996 c2 autofarm 3.9 engine??
996 c2 autofarm 3.9 engine??
Author
Discussion

nickson

Original Poster:

219 posts

189 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
im looking to purchase a 996 very soon. really I would like a gt3, but I have looked at a couple which weren't very good, and seen a few that need a fair bit of money spent on them. so I started to consider buying a 996 c2 manual, with engine issues, take the engine out and have it built into a 3.9 by autofarm.

im hoping this would give power levels similar to the gt3, and will ensure I have a car with a brand new engine. I would also carry out some other mods such as exhaust and inlet, lighter flywheel etc. strip the rear of the car, fit a half cage, buckets, gt3 brakes, kw coilovers etc, and set the car up as a fast road/track toy.

I think that it will produce a really great car with similar feel to a gt3, but with new parts and much less money.

I know its not and never will be a gt3, but I think it will be almost as good, and I will have piece of mind everything is new and sorted. I think to buy a decent gt3 now you have to spend north of 40k and they are few and far between. a 996 with engine issues could likely be bought for less than 6k and so the total cost would be well under 40k.

has anyone else out there got experience of the 3.9 engine and its characteristics and power/torque levels? Is it comparable to a gt3 Metzger engine? what sort of power can be had from a 3.9 engine?

thoughts and opinions welcome.
many thanks
nick

Slobberchops

3,640 posts

230 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
If it wasn't so expensive I would do this with mine but that sort of money would be good to add to my car as a trade in against a Turbo.

nickson

Original Poster:

219 posts

189 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
I would like a turbo aswell, but for a track tool an n/a rwd car that's well set up will always be a better choice.

I currently have a few cars, which I intend to sell the majority of them and have this Porsche as a weekend toy and trackday car which will be used regularly on track so an n/a car will be more suited to what I want.

I reckon I could buy the car, and pay for all the new parts and still spend less than 25k all in.

whereas I may spend 35k on a gt3 that ends up needing a load of work to get it right, I may also find myself worrying about crashing it on track, or affecting the future value of it by using it on track so much. with a souped up c2 I don't think I would have any of that worry and so would enjoy using it more.




Slobberchops

3,640 posts

230 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
Seem to remember it is circa £13-15k?

edc

9,645 posts

280 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
Have a search for Dom's old thread re 996 track day focussed car. It sounds like you want to do the same thing and coincidentally also use Autofarm.

BertBert

21,264 posts

240 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
I'm not convinced that adding power to a normal 996 gets you very close to the GT3. I think you'd get closer with the standard engine, but changing the suspension.
Bert

mollytherocker

14,465 posts

238 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
For me this makes no sense at all.

40k is enough to get a good GT3. There is no comparison.

edc

9,645 posts

280 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
mollytherocker said:
For me this makes no sense at all.

40k is enough to get a good GT3. There is no comparison.
The OP acknowledges it won't be a GT3 and is looking to come in under £25k.

mollytherocker

14,465 posts

238 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
edc said:
mollytherocker said:
For me this makes no sense at all.

40k is enough to get a good GT3. There is no comparison.
The OP acknowledges it won't be a GT3 and is looking to come in under £25k.
Fair enough, but could it be done for 25k? How much is the 3.9? Then there's sorting all of the issues on an old 996 and making the necessary upgrades to the brakes and suspension.

I would rather have a miley GT3, they do come up.

But, each to there own, there's no right or wrong!

nickson

Original Poster:

219 posts

189 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
as said I would really prefer a gt3 it just seems to be getting harder to find a decent one for sensible money. I am just having these thoughts and asking for peoples opinions? im certainly not committed to going down this route, its just an idea. I think if it can be done for 25k you would have a nice car for the money.


keep it lit

3,388 posts

196 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all

fioran0 (Neil) is your man.. read his thread, first post third paragraph.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

drop him an email

edc

9,645 posts

280 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
mollytherocker said:
Fair enough, but could it be done for 25k? How much is the 3.9? Then there's sorting all of the issues on an old 996 and making the necessary upgrades to the brakes and suspension.

I would rather have a miley GT3, they do come up.

