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Slippydiff's Zanzibar GT3

Slippydiff

Well-known member
Joined
22 Nov 2007
Messages
862
MOD COMMENT: Split into a well deserved thread of it's own. 27/8/17.

Getting up to the first twitterings of the dawn chorus yesterday morning at 4.15 meant something pretty special had to be in the offing. In this case it meant experiencing the new owner's GT3 from the passenger seat, this whilst we drove around the best driving roads in N.Wales.

The car is a credit to it's previous owner, put simply, it's in superb condition, and the list of mods is far too long to list here. So I'll cut to the chase.

Forget all the b*ullshit superlatives you've read on forums, in Porsche magazines or seen in videos on Youtube (irrespective or the of whether the title contains "insane" or not) :roll: about modified, large capacity GT3 engines.

This is the real deal, one man's dream made reality, a genuine 500 normally aspirated horsepower shoehorned in to the back of a Mk1 996 GT3. The thick end of 4.3 litres of ITB'd, custom built flat six madness.

Early yesterday morning N.Wales was stunning, the hills and mountains bathed in sunshine, the temperatures warm and more importantly, the roads all but empty.

The usual Mk1 996 GT3 lazy starter motor solenoid greets the first turn of the key initially, but another attempt and the six pot masterpiece fires up. The overall impression is of standard Mk1 GT3 sound but inside the car at tickover the decibel count is marginally higher.

Moving off, the paddle clutch makes getting away tricky, add in the long duration, high lift cams, ultra lightweight flywheel, ITB's and mapping designed to to ensure that magical horsepower figure, and balancing throttle and clutch for a smooth getaway isn't for the faint hearted.

However once underway, the engine's character soon comes to the fore. The beautifully sculpted exhaust (the whole lot from cylinder head to exhaust tips is inconel and work of art in itself) is actually remarkably quiet (to ensure it'll satisfy the noise Nazis at pretty much any track in the UK) no, the most dominant and mellifluous sound in this flat six orchestra emanates from the ITB's. And what a noise !!!

Those of you that have experienced a 964 RS with a Cup pipe, decat and a drilled airbox at maximum revs, will have an insight into the sound I'm alluding to, this is THAT same sound, but turned up to 11...

The noise ramps up in stages, the resonances in the custom carbon air box (yep, you read that right) go from a rattling noise under load at low revs, to a roar that dominates proceedings above 5k rpm, but that's only the start. As the needle sweeps past 8k rpm, it does actually start to hurt your ears to a degree that makes you wonder if they'll start to bleed.....

If any of you have experienced a Mk1 GT3 fitted with a Manthey K400 engine upgrade, you'll know just how manic the rush to the 8000rpm redline from 6000rpm, is. It's deeply impressive, but it's not a patch on this engine. The torque and horsepower above 5k rpm have to be felt to be believed. It is SO strong, there's absolutely no sign of the top end breathlessness whatsoever, it just pulls cleanly and incredibly strongly all the way to 9k rpm without a hint of duress.

The 996 chassis (even fettled to the degree this car has been) struggles to contain the pent up ball of fury lurking under the engine cover. Put bluntly, the Cup 2's and a Cup diff have their work cut out.

Speeds which require commitment to reach on the road in any 996 or 997 GT3, are easily attained in the bat of an eyelid in the slippery Mk1 shell with 500hp at its disposal.

Rest assured, this isn't a chassis/engine combination for the inexperienced. The new owner kindly offered me a stint behind the wheel. I declined on this occasion, but if he offers again, I will take him up on his generous offer.

The result of one man's dream and his subsequent dedication to endowing the 996 chassis with levels of naturally aspirated horsepower its manufacturers could only have dreamed of when the car was first built in 1999, have produced a masterpiece.

cJd6Txo.jpg
 
Just brilliant! :worship:


Particularly like this bit
Slippydiff said:
Those of you that have experienced a 964 RS with a Cup pipe, decat and a drilled airbox at maximum revs, will have an insight into the sound I'm alluding to, this is THAT same sound, but turned up to 11...
:bandit:
 
As ever Slippydiff an eloquent write up that conveys what an itb'd engine sounds like; immense, with instant aural gratification guaranteed! Six cylinders only adds to the pleasure (though an 1800 BDA in the front of an Escort rasping through the forests is a close second), what a sound.

