Working on a friend's 911 twin turbo w/power package. The car's quite fast as it is (3.9secs to 60), but should be to another level when done, and work's progressing nicely.

Anyway, here's some pictures of the progress today:

exhaust out:

oxygen sensors getting swapped (important not to mix front vs. aft sensors):

new wastegate actuators (don't ask how I got a hold of new ones)!


It was already struggling for traction in first gear, it's should be a fair bit faster still. It's impressive how usable the power is at these levels in a 996 turbo compared to older cars...

[Edited on November 8, 2010 at 8:47 PM. Reason : fixed tags.]

11/8/2010 8:45:40 PM

I don't know what any of those parts are.

Should've bought a Corvette.

[Edited on November 8, 2010 at 9:30 PM. Reason : Nevermind. I see you labeled them. Looks like an old VW exhaust to me.]

11/8/2010 9:29:22 PM

He had a Corvette, it made around 630 or so crank if I remember correctly, I'd tuned it.

This car is completely stock, making around 450hp, should be around 550 crank after all this (exhaust, more boost, flash, actuators, diverter valves). It already accelerates faster than the Corvette did though, it puts power down far better and it has brakes +grip.

Good eye on the VW/Audi stuff, it uses very similar actuators. If you think about it, each bank makes around 225hp stock, so it makes sense. The picture of swapping the oxygen sensors only shows one muffler though both cats. I love how straightforward the factory exhaust is also, how everything is removed as one piece. Modifying the wastegates was a bit of a pain btw;


PS: As much as I like this car, and enjoy driving it, it shows me that I'm not as comfortable with this expensive of a car.

11/8/2010 10:01:07 PM

yeah, I've found that spending too much diminishes the fun that a car is for me.

...and frankly, that's too damn much power, for me at least. I mean, it'd be fun for a while as a novelty, but I'd have more fun with less. Kinda like a 600cc bike vs a liter-classer.

11/8/2010 10:52:44 PM

so who is grinding with penny loafers.

11/8/2010 10:58:41 PM

I experienced this car the the other day and all I have to say is wow

11/8/2010 11:03:20 PM

Those are actually Caterpillar boots, I bought them in Zurich like 13 years ago.

The car is nuts, it's fun and very drivable especially for the power level, but yeah I'm worried about a stone chip or somebody backing into it or something the entire time it's in my possession. I can't wait for him to come pick it up... I will say though I'm looking forward to how it will feel with another 100+hp, considering it only has like 130hp over my car and it's in a different world all together. You don't have to "drive" this car, point it where you want to go, floor it, and brake in time, you'll be very fast in it. If you know how to drive, that much better, but it's not required that's for sure.

11/8/2010 11:15:48 PM

sounds like an Evo with a lot more grunt.

11/9/2010 12:02:37 AM

Well, but an Evo doesn't really bite back, this car will under/oversteer very heavily at times. It's communicative but it's much more immediate than an Evo -in the way it changes it's set. The Evo's beauty is that it invites you to reach it's limits, and it's very benign there. The 996 turbo's appeal is more the fact that those limits are so high. I'd say the Evo is more frantic, but ultimately less eventful. The 911 turbo keeps you on your toes. For hooliganing around, the Evo would be my choice without a doubt. It takes some work to explore the limits of the 911.

11/9/2010 1:11:50 AM

If I don't seem to make sense, it's OK, I'm very conflicted about this car... Actually, I'm a bit perplexed about the Evo as well...

11/9/2010 1:16:29 AM

How much sexier can one guy look slaving away at a grinder? Not much I say, not much. The turbo is ok too, can't wait to check it out in person.

11/9/2010 8:08:26 AM

it's the porsche everyone talks about, the 911 T U R B O

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut3BwIkAUpY

11/9/2010 10:35:01 AM

it's amazing how much better the turbo models look compared to the boring white bread 996

11/9/2010 4:41:56 PM

That one looks like it has the extra gt-areo-something-or-other plastic bits on it.

