Make your 996 C2 handle like a GT3 RS, only $2.99!

I found an interesting handling enhancement for my 02 996 C2 the other day. Have you noticed that even with a M030 suspension, that the front of a C2 is a little "floaty" over irregular road surfaces? I found the perfect cure. The other day, I had to go get some supplies at Home Depot so I took the Porsche. One of the things that I had to get was a 60 pound sack of sand. I put that in the front luggage compartment as far forward as I could, and all of a sudden the car was much more stable at speed. Smoother as well. Has anyone tried this and had good results? I think that I am gonna keep a bag of sand in the car from now on! And all it cost was $2.99 + tax ($84.97 CDN)

Wow that should get things going! We have people here worried about saving a few pounds and you go and tell us to add some weight. I must admit though when I am on the autobahn and fully loaded with luggage the front does feel better, I hope this helps you get the thread going.

If you buy the sacks of sand in bulk from one of those industrial companies, you'll get them for pennies on the dollar!

I use 60 pounds of feathers, so I stil save weight.

I have also noticed with the trunk empty, the car's front will float and oscilate at high speeds. With luggage, it is more stable. Maybe they designed it to have stuff in the front to put a little weight to add stability. The Land Rover sport actually hangs iron balast at its four corners to improve stability (this months automobile mag). Go figure.

Put a fuel cell in

I didn't know the exchange rate was so favorable... for Canada. -td

Porsche did exactly the same thing in the mid 1960s when they hung lumps of iron on the front corners on the SWB 911.

I predict Dell will be by soon.....

put a more agressive lip...though its not 2.99

I read it was lead

First, the CAI. Then, the Plenum. And now, the 'Sand Mod' is born. I'm waiting until someone imports some ludicrously expensive, dyno tested sand from , like, German volcanoes or something. Then, I'm in.

It's not as silly as it sounds. All trailbraking does is shifts weight to the front of your car during turn-in. A little sand would do the same thing. Unfortunately, that's the only positive effect. It will hurt braking, accelleration, etc., etc. Guys racing stock class 911s almost always have to add ballast to make weight. It's always a hot topic of discussion where to add it. Most think on the floor under or in front of the passenger seat is the best but a few swear by adding weight in the trunk. Jim

I put my camera equipment in the trunk (50lbs) and the handling was soo much more stable.....

I use bags of salt for my STUPID pool. Weights the car and potentially rusts it out for weight savings all at the same time. One stop shopping

Now you C2 guys know how us C4 guys feel

My car was like that until I installed the factory aerokit (the one for cabs and targas BTW). Problem solved by adding downforce without weight. It was just a wee bit more expensive, though.

OR...Get a C4S! where the word "float" is not in its vocabulary.

You're quite right, of course (oops)

...which is handy, since there isn't any room in the C4 trunk for sand

A few weeks ago I had two 40lb bags of mulch up there. I wonder how much it will hold? Anyone care to look at the manual. When I had an F150 I went to Home Depot to pick up sand for the playground and pavers for the court yard. I put so much weight in the bed, that I blew the rear tires (oops), as soon as I put it in R.

What about the spare tire?? Isn't that heavy enough. I actually took mine out to save on weight. I do have the GT3 bumper with splitter lip though.

You could relocate your battery up there, just like the 993s.

Have you ever seen a 996? It's already there......

Unfortunately the word "heavy" is.......

So, ummm... you going to elaborate on your pool?

And you are referring to the pool that my family promised that they would take care of 7 years ago who now don't even know that they have a pool? Me and Raul have become such good friends.....Priceless

Hey - you and I think alike. That is the same reason I don't have a dog. And the only way we are getting one is if my wife and daughter both sign contracts to do at least 75% of the walking, feeding, bathing, pooper-scooping and taking to the vet that I used to do. Otherwise, no pets for me. FYI - they probably KNOW you have a pool - they see you lugging supplies and cleaning the damn thing after all.

Unless it was Gant's C4S submarine. That puppy could float!

That's why I live in a van down by the river . . .

About 6 months ago I asked my wife about the $200 checks she had written to Raul Ramirez for 13 weeks in a row. She said it was to pay the pool guy.... we don't have a pool! I am starting to get a little suspicious. Do you think she is planning on having a pool installed?

I'm sorry. I will not cash them.

That gives a whole new meaning the the phrase "go pound some sand!"

