Bought a 1999 996 6spd. The restoration begins...

Hello, Ive been lurking in these forums for some time now researching my purchase of a fun drivers car, the 6spd 996 Carrera. I had a certain budget I wanted do to spend and after months of searching I found a car I liked at the price point I was looking to spend. The car had issues. A cyl 1 misfire. I spoke to the person selling the car and was told it was drivable. I hoped it was only the coil packs since I was told they werent changed, settled on a price, and prepared for the worst case scenario of replacing or rebuilding the engine. Since we have a shop I planned to rebuild the motor or replace the motor at our shop and the cost would be much lower. I ended up with a well taken care off 1999 Arctic Silver Metallic 996 Carrera 6spd with 162,000 miles and very few options but something I could make mine without spending much money. The car when I picked it up in California. First sight when I picked her up. After analizing the car I saw several things that I would change in a short time. After making sure all engine work is done and interior and suspension are in check Its getting litronic headlights, smoked side markers and depo tail lights, Short shift kit and a performance exhaust system and REVO performace software. The car already had a VF engineering intake system. The seats will be redyed and the car completely detailed to my level of OCD. I want the car looking like new. Be a very enjoyable drivers car and be affordable. After my initial drive in the car the misfire was evident. I parked the car nearby to take it to a shop to have the coil packs checked the next day in hope that would fix the problem. I washed the car the next day and then took the car to 9elf Motorsports http://www.9elfms.com/ in Sonoma County, Ca. I Cant say enough good things about Michael. He is a former Porsche mechanic and RUF Mechanic from europe who opened his shop in California years ago and is very knowledgeable. He builds race porsches and was currently building a beautiful 3.8 air coooled beast. He checked the codes on the car and the only code present was a cyl 1 misfire. The coil packs were checked and the spark plug on cyl one was removed and cleaned. The spark plug was full of black carbon. We changed the coil pack and installed the spark plug and the car drove great! for 20 minutes. There was no intermix but the next step was to do a leak down test to check if the cylinder was cracked or it had a leaking head gasket. Either way the engine would have to be taken appart. My goal was to drive it to Texas and then take the engine appart at the shop. My new 911 on the lift at 9elf Motorsports in Sonoma County California. The car was consuming coolant although there was no intermix present. With the car completely cooled we loaded it up with coolant and I drove 7 hours to LA without a problem. The car stayed within operating tempature the whole way although the misfire was still present. In front of 9elf Motorsports after I waxed the car while it was cooling off in order to put coolant in it. After arriving in LA I checked and the car had consumed coolant. The car drove great. I noticed some smaller issues Ill also be fixing. The passenger window doesnt fully go down, the rear view mirror is a little lose. Now Im preparing for my drive to Texas. I did some research and I decided to try some temporary fixes to get to Texas without a problem. If I mention them here people will probably be shocked but my objective is to have the car at my shop so we can proceed with the engine rebuild and all the other things i want to do to the car. The car now has fresh coolant in it and the temporary fixes have been implemented and is driving fine. Its ready to head to Texas. Ill keep updating this thread with the complete restoration process. My first stop for gas on my way down to LA. The drive had some amazing views. The car finally parked in Beverly Hills. This car when clean still looks the part in LA. Thanks!

congrats. and have a safe trip back to TX and best of luck with the "rebirth" of your car

Looks like a nice one.

Nice writeup.

enjoy the drive home!

Congrats. Looks like a fun project. Where in Texas is your final destination?

Awesome project...if you want to be cool...fill us in on the pricing details.. Looks like a lot of fun.

Good luck on the drive. Looking forward to hearing more about your project.

Moe, you picked the best year and color Good luck on your drive home.

Good looking car. Looking forward to following your project.

Congrats. I'm in exactly same boat as you with mine. Restoring everything I can, so much fun working on this car.

Still my favorite set of wheels all time. They look good on the 996 and 993. Congrats on the purchase.

Well, I made it to El Paso, Tx! Basically the routine would be filling up the coolant every 4 to 5 hours. I bought some 50/50 mix and besides the fact the engine didn't have full power it drove smoothly with the cruise control on even at 80+ miles an hour. Can't wait to have the engine fixed so I can step on it hard. At a gas station in New Mexico. A beautiful design. Simple elegant and sporty. Stopped to add coolant somewhere in the Arizona Dessert. Cleaning the bugs off at an Auto Zone in El Paso. I tried to have the cars rear high on slopes when ever possible when adding coolant. I got complemented on the car 3 times on the drive down. A guy in a parking lot said "hey I'll trade you! That's a sweet car!" Then he asked to see the engine and told me how he had never seen a car with an engine in the back. A lady at a fast food restaurant said. "What kind of car is that? It's beautifull". I'm still surprised how a clean 99 996 still has that impact on people. Lastly I got a compliment at another gas station in Texas. Guy stopped while I was taking out some coolant containers from the frunk and said "wow! Where's the engine! That's a cool car!" The car is growing on me. Definetly happy with the purchase. I'm a little obsessive with clean cars so i clean it with some quick Detailer after long drives. Looks spotless most of the time. Really makes the car stand out.

