wow impressive number! Protomotive FTW!

 

Now that I am back in the sandbox, I have some time to follow up about this build. First a couple shout outs to my buddies for volunteering his new F350 to road trip out and tow the turbo back and offering his place to crash, although we didn't stay over he did grill up some killer steaks with a few brews, thank you both for an outstanding trip and a fantastic meal!!!

So we show up at Protomotive on Monday morning, Todd, Cyn and crew were there waiting for us, we had spent about an hour going over the car learning the ins and outs, and were ready to load up the car and then head out but they offered to load up the car on the trailer and take it up to the main road and then offload it for some driving and then load it up again, seemed like allot of work but they were more than willing to accommodate (Anyone that has been to Proto knows that without a 4x4, you're not going to get very far down their 2.5 mile off road driveway).

After loading the turbo on the trailer, they rolled out the grill and invited us to stay for lunch, hard to say no to such nice people (or a growling stomach) so we hung out for some time eating brats and hamburgers while talking with everyone and sharing stories. Afterwards we headed up the trail to the main road and unloaded deepblue. Todd let it warm up and then took me for a drive through some Arkansas back roads. here is what everyone, including me is waiting for - the acceleration on low boost (1.3bar) is ridiculous, it pushes you into the seat as you hear excess boost being blow out into the ambient air, pssshhhhhhh as he shifts hard into 2nd, 3rd and 4th... This car makes all kinds of mechanical noises unfamiliar to modern 99x's, just after idle gives a very clear sound of turbos starting to spool, wastegates offloading unneeded power over 3/4 throttle with a resounding whoooosh throughout the cabin, the exhaust gives notes of sincerity of racing heritage and a warning to other drivers that this way something evil comes. Short of peak boost you can feel the back wheels struggling for traction but is short of all out drama like I had expected. Todd slows and pushes a button on the EBC that puts it into high boost (1.65bar) and repeats with even more violent acceleration and pushing the tire grip past their limits much earlier. We stop and switch seats, its been a while since Ive driven her and cant put to words my excitement and apprehension, please God don't let me kill us both or wreck my car.

Launching with the ATS/Carbonetic triple carbon clutch takes some practice, it wants to grab NOW, despite the clutch its fairly to easy to drive at lower rpms, but the fast revving motor begs to be driven as if alive and extremely willing to run as fast as your nerves can stand. I start off on low boost to get used to the car, over 2500 rpm the power builds logarithmically, 3500 rpm and $hits getting real, 4500-5000rpm the back end is squatting and fighting for grip, I repeat this as before in 3rd and 4th...I'm giggling like school girl on prom night, out of the corner of my eye I see Todd smiling proudly of his creation. High boost does the same, just faster and more violent -

F*** me to tears!!!!

We take the car back and load it up on the trailer, I am still shakingly giddy inside, we talk for a few minutes, I shake everyone hands and give thanks for such an amazing machine and then bid our farewell for the hopefully uneventful trip home.

So after a couple weeks in seat, here is what I have learned...

I love e85, its a fraction of the cost of equivalent race gas, it doesn't start as easy as regular gas, and until it adapts to the 7000'+ altitude, it will bog and hesitate a little, but given a little throttle, it goes like hell.

I think we over killed on the turbos, we have about 1500hp worth of power but anything over 1000 will have you looking at guard rails at 3/4 throttle. Heavy throttle has the wastegates pushing excess boost to the ambient air, we were concerned about the turbos not producing enough power or stalling at higher altitudes under acceleration, of course better to have more than not enough, I am guessing we're using about 65% capability, if I were to make any changes, it would be to make them 80% or greater efficient.

I also underestimated the grip, another TSer is RWD with hybrid K16's at 650ish hp and has all kinds of traction issues, I had expected worse but with how the power comes on, its only slightly interesting at peak torque around 4000-4500rpm as opposed to 2500ish with the 16's.

I am extremely happy I had previously installed bigger brakes and rebuilt the tranny with taller 1-4 gears, especially 1 and 2, this much power would make 1st useless. there would have.

While there is always something quicker and faster, it will be far and few between that anything will come close, the car is deceptively fast with its smooth drivabilty, a couple people have likened the sound and power to that of a 777 rolling for take off with its turbines spinning and constant pressure in the back acceleration. I am definitely looking forward to would be challengers, I think my 12 year old blue will earn some respect, if something beats it, they will have definitely earned it.

Would I recommend Protomotive? Abso-f'n-lutely, there are a few minor things I would do differently but I would do and recommend this again without hesitation.

 

That's awesome. You'll have many years of enjoyment. Congrats.

 

Nice Chris....be safe over there...come back soon and enjoy the ride.

 

Nice Congrats....

 

I made that trip myself many years ago. It was quite an adventure.

Congrats on the car, the Mad Scientist is the best.

 

finally .. its in your hand ! enjoy it and congrats bro

 

Sounds like it was worth the wait!!

Congrats!!

 

Yeah, absolutely worth it.

Allot of people have focused on the time taken to complete, but it was my timeline, not theirs. I was deployed to some hot sandy places so there was no sense in getting it completed quickly. They also did some things that they haven't done before so there was some R&D time to ensure we wouldn't have any headaches later on, this definitely wasn't an "off the shelf bolt" on build (getting over 600hp from 1bar with drivability/reliability is not an easy feat).

 

I also need to give a most sincere thanks to all those I talked with through email, phone and IM, patiently enduring my endless questions and solicitations of advice and recommendations. Divexx, Palette, DJ_Jistu, Topgun, Robmd, Sid350, Marksi, Powell and Kiethta among others were part of this success.

I would highly recommend a conversation with these folks for anyone wanting to do more than a couple turbos and a tune, definitely an invaluable wealth of knowledge, will definitely have some numbers in the future as well as attending some events.

 

Congrats Chris! Good to see you are back here safe and you have the car back! You just can't beat E85! Enjoy it bro!

A lot of people always bring up time to finish others projects when they never have had a BIG setup on a Porsche built. Well on any car that involves a complete overhaul on a setup... If you rush something together you always end up having to go back later to fix stuff. Chris had the time and when he got the car he wanted it perfect! Todd delivered, and always delivers, exactly that!

 

Congratulations, Chris! I'm very excited for you! Enjoy the car!!

 

good to see this car back and u back in the country safely. enjoy it and post up some numbers. you went with 1100cc injectors with E*85?

 

I dont recall off the top of my head but that sounds right. I am back in the sandbox so I will have to run some numbers next time I am home, was waiting for the car to get adapted and then a final tune. Was going to compare RWD performace to AWD as well.

 

Contrats man!! Happy to say the least you are enjoying it when your home.
Protomotive does do some great work.
Keep us all posted when you have the car(actually you) dialed in. LOL