Ok, who's up for a group buy?

adding weight to the trunk would add more stability in a part throttle/mid-corner situation giving you more corner speed. a lift (mid-corner corrections) would not be as inherently dangerous with a more weight balanced car than in a rear heavy car. i wouldn't mind having a 50/50 weight distribution in my 996. if could only find a way to stuff my 50 lb fullpower/full leather/heated seats in the trunk then i wouldn't be adding weight

... but the term "heavy understeering pig" is

unfortunately, porsche shock dampening is not ideal. either there is not enough rebound dampening or the springs are too stiff or both. apparently gt3s have the same problem, underdamped over sprung fronts. my floatiness problems went away when i bought jimBs double adjustable motons. i softened the compression and increased the rebound dampening. bye bye float. too bad one has to resort to the aftermarket.

Does the lip/splitter make that much difference? I have a GT3 bumper without the splitter and the float over 75 mph is driving me nuts!

I have the x74 suspension, aerokit (GT3) bumper, and GT3 Cup lip on my C2 and I have absolutely zero "float".

How much of that is from the x74 suspension and how much is from the Cup Lip?

It's mostly from the suspension (the US ride height is just too high IMHO), but the lip does also help. Since I did not have the lip until after I already had the x74 it is hard for me to say how much it would help with a car running at stock US height.

Thanks Todd, I really appreciate that. At least now, my both wife and I don't get f**ked in the deal!

USEFULLY heavy... useful is the keyword.

I have a bag of sand in the trunk and absolutely no float. How much did your solution cost? Mine cost $2.99!

Much more!! But my solution doesn't add a ton of excess weight...... And it has the side benefit of improving (rather than diminishing) handling.

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yes you are correct, in a way. Your aerokit reduced the top speed by 3mph...so it creates drag (more downforce), similar to adding weight (like the sandbag).

Actually I don't think the aerokit creates downforce. It only reduces lift. It probably does steal a couple mph at top end. Most things that add stability and improve cornering do. When we raced at Daytona last year we set up car up with minimal aero and almost no toe, front or rear. Not stable and not good for turning but fast on the very long straights. I sure hope nobody is taking the idea of adding weight in the trunk seriously. It's just about the dumbest idea I've heard yet. Adding unneeded weight is STUPID! Jim

But it is only $2.99

Good point! I'm instructing tomorrow. You can bet I'll be checking the trunk before we head out on the track. I'll also check for a plenum mod. I need to know if we have all that extra power and handling.

WARNING: I spoke to the dealer who said to use only a Porsche approved sand of weight 0-S40. He also said the sandbag MUST BE properly bled per the TSB and to carefully observe the breakin period.

Oh oh, I feel a "0-S40 versus a 15-S50" debate is eminent.

Maybe a group buy will get that bag of sand down to an affordable price..!

Oh NO I feel a Raul the Pool Guy debate coming too

Where is 60 lbs. a ton? In Munckinland? As far as handling, We should go on a quick drive so that you can have a good look at the rear of my car.

Orient old pal. I'll tell you where 60lbs is a ton. In a sports car!

You really don't seem to get it (or you are pulling my leg). Weight is the enemy of all sports cars. the more you can lose, the faster you can go...... I just tried my own version of this mod on my way home from Costco. 1) I picked up 3 cases of bottled water and put it in the front trunk. 2) I drove home on a tight twisty road by my house. 3) I calculated the weight of the water when I got home By volume I had 52.5 liters of water in my front trunk. This works out to 13.869 gallons which weigh 115.74 lbs. Did the nose feel hunkered down? You bet!! I also noticed significantly more understeer on the drive (a noticeable difference vs. driving the car w/the front empty). Not a good feeling. If you are really serious about this "mod" as some sort of cure for perceived handling problems......good luck!!

This would probably work too, but I not partial to the way it lifts the rear end of the car!

Arrggg Tim!! That hurts to look at........

It looks like she landed on the car...... Did you "Hit it".....

Ray, I know what you're going to be dreaming about tonight!

BTW, I'd noticed that more weight at the front used to reduce my float too. That was on the stock C2 non-aero bumper. A while back I put an aftermarket turbo style bumper and I noticed I got NO float whatsoever. The front is hunkered down really well. I had a lower lip on it, but that lowered the car quite a bit. I used to hit it coming in and out of parking lots etc. I was planning on taking it off until it hit again and snapped off (also did $300 damage to the bumper I fixed ). Even without the lower lip it feels planted. Not as much as with it, but a LOT better than stock front bumper. I would REALLY recommend folks to try some custom front bumpers with added downforce. I picked the turbo one since it's "tested" by porsche. FYI, my turbo/C4S bumper was "custom" because it was shaped to fit MY99-MY01 C2s (i.e. before the facelift).

Actually.....it's only a 6% difference right now ! So there