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Soon I'll give pricing details. After next week when the Engine is pulled and fixed I'm going to do a full write up with pictures of the engine fix/ restoration with costs of the whole project.

For starters the option codes sticker was ripped off so I got the cars Vin decoded by Suncoast Porsche. Here's what they sent me. Can anyone comment on what actual options should go on the option code sticker?

the option sticker is also in the stamped service book which is located in the black leather owners manual pouch - i assume you have the original owners manuals with service book in it's black pouch? - the service book has the exact copy option sticker on one of the first few pages. also, it is uncommon for the option sticker to be removed from under the front trunk - possibility the car has had a repaint if the sticker is completely gone - have you checked the car for re-paint?

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Car didn't come with the original manual. The car looks like it was repainted because of scratches, rock chips etc. Never crashed though. There's still some of the option code sticker left on the front trunk, Most of it is ripped. This is what is left of the option sticker. I plan on having a new correct one made. What option codes should go on it?

4506 is probably the radio code

that sticker looks like it is the incorrect shape - looks like adhesive line ends at arrow - orig sticker is longer - take another photo and pull back so we can better eyes on it's location and see if any signs of adhesive in lower location

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Yea. I thought the same thing but It actually is the option code sticker residue. In the picture it looks like it ends at the arrows but it doesn't. I saw a thread on a guy from Spain named Juan who makes exact reproduction stickers and I'm going to have one made. I just want to know what option codes would go on it.

Thing form the Porsche VIn decoder says MY 1998 - cool I can't tell from that what options are on the car but if you take a bunch of interior pics I bet many of the people can tell you what's on it.

Looks like I have the following options: Aluminum door sills. Cdr210 radio Hi Fi sound 18 in wheels I think that's it.

Yesterday I visited the shop. The engine and transmision have been pulled on the car. We found that in its 165,000 miles the cars motor has never been opened and everything was original. The transmision hadnt been opened either to get a new clutch. Everything seamed in great shape. The strange thing is that the car did not have intermix. Its spewed out about a liter and a half of oil and thats it. It seams that in Cylinder 1 the motor had water in it based on how the spark plug looked hence the misfire. The motor will be opened tomorrow and im having it fully rebuilt with new parts and making sure everything is checked well etc. The engine and transmission out. The dirty engine with its original markings. I even think the coilpacks were the original ones. THe tranmission and engine had never been seperated, not even for a clutch job after 165,000 miles. Clutch still works well but obviously getting the EPS clutch and probably a lighter flywheel. You can see how the bolts have never been touched after it left the factory. The only ingnition coil I changed on Cyl 1. Ran great for about 30 minutes when I changed it until the cyl 1 misfire started again. The condition of the Bosche Spark plug. The white indicates water. Another picture of the spark plug. I searched to see if I could find a crack but found nothing in the Cyl 1 spark plug hole.

So the car is receiving a complete engine rebuild, ims upgrade, new eps clutch. Mods im considing seriously are a wavetrac LSD and the GruppeM Exhaust. I already bought the headers and have the EvoMS Vflow intake. I'll be reprogramming it with Revo software. Look at the beautiful exhaust. Just waiting for a price from a wholesaler. If the price is right I'm going to buy it. Does anyone have experience adding an lsd to a 99 without psm? Gripped exhaust

Great write up, thanks. Keep the updates coming.

Well, today I went to the shop to see what the issue was and it turns out that it has a typical M96 engine problem. Cracked cylinder. Cylinder 1 has a small crack. That's what caused the misfire. This means The motor is getting new cylinder sleeves. Also the motor was completely full of gunk after 165 thousand miles. They described it as cholesterol in the engine. The good thing is the motor will be good as new and I'll have a very enjoyable car with the right mods. The cylinder crack on cylinder 1. Another view of the crack.

Looks like you caught the D chunk failure early. Keep posting. I love the project.

That sucks and hopefully you can get it sorted out for the least amount of headaches. This is another reason why a regular PPI isn't worth a damn these days IMO. Everyone should be doing an invasive PPI at the very least. Gotta feeling people are going to be forgetting about IMS soon or it's going to be overshadowed by the cylinder issues. If you can believe, there are a few Acura's, yes you heard it right, Acura's that are having ovaling and scoring issues on their 3.7L Alusil based motors too, leading to excessive oil consumption. Acura even has a TSB on it. Acura got smart and reverted back to the iron liners for '14+ models. It's not the first manufacturer to do so though as quite a few manufacturers has reverted back or flip flopped in the past.

