Porsche 997 Turbo Ultimate Street Car Build

Porsche 997 Turbo Ultimate Street Car Build

This project started out as a pretty simple rebuild….  lol…

How did this become the Porsche 997 Turbo Ultimate Street Car Build?  Like many of the projects that come through our doors, this one was also what we consider “disaster recovery”.   Being that it had many previous shops and products already on it, leading to a blown vgt turbo with a broken shaft causing burnt oil to melt the rear bumper.  You may notice the subtle difference in the rear bumper and lights being from a dot2 turbo vs. a dot1.  Basically, it wasn’t a happy outcome.

The turbosystem:

So…  Let’s talk about an Alpha build.   Using some TiAl Xona turbos along with everything else Protomotive.    Well… We heard about the up and coming UHF turbine turbos.  After talking to TiAl at length about the Alpha/Bolt-on turbos never happening in the new UHF turbine, we chose to go with their Vband turbine housings and fab the headers and Proto X-pipe to fit.  Couple this with our massive intercoolers, Fenderwell intakes and ypipe for a very low restriction intake, but wait….

Benefits of a GT3 Intake:

Chris says, “what do you think about doing the gt3 intake on this build”.   I respond, “well… it’s a tiptronic, and they need all the help they can get for response on the low end, so lets do it.”  The gt3 intake not only gives us better boost response, but a broader overall range of power extending nearly 800 rpms lower and almost 1000 rpms higher than the standard plastic 997.1TT intake manifold.  So, that combined with the UHF turbines amazing response nets a super responsive amazingly powerful combination that’s hard to beat even with much higher power levels.

Let’s build it:

Meanwhile….   As long as the engine is out, we suggest pinning the cams and welding all the coolant bungs.  That’s quickly acknowledged..  But Chris comes back and says, “Hey…  as long as we’re there let’s do a strengthening build on the lower end so I’m not always nervous about the rods and head gaskets”…  So we did.   Proto 4340 bolt-in rods, Proto 12mm head studs, machine the block, liner carrier and heads to fit all the goodies in, surface the heads, all new valves, guides, lifters, chains, ramps, tensioners, and anything else you can think of and we’re coming back together now.

Well…   Chris says, “As long as we’re going this far, what other maintenance items and such should we do?”  So, we install all new rotors, brake pads, bushings, bearings, etc. where needed.  We’re sent a Bilstein PSS10 complete suspension system to install and do a corner balance and competition alignment.

Weak links:

Now, we’re running into weakest link questions.  Chris asks, “What’s holding us back now?  As long as we’re here, I don’t want limitations..”  So, we install a Proto Triple in-tank fuel system since we’re running E85 and 1680cc Bosch injectors.   Then, we talk about the trans and end up sending it out to Bill at Paramount for a full 1000+whp build.

Everything comes together.  The car is assembled, aligned, driven 500 miles for break in before coming back and loading up on our 4wd Dynapack 4500 hub mount dyno.  initial low boost testing was very promising.   The boost response of this engine was amazing!   The power at low boost rivaled or beat gt3076 installs even though we had a smaller turbine.  But the UHF turbine with it’s 5 blades forward 5 blades back gave superior flow with stunning response.   So, we continue tuning, and bumping the boost up 1psi at a time.  Every bump, it proportionately makes more power.    Just amazing.   We stop at about 24psi (1.6 bar) which these days is mild, especially on E85 and a built engine.  We were already at 850whp / 760wtq.

It’s time to test….

We trailer her up to the top of the hill, unload, go out and do some baseline low boost pulls.  Holy ^&%&$ .  This thing hits like a freight train just ran into the back of you…   this was with the boost controller off.    It’s so ridiculously responsive in the low gears we run into throttle closure as the car thinks it’s spinning the tires, even though it’s just accelerating that quickly!   We didn’t run into this on the dyno as we control the rate of each run.   We go back to the tune, make some adjustments, load up the tune and go out again…   Now it’s just getting ridiculous… lol…  You know the sparklies in your eyes when you stand up too fast…  Well, that’s kind of what 2nd gear is like.   1st gear is just frightening…   Yes, we turned the boost up.   With traction control off, and a brand new set of Michelin Pilot sport Cup 2’s on there, warmed up, it will literally just loop you 360 trying to launch.   So, let’s put traction control back on!

Oh, and did I forget to mention?  The rear wing was not fully lifting, and the cost of hydraulic replacement is pretty ridiculous.   For less than maintenance cost Chris decides to send us this wild Gt3 Carbon Fibre wing, side ducts, and lower chin spoiler.   Once painted and installed, the car became a show stopper.  Coupled with the HRE ultra lightweight wheels for a super aggressive look, this car certainly stands out.

996 vs. 997 Turbo

We head back to the warehouse and grab a 1280whp 996tt that needed a road test as well.   Yes, that doesn’t sound fair..  But remember, these are apples and oranges or giant turbos, big displacement vs. new technology turbos on small displacement even manual vs. tip…   Well..  The 996tt makes a ton of power.  But until you get up in the gears where you can use it, it’s not really working for you.   The 997.1TT would make it look slow off the line, and probably through 3rd gear where the 996tt would eventually get it’s footing and take off.   But for the street in the 0-100mph range, there’s probably no better combination than this one which is why we’re calling this the Ultimate Street Car Build!

How to build yours?

If you’re interested in a build, and would like to know what to do and NOT, but sure to catch our YouTube video Avoid these MISTAKES before modding your 997 Turbo Porsche! (1000whp and more!) and Part 2 here