11/9/2010 8:44:36 PM

Ja, they're all carbonfiber actually. It's a baller ride for sure. Today's shenanigans:

11/9/2010 10:16:11 PM

don't you have to pull all that shit off to change the oil anyway?

11/9/2010 10:47:41 PM

Nothing comes off to do the oil change, the dry sump tank has a drain at the bottom, the oil filter is accessed (cartridge type) from the engine compartment. The oil filter housing even has a catch integrated onto it's lip, so if any oil dripping drains back into the housing, pretty spiffy.

11/9/2010 11:02:25 PM

I'd screw it bow legged. ItS beaUtiful

11/9/2010 11:11:54 PM

Those side vents force feed the intercoolers, coming up above the wheels. The intercoolers sit perpendicular to the ground, and are separated from the turbos with aluminum heat shielding, very neat stuff. All charge pipes have aluminum fittings and o-rings on each end, and snap in for a positive fit. The entire intercooler assembly, including the ducting/shields/braces come off with the as an assembly with just a few bolts. I like cars that are well thought out. <3

11/10/2010 12:02:38 AM

this car is nuts. i've never been in a car that accelerates so effortlessly. also

grip grip and more grip.

11/10/2010 12:14:42 AM

Quote :

"The oil filter housing even has a catch integrated onto it's lip, so if any oil dripping drains back into the housing, pretty spiffy."

Nice. My Q45 has that same feature. I was wondering if any other cars had it.

Quote :

"this car is nuts. i've never been in a car that accelerates so effortlessly."

I'd like to drive a 996 turbo. I imagine the engine feels like a completely stock 2JZ-GTE, just more of that same type of power--kind of like how an LS7 feels a lot like an LS6. I bet the 997 feels more torquey and responsive down low because of the direct injection and variable vane turbos.

11/10/2010 12:36:40 AM

Too bad the engine is mounted in the wrong place. I honestly thought they were mid-engine by now. Bet it fishtails like a tobacco trailer train behind a drunk farmer.

11/10/2010 1:09:00 AM

^ no

and yes, this car is fucking sweet. you really don't know how fast you're going until you go around a corner. [n]ahmet[/n] told me that the car doesn't need seats because the forward acceleration even around corners keeps you planted in your seat. he wasn't kidding. i would still put seats in it because they're fucking uncomfortable if you ask me.

[n]ahmet[/n], switch out your shift knob with his. he needs more bling to match the tech art.

11/10/2010 7:47:47 AM

^^haha epic quote.

11/10/2010 8:46:37 AM

need any help bolting anything up? i'm free today. my arms are not as skinny as they used to be but they are still long as @#*@

11/10/2010 12:45:05 PM

I don't have anything big left, but I actually could probably use some help getting a part of the exhaust line up.

I'm running into a meeting shortly, will you be around at say 2:30@my condo? I'll try calling shortly.

Also the thing about the seats, I was being very serious. My car has the same seats and they're very inadequate, even in a GT3 the sport seats is a minimum requirement, but it really isn't in this car. It's mind blowing how hard and drama free the acceleration is, and how "usable" the power is, in quotes because you can get up to 80+ anywhere, which nobody should be doing in most places...

11/10/2010 12:53:11 PM

Well... Of course when you're dealing with something this baller...

New fittings/flanges, etc. overnighted, will try again tomorrow or Friday. Jeez

In other news, my 996 still feels good, in fact, it just received a non weighted non carbon shifter yay!

11/10/2010 10:40:40 PM

does your car feel slow or otherwise unsatisfying after driving the turbo model?

11/11/2010 1:11:14 AM

You know, I've been thinking about that... Keep in mind I've been spoiled by previous 550+hp cars, just never one that could actually put it down.

My car doesn't feel slow, but it never felt fast to me to begin with. The turbo is perplexing and hard to describe, I'll let dubcaps or BigT chime in if they desire..

