Autofarm Trackday build/ rebuild on my 996 Carrera 3.4
Discussion
I have been asked by a few people to detail the rebuild my 996 is currently going through up at Autofarm (www.autofarm.co.uk) under the watchful eye of Mikey Wastie, who manages the 'Projects' department.
This also happens to be my 996th post on PH, so it is rather fitting that I start this thread at that milestone.
To give you some background; I bought my black '98 Porsche 996 Carrera 3.4, manual back in March 2008 from the PH classifieds. It was in pretty good condition and didn't have too many miles on it (72k). There were no signs of engine trouble and it had recent bills totalling a fair sum of money. It was in the spec I wanted (black with black leather) and had the LSD, which was important to me as I always knew I would track it at some point.
After collection, a gearbox fault appeared and that was changed under warranty, so I had a nice, new gearbox! I ran it as a daily driver for about 9 months before starting to collect a load of track parts at the start of this year. I now drive my Renaultsport 172 everyday and the Pork has become a strict trackday/ weekend car.
So, a (probably not complete) list of the parts I have bought:
- Intrax titanium adjustable dampers (all round)
- Short shift kit
- Equal length exhaust manifolds
- Carbon and black alcantara (with red stitch) bucket seats
- GT3 black, alcantara (with red stitch) gear lever
- New, clear front lights
- New, all red rear lights
- New M030 ARBs & bushes
- Carbon strut braces front & rear
- Induction kit
- New front & rear bumpers (for cosmetics)
- Toyo R888 tyres on refurbished rims (www.wheelrefurbishing.com) in Honda Civic Type R grey
- Steel braided brake lines
- Assorted other bits and pieces
Other services performed by Mikey at Autofarm
- Full front and rear brake rebuild including new seals etc
- All brake calipers painted yellow
- Fitting of all parts & Geo
- Air con radiator change
- Sorting out some niggles/ rattles
So, the car is due back from Autofarm at some point next week. It has been there a while now as Mikey is very thorough and the car also had to go to and from the paint shop as both ends of the car needed spraying. He has also been very patient with me w.r.t. getting parts sent to him. We are still waiting on the seat mounts/ sliders and the alcantara gear stick, but both should be there today/ tomorrow, so it is just a case of bolting it all together!
To say I am excitied is an understatement!
It has cost a fair amount of money and I could have probably bought a 996 GT3 at Christmas, when the bottom fell out of the market, for what it has cost me over the past 16 months (including buying the car). But, 'playing' with cars doubles up as my hobby and it will be 'unique'. It is not meant to be a GT3 replica (hence no bodykit), but it should be lighter, with more track oriented suspension and the shorter gearing, so hopefully a good match at least at 9/10ths.
I certainly won't be putting a GT3 badge on the back
Mikey has been taking photos of everything as he has been doing the jobs, so I have quite a selection:
Intrax Titanium dampers (picture from web):
Brakes after being blasted and cleaned:
Brakes after returning from paint shop:
Exhaust manifolds fitted:
Front bumper post-paint:
Rear bumper post-paint (note it is a 'later' style bumper):
All red rear lights:
Short shift installed:
I will get some more photos of parts like the seats and gear stick etc up when Mikey sends me some photos or I get the car back. It should look great, lowered, with shiny black paint, slightly grey (but very metallic) wheels, with yellow calipers sitting behind them. Hopefully it will handle like a dream (if a little stiff) and I will still be able to squeeze my frame into the carbon seats!
As a project, it is still not finished. I am getting 200 cell sport cats custom made and fitted and then some custom rear silencers (to get me through noise tests) and a remap to tie it all together. But they will be done once I have it back. In the long term, I would love to get rid of the sunroof and save some weight and rattles with a carbon roof. But that will be next year methinks!
This also happens to be my 996th post on PH, so it is rather fitting that I start this thread at that milestone.
To give you some background; I bought my black '98 Porsche 996 Carrera 3.4, manual back in March 2008 from the PH classifieds. It was in pretty good condition and didn't have too many miles on it (72k). There were no signs of engine trouble and it had recent bills totalling a fair sum of money. It was in the spec I wanted (black with black leather) and had the LSD, which was important to me as I always knew I would track it at some point.
After collection, a gearbox fault appeared and that was changed under warranty, so I had a nice, new gearbox! I ran it as a daily driver for about 9 months before starting to collect a load of track parts at the start of this year. I now drive my Renaultsport 172 everyday and the Pork has become a strict trackday/ weekend car.