500 horsepower in N/A form must be bonkers in a 996 chassis.... How on earth did you have the self control to say 'no' to a drive?? :grin:

Looking forward to more updates as and when.
 
DynoMike said:
As ever Slippydiff an eloquent write up that conveys what an itb'd engine sounds like; immense, with instant aural gratification guaranteed! Six cylinders only adds to the pleasure (though an 1800 BDA in the front of an Escort rasping through the forests is a close second), what a sound.

500 horsepower in N/A form must be bonkers in a 996 chassis.... How on earth did you have the self control to say 'no' to a drive?? :grin:

Looking forward to more updates as and when.

Thank you for the kind words Mike.
I'm sure the new owner will again be generous enough to allow me the opportunity to drive the car on roads I'm more familiar with.

Suffice to say the powerplant works the chassis very hard, and you can feel it in no uncertain terms.... The owner previously had a 3.9 litre 445hp Mk 1 996 GT3 that I've driven, it felt pretty tame compared with this car.
This car runs 3 way adjustable JRZ's which are set up primarily for track use, whereas the 3.9 engined car had a set of Ohlins 3 ways which I'd lent him. they were specced solely for road use and had spring rates very close to those of the standard car, those allied to the superlative damping of the Ohlins made for am easier steer on the road. That's not to say there's anything wrong with the JRZ's damping (it felt every bit as good as the Ohlins) merely that the high spring rates of the JRZ's slightly compromised its usability for road use.

I've owned a couple of 996 GT2's in the past, one standard, one with a map and Ruf exhaust. This car felt every bit as quick as the mapped and exhausted car...
Clearly this car sounds better than any roadgoing Turbo Porsche courtesy of this and what's within :

QQgClNKq.jpg


YetvDASb.jpg
 
Slippydiff said:
That's not to say there's anything wrong with the JRZ's damping (it felt every bit as good as the Ohlins) merely that the high spring rates of the JRZ's slightly compromised its usability for road use.

The owner & I have discussed his spring rates. He's actually running virtually the same front rate as I did for many years along with a softer rear than I do. Road comfort / compliance can be adjusted on the dampers to some degree but it takes a while to work out the right settings. I recently switched out my front springs for slightly softer ones because a recent damper rebuild had highlighted a braking problem on marginal / bumpy surfaces with the increased power of the 380mm Alcons. I have advised the owner to look into altering the spring balance as his current setup as it has too little difference in rates front to rear imo.
 
NXI20 said:
Daniel said:
I hope the Silver MK1 in the picture is not my old one - :nooo:

Don't worry, it's not your old one Daniel. The owner was paid out & in another 996.1 CS within a few weeks. He's retained the salvage on the old girl but in truth it's not much more than the engine, box & interior. The story ended as well as it could in the circumstances :)

Not a Clubsport. Though has a Clubsport cage (which has been gusseted and welded in beautifully)
 
Slippydiff said:
NXI20 said:
Daniel said:
I hope the Silver MK1 in the picture is not my old one - :nooo:

Don't worry, it's not your old one Daniel. The owner was paid out & in another 996.1 CS within a few weeks. He's retained the salvage on the old girl but in truth it's not much more than the engine, box & interior. The story ended as well as it could in the circumstances :)

Not a Clubsport. Though has a Clubsport cage (which has been gusseted and welded in beautifully)

So no functional difference then ;)
 
Slippydiff said:
DynoMike said:
As ever Slippydiff an eloquent write up that conveys what an itb'd engine sounds like; immense, with instant aural gratification guaranteed! Six cylinders only adds to the pleasure (though an 1800 BDA in the front of an Escort rasping through the forests is a close second), what a sound.

500 horsepower in N/A form must be bonkers in a 996 chassis.... How on earth did you have the self control to say 'no' to a drive?? :grin:

Looking forward to more updates as and when.

Thank you for the kind words Mike.
I'm sure the new owner will again be generous enough to allow me the opportunity to drive the car on roads I'm more familiar with.