Well, I have the cylinder situation fixed. Now I need to buy parts for the rebuild. I was told I need to buy a complete engine rebuild kit. Im planning on buying the kit from vertex. http://www.vertexauto.com/showitem.a...20C4%203.4%20L Plus I need: AOS Lifters Oil Pump Chain tensioners Anyone have any sugestions of better parts? I know they have a new version of the tensioners. Wanted to have your opinion before they started. Thanks! Vertex 3.4 Rebuild Kit

Congrats on the silver (Only way to go ) car, wow so it had a cracked cylinder and still was good to get you were you needed to go? Porsche did make some good engines out there. I assume you got a great deal on this car since your putting some good money into now.

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Yes, I got a good deal. The car was very well taken care off. Everything original, good tires, maintenance, suspension, etc. Previous owner put money into maintaining it in great shape. Just the cracked cylinder issue which from the begining I already had a plan to solve. Its going to be a fun car.

Well Here is the end result of the car. I had a good friend and F1 mechanic rebuild the engine for me. I observed much of the process, almost daily visiting the shop and helping however I could. It was meticulously done. Heres the list of what was done. Complete engine rebuild including: Rebuilt heads for a bit higher compression IMS Retrofit New factory half block with good cylinders low temp thermostat Fabspeed style stainless headers VF Engineering V-Flow intake (Sounds Awesome) All liquids changed to Motul (Coolant, steering, brake fluid, etc.) Mineral oil used for breaking procedure. Breaking procedure done as recommended on LN Engineerings article. Exterior: Wheels scratches painted and restored Litronics installed Dectane 997.2 style LED tail lights and LED third brake light and LED Wing light LED Side markers Calipers painted Red and (Motul racing brake fluid) RainX Windshield Wipers Interior: Seats repainted and refurbished Steering wheel repainted and Refurbished B&M Short Shifter Car detailed Im just waiting to get a LSD and upgrade the suspension some although the suspension was well checked to make sure all was in order. Very happy with the end result. Car has no lights and pulls very strong. Im enjoying her very very much.

Nice! Where's the shop? Mexico? I noted an Audi A1 in one of the earlier pix and now a Ford Ka on the street.

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Yes. My friend has his shop in Mexico City. He's a mechanic for the Telcel F1 team and worked in racing in the US. He has a 997 himself and is also a Porsche fanatic.

More pictures of the real beauty in those pictures please! Congrats!

I have to say you're girl is handling being broken down really well while you're working underneath it on the street. You got the whole f1 pit crew to rebuild your engine simutaneously too? Glad you got everything squared away. Do you drive that thing back and forth into the US all the time?

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LoL, that was actually my friend underneath the car. We went out for lunch and one of the ignition coils moved out of its place so he pushed it back into place. My girlfriend is from Colombia, she's a tv host and model. Ill drive the car back to the US soon on a road trip but mainly I use it as a weekend car and track car in Mexico City. In the US I prefer a turbo. The 911 is the perfect sports car for Mexico. This is in L.A. Before I brought the car to Mexico City.

Now that's beauty!

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Looks like a 1993 model.

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She must not know about Porsches as I don't think she'd want to be seen with you since you have those ambers/pumpkins on your car. LOL j/k. Aren't you a bit concerned about driving that thing in Mexico? I'd be afraid of drawing too much attention and all the bad guys. Of course unless you only drive it around Polanco.

I don't have the pumpkins anymore. That was an old pic from when I picked it up in California. I have LED side markers now, look at the pic bellow. Yea I drive allot in Polanco actually and other nice places in the city. You be surprised how many people drive Porsches in Mexico City. They sell allot here. Last Saturday I counted 5 and almost all were 991 and a couple of turbos. Crime in certain areas is not as bad as people think.

all I gotta say is MoeMonney got this squared away. bravo, nice work. Very cool approach to 996 refresh.

Maybe I missed it, but do you have a pic of the condition of the original IMS? I would really like to see it after 165k miles. Some on this board are replacing the thing every 30k miles like it's a brake pad. What did you find?

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The original Single Row IMS was in great shape. I was surprised I didn't have a Dual row since supposedly all 99 model year cars have the dual row. My Mechanic said the engine and transmission had clear signs that they were never opened since they were assembled from the factory with makes me wonder how thats possible since it had a single row IMS and the clutch still looked decent after 165,000 miles. The car was very well taken care off by the previous owners thankfully and the last one was a PCA member. Thats the only reason I can attribute to the condition. Theres a picture on the IMS thread here: https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...l#post13402716

Check the engine serial #. Sounds like it was swapped out.