So, a (probably not complete) list of the parts I have bought:
- Intrax titanium adjustable dampers (all round)
- Short shift kit
- Equal length exhaust manifolds
- Carbon and black alcantara (with red stitch) bucket seats
- GT3 black, alcantara (with red stitch) gear lever
- New, clear front lights
- New, all red rear lights
- New M030 ARBs & bushes
- Carbon strut braces front & rear
- Induction kit
- New front & rear bumpers (for cosmetics)
- Toyo R888 tyres on refurbished rims (www.wheelrefurbishing.com) in Honda Civic Type R grey
- Steel braided brake lines
- Assorted other bits and pieces
Other services performed by Mikey at Autofarm
- Full front and rear brake rebuild including new seals etc
- All brake calipers painted yellow
- Fitting of all parts & Geo
- Air con radiator change
- Sorting out some niggles/ rattles
So, the car is due back from Autofarm at some point next week. It has been there a while now as Mikey is very thorough and the car also had to go to and from the paint shop as both ends of the car needed spraying. He has also been very patient with me w.r.t. getting parts sent to him. We are still waiting on the seat mounts/ sliders and the alcantara gear stick, but both should be there today/ tomorrow, so it is just a case of bolting it all together!
To say I am excitied is an understatement!
It has cost a fair amount of money and I could have probably bought a 996 GT3 at Christmas, when the bottom fell out of the market, for what it has cost me over the past 16 months (including buying the car). But, 'playing' with cars doubles up as my hobby and it will be 'unique'. It is not meant to be a GT3 replica (hence no bodykit), but it should be lighter, with more track oriented suspension and the shorter gearing, so hopefully a good match at least at 9/10ths.
I certainly won't be putting a GT3 badge on the back
Mikey has been taking photos of everything as he has been doing the jobs, so I have quite a selection:
Intrax Titanium dampers (picture from web):
Brakes after being blasted and cleaned:
Brakes after returning from paint shop:
Exhaust manifolds fitted:
Front bumper post-paint:
Rear bumper post-paint (note it is a 'later' style bumper):
All red rear lights:
Short shift installed:
I will get some more photos of parts like the seats and gear stick etc up when Mikey sends me some photos or I get the car back. It should look great, lowered, with shiny black paint, slightly grey (but very metallic) wheels, with yellow calipers sitting behind them. Hopefully it will handle like a dream (if a little stiff) and I will still be able to squeeze my frame into the carbon seats!
As a project, it is still not finished. I am getting 200 cell sport cats custom made and fitted and then some custom rear silencers (to get me through noise tests) and a remap to tie it all together. But they will be done once I have it back. In the long term, I would love to get rid of the sunroof and save some weight and rattles with a carbon roof. But that will be next year methinks!
Edited by dom9 on Monday 10th August 15:26
R2FU said:
Great project, keep us posted.
I've heard it said 996 motors are vulnerable to oil supply issues under sustained high-G cornering on tracks. Are you taking any steps to address this or is it just an internet myth?
Well, I have heard it mentioned many times and Autofarm have developed a deep sump kit to try and combat some of the problems. However, I had a chat with Robin and Mikey and the fact that I live in London (speed bumps) and my car is very low means that it may not be such a good idea for me as I might ground it etc...I've heard it said 996 motors are vulnerable to oil supply issues under sustained high-G cornering on tracks. Are you taking any steps to address this or is it just an internet myth?
They actually don't believe it to be 'that' bad a problem and I don't think my driving talents are up to huge cornering G's anyway - LOL!
There is a Porsche X-51 deep sump and extra scavenge pump kit to sort those issues... But trying to get your hands on one is easier said than done!
We shall see... fingers crossed nothing goes wrong, but if it does, then I will be getting an Autofarm 3.7 rebuild and we can address the cause of failure at the time!
dom9 said:
We shall see... fingers crossed nothing goes wrong, but if it does, then I will be getting an Autofarm 3.7 rebuild and we can address the cause of failure at the time!
Some might say you were actually secretly hoping there was a problem so you could go down the 3.7 route... Great project Dom, thanks for the write up, I suspect I'm far from the only 996 owner to be keen to see how this turns out.
Chris - I can't afford a 3.7 at the moment!
I was even lying in a puddle, in the dark at 11pm last night changing the discs and pads on the 172... By feel!
We shall see what happens with work and what is in the bank next year! A 3.9 would be extra nice - LOL!
Rob, it is similar to your project car, but the interior is less 'wild' (sadly! I loved the interior on that car, I think I started or contributed to a thread about it) and my engine will probably have a shorter lifespan!
But the philosophy is very similar! I wanted more of a Clubsport type car as opposed to a GT3 type replica, hence the lack of a bodykit... I think the standard looks, but with the black body and darker lights will make it a bit more 'sinister' on the road etc!
I spoke with your chap about those Cobra Misano seats, but they were mega money... I would love an alcantara, stitched steering wheel but I have hit budget capacity for this year, so it will go on the list for future mods. Along with carbon interior parts etc etc etc
It looks like I will be keeping this car for quite some time!
I was even lying in a puddle, in the dark at 11pm last night changing the discs and pads on the 172... By feel!
We shall see what happens with work and what is in the bank next year! A 3.9 would be extra nice - LOL!
