You will need to use a 997 rear glass, but you can reuse the 996 quarter glasses. I would recommend using the 997 quarter belt strips that fit around the quarter glasses, but it isn't 100% necessary.

 

Tips are: that this conversion, if paying for labor and parts will possibly cost you more than just purchasing a used 997 GT3 at todays prices. Expect a bodyshop to have the car for 6-12 months, and there are some difficult areas of the conversion. So if you do still want to carry on with the conversion pick your bodyshop carefully. These 997 parts do not bolt on or weld on to a 996. Both the front and back are almost equal in difficulty with the fender jams and hood hinges being hard on the front and the rocker/door to quarter area hard on the back.

 

well done!

 

thanks for the advice.......the president of porsche club in spain converted his 996 to a 997 (not gt3 spec) and said it took his body shop just 5 hours to get the panels to fit.......he also has some pretty good pics of doing the conversion.

eitherway I am going to find out.......I will just do the front end to start with and then decide if i will try the rear end.....or just put a gt3 look rear bumper you can get for the 996.

 

I was trying to tell these guys the same thing. I was possibly one of the first guys to do this conversion in the states years ago.

 

I don't agree with the costings....and that it would be cheaper just to buy a 997 gt3....at least not here in the UK.

I have purchased all oem porsche parts all new bar hood and GT3 front bumper (as good as new, fenders, lights, hinges brackets, GT3 look rear bumper to fit 996 for £2,000 for the lot.
Plus painting maybe £1500 and I will fit the parts myself with the help of some friends.......that will be less than £4,000 to convert the front end to 997 gt3 and a gt3 look rear bumper......a lot cheaper than buying a 997 gt3 me thinks.......maybe porsches are a lot cheaper over in the USA :-)

 

Whilst I can not comment about converting the rear end......I have now spoken to three people in the UK who say fitting the front end is a piece of cake?

well I will let you know when i do it.....including all pics and exact costings in case anyone else wants to do this conversion.

 

I know you have to do some chopping and wealding to get the fenders to fit........do you have to do anything to the 996 doors to line up with the fenders?

 

love the rear wiper

 

Oultons.. who have you been speaking in LA porsche dismantlers? I can get you a better price with them.. please advise.. and send me an email with all the questions, and more than willing to help.

 

oultons and others... The conversion can be done two ways.. the cheap and inexpensive way.. or the real conversion done by an artesan. The second option is my recomendation. If you just remove and weld the fenders without doing it right, your car wil make noises every km you ride. You have to take apart each part and define prior to welding or bolting the new parts, what can be affected. The fenders is NOT A PIECE OF CAKE to assemble. None of them fit right on. I stripped my car and made a new car. You have to remove doors, windows, hinges, mirrors, inside interior except the instrument panel, pockers, fenders, light, washer system. The hinges dont fit exacltly. There is a trick. The only part I didnt change was the door handles, everything else in the exterior is OEM 997 GT3RS except the rear wing and seats. If any of you need specifically advice, thru skype, messenger we can chat and send back and forth pics to help this conversion. The car has to be painted in full, since the rear fenders have to be cut close to the roof of the car. Feel free to ask. And porsche dismantlers are great and EFREN is very helpfull! cheers.