Engine serial number started with M96/01 in the IMS thread Jake states how some M96/01 Engines switched to single row IMS in the production but that those engines were rare. I believe to have one of those engines.

You had her on the car all the way back from LA and you only now posted a pic? Wtf is wrong with you? Nice ride. Great thread.

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LOL, No, she flew back since she was finishing up her last semester of College and had exams. I drove al the way back by myself. It was a great experience and even though I could not accelerate hard and was basically running on 5 cylinders the car still ran relatively smooth below 3K RPM. I was cruising at 100 MPH several times. Now with the motor rebuilt and the car in the wonderful condition its in, its a completely pleasurable driving experience. Puts a smile on my face every time.

What was your production date for your 99? Also, is your climate control showing 10 C?

Well, Where can I find the production date? I know the invoice Date is 4-20-98. In the picture in this thread the climate control is showing 104 C since I was making sure the engine temp was fine since It was the first day I was breaking in the motor. I did this by using the diagnosing function that the MK1 996 cars have in the AC controls.

Great story! Good work. You have a really nice 996! Mike

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Thanks, My last mods will be a TBD/LSD, Osram CBI Xenarc HID headlight bulbs and maybe a ROW M030 suspension. Thats it until I get a Turbo.

^^^^ I'll be following your build. You've done an amazing job with your 996. I look forward to your future progress. Mike

Finally have my interior mods almost done. The only thing left that I want to do is add an Aux cable to my stereo. This is the most recent mod. Painted center console. Looks really nice.

^^^ Looks great! Good job! Mike

Very impressive. And beautiful. I never thougth I'd get tired of black but you've got me thinking silver for my next one.

Well after looking everywhere for an affordable set of G50 flanges I have not been able to find a set to install the TBD I bought for my car. Other than that I had a few suspension pieces changed. I can't believe how sensitive a 911 is to suspensi�n components. Changed a single drop link on the front and the car handled much better, now I'll be changing all of them. I also installed Michelin pilot sport Cup tires I got at a discount and the car sticks to the road very well. I'll be taking it on my first track day this Monday. I'll be putting in Motul 8100 xcess oil in it soon or if I can Joe Gibbs dt40. The car has a new LTH battery. Next mods will be Osram Cool Blue Intense Xenarc HID bulbs for my litronics that should arrive today or tomorrow and new speakers and then maybe a head unit. Also I want to find a way to permanently fix the broken sun visors I have. Thats all for now. I get complimented on the car allot since it looks pristine. The driver side seat will also be repaired since the bottom leather seam came off but generally the car looks great. At a local car wash. After waxing last week with Meguires ultimate wax.

California Motorsports can machine your existing flanges to G50 specifications. They quoted me $250.

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Interesting....... my 2000 C4 tip has a double row........... I had it replaced this spring when car had 137k on the clock. put 5k more on, so far.

Congrats on your car restoration! Can you PM me the address of the shop which rebuilt your engine? I will more likely move to Mexico for my job next year and I am still undecided on selling the car before moving or driving it down there. My wife prefers option 1 for security reason... I confirm that you see a lot more Porsche in Mexico City that some people could imagine especially in Polanco, Interlomas or Santa Fe.

At aut�dromo Miguel E. Abed in Puebla, Mexico. Getting some help on the track. I took the car to the track. My car has Michelin pilot sport Cup tires and they are amazing on the track. I really acquired allot of respect for the 99 996 C2. Basically it's equally as fast as a new 2016 Mercedes A45 AMG which is currently the most powerful production 4 cyl turbo car with over 355 hp. We were competing all day and in the curves the 996 can catch up to the A45 even though the A45 has a slight straight line speed advantage. Overall the 996 is faster on the track.

^^^^ Great to hear. I'm looking forward to getting my 996 on the track. Mike

Was the track in Puebla or Mexico City? In both cases the 2 cities being above 2000m or 6000 ft in terms of elevation, the AMG has a big advantage being supercharged against the NA 996 ... you would have probably matched his acceleration at sea level.

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The track is in Puebla. It's an FIA category track. A little more on the track here. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aut�...Miguel_E._Abed

Could it be that your car was brought in to the US from Germany by an American GI? It could have been produced late in the European 98 production line and bought then by this US Military member, who brought the car to the US when posted back, whenever that was.

Dude, while I'm enjoying reading your thread here, I'm anxious to see more pics of your girlfriend. :-)

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Turbocharded....

