Porsche 911 997.1 Daily Driver
Discussion
The car was brought to Tuner Fest at Oulton park this weekend, it was said that id get to do a few parade laps if the racing schedule was stuck to so that was meant to be the highlight of the weekend for me.
However due to a bad crash on track I wasn't able to go on track. One of the cars in the civic cup had a brake failure and ploughed into the wall at over 100mph. Luckily the driver walked away from the accident and had no major injury's.
Even though I didn't get on track it was still a great event and the car was parked in good company.
Here's a picture of one of my favourite cars from the show. Iv always been a fan of MX5s and this one with the martini stickers looks great - I'm biased as I love modded MK1 MX5's
However due to a bad crash on track I wasn't able to go on track. One of the cars in the civic cup had a brake failure and ploughed into the wall at over 100mph. Luckily the driver walked away from the accident and had no major injury's.
Even though I didn't get on track it was still a great event and the car was parked in good company.
Here's a picture of one of my favourite cars from the show. Iv always been a fan of MX5s and this one with the martini stickers looks great - I'm biased as I love modded MK1 MX5's
Iv been craving making the car a slight bit louder for a while. Not louder as such, just more of a deeper throatier sound. Iv finally decided that the gundo hack is the way to go.
We have a fleet maintenance / fabrication shop where I work which comes in handy more times than id like to admit. So I'm removing the backboxes over the next night or two and having a 2" pipe welded between the input and output of the backboxes - known as the gundo hack.
Hopefully this will get the car sounded a little throatier - but it will not drone or be too loud.
We have a fleet maintenance / fabrication shop where I work which comes in handy more times than id like to admit. So I'm removing the backboxes over the next night or two and having a 2" pipe welded between the input and output of the backboxes - known as the gundo hack.
Hopefully this will get the car sounded a little throatier - but it will not drone or be too loud.
adean22 said:
Iv been craving making the car a slight bit louder for a while. Not louder as such, just more of a deeper throatier sound. Iv finally decided that the gundo hack is the way to go.
We have a fleet maintenance / fabrication shop where I work which comes in handy more times than id like to admit. So I'm removing the backboxes over the next night or two and having a 2" pipe welded between the input and output of the backboxes - known as the gundo hack.
Hopefully this will get the car sounded a little throatier - but it will not drone or be too loud.
I've got the Gundo, you wont regret it We have a fleet maintenance / fabrication shop where I work which comes in handy more times than id like to admit. So I'm removing the backboxes over the next night or two and having a 2" pipe welded between the input and output of the backboxes - known as the gundo hack.
Hopefully this will get the car sounded a little throatier - but it will not drone or be too loud.
I know you're fairly handy so it wont be an issue but my 911's previous owner chose someone who was a poor welder and here's some before/after pictures. (after id repaired it with 2x 38mm ID stainless pipes)
Gorilla Boy said:
I've got the Gundo, you wont regret it
I know you're fairly handy so it wont be an issue but my 911's previous owner chose someone who was a poor welder and here's some before/after pictures. (after id repaired it with 2x 38mm ID stainless pipes)
That looks crusty smileI know you're fairly handy so it wont be an issue but my 911's previous owner chose someone who was a poor welder and here's some before/after pictures. (after id repaired it with 2x 38mm ID stainless pipes)
The pipes will be stainless so they shouldn't rust
I don't trust anyone with my car but I know the lads at work work to very high standards and I have no doubt it will be spot on. They are gonna use a plasma cutter to cut the holes and iv never seen one of them in action so I'll be watching with a keen eye.
Well last night was a world of pain removing the mufflers.
The exhaust clamp is just held on by two 17mm bolts
Then the rear bumper had to come off to access the heatshields, this was easy enough.
Then the pain began when removing the mufflers off their brackets, all the bolts were corroded and lots had already been snapped previously - it's annoying that someone had snapped them and then just left them but oh well.
I got the offside muffler off in the end by cutting through one of the bolts and bending the bracket to pull the muffler off. I have ordered all new bolts from Porsche and will bend the bracket back into its correct shape.
Ill also change the spark plugs whilst I'm in here as access is easy without the mufflers. Aswell as changing my rear brake lines for good practice.
Next task is to remove the nearside muffler but that's proving more difficult than the offside.