If you're pushing it, you have to be quick to catch it near the limit, anticipate and work w/it, it's quite the animal, but it's far from being an uncontrollable beast. It's in a different world from a 600hp Corvette/Viper or Supra. My car has a lot more movement at it's cornering limit, and the experience is more about balancing the car with your inputs. The turbo is more about trying to be accurate about how much distance it will cover, and when you will have to brake/lift, as well as how the ridiculous rate of forward acceleration will change lateral acceleration. It is not a stretch to imagine this car doubling it's speed between the apex of a turn and "track out" in 2nd gear. It's a warping experience in a way that no other car I've driven or ridden in can come close to. 600hp vs. 3000lbs is a very serious proposition and the chassis is sorted enough to actually make use of it. Also most of that power is available from low 2krpm range to redline. I did only drive it on the street, it is not my car, and I care very much for it and it's owner, I imagine some time on track would make things better. I was starting to get a lot more comfortable with it yesterday, which is why I intend to keep it parked until it's picked up.

Random observation; if you take putting power down around a turn as a challenge, you will find yourself going much faster than you'd imagine by the exit. It will catapult to redline in 2nd (74mph) in a flash over a short 4 wheel burnout, and those 4 wheels have huge (315 in the rear) conti sport contacts on them. This is big, and it's why I think this car would be quite dangerous in the hands of an upper intermediate driver. I intend to warn it's owner profusely... The car deserves every superlative you can throw at it.

11/11/2010 1:44:25 AM

11/11/2010 7:54:33 AM

^lol.

11/11/2010 8:58:44 AM

the car is just weird. like it feels fast in a straight line, but it doesn't feel as fast as you would think it would feel. then, you "race" a car that does 0-60 in 5 sec> but it's like the other car is in reverse but it still doesn't FEEL like the 996 turbo is 250 HP faster, but you know it is because of what you just saw happen to the other car. you then giggle, mostly because you don't quite know what just happened and you are slightly scared.

THEN

you experience acceleration through a turn and you are like "THIS CAR IS STUPID FAST (but holy shit i could see someone killing themselves because it seems like the car's limits would cause someone to keep pushing way beyond their limits because the car can handle it)" and you are going through the turn way faster than you think the car should be able to but the car is like "lol are you serious? i'm not even thinking about breaking traction" then you get out and you can't quite process what just happened aside from knowing that whatever it was was fast.

11/11/2010 10:29:37 AM

it doesn't "feel" too fast in a straight line probably because it's on stock turbos and they have a pretty flat torque curve.

Quote :

"but holy shit i could see someone killing themselves because it seems like the car's limits would cause someone to keep pushing way beyond their limits because the car can handle it)"

That's the problem with any car at that level, although AWD ones are sometimes safer. You have to have a healthy fear of pushing it to its limits or you could literally die. The scariest thing is that everything will be going fine but if something out of your control comes up (gravel in the road, another driver not paying attention) the unthinkable could happen.

11/11/2010 11:44:36 AM

Well it's weird. This car doesn't have the "regular" turbos, being an X50 the car, I believe it's got the same turbos as a GT2. It actually doesn't hit full boost until the top of third gear, particularly w/the bigger intercoolers. I know this from the data log, as driving the car, the power comes in very early and very hard, and doesn't let off one bit. 1st gear is utterly useless, and 2nd feels very short as well.

11/11/2010 1:46:50 PM

I think it's funny that Ahmet takes this car, sups it up then takes his friends around in it to beat on it and post about it

11/11/2010 2:14:31 PM

Obviously you need to take a few spins to make sure that everything is working properly.

11/11/2010 2:16:51 PM

^^ you think driving a car hard is beating on it? that's just ignorant. you're one of those people that asks if a car has been tracked right? and then walks away when someone says yes?

considering he never misses a shift, doesn't slip a clutch, doesn't even really ride the red line, lets a car properly warm up and cool down, etc...there is no "beating on it". besides that, any friend of Ahmet knows how he drives every car that he gets a turn in the driver's seat.