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LOL you can see her on TV every morning if you know what channel to tune into. You are correct. Turbo cars do great at altitude yet the power delivery from an NA car is also delicious on the track. They are both fun. For me its more about the feel than the acceleration. The 996 carrera is a very fun, well balanced and fast car.

Well, My engine is getting a second rebuild thanks to spinning a rod bearing at the track. This time im installing the Torque Biased Diff and doing the Gundo Hack as well as installing the new Benys Ball Bearing short shifter and new motor mounts. The car should be almost immaculate after this. Heres a pic a day before it spun a bearing. a pic with my girl again Back to the shop. But she will come out better than before.

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Great looking car! How much does a full detail cost in MC?

You bought this car for very little money, IIRC. But now you're having the engine rebuilt a second time? I know you have a friend with a shop but does he do all this work for free?

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I have our office chauffeurs detail the car and clean it if I take it there. I give them the wax and the leather cleaner and conditioner, plus all the other supplies. The car was polished at a body shop. But a high end detail with swirl removal and carpet extraction with a pressure steamer and all the other proceses is around 4,000 to 5,000 PESOS which is about 200 to 250 Dollars. Rebuilding a second time because I spun a rod bearing on the track incorrectly downshifting, not because the first rebuild was bad. Yes labor is cheap in Mexico and even cheaper if one of your best friends owns a shop and is a Porsche enthusiast and race mechanic. I help him with some things he helps me with others.

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Thanks! ;-)

Fun thread to read! Good luck with the car. Devil's advocate that I am, wouldn't it have been cheaper in the long run to get a lower miles, newer 996?

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I guess if you looked at my car today you would never think it has the miles it has. Aesthetically it looks great inside and out. Mechanically its also in amazing shape. For the money I spent I ended up with a great car. All in all Ive payed less than 14k for what I have, including the new cylinder sleeves, the LSD (TBD) and all the other upgrades Ive done to it like Litronics and dectane tailights etc. Labor is so cheap where I restored it that it was worth while to do it this way. Cheap doesn't mean bad. The motor rebuild was excellent and all the other restoration details I supervised. Basically this is the way restoration shops make money. Ive even considered doing it again with another 996 with more options to my liking like a factory LSD and certain interior and exterior colors. I think I could probably do it even cheaper with the experience I acquired. These cars are great. The driving feel, the looks when they are clean, the sound and performance when they are in working order are an amazing value. Its still a 911, and I doubt if I ever decide to sell it ill lose money and probably at least recuperate what it cost me. The pleasure I derive from the car is amazing on all fronts for the money Ive spent.

So a new update on my 996. Since I started this thread many things happened in my life. My business grew and I purchased some other cars. I now also have a 997.1 Turbo thats has a 600hp Sharkwerks kit, DSC module, 2 sets of HRE wheels, Bilstein Damptronics, Full cat-less Tubi exhaust, Bluetooth module and some other things. Its a great car that I enjoy very much, but a completely different experience to my 996 which was my first Porsche and I also love. Il'l probably never sell it since its still a great driving car and I modded it to my liking. It reminds me of a time in my life when I was at an inflection point every time I drive it. It's now in LA and I get comments on in all the time. Ive left it at BBi in Huntington Beach to get a full suspension refresh. Its getting Ohlins R&T coilovers and BBi parts (camber plates, toe kit etc) installed and it's getting suspension tuned. I plan on driving it as a canyon carving car in California. Il'l be posting pics of the upgraded suspension install process at BBi. Cheers! A few pics of my 997 turbo and my 996 before the suspension refresh. Pics from BBi soon to come. Instagram Instagram

Very nice!

Nice looking Turbo !!

Looking good, nice pickup with the turbo.

I think we are all wondering if you are still with the same gf? It's become relevant to this thread.

Very cool! Congrats! Mike

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Hahaha, I was wondering if someone would bring that up. No longer with her. After 2.5 years we went our separate ways in 2018. She did get to keep a Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio though.

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You make it sound like that's a bad thing.

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I bought it. Used it a couple of times then we broke up and I let her keep it. Cost me 1 bitcoin at the time so it wasn't bad. I got that Bitcoin very cheap and when I sold it it was over 100 times what it cost me.

So BBi sent me pictures today. The installed new brakes and stainless brake lines. They said that the brake fluid came out pitch black and needed changing.

nice..

And finally after four years since I bought the car it got a full suspension refresh with ohlins coilovers as well as some maintenance items.

Looks like it’s all coming together. That suspension is gonna be butter.

So the cars suspension has been installed. Now it's going to be corner balanced and dialed in. Do you think I should get spacers? This is how it looks without them.

You're going to love those Ohlins!

