped studs!!


Offside with only 2 snapped.


The jig attached.



Work in progress.


The finished result.




Very happy that I chose to use Ben and have been super impressed, he’s used to working on Porsche’s and has his own modded 996 Turbo, he called me after getting the first one sorted to say how pleased he was it was going and then sent all the photos in the evening, always great to be kept in the loop.
All we are waiting on now are the titanium studs and copper nuts that are going in, if they ever need to come off again it will be a 10 minute job!!

Next up the suspension refresh!

[andy tims]

Very happy that I chose to use Ben and have been super impressed, he’s used to working on Porsche’s and has his own modded 996 Turbo, he called me after getting the first one sorted to say how pleased he was it was going and then sent all the photos in the evening, always great to be kept in the loop.
All we are waiting on now are the titanium studs and copper nuts that are going in, if they ever need to come off again it will be a 10 minute job!!

Next up the suspension refresh!

Impressive work.

Are you keeping the suspension OEM or going KW? The KW V3's fitted to mine are far superior to the Porsche stuff IMHO

[ditchvisitor]

I have just received these back from Bilstein, I am rather happy with the results!

Have these, fully refurbished by Bilstein and brand new springs, more than sufficient for me!

[andy tims]

Have these, fully refurbished by Bilstein and brand new springs, more than sufficient for me!

Sorry, forgot.

Sure the OEM suspension is OK, but the adjustability on the KW's allow you to tune to taste. I've gone with something similar to the Lotus methodology - softly sprung (relatively speaking) / firmly damped. Works pretty well on the road & very well on track.

[WORKSIMON]

I blooming love this thread, fantastic work, and a joy for someone like me to read. Looking forward to the new bike thread as well

[ditchvisitor]

I blooming love this thread, fantastic work, and a joy for someone like me to read. Looking forward to the new bike thread as well

Thanks! The bike thread is already running!

[ditchvisitor]

Manifolds are back on with new Ti studs and copper washers!

[Thewatchbloke]

That looks a lot better!

I can never understand why Porsche use such corrosion prone fixings, I'm sure buyers wouldn't baulk at an extra couple of hundred quid to have all the exposed fixings made from corrosion proof material.

[adrianw]

That looks a lot better!

I can never understand why Porsche use such corrosion prone fixings, I'm sure buyers wouldn't baulk at an extra couple of hundred quid to have all the exposed fixings made from corrosion proof material.

Car manufacturers wont spent a penny that they don't have to.

[Thewatchbloke]

Car manufacturers wont spent a penny that they don't have to.

With Porsche I think it's so 3 years down the line they can charge like a wounded rhino to undo corroded bracket nuts to replace service items!

[pete-r]

Really good move.

I was taking the front and rear clams off my VX220 to fit the supercharger and had to drill or cut about 80% of the screws, nuts and bolt off. It was a bloody nightmare.

Replaced with stainless and a few years later needed to take the rear clam off and it was a breeze.

[walkerwek1958]

Really good move.

I was taking the front and rear clams off my VX220 to fit the supercharger and had to drill or cut about 80% of the screws, nuts and bolt off. It was a bloody nightmare.

Replaced with stainless and a few years later needed to take the rear clam off and it was a breeze.

I’m not entirely happy with stainless steel hardware in high tensile applications, I prefer new zinc plated items with a generous dollop of copper grease. Doesn’t look quite as pretty, but it comes apart OK after a few years.

[pete-r]

Agreed some stuff like wishbone or caliper bolts will have a more specific requirement. On the VX these are all fine so must be coated (they aren't steel because there would be galvanic corrosion against the aluminium chassis).

I'm using stainless for body panels and lights etc, nothing in terms of load or safety application.

[ditchvisitor]

The car has been away for a while having the manifold bolts and full suspension refresh and today is collection day!! Soooo excited, can’t wait to hear and drive it!

Here are some pictures that Ben has been updating me with of the suspension refresh, had to replace a few more parts that originally anticipated but well worth doing it all properly. I will do a break down of everything that was replaced when I get the bill!!!!

[ditchvisitor]

It sounds rather good.
https://imgur.com/a/I1E6gIE

[andy tims]

It sounds rather good.
https://imgur.com/a/I1E6gIE

Sure does.

Even better from inside though, don't you think?

- - - Updated - - -

I'm getting mine back tomorrow after it's had some serious TLC from people with way more skill & time than I have.

I'm taking it off sale & going to keep hold of it for a while - will have a damn good thrash on the way home, that's for sure. Not driven it since Jan 2019

[ditchvisitor]

Sure does.

Even better from inside though, don't you think?

- - - Updated - - -

I'm getting mine back tomorrow after it's had some serious TLC from people with way more skill & time than I have.

I'm taking it off sale & going to keep hold of it for a while - will have a damn good thrash on the way home, that's for sure. Not driven it since Jan 2019

Yeah it sounds incredible above 4K!! Glad you have it back and hope the drive home was good!

[Thewatchbloke]

Looking good Mike

I was over at Wrightune this week as my car was having its major service and MOT. I was chatting to Chris about the corroded manifold bolts on mine and he mentioned a nice GT3 he's done some work on as having had the same work done recently (not by him of course). I asked if that would be Mikes car and it turns out it was yours he was referring to, he was very complimentary about it.

[Happyal]

I'm really enjoying this thread, your love of the car is great to see. :)

[Captaincook]

A true drivers car and great updates.

[westberks]

love this thread & the attention to detail

I've a 996 turbo & zero technical skills or aptitude, so am both amazed at your workmanship and horrified what it might cost me to do similar running repairs/upgrades!!

Amazing stuff

[Cr55eds]

well done so far? Top job.

[Cypjon]

It sounds rather good.
https://imgur.com/a/I1E6gIE

Am not jealous....................Much! ;-) In all seriousness, this thread is a fantastic read and that sound is awesome. Thanks for sharing.

[paneristi372]

This thread is amazing. Makes me feel totally inadequate. I had power steering failure on my C4S on Tuesday and have just had to bite the bullet on a new recon steering rack and pipes from front of the car to the pump in the back, the most bitter £1600 I've ever had to spend. I wish I had the time and inclination to do the underside like this but sadly I don't. I am going to be selling it soon to get something a bit more practical for everyday use with a growing young family. I'll be sad to see it go but I have had amazing years of ownership.

Hat off to Mike. Proper job.

[ditchvisitor]

Thanks for all the comments guys, not seen the car for 5 months as its currently tucked up in the garage whilst I'm away!! Cant wait to get back out in it when I'm home and allowed to! Pretty sure it needs a service and MOT when I'm back.

[Euan Goold]

Really enjoyed reading this thread, was sooo close to buying a 996 GT3 Mk2 about 8 years ago but going for. Lotus Evora, no way I could afford one now !!

[Mj2k]

Damn saw the thread reappear and was looking forward to the next update. Been great to follow this & wish I had the skills!


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