Modified 997s

[M32GER]

The new carpet set is nice and light at only 9.6lbs (4.4kg) but is wafer thin and really only for a nod towards OEM ish look as absolutely no sound proofing. Compares to c. 19kg for the OEM carpet and sound insulation though so decent weight saving.

Edited by M32GER on Thursday 18th January 21:48

Edited by M32GER on Thursday 18th January 21:50

[M32GER]

For the wheels, as mentioned earlier will run my BBS LMs but have decided those will only be for the road and will use the OEM wheels (for now) on the track to save switching tyres or running track tyres on the road. So had them refurbed and did the centre cap logo in green to match the body

[M32GER]

Not the lightest wheels though by any stretch. Plan is to switch to the BBS FI wheels for the track but that will have to wait until the summer

Front


Rear

[Desert Dragon]

M32GER said:

Not the lightest wheels though by any stretch. Plan is to switch to the BBS FI wheels for the track but that will have to wait until the summer

Front


Rear

Are the F1 okay for track use? Think BBS have a proper racing line for track use. They certainly used to tell customers not to use the F1 for track use in the past but maybe thats changed? Weight difference is night and day compared to those GT3 alloys which are very heavy but rugged.

[M32GER]

Desert Dragon said:

Are the F1 okay for track use? Think BBS have a proper racing line for track use. They certainly used to tell customers not to use the F1 for track use in the past but maybe thats changed? Weight difference is night and day compared to those GT3 alloys which are very heavy but rugged.

I think the FI wheels from the forged line are the racing wheels, hence the focus on making them so light? Nothing on their website to say you cannot use them on track. Or perhaps we are not talking about the same wheels, I mean these: https://bbs.com/en/products/forged_line/fi.php

Wanted the FI-R but don't come in the right size for a 997

Edited by M32GER on Saturday 6th January 20:09

[Desert Dragon]

M32GER said:

Desert Dragon said:

Are the F1 okay for track use? Think BBS have a proper racing line for track use. They certainly used to tell customers not to use the F1 for track use in the past but maybe thats changed? Weight difference is night and day compared to those GT3 alloys which are very heavy but rugged.

I think the FI wheels from the forged line are the racing wheels, hence the focus on making them so light? Nothing on their website to say you cannot use them on track. Or perhaps we are not talking about the same wheels, I mean these: https://bbs.com/en/products/forged_line/fi.php

Wanted the FI-R but don't come in the right size for a 997

Edited by M32GER on Saturday 6th January 20:09

Yes F1-R not available for 997. The F1 is forged but if you call BBS in Germany I think they might hopefully put you on the right track - their previous advice was these were not suitable for track. There is higher spec F1 style wheel the RI - D available from BBS Japan. Much stronger, lighter than the F1. https://bbs-japan.co.jp/en/products/1108/

I'm sure the F1 is fine for a few trackways here and there. But for repeated track use it may not be the right choice.

[TB993tt]

M32GER said:

I think the FI wheels from the forged line are the racing wheels, hence the focus on making them so light? Nothing on their website to say you cannot use them on track. Or perhaps we are not talking about the same wheels, I mean these: https://bbs.com/en/products/forged_line/fi.php

Wanted the FI-R but don't come in the right size for a 997

I had advice from Klaus Morhammer back in 2012 from BBS Racing Wheels.com (a big German distributor) that FI wheels are suitable for track use.

There is an 18kg weight saving on your GT3 wheels, the offsets are nice particularly at the rear, gives a couple of mm extra track and looks great.

BTW pretty sure the FI is made at BBS Japan.

BTW2 Agreed the RI D is the ultimate BBS wheel in this category and a guy on RL has them on his 997 based Ruf RT12 so they must be available in the correct sizing but would take some finding I think.

Edited by TB993tt on Sunday 7th January 10:32

[Desert Dragon]

TB993tt said:

M32GER said:

I think the FI wheels from the forged line are the racing wheels, hence the focus on making them so light? Nothing on their website to say you cannot use them on track. Or perhaps we are not talking about the same wheels, I mean these: https://bbs.com/en/products/forged_line/fi.php

Wanted the FI-R but don't come in the right size for a 997

I had advice from Klaus Morhammer back in 2012 from BBS Racing Wheels.com (a big German distributor) that FI wheels are suitable for track use.

There is an 18kg weight saving on your GT3 wheels, the offsets are nice particularly at the rear, gives a couple of mm extra track and looks great.

BTW pretty sure the FI is made at BBS Japan.

There also used to be a disclaimer on BBS AG site saying F1 not suitable for track use? Maybe they're fine for a few track days in an amateur drivers hands but a racing driver might break them? Nice wheel. F1 not mentioned on the Japan BBS site? Just the RI D and F1 R made in Japan as far as I'm aware. The RI D and F1 R definitely even stronger and lighter wheels I think?