Betim at BBi took my car out to dial in the suspension and noticed one of the wheel bearings was making noise so Im getting all four wheel bearings changed out and new transmission fluid also. Were looking for some OEM sport seats to put in it and the last piece will be getting the dings fixed and paint touched up, full interior and exterior detail and ceramic coated.

this was a fun read

Imho, yes it needs spacers. Dont forget longer lug bolts if u get them.

Getting new wheel bearings. The BBi Shop is really nice.

It looks like you got the Elephant Racing quick change camber plates in the front. That should make camber changes a breeze...

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Im not sure if they are BBi parts or another brands but yes its adjustable. BBi tuned the suspension. Told me the car handles amazing. I cant wait to drive it.

Update of my car with its new suspension from BBi.

Looks great! Did you have all the suspension arms replaced as well ? That's my next big job on my 99.

I had some suspension arms replaced that were shot. All worn parts in the suspension were changed or upgraded. My shocks were shot and so were some bushings. I haven't driven the car yet but they tell me the suspension upgrade is night and day. It's a completely different car. The suspension tuning and adjustments were done by BBi and they have experience with race cars etc. I cant wait to drive it. In pictures it looks just like I wanted it too. Lower than before but just right. I Asked for a suspension tune for every day driving but perfect for ocasional track days and canyon carving. Im going to take the car on a Road trip up the coast all the way to Seattle.

So, Im going to be doing a road trip up the Pacific coast up to Vancouver. I drove the car yesterday. The suspension is a night and day difference. Really happy with it. The car had the coolant light flash constantly and BBi is fixing the issue. It seams it's the coolant sensor. They replaced the coolant reservoir and a coolant hose that was damaged. Can't wait to carve some canyon roads and drive on the Pacific Coast highway through its scenic sections. Any recommendations like Angeles crest highway or other great driving roads? Il'l be posting pictures.

MoeMonney - Coolant sensor is a pretty easy fix. Next time you have the air box snorkel out, follow the coolant tank down to bottom where tank ends. The wire coming out of that location is attached to the sensor probe. Twist 1/4 turn ccw (I think) and out it comes. Have a great drive! It’s one of the most beautiful routes in US.

Coolant sensor was replaced and the issue was fixed. Drove the car hard on Angeles Crest Highway today. It was amazing. The BBi suspension setup with Ohlins coilovers transformed the car. I followed a group of aircooled 911s. I also followed a new Mini Cooper who was driving very hard and was surprised at how well those cars handle. The 996 is the perfect car for canyon carving, with enough power to pace up straights and pull out of the sweeping lefts and rights. Angeles Crest has ocasional 180 degree corners that also test breaking power. Its packed with people who drive sports cars. When the sun is setting the mountains light up contrasting their own sharp shadows. If you've never been driving Angeles crest highway I would really recommend it.

One of my favorite pictures.

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Stunning pictures and so glad to see these cars being taken care of and used properly💪👍!

So I got a check engine light yesterday. The car hadn't been driven for a while and after driving the car the whole day the light went away. Scanned it and got P1531 and P1524 camshaft adjustment bank 1 and 2 codes. I read that running it might correct it and I think thats what happened and why the CEL light went away. Car pulls perfectly and idles perfectly. Also BBi changed my coolant reservoir tank and it came with a black cap. I have the new blue cap but BBi said that the correct coolant cap is the black one that came with the new reservoir and that the threads are different. Today the black cap busted. I guess Il'l be putting the blue one back on. Any suggestions on which is the correct cap? ​​​​​​​

I am picking up my new to me 1999 996 Coupe this weekend. Based on the description of how it runs, I believe that it too has a cracked cylinder. I also have 1999 Cabriolet Tip with a good running engine (theft recovery/prior salvage title so not worth anything to sell) that I was thinking about swapping in but I have also been thinking about rebuilding the existing engine. I read through your posts and it looks like you purchased a new factory half block instead of having yours re-sleeved, Is that correct? Was it more cost effective to go that way over having your block re-sleeved?

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I'm no expert but it sounds like they used an OEM reservoir? I've read many a post that says when it comes to that part to spring for the extra $300 to get genuine.

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I also think it could not be genuine but I have to check first. They put on a working blue cap, all though not the part number ending 04 blue cap that was on the car when it got there. They also flushed the coolant completely again. Car runs fine now without an issue. The suspension is amazing. The car is so much more fun to drive and pulls hard. Really confidence inspiring and stable, has tons of grip, but you can do controllable drifts also. I have Michelin PS4s tires on it. its a wonderful analog drivers car. I recently drove through Big Sur, that place is incredible.