But, each to there own, there's no right or wrong!
Absolutely, no right or wrong. I have an old 986 and have spent 50% + of the purchase price in mods etc in just over a year. It is non sensical but fun too.

£10k 996, a bit of DIY and I guess you could be pretty close to budget.

Found the old thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=720...

mollytherocker

14,465 posts

238 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
nickson said:
as said I would really prefer a gt3 it just seems to be getting harder to find a decent one for sensible money. I am just having these thoughts and asking for peoples opinions? im certainly not committed to going down this route, its just an idea. I think if it can be done for 25k you would have a nice car for the money.
What about a 996 turbo?

csmith319

372 posts

192 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
Sound like a great idea, this sort of thing is much more in keeping with the old 'outlaw' style modifications much of Porsches history is full of.

Also, I like the idea of preventing these cars going to the scrapyard, some love (and a bit ££) will create something you may enjoy far more than buying the shinest toy you can afford.

nickson

Original Poster:

219 posts

189 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
a 996 turbo is very tempting, I keep looking, but I think it would be a road car rather than a track toy. im just slightly concerned that its a fast gt cruiser rather than a b road blaster/track machine, and it might feel a bit uneventful after a while. a gt3 or n/a rwd 911 appeals more to me, the 4wd is what puts me off. I have seriously considered the gt2 at 911v that isn't selling.

I currently am using a Mitsubishi evo as my track day car which is fully prepared, pretty much a full race car, very quick round a circuit, but im selling it as its just not a challenge to drive and I have lost interest really as its just point and squirt. I think a 4wd 911 turbo will give the same problem.

for track driving I want something rwd and a bit of a challenge to drive.

the other option is just get a cheap kit car for track use, and have a 911t as a road car!

one thing that does appeal to me with the turbo, is the pure grunt. I have to admit, I drove a 997 c2 the other day, and I was a little disappointed with the performance, I got back into a fiat coupe 20v turbo afterwards and genuinely thought the fiat was as quick if not quicker! but its not all about pure straight line speed, I am a 911 lover and have wanted one for years, I just need to find the right 911 for me!

the one I really want is a 996 or 997 gt3, or 996 gt2.


bigunit00

890 posts

176 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
What about a high mile bmw csl for £20k? ..........

nickson

Original Poster:

219 posts

189 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
I want a 911 mate. I have owned a load of front runner porsches, 944 s2, 944 lux, 924 turbo, 944 turbo, and a 911 is what I have my heart set on, I am a massive Porsche fan and a 911 is next on the list.

I have had a huge amount of cars over the years, but I have always wanted a Porsche 911 since I went to Porsche afn Guildford with my grandma when I was about 8 and sat in a brand new 993 turbo! I love the look, the noise, the history, the handling characteristics and so I just have to buy a 911 soon now I can afford it! I have driven a fair few 911s and they always make me smile and its time for me to buy one now!


mollytherocker

14,465 posts

238 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
A 993 you say? biggrin

nickson

Original Poster:

219 posts

189 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
yes lol, was a maroon 993 turbo, im 27 now but it was brand new in the showroom at the time so I must have been between 9 and 12 years old at the time.

my problem is that I love all the 911s, and so with my budget I can almost buy any of the cars from the g50 style right upto a 997! a 993 gt2 would be nice but slightly out of budget lol!

the reason I mention 996 is that I suppose you get a bit more car for your money, and they are a fair bit quicker than the older models. im used to pretty quick cars, and so the older 911s feel a bit slow in comparison to the jap crap I have owned in the past! a gt3 is plenty fast enough, a gt2 would be perfect as it has the massive grunt on top of the rwd chassis.

its a hard decision, but a nice dilemma to have!

I think a few drives of various models is the best way to make a decision.

mollytherocker

14,465 posts

238 months

Sunday 18th August 2013
quotequote all
As you say, you need to try the various models, they are all quite different. Only you will know!

I know you think that the air cooled stuff are too slow and I understand that, especially at 27 years old!

But let me throw this at you. It is still possible to get a good usable 3.2, 964C2 or 993 Carrera well under your budget, say 20 ish.

This will not be the case for much longer in my view. Think of it as an apprentiship. The change to the 996 was huge and started a new era.

Just a thought.