Planet 9

Here are the "final" dyno results yesterday when MaxRPM finally handed me back the car. These guys are perfectionists. If anyone is within reasonable traveling didtance of Bremerton, WA., this is the place to go to have this kit installed.

There are a number of runs shown here, some of which were just experiments. The green/dark green HP & torque curves (the highest) are the current results. The baseline is also shown.

I could not be more pleased with the results. The power comes on very linearly, no detectable turbo lag. Things start to happen at around 2700 rpm, so it isn't like the low-down grunt of the 997 turbo. Once above this rpm, however, the power comes on very linearly, and it pulls harder and harder, pressing you back in the seat and making a very impressive, very pleasant, non-grating sound. The sound in general inside the cabin is deep and pleasant at all rpms. There is not one hint of resonance. The sound is considerable more enjoyable than the full Milltek system I had before.

The car has now come into its own. This is the way this car was meant to be, with evenly matched handling and power; extremely comfortable, but capable of truly amazing performance; beautiful, mature, capable.

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Geez Louise, 413 HP at the rear wheels!!! This is so exciting. You are going to shock alot of folks at the stoplight dragstrip (If that is your thing). Please keep us updated concerning any dog fights you might get into.

How about some pics or video? Would like to see what the final production system looks like.

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'07 Cayman S (The Black Pearl)
Performance mods: clear side markers

Sleeper,

Now that I have had my car for a couple of days know, I will agree with everything you said. It’s also possible to drive the car at a leisurely pace in everyday situations and then when needed, have the turbo change things very quickly.

Since the hp and torque gain is available over a wide rpm range, the car pulls like never before and you think what a great system it is... and then it pulls even harder above 5500.

TPC did a great job in transforming the car. Going to a one stop shop and have all the different pieces integrated into one system was definitely worthwhile.

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Guys,

I am really interested in this kit for the Cayman. If anyone is willing to talk with me about your car, I would much appreciate it. Maybe you could PM me your phone number so we can talk? I have moded an Elise to 340 hp and it was an unbelievable car, but I am more interested in teh Porsches now and would love to do a kit like tis on a CS.

Please share if you don't mind.

Stephen

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2008 GT3 (on a diet; 2,880 lbs here we come!)
2006 Subaru STi (GT3 bodyguard)
1988 Toyota Tercel (STi bodyguard)

Sleeper:

Looking at the underneath photo you have on your description page; I am a bit confused about your setup. Tach_Miami appears to have an additional part that I don't see on yours. Here is a pic of the item in question:



In Tech_Miami's photo, this part is located in the right rear area. In your photo, it is not seen.

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'07 Cayman S (The Black Pearl)
Performance mods: clear side markers

Stephen,

A good article about the Cayman TPC turbo prototype came out today in

autobahnambitionmag.com

Everything sounds about the same in the current kit except the dollars.

I also PMd you.

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The picture of the turbo system on my car was taken by the shop during the process of preliminary fitup, so all the parts weren't on it yet.

I too am interested in this installation. Next Thursday, I am adding Millteck Headers, cold air intake, and softronic flash to my Millteck catback. In several weeks, I will be in Baltimore and am going to test drive one of TPC's cars. The walk out price is incredible, so are your comments.. thanks for posting dynos and article. Is there anything you don't like. I thought up to now that I would do an x51 engine swap at Farnbacher Loles in November when the snow flies... but now ? I will wait as long as possible to enjoy my current mods, and look carefully for your future posts on your cars' progress...You are after all, guinea pigs. Good luck..am jealous for now...

So far, there is NOTHING I don't like about the turbo. My installation shop wants me to bring the car in today for a general checkover to make sure nothing is rubbing or wearing somewhere among the hoses and tubes, and that the general engine health checks out. If anything pops up, I will report it, but the car runs like an express train and is a real joy to drive. I have about 300 miles on the kit now.

I was afraid you would say that... Please keep the updates coming...

If you are now thinking about doing the turbo, save the money on the cold air intake and the flash because they can't be reused...the catback will be history too. The headers can stay and showed an 8hp gain on the dyno.

What’s not to like about the 150hp gain? Driveability hasn’t changed but the pace sure is quicker.

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I agree. These mods were ordered with a scheduled x51 swap in November...Giving me all summer to enjoy... Not to mention taking the car through all of the steps.... Last Feb., I was going to buy a 911 turbo, but it was not enough of a rush to get me out of my 335xi. Strange, but true...This car changed all that...

Now, I am thinking that I want the turbo now... but by the time I test drive (then decide) and see how you two are doing, then schedule. Aside from your real life experience, you would not believe the negative comments from other dealers with race teams - regarding the turbo... Sour grapes, I suspect... Obviously, as you can see from this rambling disocurse, that I am on a cliff....

Are you referring to the plenum & throttle body upgrade? Would these not be reused?

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'07 Cayman S (The Black Pearl)
Performance mods: clear side markers

I was referring to a cold air intake that replaces the existing air filter and box with a new exposed filter. They cram in so much stuff that I wonder if new parts would get in the way. I haven't had a good view of the completed setup yet, but from the pics, they did a really good job getting everything to fit and work.

