996.2 <-> 997.1 GT3 chassis difference

Hi all, long time reader first time poster. I have a 996.2 cab that has had crash history but is mechanically sound now, I'm saying this just so you know it's not a pristine collectors car I'm going to care about modifying. I'm going to turn it into a 996 version of the "blackbird". Onto the point - I am looking at buying a wrecked 997.1 GT3 and converting the engine, trans and PCCB into the 996. I'm mostly curious on the surrounding suspension parts like struts, PASM, sway bars and just general chassis similarity between 996.2 and 997.1 GT3. I know a lot of individual things won't just "bolt-on" from each, but if you had all the components from the chassis (as I would), does it then become bolt-on or are the chassis different enough that it doesn't work that way? TIA!

I’m going to ask why?? to go through all that work on a car that won’t be worth much after why not just get a better car to upgrade first the amount of energy and money is tremendous

I expected replies like this which is why I disclaimered it at the start. This is not a car to grow money with over time for its original intent, it's a repaired wreck that I'm looking to modify into a beast. I get your point, trust me. I have a 928 S4 in showroom condition that I would never modify and a Panamera Turbo that I generally shrug at but love. This thread is not about holding value on the car. I got the car in question at a very cheap price, I can also get the 997 GT3 wreck at a pretty cheap price, to the point I will have both at around 60k USD. This opens a lot of doors when you're not interested in resale or originality.

A lot of easy stuff will bolt on. A lot of hard stuff won't. If you don't have experience fabricating and or building cars, I would expect for you to face some suffering ahead based on the fact you are even asking the question you're asking. I would suggest you start with reading this: https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...-the-dust.html

Thanks I will check that thread out. Fabricating is not a problem, I have a full workshop and ability to do most things. If I fail at that right next door is a metal engineering place that's been doing it for 40+ years. I don't understand the difference between these two chassis as I haven't seen the 997.1, hence the question. I've done a reasonable amount of research before posting here and come to the conclusion that the 996.2 and 997.1 aren't too dissimilar in many ways mechanically. While the GT3 is different in many ways, my interest is more around whether that is a chassis difference or not (ie fabrication required).

Absolutely yes please do this. It will be harder then my mk2 gt3 into a mk1 chassis but it should be similar. I have a bunch of thoughts but have a busy morning. Ill try to step back in later today.

" A lot of easy stuff will bolt on. A lot of hard stuff won't." - any particulars you want to mention? - I'm not intereseted in Interior or body panels.

The man, @De Jeeper has arrived, send him a 6 pack and take notes. Yes, fabrication required. Engine mounts and firewall accommodation for dry sump tank for instance.

I knew about the engine mounts, not the firewall modification for the dry sump tank. Mostly I'll plan to take notes of what the 997 GT3 looks like and modify accordingly, but even better if folks that have done it before reply here (De Jeeper?) I will value even more. More than happy to send 6-packs to anyone that provides useful information! - I'm located in Australia but find myself in California 1-2 times a year.

DeJeeper's build will give you a ton of information regarding what to expect regarding GT3/Mezger retrofitting in a 996. I'd suggest poking at online parts lists as well, to see what suspension bits cross over. It's probably quite a few. 99x suspension bits are amazingly interchangeable. Even my 2002 targa is running 991 LCA's. PLEASE do it, PLEASE start a thread!

I really want to go to austraila, buy me a ticket and 4 weeks later ill have it together 4 u. Im sure my wife would be ok with it . So much to write in this. U will want to mod the firewall and mounts like my car but use 996 parts. The motors r the same basic shape so it should all work. Im pretty sure the trans mount will swap over too. Biggest issue may be the fuel tank. The pump mounts in the tank r different and so r the pumps. Dont know if the 7 tank can be swapped in. There r higher volume Walbro pumps that can be retro'ed into a stock set ups as a work around but u wount have "race car" pick ups. Your other major issue is the harness. I have not looked into the 7 electronics. U can swap the entire harness and integrate it into the body harness or go with a stand alone cup style Motec engine harness/DME The suspension subframes and uprights should all bolt up but again i have not messed with much 997 stuff. I have not seen issues with retrofitting 7 parts in a 6 but it may require several parts or the full assembly to work.

Getting the electronics to work is going to be main issue. You will probably need to use the 997 instrument cluster, dash parts, hvac, alarm, etc. I don't know how the very complex convertible top will integrate. It would be vastly easier to so this to a pair of 997's, or swap the 997 engine electronics to 996 electronics. Perhaps.

Thanks for the feedback @De Jeeper @theprf , it's enough to not scare me away from the challenge. I thought about the electronics a bit as well and will probably end up going the Motec route as I won't be able to install the cluster from the 997 into the 996 and I'm anticipating general loom and ECU issues that would make fitting the 997 ECU into the 996 less than trivial. I'm also not too worried about modifying things from standard (obviously!) on this car so keeping factory feel isn't a req. That will probably do it for this thread, if/when I get the wrecked donor 997.1 GT3 I'll start a new thread and track the conversion over time. Thanks again.

Fantastic and looking foward to u sending me a ticket so i can help .

ooooh. I love stuff like this! There's always the why???, you're crazy, can't be done blah blah blah reply thrown in. Ignore those!! Just because it hasn't been done, doesn't mean it can't be done... Please absolutely do this, I'm sure there will be a lot of interest and assistance provided from this board.