The exhaust clamp is just held on by two 17mm bolts
Then the rear bumper had to come off to access the heatshields, this was easy enough.
Then the pain began when removing the mufflers off their brackets, all the bolts were corroded and lots had already been snapped previously - it's annoying that someone had snapped them and then just left them but oh well.
I got the offside muffler off in the end by cutting through one of the bolts and bending the bracket to pull the muffler off. I have ordered all new bolts from Porsche and will bend the bracket back into its correct shape.
Ill also change the spark plugs whilst I'm in here as access is easy without the mufflers. Aswell as changing my rear brake lines for good practice.
Next task is to remove the nearside muffler but that's proving more difficult than the offside.
Gorilla Boy said:
I had exactly the same fun with removing mine, got a set of clamps in my garage if you want a fresh free set to put on? Only had them on for a bit as I found out they are 996 variants rather than 997. (however they work exactly the same)
Thanks for the offer, I might take you up on that - i'll swap you for some beer . I know you recommended unique as a specialist - I live within a few miles of them so you must be fairly close to me?Ill see if I can work the piston heads private message thing and drop you a message. Would be good to know a fellow Porsche enthusiast who is local.
So that was a weekend of hell.
The rear nearside muffler was a pain to remove. I ended up angle grinding and using a reciprocated saw to remove the rusted and seized/snapped bolts, my neighbors found it very funny watching a 23 year old approach his Porsche with a big reciprocated saw. Dealing with some of the bolts i was tempted just to chop the entire car up and bin it.
However, persistence payed off and i got the backbox removed. Only casualty is the bolts which iv got new ones coming, and the brackets have some minor damage on them.
The damage on the brackets is minor, iv heated up the brackets and bent them back into the correct shape. I now need to get some bolts welded onto them so they work the same as the standard captive nuts.
Originally the plan was to buy new brackets, they came in at over £400 each so that's not an option. 800 quid for two small metal brackets is absolutely ridiculous.
You can see some slight surface rust in the picture above the bracket, I sanded all this down and cleaned it up then painted it with a zinc rust inhibiting primer and then paint over it. That should keep it rust free now for another 15 years.
Things like this highlighted why I like working on my own cars myself, I noticed a small patch of surface rust and I then spent time sorting the issue and cleaning it all up. Whereas I feel a dealer may just ignore it and whack the exhaust back on,
Once both my brackets were off I decided to change the spark plugs whilst I was in there, seemed silly not to when most of the work to change spark plugs had already been done
The old sparkplugs had nothing concerning looking about them, they were all dark in colour and just look like they are old. Id of been concerned if they were any other colour than what they were. All were consistently the same across each plug and each bank.
Fitting the new plugs was easy enough - hardest bit was finding my spark plug socket in the garage. Whilst iv changed the spark plugs I might aswell give the car an oil and filter change aswell as its been about 7k miles since it was last done.
So as it stands the car is ready to go back together once the backboxes have had the gundo hack done - one of the mufflers has a slight rattle so we are opening it up and work and seeing if its fixable or if it needs to be replaced. Then we can crack on with the gundo hack. Work is very busy at the moment but I'm hoping it can be done this week so I cant take the car out at the weekend and hit 100k miles.
Next update should be my opinions on the gundo hack
The rear nearside muffler was a pain to remove. I ended up angle grinding and using a reciprocated saw to remove the rusted and seized/snapped bolts, my neighbors found it very funny watching a 23 year old approach his Porsche with a big reciprocated saw. Dealing with some of the bolts i was tempted just to chop the entire car up and bin it.
However, persistence payed off and i got the backbox removed. Only casualty is the bolts which iv got new ones coming, and the brackets have some minor damage on them.
The damage on the brackets is minor, iv heated up the brackets and bent them back into the correct shape. I now need to get some bolts welded onto them so they work the same as the standard captive nuts.
Originally the plan was to buy new brackets, they came in at over £400 each so that's not an option. 800 quid for two small metal brackets is absolutely ridiculous.
You can see some slight surface rust in the picture above the bracket, I sanded all this down and cleaned it up then painted it with a zinc rust inhibiting primer and then paint over it. That should keep it rust free now for another 15 years.
