Now that is funny as item #3 on my bucket list reads "Drive the loop with slicks", right before " Spend a week at the Nurburgring"

 

The sun is out this weekend... time to go driving! White 3.9 is doing a photoshoot next weekend so I'll take Kermit

 

Well another milestone has been reached in the adventure of my Sharkwerks 3.9 conversion. I have just recently returned from a 600 mile trip up through northern California and on to the Oregon coast. I have now broken through the 16,000 mile burier and on my way to 17,000 miles.

I have two new additions to the car since my last update; the first one being a new set of Brembo big yellows, something I now wish I had done miles ago. These things are absolutely fantastic! The stock rotors had come to the end of their usefulness and it was time to do something so a trip back to Sharkwerks and a few dollars later I am very happy. Just a few miles after the big brake kit I mounted a set of the new Michelin Super Sports, after talking with Damon at Tire Rack, and made the decision to try a set after being assured that if I didn’t like them before 30 days were up I could return them for a full refund. My initial thought was I would probably be sending them back if they were anything like the PS2’s I had tried awhile back and only had on the car for less then 2000 miles. I had read all the press releases from Michelin and some reviews from some folks who had attended the testing put on in Dubai but was very skeptical about them being comparable to the MPSC’s at almost $500 less and such a high wear rating. Again, I was pleasantly surprised. These are a great tire and an even better value. As many of you know I have been averaging only 2700 miles out of a set of the cups on the rears since having the 3.9 conversion and that is street or road miles only! (I don’t have streets where I live) Don’t misunderstand, they don’t have the same grip as the MPSC’s but are far ahead of the PS2’s and very close to the MPSC’s performance wise. They don’t hunt for grip as with the PS2’s and I have yet to find any disadvantage as far as my style of driving. They appear to be somewhat more forgiving then the cups and the turn-in is still crisp and very precise. I did jump up a size on the fronts to 245’s, run the same PSI as the cups and so far I am very excited about them. Also I now have almost 3200 miles on them and they have well over half their original tread depth, so I would classify them as a bargain and recommend them to anyone looking to replace their cups for road use. I don’t believe I will be going back to the cups.

The motor is running as strong as ever, burns no oil and I have only had to change the plugs and lots of rear tires, oh and brakes. The car is just incredible and still puts a smile on my face every time I turn the key and strap myself in! I love this car!! The next update will be at 20K! Keep in mind that I didn’t do the conversion until 37K so the car has over 53K on right now. Next up is a new Guards LSD, next week! Ya got to love that Sharkwerks gang!

 

Thanks for the update and most of all I'm glad you're racking up those miles the only way you know how It's really good to hear on the tires as well. Those brakes are somethin' else eh?

The black 2010 that was here needed new tires as they were corded so based on what you're saying he should have just as much fun on them as the PSC's

Keep on smiling and see you soon for the LSD:P

 

I just picked up my GT3 from Alex and the boys at Sharkwerks, a new guards LSD, an alignment and few other tweaks from James and it was off on a 155 mile trip home on one of my favorite north coast roads. I am still smiling, what a huge diffrence with the new set up! I became so accustom to driving with the open differential I forgot how well these cars really drive! Looks as if I may be getting a few more miles out of the rears now that I won't be sideways most of the time!! I love those sharkwerks guys!!

 

nice, like a fine bottle of wine; improving with age.

 

Haha I love that Shark:P I'm going to try it in the jacuzzi!

So glad you're enjoying it tho

 

man I am drooling now, thanks.......

