Save up to 40% on VR Forged wheel sets! - Shop Now

Porsche 997 Turbo Mods

The Porsche 997 Turbo is a great car to upgrade with performance and racing parts.  Coming from the factory with 480hp, the 3.6L turbocharged engine is extremely receptive to modifications.  You can do some basic bolt-ons to improve performance up to 700 horsepower, or go even bigger with turbo upgrades to reach 1000+ horsepower.  All of the parts on the Porsche 997 Turbo can be enhanced from what Stuttgart, Germany creates.  Suspension modifications to help the car handle better, aero kit upgrades are added for better styling, intake and intercooler components for better airflow, wheels and tires for a different look, and even the brakes to stop faster.

   

Most Porsche owners upgrade their Turbo in stages.  These stage upgrades can be done all at once or over time and designed so you do not have to repeat any modifications.  These upgrades we have tested on our own cars and proven their worth and capabilities.

Now a couple of parts you dont want to forget about when upgrading your 997 Turbo to almost 200 horsepower more than stock is the clutch and brakes.  On the 997.1 Turbo and 997.2 Turbo (S), no changes are needed to the Tiptronic or PDK automatic transmissions.  On the 6speed cars, the stock clutch can easily let loose.  Depending on how you drive, if you launch your car, or the previous wear and tear, you will know if your clutch is due for a change with a 3rd gear pull from 2500rpm to redline.  If your clutch slips at peak torque around 3800rpm, its time to change.  We recommend a good street clutch that is easy to engage but will hold the power.  At the same time, some people dont like the soft feel of the stock clutch and prefer a stiffer pedal.  An upgrade commonly called the GT2 Slave Cylinder Conversion is done.  This utilizes OEM parts to get rid of the OEM assist that is on the Turbo models but not the GT3 cars.

When it comes to brakes, the Porsche brakes are definitely good.  The 997 Turbo has 6piston calipers that were used on the earlier 996 GT3 with 350mm 1pc steel rotors up front and a 4piston caliper also with 350mm rotors in the rear.  If your 997 Turbo has the PCCB Ceramic Brakes (yellow calipers) there is still stuff to upgraded.  If you are daily driving and occasionally running your car hard, skip this as you are set, but if you like to push your car to the limits, you need to keep reading!

There is an endless supply of parts you can change or upgrade to including stiffer mounts, short shifters, radiators, pulleys, etc.  Right now we are just touching on the main points.  When it comes to suspension, the AWD platform of the 997 Turbo is a little to loose for the horsepower at hand.  Because the car is AWD, you want to make sure you deal with under and over steer correctly.  Under steer is when you go into a turn and the car just pushes to the outside.  This is common in front wheel drive cars.  Over steer is almost at the point of drifting.  In a rear wheel drive car when you take a turn and gas it, you can loop the car out.  With AWD, you want to get a little more over steer to help the push and keep the car balanced.  Of course sway bar setting and size is dependent on on tire type, coilover stiffness, and track type.

When Porsche designed the 997 Turbo, they did it to encompass the all around driver to meet aggressive performance needs while satisfying government regulations.  When it comes to safety items such as seats, harnesses, and roll bars, are simply add-ons to improve the driving experience.  Its not the most convenient to drive around in a 6 point harness, but when on the track, it makes sense.  Many bolt-in roll bars help stiffen up the chassis, allow for better mounting of harnesses, and in the end, some people just like the look.  Interior upgrades fall in the same line as exterior upgrades such as aero parts and wheels.  Porsche has obviously tested their aerodynamics to be efficient.  The functionality of the hydraulic spoiler, down to the design of the side mirrors are all considered.  But lets face it, we are not driving around at 150mph, so upgrading the look is something many like to do.  Aero Kits are almost a form of self expression.  Changing out bumpers, adding side skirts, changing to fixed wings, adding products with exposed carbon fiber, etc are all part of the upgrades.

Wheels could be an endless discussion on which look better or is more functional. But in the end, wheels are another expression of personality.  The 997 Turbo comes with 19 inch wheels from the factory.  You can go up to 20's or down to 18's.  18 inch wheels would be a rare case for someone looking to get a very lightweight track or drag wheel.  You would want to make sure they cleared your brake calipers.  20's are a normal plus 1 size for the 997 Turbo.  Where the stock is a 19x8.5 and 19x11, the 20 inch upgrade is a 20x9 and 20x12.  Anything bigger than a 20 on the 997 Turbo body just does not look right.  There are more options for tire choices in the 19 inch and that wheel fits just right to the styling.  When choosing a wheel you have options such as going with a forged or cast wheel, offset, and then design and color.  Forged wheels are always going to be lighter and stronger because of the forging process.  Forged wheels can be a 1piece or a 3piece.  Forged wheels are always going to be more expensive than a cast wheel.  A typical 19 inch OEM size forged wheel weighs about 18lbs front and 21lbs rear.  When you upgrade your wheels, one of the most important factors is tire size.  You need to keep your overall diameter the same as stock.  Failing to do so can damage the cars differential or cause premature wear.

Everything you can do or want to do to your Porsche 997 Turbo, Vivid Racing can help you.  This article just touches some of the basics.  We hope this helps you better understand the modification options available for the 997 Turbo.  Please contact us with any questions you may have regarding Porsche modifications.

Shop all Porsche 997 Turbo | GT2 Parts Here

Please Click a Product Category
CLEARANCE DEALS
CLEARANCE DEALS
Air Intakes
Air Intakes
Big Brake Kits
Big Brake Kits
Brake Parts
Brake Parts
Body | Aero Kits
Body | Aero Kits
ECU Tuning
ECU Tuning
Electronics
Electronics
Engine Upgrades
Engine Upgrades
Exhaust Parts
Exhaust Parts
Exterior
Exterior
Fuel Components
Fuel Components
Gauges
Gauges
Interior
Interior
Power Packages
Power Packages
Pulleys
Pulleys
Racing Gear
Racing Gear
Radiator Parts
Radiator Parts
Roll Bars | Cages
Roll Bars | Cages
Suspension
Suspension
Transmission
Transmission
Turbo | Supercharger
Turbo | Supercharger
Wheels
Wheels
Tires
Tires
Universal & Repair
Universal & Repair
Vivid Racing Gear
Vivid Racing Gear