Things like this highlighted why I like working on my own cars myself, I noticed a small patch of surface rust and I then spent time sorting the issue and cleaning it all up. Whereas I feel a dealer may just ignore it and whack the exhaust back on,
Once both my brackets were off I decided to change the spark plugs whilst I was in there, seemed silly not to when most of the work to change spark plugs had already been done
The old sparkplugs had nothing concerning looking about them, they were all dark in colour and just look like they are old. Id of been concerned if they were any other colour than what they were. All were consistently the same across each plug and each bank.
Fitting the new plugs was easy enough - hardest bit was finding my spark plug socket in the garage. Whilst iv changed the spark plugs I might aswell give the car an oil and filter change aswell as its been about 7k miles since it was last done.
So as it stands the car is ready to go back together once the backboxes have had the gundo hack done - one of the mufflers has a slight rattle so we are opening it up and work and seeing if its fixable or if it needs to be replaced. Then we can crack on with the gundo hack. Work is very busy at the moment but I'm hoping it can be done this week so I cant take the car out at the weekend and hit 100k miles.
Next update should be my opinions on the gundo hack
Still waiting on the gundo hack to be done.
Thought whilst the car was in bits and I did the spark plugs I might as well service the car. Its only done about 7k miles since its last service but i dont liek changing the oil past this interval.
Iv ordered some Miller NT+ 10w50 and air, oil and pollen filter. As well as a new sump plug and sump plug washer. Millers 10w50 seems to be highly recommended for these engines so ill give it a go. Also thinking to send off the old oil off to one of these oil labs that can analyze the oil that's in the car.
Ill take pics and keep all the receipts but not sure if I should record this in the Porsche service book?
Thought whilst the car was in bits and I did the spark plugs I might as well service the car. Its only done about 7k miles since its last service but i dont liek changing the oil past this interval.
Iv ordered some Miller NT+ 10w50 and air, oil and pollen filter. As well as a new sump plug and sump plug washer. Millers 10w50 seems to be highly recommended for these engines so ill give it a go. Also thinking to send off the old oil off to one of these oil labs that can analyze the oil that's in the car.
Ill take pics and keep all the receipts but not sure if I should record this in the Porsche service book?
Exhausts have been welded with the gundo hack - pics to follow.
Many many thanks to Gorilla Boy for dropping me off some exhaust clamps which are practically new - a very kind gesture. Forgot to mention to you - if you are a tipec member you should come along to the bowling green at 7pm on monday - I only started going last month but they were a great bunch of people and would be nice to discuss all things cars and porsches with you again .
Many many thanks to Gorilla Boy for dropping me off some exhaust clamps which are practically new - a very kind gesture. Forgot to mention to you - if you are a tipec member you should come along to the bowling green at 7pm on monday - I only started going last month but they were a great bunch of people and would be nice to discuss all things cars and porsches with you again .
Welding done and backboxes loaded up in the trusty old MG, I have enjoyed using the MG as a daily whilst the 911 has been off the road but it will be nice to be in the 911 again.
I'm gonna try and fit them tonight. If I'm happy with the sound etc. then in the near future I will clean up and paint all the backboxes to prolong their life
Edited by adean22 on Thursday 4th August 12:57
As you can probably see from the photos of the backboxes, they didn't come off in the best condition. The exhaust had a few holes in it and we tried to weld them up hoping it would sort the issue. However after they were back on the car it was evident that they were still blowing.
The car deserves better than 15 year old exhausts that are patched up to get by - its not some budget econobox .
The hunt for a new exhaust system has begun. I'm currently swaying for a spyder performance valved exhaust (seems like good value and good quality) - would let me have the car loud but then quiet for road trips at the touch of a button.
I'm gonna decide which exhaust I want over the next few days and the replacement should arrive by the end of this week.
If anyones got any recommendations for a nice 997 exhaust then your input is much apreciated.
UPDATE:
opted for and bought the sypder performance valved exhaust. At around £800 it seems like a good price compared to many others and there is only good things said about them online.
The exhaust should arrive tomorrow and weather permitting should be fitted in time for the weekend.
The car deserves better than 15 year old exhausts that are patched up to get by - its not some budget econobox .
The hunt for a new exhaust system has begun. I'm currently swaying for a spyder performance valved exhaust (seems like good value and good quality) - would let me have the car loud but then quiet for road trips at the touch of a button.