[Desert Dragon]

These worth a look too I think. Even lighter I think?

http://www.carbonrev.com/aftermarket

[TB993tt]

Desert Dragon said:

There also used to be a disclaimer on BBS AG site saying F1 not suitable for track use? Maybe they're fine for a few track days in an amateur drivers hands but a racing driver might break them? Nice wheel. F1 not mentioned on the Japan BBS site? Just the RI D and F1 R made in Japan as far as I'm aware. The RI D and F1 R definitely even stronger and lighter wheels I think?

FI are certainly strong enough for track use, "track use" is not only about the strength of the wheel it is about serviceability where the E88s can be easily and affordably be rebuilt when a rim is bent whereas the FI would have to be binned hence not suitable for track use.

Edited by TB993tt on Sunday 7th January 11:30

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

I spoke with Carbon Revolution at a Motorshow in Germany 2016 I think it was. Not as light as I'd imagine and also €15,000 for a set in 997.1GT3RS fitment. From memory they were about as light as the lightest Forged alloy comp wheels. If they were say 20% lighter than the lightest conventional wheels you could maybe justify it but €15K was too much for me.
I went with Fuchs in the end which are only 7.5kg for a front wheel for instance and I fitted Titanium wheel bolts... (this refers to a 996).

[TB993tt]

CarreraLightweightRacing said:

I spoke with Carbon Revolution at a Motorshow in Germany 2016 I think it was. Not as light as I'd imagine and also €15,000 for a set in 997.1GT3RS fitment. From memory they were about as light as the lightest Forged alloy comp wheels. If they were say 20% lighter than the lightest conventional wheels you could maybe justify it but €15K was too much for me.
I went with Fuchs in the end which are only 7.5kg for a front wheel for instance and I fitted Titanium wheel bolts... (this refers to a 996).

The FI was quite revolutionary with its lightness whilst maintaining high strength, the FI R and RI D have only managed to shave small amounts from the FI's weight despite using new exotic materials and amazing design, the carbon offerings are no lighter, I had Dymags in these sizes and they were about the same weight the main advantage being the carbon rim helped being so light but in honesty they didn't feel any different to FIs. The new latest Dymags are no lighter. We seemed to have reached a plateau where going below ~7kg for a 8.5X19 rim and retaining strength required is not possible.
Titanium bolts are good for a solid 0.7kg saving and of course they look super cool.

[M32GER]

Thanks for all the advice on the wheels guys. Very helpful. I had my heart set on the FI wheels as a summer purchase but will certainly look into it more. I do have the titanium bolts ready to go on

[nxi20]

M32GER said:

Yes please do Steve. Actually a few people have told me not to but I went ahead and brought one anyway..... But haven't done any research to be honest. Main motivation was I couldn't fathon why anyone would spec a sunroof on a GT3 and that set me on my way to changing it out. My logic was less weight up top especially in eliminating the sunroof. But for sure I understand the importance of the roof, hence why cabriolets need so much structural support which adds the weight. But I thought the skin itself is just a thinish layer anyway and it is the cross beams that gives the structural support?

Only just spotted this thread, but just thought I'd add my experience of having a carbon roof skin on my 996 GT3 for the past couple of years: It's not a stressed panel as has been noted; there are some serious reinforcing components on the shell above the front & rear screens which are the load bearing elements of the roof. My panel is in clearcoat and has zero stress fractures after maybe 40 trackdays. Obviously in a rollover situation, steel would be stronger, but with a full cage you'd need to be very unlucky to be injured.

[M32GER]

A few weight comparisons in case helpful for anyone

Stock 997 GT3 backbox at 30.3lbs (13.7kg)



Akrapovic backbox at 18.1lbs (8.2kg) so actually only a 5.5kg saving which is a lot less than I expected and what you see advertised even for the backbox alone..... not a cheap way to reduce weight, but will at least sound good

Edited by M32GER on Thursday 18th January 21:53

[M32GER]

OEM rear window at 14.1lbs (6.4kg)



4mm polycarbonate rear window at 8.9lbs (4.0kg)



OEM rear quarter window at 3lbs (1.4kg)



4mm polycarbonate rear quarter window at 1.7lbs (0.7kg)



OEM front door window at 7.2lbs (3.3kg)



5mm polycarbonate front door window at 4.4lbs (2.0kg)



So yes a lot lighter than glass proportionately but not that big in absolute terms when added together. Had hoped for more to be honest

Edited by M32GER on Thursday 18th January 22:00

[M32GER]

Front bumper and headlights now back on. I took the opportunity when doing the bumper to delete the headlamp washer nozzles for a cleaner look. Also opted for the smile vent in body colour.

[M32GER]

And a couple of birds eye views. Making progress but still a lot to do. Boring things like new A/C evaporator and heat exchanger replaced whilst the dash is out. New A/C condensor also and new centre oil cooler.

[JS1500]

I am a fan of these endeavours.

[So]

JS1500 said:

I am a fan of these endeavours.

Me too. That green smile grille makes my teeth itch though.