 

Making me want to go for a long drive this weekend in the hills:P

 

Well it’s time for another update. I had planed on giving a report once I had reached 20,000 miles on the SW3.9 conversion; however it has been a very busy fall with several trips to Ashland, Reno, a three day drive to Rennsport Reunion IV and many trips on the loop. Last week on my way home over the loop I realized I have not only gone through the 20K mark but had just passed through the 21K mark! I just got home and discovered that I now have 21,156 miles on the conversion and it is running as smoothly and fast as the day I got it back from Alex and James almost 22 months ago. It was a classic winter drive today on the loop, with damp roads, lots of wet redwood needles and just enough standing water to make the drive interesting and keeping me on the points of my ***! Very little traffic, a couple logging trucks and the typical wild life, two deer and one wild hog but no carnage. I would like to mention how pleased I am with the SS’s and the new guards LSD. The SS’s are just superb in the wet. I did have to replace the rears last week but managed to get 6200 miles out of the first set, well over twice of what I was getting out of the MPSC’s! So I am pretty stoked about that! I think these are a good choice for anyone wanting a tire for this style of driving and doesn’t want to be replacing them every 3,000 miles, they are not as sticky as the MPSC’s in the dry, but close, however far superior in the wet!!

I have been asked by several folks if I have had any regrets about having the 3.9 done and the answer is absolutely not! The only real regrets I have are that, one I wasn’t patient enough to wait for an RS and secondly that I waited until I had 37,000 miles on the 3.6 before doing the 3.9. This motor has been flawless and amazing. One example; I just drove from Reno Nv to my house on the coast and averaged 24.8 MPG, until I turned onto to the loop for the last 60 or so miles. By the time I parked in the garage at home it had dropped to 19.4. So you can see that depending how you drive the gas consumption varies drastically. On a typical loop day MPG will vary from 10-13 MPG. I am still changing the oil every 3-4K with no noticeable usage between changes.
So the bottom line is that so far this motor is not only proven to be fast and “creamy” (as per Pete Stout) and very drivable, but also remarkably reliable for the first 21,000 miles.

In closing I would like to state that this has been without a doubt the most enjoyable Porsche I have owned over the near 50 years since my first 356A which I purchased from my step father in 1962. Every Porsche I have owned since then I have always said, “This is the best Porsche yet” I don’t know how I could ever possibly find a better driving Porsche then this one. Unfortunately I have had a business opportunity which has been presented to me and it may be time for me to once again put this car on the market, depending on what happens in the next several weeks. I realize this probably the worst possible time to try and sell a car such as this but sometimes we just have to bite the bullet and move on. Anyone who may be seriously interested in talking about a purchase please feel free to drop me a PM.

 

So glad to hear my friend and really means a lot coming from you too I really do hope you get to keep her though. Can't wait to see you and the 3.9 this week as we'll go for a fun run and trade off with the slow 3.8 car:P She's a bit faster than the silver pig mind you!

 

For a custom home builder your quite the review writer. That was very interesting to read as well as a stated testament to the guys at SharkWerks. They truly are in a league of their own.

 

I've seen some of the houses and let me tell you... they are something else! Out on the coast with views to die for...

 

The silver pig is a distand memory! I honestly think my stock 3.6 was as fast as that 3.8.

 

I woke up yesterday and after two cups of espresso I looked out to the east and saw a bright sunrise and nothing but blue sky! There wasn't anything on the calendar for the day so I decided it would be a good day for a little "loop" time. As I was going up my driveway I noticed I was only 220 miles from logging 23,000 miles on the 3.9 so thought I would just continue south to have lunch with my pals at Sharkwerks.
The roads were wet from the overnight fog and there was a lot of that horrible red volcanic ash that the county spreads on the icy portions, mostly on the tree sections and along the road close to the river. ( yes folks we do get icy roads in Northern Califirnia this time of the Year) we have had mineable rain this year but it has dropped into the low 30's a few days in the last couple weeks so the county boys have been bust spreading the sand. During a normal winter we usually get a fair amount of rain in between the cold spells which cleans the road surface but this year it's just been building up and retaining moister. This made for a fun drive on the way south. On the drive home things had dried up nicely so it was a very good drive. The car was as strong as always and I am totally sold on the Michelin Super Sports on these roads, wet or dry.
I turned 23,000 half way over my favorite section of the loop, as it should be!.
Just wanted to share the day with all you guys who have to keep your cars in the garage this time of the year! Another advantage to living on the west coast. I won't talk about the disadvantages of living in a near bankrupt state