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The sleeves were changed with new Nikasil lined sleeves. Heads rebuilt etc. A full engine rebuild. We did many preventative upgrades, IMS etc. The car is a pleasure to drive. Just a true pure feeling sports car that stimulates the senses with the exhaust system, intake, suspension, Short shift kit etc. Just what I thought it should be for fun driving.

It looks like the right exhaust tip is hanging a little low...

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Good eye on that although it's not because of the motor mount. The mounts are relatively new. Its because of a small bump that i had with the car on a hill. Havent fixed it yet, Basically i didn't put the parking break on hard enough and it rolled a few feet and bumped into a post. Damaged the bumper a bit and it's just where the exhaust tip is. I still have many cosmetic fixes to make. The focus was on making it the best drivers car at the moment. Il'l be getting all the dings taken out and front and rear bumpers readjusted and painted at some point, as well as the seats replaced and the steering wheel in Alcantara. After that the car is done in my eyes. Maybe add a Porsche classic radio.

New pictures of Big Sur, California. It's been one of the most amazing scenic roads I've ever driven. beautiful place. The car is driving like a dream. So much pleasure. Suspension is amazing and the sound and feel of the car as it sits now is great for these kinds of trips. In Santa Barbara before heading out to Big Sur. amazing seeing the elephant seals on the way. The mountains looked incredible. In Big sur enjoying the views. As you can tell my car looks great but could use some cosmetic fixes. Windows open and sunroof open. Enjoying the drive on the coast. The view from my position. Amazing sunset.

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what kind of paint did you use? Looks great

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Arctic silver metallic. Dont know the brand of the paint the bodyshop used. It was very cheap to get it painted and came out great.

New update. The pacific coast is so beautiful. Also the mountain drives on the coast are a lot of fun. Stopped to do some Elk viewing in an elk meadow going through redwood national park. Beautiful places. Stopped ed to do some Elk Viewing in an Meadow In redwood forest. Driving through redwood national park. The amazing scenery on the California coast. Looks prehistoric. Before ending state road 1. Sun setting on the California coast. Morning fog in Oregon. The tunnels on the coast in Oregon.

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OH MAN!! I should have posted to meet up with you - I'm in the SF Bay Area and would have driven up Rt. 1 with you for a couple/few hours!

Logans Pass at Glacier national park. Coming down from Logans pass.

Nice Run! Great scenery/photos

I'm jealous! Maybe I'll tell my boss I'm out for the next week. Nice trip!

Moe, maybe I missed the post, but I noticed you swapped out the front base halogen headlights and installed the Litronics. Anything need to be done electrical wise? Any MIL? or just plug and play?

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I replaced my scored cylinder block with a factory short block last year and found it to be the best balance of cost and piece of mind. By the time you throw in the clutch, coolant tank, AOS, etc, you can still expect to spend close to $15k. I documented my rebuild comparison in a spreadsheet and in this thread. Might be helpful to you. https://rennlist.com/forums/rennlist....php?t=1140363

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Nope, just plug and play. Only thing is the litronic projectors don't move up when you put on the brights if you dont install the litronic module.

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I spent much much less than that on the whole rebuild. Then again I had access to cheap labor. Think about it like this. There's a vertex rebuild kit that costs $1,329. https://www.vertexauto.com/porsche-e...l-p-11560.aspx You can change the sleeves out at less than $1,000. The way I look at things is all about time, the only thing you can't buy. Anyone that tells you something is imposible is usually wrong. Yes, you can build a reliable engine that will work in your car and give you thousands if not hundreds of thousands of miles of enjoyment. Building these engines is not rocket science. Yes there are people that go to the extremes and get the best of the best. I love that and think if you have the means its the way to go. But, If you don't have the means you can use first principle thinking and come down to the fundamentals. Can you build an engine or find a shop that can do a good job building the engine for an affordable price? Yes you can, and don't let anyone tell you its not possible. Others have done it, many more successes than the people that have suffered engine failures. If they have done it so can you. It may take you a few more hours of research and talking to people but a few hours is a small price to pay to save thousands and take advantage of the time you have and enjoy driving the car. I spent $7,500 on the car. Found it on the Rennlist Marketplace, Spent $2,500 on engine rebuild kit and upgraded parts. I built my strategy with all the info on the internet and the forums. Spent another $3,000 on labor. Spent $2,000 on body work and replacing worn components like suspension arms etc. In the end I was left with a fun, good looking car that provided a great driving experience for less than $15,000. I could have spent more but at the time it was hard for me. I don't regret my decision one bit and it was a fun project. So much so I've been wanting to do another again with the knowledge I acquired. Maybe I will some day. Look at how this guy restores and resells early 996's. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSA...bpudkhyNbWFrOw I think the key is to have a clear plan and stick to it. Time, budget and strategy. If people here scare you and tell you its imposible just know there are guys like me out there that have made it happen. Some multiple times. My biggest spend on it was the recent suspension upgrade and brake work I did at a shop. I spent more on labor there than the parts they installed. Then again now I can afford it and I paid extra for peace of mind. Was it worth it? depends how you look at it. For me not really after the fact for various reasons. I've taken my car to track days, long road trips, etc. I drive the crap out of it but also maintain it well changing oil every 3k miles. We have access to more information now than ever in human history. Might as well take advantage of it.

