EPL & Musante Motorsports present the 450hp, 4.0L GT3 motor kit!

[Robin@EPL]

The 996 GT3 is heralded as the best version out there, with a sparser list of features and comforts than the 997. It has a unique sound and feel, and for some, is the ultimate track tool. So in keeping with it’s original factory philosophy, how do you improve on it? European Performance Labs in conjunction with Musante Motorsports have just completed the first true 4.0 liter 996 GT3. From the factory, the 3.6 liter motor is an amazing power plant, with an 8200rpm redline and rock solid reliability. Musante Motorsports started with a clean sheet of paper to design what they thought would be the ultimate upgrade path for those looking for more power. Custom pistons and oversized cylinders allowed displacement to be increased from 3.6 to 4.0 liters without the need to change the crankshaft or rods. All of these parts work in harmony due to Musante’s investment in time and precise CNC equipment that can bore the cylinder block and case as a single assembly to one ten thousands of an inch (.0001”). This process gives the cylinder support not only in the water jacket, but in the case as well, allowing for oversized bores to remain round and true. This assures longevity and no problems with blow-by for a clean running engine. A fairly conservative 12:1 compression ratio was selected to allow for daily drivability on 93 octane pump gas, while a set of custom camshafts was designed to work with the larger displacement and 8200rpm redline. These details come together to make a smooth running car that is at home on the track or the street, with the low-end pulling power out of the corners that the stock motor simply doesn’t have. The Data After hours of dyno tuning and street/track testing. EPL has created custom ECU calibration files for both 93 pump gas, and 100 octane (91 octane available soon). Here’s what the lucky customer had to say after his first track outing at Sebring: The GT3 4.0L was delivered in early February to the Sebring race track in Florida for an arrive and drive program with Musante Motorsports. I did not know exactly what to expect as I had not seen or driven the car in several weeks. I strapped into the six point race harness, turned the key and the car started immediately and idled smoothly with a deep purposeful sound. After warming the tires on the rough Sebring surface, I gradually pushed the car and was amazed at the smooth and rapid acceleration. Each gear had to be shifted much sooner to avoid hitting the rev-limiter and I had to use the brakes more extensively at the end of the straights due to the increase in speed. The sound of the 4.0L engine was awesome, deep and throaty, but not excessively loud as the Fabspeed mufflers were left on the car for the event. As the tires warmed up and my comfort level with the new engine and components increased I was out accelerating 996 Turbos, 997 GT3's, and even some Cup cars. Especially impressive was the acceleration out of the corners due to the increase in torque coupled with the Hoosier tires. Since the Sebring event I have been able to drive the car on the highway and around town and it certainly gets a lot of attention, both visually and audibly. The car is a complete joy and I am very impressed with the performance and drivability that this conversion has offered. This car makes more horsepower on our dyno than many 996 turbos, it's truly an impressive kit. Please feel free to call or email us for pricing info and to get the ball rolling on yours!

[bmxrado]

Awesome work that has to be a blast to drive.

[audikp]

This is awesome! Nice job!

[Misanors4]

Would love the hear/see some video footage! Thing has to be a monster.

[PJS]

379 and change to the wheels after the 4.0 kit... what did your stock 996-3 dyno at?

[Tony@epl]

Originally Posted by PJS

379 and change to the wheels after the 4.0 kit... what did your stock 996-3 dyno at?

319-325 with a full exhaust. Bets guess with stock exhaust, 310 or so.

[PJS]

my former stock 996-3 motor was 355 to the wheels dynojet sae corrected

add ASP headers, exhaust and filter and I was high 370s to the wheels on the same dyno sae corrected...

could it be motor and dyno variance?

Products look top notch -- I just would have expected north of 400 to the wheels given my past experience...

that all being said -- please do not take this as me trying to rain on your parade or anything like that.. it looks great and I am all for it... I do not even pretend to know the challenges and results more than what I have experienced and EPL has a great reputation etc... so I am not "calling you out" or anything like that... just commenting.

[cfjan]

Would love to see how this setup compare to the Sharkwerks' 3.9L!

Interesting to note that the increase in displacement can be achieved purely from bore (no change in crank, so no longer stroke) but Sharkwerks' setup decided to stay w/ 3.9L (but go up in rpm to gain power instead).

[flash68]

Nice work EPL!

[Robin@EPL]

Originally Posted by PJS

my former stock 996-3 motor was 355 to the wheels dynojet sae corrected

add ASP headers, exhaust and filter and I was high 370s to the wheels on the same dyno sae corrected...

could it be motor and dyno variance?

Products look top notch -- I just would have expected north of 400 to the wheels given my past experience...

Our Mustang eddy-current dyno loads the car much more accurately than a Dynojet, and produces lower corrected numbers. For reference, a stock 996TT will dyno here around 320whp.

There's no doubt in my mind that this car could be taken to any of our local Dynojet facilities around the area and put down over 400whp.

[Tony@epl]

I also would like to note that we have one of the lower reading mustang dyno's in the country. For reference, a stock 996 gt3 has made as much 375+ on other mustangs...an 18% variance when trying to compare similar projects on different dynos.

[PJS]

Originally Posted by Robin@EPL

Our Mustang eddy-current dyno loads the car much more accurately than a Dynojet, and produces lower corrected numbers. For reference, a stock 996TT will dyno here around 320whp.

There's no doubt in my mind that this car could be taken to any of our local Dynojet facilities around the area and put down over 400whp.

dyno variance -- I get it

good on you guys -- looks top notch

[GT34L]

This is my 4.0L GT3 and it is a blast to drive. Chris and his team at Musante Motorsport are top notch. I'll be driving the GT3 with them next week at the CVR Lime Rock PCA DE/Club Race event.

[RFFG]

Very nice!

[iLLM3]

SICKKKK build, wow...

Chris is the man, an INCREDIBLY fast driver on the track, and just overall good guy with infinite Porsche knowledge... Congrats!