11/11/2010 2:27:17 PM

^^i enjoy this answer the most

11/11/2010 2:37:53 PM

I can see how it would come across that way. I told him that most people I know would be interested in a ride in this car, his response was that I should charge for it... He's one of my best friends, not a random customer. Also, you'd be surprised how man people ask me to drive their car hard and talk to them about it. I generally say no, unless it's a friend. It's also true that I don't abuse a car, I drive more conservatively than I would my own.

His Corvette was a monster, and though I had it for weeks, it didn't even cross my mind. This car is very special and most people won't experience something like it. I think both him and I appreciate that.

11/11/2010 5:02:35 PM

you realize I'm giving you a hard time.

11/11/2010 5:37:46 PM

I didn't actually, but it would've been a valid point.

11/11/2010 6:59:36 PM

Also, I wonder if I should buy one...

11/11/2010 8:40:53 PM

if it makes you happy go for it. you have had the best test drive one could ask for

11/11/2010 9:05:55 PM

it doesn't make him happy. he just wants more power, and to be traction limited.

at the same time a gt3 is 15-20k more...

11/11/2010 9:14:25 PM

^^^I think you should.

11/11/2010 10:43:51 PM

I want one, but I keep thinking I should try something different, yet I keep coming back to a 911 of some sort. I would prefer a GT3, but they are a bit more money, and a turbo isn't really what I want. I am still thinking I want something frantic and crazy which the turbo's character hides *most* of the time. The best way to describe that car is "misleading". It's incredible to me that I still adore and have fun in my C2, what a great car.

I also want a light, custom turboed car, perhaps an e30 still. I will build something if I had a garage, I've been shopping...

11/11/2010 11:25:54 PM

I've been also kind of shopping for '01-02 996TT with high miles. Prices are actually decent for what you get. I am just concerned with tires. Friend at work drives a red 996TT cabrio and rear tires were gone in 8k with mostly highway driving and zero track time. For me that would mean 2-3 sets per year.
My friend also says his '04 guzzles oil like crazy (23k miles)....like quart every 700 miles!

11/11/2010 11:42:21 PM

Interesting how all this turbo 911 stuff has come up. I was out in my Rx-7 tonight on Falls of Neuse and I saw a heavily modified black 997 turbo, convertible model. I blew off at him just to sort of get his attention a little but we didn't do anything illegal (lots of traffic anyway). He pulled into the gas station and I stopped to talk to him. It was a 2008 model with a regular 6 speed. He had full exhaust, intake, and some kind of upgraded turbo. He said a shop in Florida did it. It also had a body kit and very big deep dish wheels. It was a nice car. He said he had about 30k in mods for it which sounds about right.

The guy looked to be in his early 60s to me. He said he had a 2004 360 Modena and one of the Lexus LS650 hybrids for a daily driver. Unfortunately I left my phone in the car so I couldn't snap a picture, and after about 10 minutes of talking he had to get home.

One disappointing thing was that it honestly sounded pretty bad. It had a very harsh and raspy sound to it. The guy said it had no cats and you could smell it when he got into boost.

11/12/2010 12:18:35 AM

I think the 996 and newer turbos are not as "fun" as a Carrera is. Particularly if you're new to the 911 dynamics, I'd suggest you start w/a C2 or C4 for several reasons, here are the important ones:
You can't do much on a turbo w/out a lift
Going to the limits of the car is significantly more insane -important if you enjoy having to control a car
A stock C2 is an industrial tire shredder, if you drive a turbo hard, well, I'd buy some stock in Bridgestone...
And finally; because you're screwing yourself out of some perfectly fine cars. Humans are funny like that, they adapt up easily, but not down. You don't have too many choices for an upgrade after a car like that, especially a modified one.

11/12/2010 2:04:22 AM

Quote :

"A stock C2 is an industrial tire shredder"

On what level are we talking here? On the same level as say, an NSX or S2000?

11/12/2010 9:09:20 AM