Rob, it is similar to your project car, but the interior is less 'wild' (sadly! I loved the interior on that car, I think I started or contributed to a thread about it) and my engine will probably have a shorter lifespan!
But the philosophy is very similar! I wanted more of a Clubsport type car as opposed to a GT3 type replica, hence the lack of a bodykit... I think the standard looks, but with the black body and darker lights will make it a bit more 'sinister' on the road etc!
I spoke with your chap about those Cobra Misano seats, but they were mega money... I would love an alcantara, stitched steering wheel but I have hit budget capacity for this year, so it will go on the list for future mods. Along with carbon interior parts etc etc etc
It looks like I will be keeping this car for quite some time!
s_mcneil said:
Get the 'console delete' kit to remove the CD trays, gives you way more left leg room and that slightly retro interior look. It's fairly cheap and a first class mod...
I have thought about it... But not yet pulled the trigger.The reason being that, although it goes slightly against the weight loss ethos, I might move the AC controls down there and get a sat nav/ double din radio unit put in, to help me find where I am going at the weekends and for tracks etc! You can't read a map and muchos leptons!
All suggestions welcome though... As long as though don't damage my wallet too much!
Lou Lou, if you are reading this... It was an awful lot cheaper than it looks, honest
drmark said:
s_mcneil said:
Get the 'console delete' kit to remove the CD trays, gives you way more left leg room and that slightly retro interior look. It's fairly cheap and a first class mod...
Thinking of doing this on my GT3 - you don't happen to have a piccy of what it looks like do you?Can you do me a favour, Woogie?
I believe Mikey has managed to destroy his camera, so if my car is there, get some photos for me?
There won't be much progress, probably, from those pictures above though as I think next week is 'put it all back together' time. So, don't bother if it is any hassle!
Their quote was competitive compared to the other 5 or 6 I got at the time, but they have such good expertise up there that there was never really any doubt who I was going to use, after meeting them. Josh, the owner, seems like a nice guy and came over for a chat the other day as well.
Ask for Robin or Mikey and they will sort you out I am sure. In fact, Robin posts on here sometimes, but I have forgotten his user name... He might see this in a bit anyway!
I believe Mikey has managed to destroy his camera, so if my car is there, get some photos for me?
There won't be much progress, probably, from those pictures above though as I think next week is 'put it all back together' time. So, don't bother if it is any hassle!
Their quote was competitive compared to the other 5 or 6 I got at the time, but they have such good expertise up there that there was never really any doubt who I was going to use, after meeting them. Josh, the owner, seems like a nice guy and came over for a chat the other day as well.
Ask for Robin or Mikey and they will sort you out I am sure. In fact, Robin posts on here sometimes, but I have forgotten his user name... He might see this in a bit anyway!
drmark said:
s_mcneil said:
Get the 'console delete' kit to remove the CD trays, gives you way more left leg room and that slightly retro interior look. It's fairly cheap and a first class mod...
Thinking of doing this on my GT3 - you don't happen to have a piccy of what it looks like do you?dom9 said:
Can you do me a favour, Woogie?
I believe Mikey has managed to destroy his camera, so if my car is there, get some photos for me?
There won't be much progress, probably, from those pictures above though as I think next week is 'put it all back together' time. So, don't bother if it is any hassle!
Their quote was competitive compared to the other 5 or 6 I got at the time, but they have such good expertise up there that there was never really any doubt who I was going to use, after meeting them. Josh, the owner, seems like a nice guy and came over for a chat the other day as well.
Ask for Robin or Mikey and they will sort you out I am sure. In fact, Robin posts on here sometimes, but I have forgotten his user name... He might see this in a bit anyway!
Yes no worriesI believe Mikey has managed to destroy his camera, so if my car is there, get some photos for me?
There won't be much progress, probably, from those pictures above though as I think next week is 'put it all back together' time. So, don't bother if it is any hassle!
Their quote was competitive compared to the other 5 or 6 I got at the time, but they have such good expertise up there that there was never really any doubt who I was going to use, after meeting them. Josh, the owner, seems like a nice guy and came over for a chat the other day as well.
Ask for Robin or Mikey and they will sort you out I am sure. In fact, Robin posts on here sometimes, but I have forgotten his user name... He might see this in a bit anyway!
dom9 said:
Cheers buddy!
Let me know what you think!
OK looks like a nice spray job, I just had my rear bumper fixed and sprayed, 1100 quid from OPC so went to a recommended guy from the local indy who charged me 350 quid. Mine is same colour as yours, fancy having the bonnet done as it's really badly stone chipped now.Let me know what you think!
s_mcneil said:
drmark said:
s_mcneil said:
Get the 'console delete' kit to remove the CD trays, gives you way more left leg room and that slightly retro interior look. It's fairly cheap and a first class mod...
Thinking of doing this on my GT3 - you don't happen to have a piccy of what it looks like do you?Cheers
Mark
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