I'm gonna decide which exhaust I want over the next few days and the replacement should arrive by the end of this week.
If anyones got any recommendations for a nice 997 exhaust then your input is much apreciated.
UPDATE:
opted for and bought the sypder performance valved exhaust. At around £800 it seems like a good price compared to many others and there is only good things said about them online.
The exhaust should arrive tomorrow and weather permitting should be fitted in time for the weekend.
Edited by adean22 on Monday 8th August 11:26
Exhaust was fitted and then after my battery decided to give up the ghost - seems to off dropped a cell.
Purchased a new varta one which now works fine. I wanted a Bosch S5 but I could only get one online and i needed the car for this weekend so opted for the varta (apparently its made in the same factory anyway) .
The exhaust seems really good quality and looks great too. It has a little remote to open and close the valves. This is plumbed into the vacuum lines of the car with a little vacuum solenoid thing (technical term)
The exhaust sounds great. With the valves closed its slightly louder than OEM but not too loud. And with the valves open its a lovely deep tone which is rather loud, but not stupidly loud. Swapping the exhaust also allowed me to sort out the tips and they are now perfectly level - summat which has annoyed me for months.
I also achieved a milestone on the initial drive after installing the exhaust - here's to another 100k miles.
Purchased a new varta one which now works fine. I wanted a Bosch S5 but I could only get one online and i needed the car for this weekend so opted for the varta (apparently its made in the same factory anyway) .
The exhaust seems really good quality and looks great too. It has a little remote to open and close the valves. This is plumbed into the vacuum lines of the car with a little vacuum solenoid thing (technical term)
The exhaust sounds great. With the valves closed its slightly louder than OEM but not too loud. And with the valves open its a lovely deep tone which is rather loud, but not stupidly loud. Swapping the exhaust also allowed me to sort out the tips and they are now perfectly level - summat which has annoyed me for months.
I also achieved a milestone on the initial drive after installing the exhaust - here's to another 100k miles.
Edited by adean22 on Friday 12th August 08:30
Looks great - thanks for sharing. Do you have any videos of the exhaust? I’m craving a bit more noise over non-PSE OEM set up but not sure what to go for. Was thinking the TopGear valved exhaust but still researching options. Quite like a loud exhaust but the option to tone it down would be handy with the switch.
Gallons Per Mile said:
I've just read through your thread and thoroughly enjoyed it! Looks like you've got a really nice example there. A 997 is definitely on my list of cars to own. I don't want to part with my E90 M3 just yet but one day I might be tempted to go for a 997 instead
Glad you enjoyed it. I'm slowly getting the car to a place where I'm happy with itAn E90 M3 is what I plan on replacing this 997 with when I'm older if I have kids etc. Granted I do think big engine cars are on limited time with all these new silly emission zones coming in.
CrouchingWayne said:
Looks great - thanks for sharing. Do you have any videos of the exhaust? I’m craving a bit more noise over non-PSE OEM set up but not sure what to go for. Was thinking the TopGear valved exhaust but still researching options. Quite like a loud exhaust but the option to tone it down would be handy with the switch.
I have tried to take videos but it sounds nothing like the real thing so it makes the video pointless. What I would say is the quiet mode is pretty much stock sound - maybe a tiny little bit louder - not a bad thing as stock is really quiet.
Loud mode is loud but not too loud. Iv dailyed the car since iv had the exhaust fitted and iv had no need to switch it to quiet mode. It doesn't drone on the motorway either which is good. Its got a deep growl at low revs which sounds fantastic when setting off but then at about 3.5k it turns into a slightly raspy noise and then it sings to redline. It keeps making me smile when I drive the car and that's what it is all about.
Cold starts in the mornings also sounds glorious and iv left my door open each day so i can hear it - iv even had a few comments at work about how it sounds nice when i start it up to set off home.
Don't hold me too this but from what I could see and a few others mentioned - the spyder performance appears to be extremely similar to the top gear one. It also sounds very similar to the topgear one. Maybe it is the same exhaust, maybe its not but I wouldn't be surprised if they were identical.
10 month update
So iv had the car for 10 months now and have driven about 7k miles.
The car hasn't been faultless but it also hasn't left me stranded. For a 15 year heavily depreciated high mileage old car ill take that as a win.