I think the first customer car had a flash. TPC went back to the original to be used with their piggyback unit. They wanted to make their kits and programming were the same for the entire run and not have to deal with other tuner's flashes.

As for the plenum and throttle body, they might show gains as the MIlltek headers, but don't know if their programming would make the most of it as the specifically designed Softronic flash can.

Just ask them what mods work and what mods don't. They have done a bunch of dynos and can back up their decisions. It is interesting that the base dyno for the first customer car showed a loss of 15hp because the sensors on Milltek cat back were reversed.

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The plenum in the turbo kit is special- it has two bosses welded on it for the two additional fuel injectors. No other plenum will work without extensive modification.

My shop took a lot of pictures of the installation. When I get them all, I will post the most interesting ones.

It's interesting that so much badmouthing is going on about the turbo kit. Since as of this writing there are only 4 completed cars, 2 of which I think belong to TPC, it is hard to take it seriously. All I know so far is that the car runs beautifully, and that this is the fastest and best handling road car I have ever personally seen on the road. Of course, this is just Washington State, out in the sticks...

Thanks for the clarification. I heard about the extra injectors but never saw pics showing their location. There are a lot details of about the kit I wouldn't mind knowing but as long as the car performs as well as it does, it doesn't matter that much.

As for the comments from dealers with race teams, I think they are still PO'd about Mike winning the 24 hour Daytona in his prepped 996 beating the teams with the 997s.

The first customer car is a carmona red, still at the shop. It was there weeks before my mine so its easy to assume its one of theirs too.

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This is just one more thing to drive me nuts. 3.8L X51 vs. supercharged 997 swap, and now this. Which do you do? I'm just wondering about reliability. Now you have a 3.4L motor producing the power of the 997TT. I know that the flat six is pretty bullit proof, but is it that strong? I'm hoping the answer is yes, because this is so far the cheapest way to get that much power!

I've decided the best thing to do is wait til my warrantee is about to expire (a little less than two years) and see how things look. If Porsche isn't going to do anything in terms of a significant HP increase, I will do something, whether it be 3.8L x 51 swap, supercharged 997 motor swap, or turbocharging. By then reliability issues should be fairly evident, I guess.

I personally would go for the X51 3.8 swap since that is a proven motor and the Cayman chassis can take on a lot more power. Of course the 3.6 from the 997 GT3 would be outrageous, especially if you did the 3.8 conversion from Sharkwerks which brings the output up to 352 hp at the crank on 91 octane and 360 + on 93 and even more on race gas! Do that alon with the RS lwfw and clutch, some Moton clubsports with remote reservoirs along with some other serious suspension upgrades from GMG and you are all set! If you ordered the car with the ceramics then I think you are just fine with the brakes, but you can always upgrade to the Brembo GT's for plenty of stopping power or the GTR's if you are really serious (too rich for me at $20k for that set of brakes).

Has anyone done a dry sump 3.6 conversion on a Cayman, whether it be the 996 or 997 motor. I know that GMG sells the 996 GT3 motors ready to go.

But for the money, that turbo kit is just awesome. I will be reading up on it because I am very impressed so far. It is also an advantage since I live at 6,000 ft of altitude. I always hate that affect on the performance of my cars, especially an NA car such as my GT3. My GT3 is fast, but I know that a Cayman with that turbo kit would just waste my little @$$!

I would love to order a new Cayman with ceramics and do some serious suspension work (sorry guys, but that is where the car is lacking compared to my GT3) and get some really light weight 18" wheels with cup tires or some R888's and that turbo kit. I would also do the GT3 front along with the fenders and 997 lights and nice fixed wing that actually creates some downforce.

The problem with all of this is that the car now has lost its warranty and the resale of the car is no higher than what you paid for the original Cayman with ceramics; it is actually less and will be difficult to sell. The only way you get some real money back is if you find the right guy or gal who is looking to do the same to their car and they are serious and appreciate what you have done AND they need to have some money! The only other way is if you are going to keep the car for a VERY long time so you actually get the use out of the car based on the money you put in. I personally am not that type; I buy a car and I am already making plans for the next one. Case in point, my GT3 is less than 6 months old and I love it, but I am currently selling it to buy an RS (which is really a dumb move that I will probably regret).

Anyway, the two of you who PM'd me with your phone #'s; I thank you and I will probably call you, but I will also be keeping an eye on this forum and following your cars. If I am ready to pull the trigger, then I will definetely call you.

I sure hope that the '09 models with the DI do not go up in weight anymore, especailly for the 997's. If they do, then I am going to abandon Porsche for sure and go back to Lotus. Or; abondon the 997 and go with stripper Caymans with some nice mods and some more weight reduction. The Cayman is such a good car, and a better engine layout than the 997; Porsche just needs to build a Cayman GT3 Clubsport. Put in a true dry sump and it only needs 350 hp; that is plenty, and a suspension like the GT3. But make it a stripper that comes in at 2600 to 2700 lbs. Now that would be a car. Dream, dream, dream................time for bed...........

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2008 GT3 (on a diet; 2,880 lbs here we come!)
2006 Subaru STi (GT3 bodyguard)
1988 Toyota Tercel (STi bodyguard)