Great thread - very entertaining read and fantastic car you've built. You mentioned using REVO software for tuning. From reading various forums, it sounds like finding a tuner willing to tune a '99 996 with the throttle cable and earlier Motronic DME can be a challenge. Did you end up getting a REVO tune on your '99? If so, which stage and what were your experiences with REVO and the finished product? TIA

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I haven't reprogramed the ECU. Decided to do other mods to it that I think add more value. Im going to put some sport seats in it with painted backs in arctic silver and change my Ben's short shifter to the Numeric Racing short shifter with Numeric Racing shifter cables. Also im adding a Porsche classic radio and getting my steering wheel and shifter in Alcantara. Possibly a three spoke steering wheel. Adding the optional sport exhaust tips and headlight module so the High beams work as intended on the Litronics and the projector moves. Next Mod List: Numeric shifter and cables Sport seats with painted backs Alcantara steering wheel and shifter Litronic headlight module that I got from a wrecked car. Sport exhaust tips Cosmetic restorations (dents, scratches) Paint correction and ceramic coat. Hollow spoke turbo twists (already bought two wheels that are being restored) Porsche classic radio Bosch Wipers For now I've been driving it in the Colorado mountains in the snow. I get compliments on the car on a regular basis. It's a rare sight to see especially in the mountains. The Mk1 996 has really come of age. I still love driving it despite the fact that I also have a modded 997.1 Turbo.

Great thread. And its awesome to see the car buried in snow. These are cars and are suitable for all clilmates. Good job. jb

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I actually got a used half block from a wrecked car and re-sleeved it. It was faster to do this and I wanted to be enjoying my car. That was back in 2016. Im also getting sport seats for relatively cheap from a wrecked car and restoring them and painting the seat backs. Even my Litronics were from a wrecked car and I restored the lenses and upgraded the bulbs as well as used my halogen seals to replace the rotted seals the Litronics came with. They look like new. I got used Coil pack shields for almost free and cleaned them up and installed them. If you look you can find good parts online from eBay, Copart, craigslist, etc. You just have to have a plan and be patient and look. Recently I found a JIC Cross titanium exhaust for the 996 for 1k. It's a lot to spend just to have a lighter exhaust with a different sound. The gundo hack I already have on my stock mufflers already sounds glorious. I always offer less. Most of the time sellers take the deal. Im diligent with maintenance. Change all the fluids regularly and I drive the car hard. It's a lot of fun.

Hey MoeMonney, did you ever get the body kit made by AndrewK996(?) Just curious how far along that went.

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I assume that at $1000 for the resleeve that you did not go with Nickies. Did you use a local machine shop or someone online?

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I had Nikasil liners put in. Not the LN branded Nikasil liners (nickies). Nikasil liners can be put in at several race shops. Mine were put in by a race shop that builds Nascar engines and other race engines. Heres a shop that does them in the US for example. A google search provides several options. https://www.millennium-tech.net/indService.php?id=1

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No I didn't. Decided to take my car on a long road trip up the west coast of the US, across the north and back down through Yellowstone to Colorado.

Hey there, From another person who has done an extensive build on their 996, here is what I think: 1) 3-spoke steering wheel is much better. I highly recommend it. 2) The Numeric shifter changes the game. I don't have the cables, but the shifter shifts like butter. 3) Sports Seats are also really nice to have. I upgraded to them as well. Great job, and wonderful pictures!

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^^^That's disappointing... Does anyone have any info on whether Andrew is still working on the Singer type active ducktail?

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Very nice and thanks, any pics of your interior? did you paint the seat backs?

nice pic of this week. The Litronics look great with the Phillips Extreme vision gen 2 bulbs.

Been road tripping across the US now. Driving through Badlands national park. Amazing driving road. Only thing is the speed limit. It would be the perfect place for a time trial race. Look at the background. Mount Rushmore! Very beautiful place. Great driving roads up there. Snow tires did a great job.

I have listed my 996 Carrera for sale. I decided to focus on upgrading my speed yellow 996 turbo. Check it out! https://rennlist.com/forums/market/1284958