In regards to trip[s with the car iv not really managed any road trips. Iv brought it to the lake district and peak district etc for day trips but it is a shame I haven't been on a 'proper' driving holiday. Its solely been used as a joint daily and a car to go on days out at the weekends. These are scenarios in which the car is perfect for, I can commute to work on open limit windy roads and love every second of it - I still get excited for my drive to and from work everyday.
The car is also really good for long motorway distances, it can sit at silly high speeds and feel stable and just eat the miles. A lot of the time you look down at the speedo and are shocked at how quick you've just been going. My initial annoyance with the car was tyre noise on the motorway but a new set of PS4S'S did sort it out - its still not a quiet car on the motorway but it doesn't annoy me anymore.
I do get asked a lot about running costs etc. I don't keep track of how much petrol goes in it, I just fill it up and enjoy it - if I thought about this too much I think id cry myself to sleep every night.
However I do keep track of every penny spent in maintenance/mods, I love YouTube channels that buy high mileage cars and track the costs of owning one and I guess that's what attracted me to getting my car - best way to know how much it will cost to run is to do it myself.
Maintenance/Mod Costs
Here is my breakdown of maintenance/mod costs that I keep track of on a spreadsheet. Yet again iv blurred out the purchase price as it doesn't affect the running costs and I don't want anyone's opinions about the price I paid.
So that sits me at over 3k spent in the last 10 months - iv saved a lot doing my own labour. Even without mods it sits me at 2.5k to maintain - was to be expected with a car like this.
Future plans
Main plan is to drive it! Iv got the car to a place I'm pretty happy with it so its now time to enjoy it - I'm fetching it on a camping trip to Cornwall next week so that will be a good trip for it
Plans for more mods and maintenance is:
-Get seatbelts re done red or possibly just red edges - this would lift the boring black interior
-Maybe install a nice headunit - would be nice but iv not felt the need for this yet, I use my phone for satnav and I'm happy listening got the radio most the time
-Reupholster the steering wheel, gear gaiter and handbrake boot with alacantara with red stitching - this will lift the interior like the seatbelts
- Possibly a nice black forest industries shift knob - these are expensive but seem to be the go to ones for 911s
-Install a smaller 'under drive pulley' along with a smaller drive belt. This is meant to reduce drag on the drivebelt . Probs makes no difference but id enjoy fitting it.
- Install the larger turbo brakes (same as what I did on the front) to the rears when the time comes for rear brakes
When I bought this car I promised myself I wouldn't modify it as it helped me work out my man maths. Oh well, what a shame, ill just have to keep it now and never sell it
Thought it would be good to do a post to review the mods iv done - it may help out another 997 owner
Ill list the mods and write a summary with them of how I feel about them
-Engine Mounts
Slightly more vibration that oem, however the back end of the car feels more together - maybe its in my head but I did feel the difference.
-Intake Bypass Pipe
Produces a lovely noise at higher RPMS - IS a must for 997 owners
-GT3 Brake Ducts
Will probably make no difference at all but was fun installing them and they were only a fiver from my local OPC
-Grille Mesh
Essential to prevent the front rads getting debris in them and rotting.
-Maxton Splitter
Looks cool - still not keen on the colour so might get it resprayed one day. It makes the car lower but can still get over speedbumps etc
-Turbo Brakes + Brake hoses
Brakes feel better and bite sooner - may just be the fact they are new and probably a combination of new flexi brake lines and new fluid
Ill list the mods and write a summary with them of how I feel about them
-Engine Mounts
Slightly more vibration that oem, however the back end of the car feels more together - maybe its in my head but I did feel the difference.
-Intake Bypass Pipe
Produces a lovely noise at higher RPMS - IS a must for 997 owners
-GT3 Brake Ducts
Will probably make no difference at all but was fun installing them and they were only a fiver from my local OPC
-Grille Mesh
Essential to prevent the front rads getting debris in them and rotting.
-Maxton Splitter
Looks cool - still not keen on the colour so might get it resprayed one day. It makes the car lower but can still get over speedbumps etc
-Turbo Brakes + Brake hoses
Brakes feel better and bite sooner - may just be the fact they are new and probably a combination of new flexi brake lines and new fluid
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