996 GT3 bumper swap on 996 NB Carrera

[RaffiKaprielian]

Hi everyone, i got a couple of problems i need help on. Recently bought an OEM gt3 front bumper, wanted to install it on my 996 carrera and realized i do not have a third center radiator. The opening/duct in the middle of the GT3 bumper now looks empty and you can see right thru it to the floor/pavement. It looks bad but i do not want to spend $600 for a 3rd radiator kit. Would the stock black trim vinyl piece that was on my stock bumper where the 3rd radiator would have gone had i had one, ok to use or fit into the gt3 with some modifications? Or does anyone have suggestions for me? I do not want to spend any more than i already have on parts paint and labor...looking for a cheap fix or modification to the spare stock parts i already have off the old bumper to make the new one fit/look better and look like it belongs on the car rather than a cheap slap on part.

[Flyer007]

Throw black mesh in there?

[RaffiKaprielian]

not a bad idea at all.....why didnt i think of that, i guess i will entertain that thought and maybe go to home depot to check and see what they got

[nine9six]

Please dont put on those home depot chicken mesh on, they look cheap!

try to find a large plastic grill from another car and cut it to fit your bumper.

[Marc Gelefsky]

I'm sure you can get the correct part, I just bought an Areokit II and it came with that part. I assume the one from the original bumper wont fit? maybe you can modify it

[Marc Gelefsky]

Originally Posted by Flyer007

Throw black mesh in there?

so tacky!

[RaffiKaprielian]

Alright gentlemen, the mesh has officially been voted TACKY. Some good news, i did in fact tinker with the stock parts for about 3 hours in the garage after posting this thread, it was a success. I will put up pictures this weekend, it actually looks pretty decent. I was able to use the old/stock black trim from the old bumper and put it behind the GT3 bumper...although it looks a bit odd, with no 3rd radiator, it looks much better than the "chicken fence" would have. Pics will go up soon. Thanks for all the info and advice.

[nine9six]

I'm glad you went in this direction! I have seen numerous 996 with the chicken wires behind the bumper and it looks no better than civics with the combat style body kit.

[Dervish]

I think the mesh idea works, just don't use chicken wire. You'll find alot of guys have done it, myself included, check Rennlist for the amount of GT3s with it, either OEM ($$$$$$) or DIY. If it's so tacky why do Porsche supply a kit for the GT3 bumper? The best DIY stuff is black hex mesh, I got mine from a PC store, doesn't look tacky at all. Plus it has the added bonus of protecting those rads and aircon cond. I actually rate this as quite an important modification, if you've not got it you should be checking in those vents for rocks and road cr@p, potential dangerous and expensive fix if they corrode. I've seen a rad corrode so much it dumped coolant on track, right infront of the front wheels, you don't even need to think about the disaster potential...
Do it properly with no chicken wire and it looks good.

[Flyer007]

chicken wire tacky.....Wasn't sure about it on these bumpers overall but thought a try (since I do like it on turbos and GT-2).

Dervish,,,,,,,I like. I will be looking to try it on mine when it comes in this week.

[MCM97]

did it not look like this

[Flyer007]

Yours still has the plug in it. A true GT3 bumper had the plug removed. I am waiting to see if mine has plug or not.

I might throw a 3rd radiator in there anyway.

[MCM97]

Originally Posted by Flyer007

Yours still has the plug in it. A true GT3 bumper had the plug removed. I am waiting to see if mine has plug or not.

I might throw a 3rd radiator in there anyway.

since we bought it from the same source...hey, any word on that lip? my tracking number no workie

to the op...can you post pics?

[RaffiKaprielian]

Hey Dervish, I like the mesh!!!! i had never seen it before, phenominal idea because i had to spend 20 minutes emptying everything from pieces of glass bottles to rocks and leaves and cigarrette butts out of the radiator air scoops the other day. I was amazed at how much junk came out of there. So can you please tell me where you bought the black mesh? and did you cut/trim it to size and install it yourself? It looks good, tasteful and purposeful.

[RaffiKaprielian]

Hey MCM97, mine didn't look like that, it was for the facelifted front end 02+. The center part on yours has the blacked out effect, with mine you were able to see right thru to the pavement and un-used 3rd radiator mounts, BUT i was able to modify the stock trim a bit to fit and cover up that middle space, now im really turned on to the black mesh idea Dervish has posted, it looks good and would seriously serve a purpose. Gotta start looking for that black mesh at PC stores in Los Angeles area.