996 GT3 rebuild

[Harris_I]

After the recent discussions on GT3/TT cooling, I thought I'd proffer my tuppence. During a recent drive the oil pressure dropped to zero (then went back up) and I discovered gunk on the filler cap. Oil and water were having a party down there.

I felt like I'd invited the evil eye with my previous crowing about the indestructible GT3 block. Though to be fair, a rebuild has always been expected at some point after the hard life this car has had.

After a lot of agonising over terminal engine failure, it turns out it's the oil/water heat exchanger and it looks like it's transmission oil entering the water rather than the other way round. So hopefully (fingers crossed), not the cylinder head gasket or a cracked block. That would be financially ruinous.

So we'll change the oil cooler, flush through new fluids and give it 3-400 km to see if all is well. Here's hoping...


Edited for the new title.

Edited by Harris_I on Wednesday 13th June 15:06

[rlw]

Mileage?

Hard life? - more info please

[Harris_I]

72000km. Car is in the profile. Basically been run in Touring Car/GT championships for 2.5 seasons, and autocross/sprint championships before that. All in a hot desert climate. Now back to being a daily driver.

[mollytherocker]

What is the cooling issue on the GT3/TT?

MTR

[keep it lit]

mollytherocker said:

What is the cooling issue on the GT3/TT?

MTR

rubber coolant pipes that are bonded on.

Edited by keep it lit on Saturday 8th October 20:01

[Steviebeee]

GT/Touring Car, now back to a daily driver.

I'm sorry, but thats got to be one of the coolest things I've read.

Hats of! And some say a std GT3s too much for the road!


Hope its repairs a success

[Harris_I]

Thanks steviebee. A standard GT3 feels like a Daimler.

@MTR, some good info on a fix for the coolant pipes recently posted (apart from a dumb comment from me inviting karmic retribution):

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... HAS STARTED........

[Steviebeee]

Harris_I said:

Thanks steviebee. A standard GT3 feels like a Daimler.

as long as its a DoubleSix with the Shag Pile carpets

[Harris_I]

I see there's some recently been renewed interest on another thread regarding cooling upgrades to the GT3 engine.

Latest on mine is the heat exchanger has been pressure tested and is fine. Oil and water are still mixing. This is bad news as it means now the cylinder heads need to be pressure tested.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, doom mongers, the internet only highlights the ones that go wrong! (And to be fair, this particular car has long been due a rebuild).

[fioran0]

Mk2? Both oil/water coolers checked?

[Harris_I]

Yep, mk2.

And yep, both checked.

[keep it lit]

has anyone heard of a 6.1 with these coolant pipe issues..?

i have only read & heard of 6.2's and 997's..

[Slippydiff]

keep it lit said:

has anyone heard of a 6.1 with these coolant pipe issues..?

i have only read & heard of 6.2's and 997's..

Nope, but then the Mk 1s were handbuilt you see . . . .

[fioran0]

or all crashed and broken prior to coolant pipe glue melting

sorry to hear both coolers passed the checks.

[keep it lit]

Slippydiff said:

keep it lit said:

has anyone heard of a 6.1 with these coolant pipe issues..?

i have only read & heard of 6.2's and 997's..

Nope, but then the Mk 1s were handbuilt you see . . . .

good answer slippy lad!

[Harris_I]

Need some help, folks.

The cylinder heads have gone away for pressure testing and assuming it's "just" a gasket, we'll do a rebuild: replace the valve stem seals, the gaskets and seals, and refit the cylinder heads.

FVD are showing a full gasket kit available for a lot less than the OEM parts from an OPC. On enquiry, FVD have emailed back to say this is the OEM kit from Porsche Motorsport for a Cup car. This all sounds good, but is it safe to assume FVD are reputable? Why would the parts be any cheaper?

Thanks in advance.

[Slippydiff]

Harris_I said:

Need some help, folks.

The cylinder heads have gone away for pressure testing and assuming it's "just" a gasket, we'll do a rebuild: replace the valve stem seals, the gaskets and seals, and refit the cylinder heads.

FVD are showing a full gasket kit available for a lot less than the OEM parts from an OPC. On enquiry, FVD have emailed back to say this is the OEM kit from Porsche Motorsport for a Cup car. This all sounds good, but is it safe to assume FVD are reputable? Why would the parts be any cheaper?

Thanks in advance.

I think some Cup parts are/were "subsidized" to a degree. It's such a limited market/product, I very much doubt if FVDs kit will be from a spurious source. Worthwhile checking the part number for the gasket kit to ensure its the real deal though.

[Cheburator mk2]

Harris_I said:

Need some help, folks.

The cylinder heads have gone away for pressure testing and assuming it's "just" a gasket, we'll do a rebuild: replace the valve stem seals, the gaskets and seals, and refit the cylinder heads.

FVD are showing a full gasket kit available for a lot less than the OEM parts from an OPC. On enquiry, FVD have emailed back to say this is the OEM kit from Porsche Motorsport for a Cup car. This all sounds good, but is it safe to assume FVD are reputable? Why would the parts be any cheaper?

Thanks in advance.

FVD are very reputable. Shame that we don't have something similar in the UK. Have used them for some bits and bobs in the past and they always have been top notch. Only one company makes the gaskets for Porsche these days anyway - Victor Reinz owned by Dana...

[keep it lit]

Cheburator mk2 said:

FVD are very reputable. Shame that we don't have something similar in the UK. Have used them for some bits and bobs in the past and they always have been top notch. Only one company makes the gaskets for Porsche these days anyway - Victor Reinz owned by Dana...

^^^ +1

[Harris_I]

Thanks guys. Just been on their website and noted that their gasket kits have what appear to be Porsche part numbers.

Fingers crossed now for a gasket being the issue...