Here's a followup to the GREAT posts on "full monty" suspension mods a little earlier on this forum. . . what about a list of what to do to a 2001 996tt with lots of engine mods but stock suspension?

Might even ask for a simplified "stage" system -- what (few) things to do first to get the best bang for the buck, and then what to do in later more serious stages.

Guess it will be look like the usual description of project characterics (I'm an engineer, go figure):
"Good / Fast / Cheap . . . pick TWO" (and only 2)

Thanks, Jay

 

1st, go here - https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/996-turbo-gt2/163146-suspension-made-simple.html

2nd - know what you're going to do with the car (I.E. Drag, Road Race, Street Only).

3rd - ask yourself what you DON'T like about the cars handling (everyone is different)

4th - build a plan based on those things.

Commonalities, if you have a bunch of hp, your chassis hates it, more twisting and squirming, more wheel hop (equals more damage) and just all around bad for the car. So you'd likely want to start with a entry level coilover system like JIC/KW/PSS9/PSS10 and some good drop links maybe a rear sway to stiffen up some of the movement under load.

That's just the tip of the iceberg.

 

Heavy Chevy --
thanks for the help. Unfortunately, I haven't yet been able to get your supplied link to work but will keep trying with search / google etc. IF you have the time, could you see if it comes up from your side or if there is some simple typo?

On the other points, I must agree it is best to know where you want to go before heading there! In this case, I am in the final buying process on a 550 rwhp car with apparently stock suspension (except for conversion to RWD) and was doing some early research. Assuming the PPI looks good, then the deal is a go, and I should have have the car by Christmas time. Will be my first Porsche so I don't know "boo" about what it will feel like, but am eager to learn.

Basic intent is a spirited DD rather than racing --I enjoy acceleration rather than just speed, and get a rise out of getting the passengers to shout and grab for the handles when I get-er-on. Further, my big BHp comparisons have so far been limited to much poorer handling vehicles (in my youth a ported, cammed, headered etc 69 SS396, now a stage 3 Audi S4 twin tubo station wagon...both sub-4 0-60's but so not much on the turns).

Hopefully, this new-to-me 2001 996tt should take me well into the early part of my retirement, before I get too scared to drive it! Again, thanks for helping out a noob. Regards, Jay

 

See if this link works for you, I believe it's the one that heavy intended:

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...de-simple.html

 

Heavy Chevy --
Just found the link by simple search w Google. Reading now.
Thanks for the heads up, Jay

 

Steve -- Thanks to you too. Your link got me to the beginning of the thread. Lots of reading material. I'll bookmark it so I can continue reading later. (It's MN over here at the Plant in Indonesia and 5am wakeup rolls around pretty quickly). Appreciate the help from both you and HeavyChevy, Jay

 

Oops, don't know why the link didn't work, thanks for reposting it Steve.


Someone did a RWD conversion to a 996 TT and nothing else? That is ill advised at best.

Search PSS9, PSS10, JIC and KW suspensions, there should be one that fits your needs among them and is pretty simple and relatively inexpensive. Tons of them floating around used too.

 

Heavy Chevy --
Thanks for the followup, certainly wasn't trying to complain about all your help. I'm almost done with all the thread (keeping me up waaaay past my usual bedtime).

And, I'm not absolutely certain nothing was done to the suspension on the RWD converted car, but the current owner didn't indicate anything. If the deal goes through, I'll have to take my time getting "used" to the vehicle but will try to keep a pretty healthy respect for the usual rear weight bias, likely made more interesting by converting the AWD. Should also make it more rewarding to mod the suspension, eh?

PS -- guess launching / driving sideways in the ol' SS396 and dialling out some launch problems with individually valved air-bladders in the standard coil springs is a few levels down from what I'll have with the 996tt and suspension mods !
Thanks for the help, Jay

 

Bigger sway bars and aftermarket drop links will give you immediately noticeable results.

Since you have never owned a Porsche and are coming from GM type muscle cars, I want to caution you about the differences between the two types of transmissions and shifters. If you try to "caveman" the shifter in the Porsche like you are able to do in the GM muscle car, you are going to end up with a $10,000 repair bill. The Porsche can be shifted quickly and effectively with your finger tips. My recommendation is to always make the shift a quick but smooth 2 part shift, meaning clutch in, shift to neutral, slight pause, shift to the next gear, let out the clutch. This can be done quickly, but if you try to yank it through the synchronizers in one direct movement, you are going to pay big time. This is especially true from first to second and also second to third. After that the gear ratios are close enough that you won't have to be so mindful. The Porsche shifter takes finesse, not Hulk Hogan. Heed my warning or end up crying.

 

I would suggest that the first step would be to correct the "floaty" feeling of the stock 996TT suspension by adding a good set of coilovers. We've had great success with KW Variant 3 coilovers on the 996TT.

While the car's in the air, have the mechanic check all the bushings in the existing suspension components for wear and dry-rot. Those simple things can make a huge difference! Feel free to shoot me an questions you might have.

 

Landjet --
Thanks for the guidance. My current DD is a 2001 Audi S4 so I'm a little better prepared for the new experience, but will still need lots of help from new friends on this forum.

The days of the SS396 were in the late sixties / early seventies when I was much much younger and didn't appreciate the long-term $$ possibilities of a few seconds of fun. Still, can't say I didn't really enjoy making a nice shift in my '73 BMW tti (20 years later) and hearing the exhaust tone change. Particularly nice to do that inside a tunnel or by a wall that echoed the sound. Yep, more of a caveman back then.

Regards, Jay