Suffice to say the powerplant works the chassis very hard, and you can feel it in no uncertain terms.... The owner previously had a 3.9 litre 445hp Mk 1 996 GT3 that I've driven, it felt pretty tame compared with this car.
This car runs 3 way adjustable JRZ's which are set up primarily for track use, whereas the 3.9 engined car had a set of Ohlins 3 ways which I'd lent him. they were specced solely for road use and had spring rates very close to those of the standard car, those allied to the superlative damping of the Ohlins made for am easier steer on the road. That's not to say there's anything wrong with the JRZ's damping (it felt every bit as good as the Ohlins) merely that the high spring rates of the JRZ's slightly compromised its usability for road use.

I've owned a couple of 996 GT2's in the past, one standard, one with a map and Ruf exhaust. This car felt every bit as quick as the mapped and exhausted car...
Clearly this car sounds better than any roadgoing Turbo Porsche courtesy of this and what's within :

QQgClNKq.jpg


YetvDASb.jpg



With an installation as tidy as that, I'm guessing there is only one place that the car could have been built..... FS :worship:
 
DynoMike said:
With an installation as tidy as that, I'm guessing there is only one place that the car could have been built..... FS :worship:

Good guess but actually, not a FS build. Lovely attention to detail & a credit to the builder :thumb:
 
The replacement sounds fabulous and it is always nice to see a proper GT3 996 i.e. one that is driven and has been improved and modified. There are too many garage queens with owners worrying about its value verses mileage :thumb: :thumb:

Would NXI20 happen to know if the old motor has its original cage for sale assuming it had one of course. I want to do exactly the same and get an OEM cage welded in so that mine is worth two pence and I can write it off without worry.

Pip :D
 
NXI20 said:
DynoMike said:
With an installation as tidy as that, I'm guessing there is only one place that the car could have been built..... FS :worship:

Good guess but actually, not a FS build. Lovely attention to detail & a credit to the builder :thumb:


^^ Seconded Nick. The chap obviously knows his onions by the look of the engine installation pics. Has Matt been cloned :?: :grin:
 
Love that write up SlippyDiff. What a car :thumb:
 
Update.

Last Sunday morning I once again found myself in the passenger seat of the "Flying baked bean" for a tour of north/central Wales.

The "competition" came in the shape of this 730hp "posing pouch" :D

ajYeDxA.jpg


Of which more can be found here :

https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/lamborghini/aventador-s

This particular car had been further tweaked to ensure its exhaust popped and banged on the overrun, in a manner more reminiscent of a WW1 artillery barrage at the Somme than an Italian supercar..... :eek:

Suffice to say the sound of its 730hp V12 in the upper echelons of its rev range was truly something to behold. :grin:

First up was the car's pace, or perhaps that should be the lack of it :eek: .... The Aventador S retains the "base" :mrgreen: model's 4wd system, and I imagine that alone saps a large proportion of those 730 Italian stallions, but in addition to what will be a hefty loss from the transmission, my guess is Sant 'Agata ponies aren't as big as German designed/British honed ones ......

So far from the Aventador romping away into the distance, it struggled to pull any meaningful gap on the 500hp 996. No doubt above *** mph the Lambo's additional torque and horsepower would tell, but on the traffic free give and take roads of N.Wales early this Sunday morning, the Italian was struggling to outpace the impeccably honed German old timer.

And let me say here and now, that wasn't as result of the Lambo's owner not being equal to the task of piloting his steed, rest assured he's not shy when it comes to using his toys properly .....

But let's not kid ourselves the Lambo is in any way small, agile and compact in the manner of the 996 GT3, and on some of the roads we traversed at very serious speeds, the GT3 was at a massive advantage with its diminutive dimensions allowing the driver to stay within the confines of our designated lane, whilst the Lambo's considerable girth meant using increasing large amounts of the opposing lane along with with all the attendant risks that involves :eek:

The increasingly large barrage of stones being kicked up by the gumball rear tyres of the Lambo bore testament to the increasingly large parts of the road being used by the driver to ensure the Lambo's pace was maintained :worship:

Alas, all too soon the Aventador's owner was called away to other business, and we were left to luxuriate in the sound of the Lambo's F1 esque exhaust wailing into the distance as we headed off to breakfast along the still empty and stunning roads of north/central Wales.

I have to admit I'm not a Lambo fan, but for sheer drama, theatre and road presence, there's little that comes close, and seeing this Aventador being given free reign in the manner its creators intended, rather than being bounced off the rev limiter whilst stationary at a set of traffic lights in central London :loser: or parked up posing at the Ace Cafe, was an all too rare experience that I'll cherish for many a year to come :thumb:

And what of the fettled Flying baked bean ? With it's mileage tally now increasing, the oh so expensive JRZ's are starting to mellow, and with it the ride has now become more compliant and thus better suited to our oft poorly maintained roads.

SvLQDAt.jpg


The engine is a masterpiece, a barrel chested, flat six, 500hp tour de force. Keeping up with the Lambo required only the first 8000rpm of the 9000rpm rev range... such is the free breathing top end wallop of this thoughtfully fettled iteration of Hans Mezger's engineering genius :eek:

Stopping something as quick and agile as this GT3, requires something decent in the way of stoppers. In this instance those duties are courtesy of Mr Alcon and Mr Endless.
Mr Alcon goes about his work quietly and without complaint, Mr Endless however doth protesteth loudly at every brake application (I suspect that once up to their optimal operating temperature on track, they fall silent) but even operating out of their optimal heat range, their stopping power is truly ferocious, the owner suggesting they actually have better bite than the highly regarded Pagid RS29's, a pad not exactly short on bite at high or low temperatures.......

Those of you who who lurk on/contribute to the oft challenging PH Porsche forum will be all too aware of the growing groundswell of threads extolling the virtues of the Cayman GT4, Boxster Spyder and the various iterations of the 991 GT3/RS.

And whilst I appreciate the duality the likes of the GT4/Boxster Spyder and the 991 GT3's offer their owners, I do find myself questioning just how "special" these modern iterations of GT cars are, but I also wonder at the degree of skill required to extricate their undoubted performance, all the moreso as it appears the majority of owners seem more concerned with their choice of contrast stitching, ipod connectivity and whether 18 way adjustable seats will be better for their daily commute to work than the 918 buckets ......

The 996 GT3 has no such fripperies, it's "specialness" is in no doubt from the second the engine fires. It has a degree of duality (but only if you're a masochist) but it's that very lack of duality that makes it such a special automobile, and one to be used not for the daily grind, but something that's its very antithesis ; the hoon.
Few if any time constraints, no destination (well apart from a breakfast stop) little if any traffic to contend with whilst being driven on open roads. In other words, driving purely for the sake of driving. And in this brief the 996 GT3 has few peers even in the Porsche pantheon.
 
Slippydiff said:
Those of you who who lurk on/contribute to the oft challenging PH Porsche forum will be all too aware of the growing groundswell of threads extolling the virtues of the Cayman GT4, Boxster Spyder and the various iterations of the 991 GT3/RS.

And whilst I appreciate the duality the likes of the GT4/Boxster Spyder and the 991 GT3's offer their owners, I do find myself questioning just how "special" these modern iterations of GT cars are, but I also wonder at the degree of skill required to extricate their undoubted performance, all the moreso as it appears the majority of owners seem more concerned with their choice of contrast stitching, ipod connectivity and whether 18 way adjustable seats will be better for their daily commute to work than the 918 buckets ......

The 996 GT3 has no such fripperies, it's "specialness" is in no doubt from the second the engine fires. It has a degree of duality (but only if you're a masochist) but it's that very lack of duality that makes it such a special automobile, and one to be used not for the daily grind, but something that's its very antithesis ; the hoon.
Few if any time constraints, no destination (well apart from a breakfast stop) little if any traffic to contend with whilst being driven on open roads. In other words, driving purely for the sake of driving. And in this brief the 996 GT3 has few peers even in the Porsche pantheon.

The last few paragraphs sum it up for me perfectly. Newer iterations are just that..."new" but for the most part it stops there. The 996 is so simple and without technology you can only enjoy the feel and engine noise.

I was at the Nordschleife this weekend in my M3 CSL only because I have not been there in it for a year or two but although enjoyable it was nothing as exciting challenging and involving as my GT3. I still want to get a GT3 RS before I pop my clogs but also want to keep the 996. Stupidly I did not want to spend another £15,000 over the GT3 at the time of its purchase(for the RS I test drove)

Tweaking the 996 to something along yours is also a strong possible but I would have to let the CSL go to do it any time soon. Will you say who the 'artist' of yours was, perhaps by PM?..

Anyway thank you for the write up.

Pip
 
A great read, sounds like a truly special car.

Not all 991GT3 owners are the same Henry!

:)
 

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