When the well-heeled buy a Ferrari, Lotus or Porsche, they normally leave it stock and only fire it into action for Sunday cruises. Kim Krogh, however, has spent around $100,000 enhancing his Porsche 993 and he drives it like it was meant to be driven - that is, bloody fast!
Kim - who's the Director of Northfield Car Sound, Mobile Phones and Security - has owned some pretty "upmarket" machines; like a Porsche Carerra S, BMW M3, VR Commodore with MoTeC manifold and a 300kW HSV GTS (which he still owns as a sound system promo car). Back in early 1998, Kim sold his M3 in order to move up to "something better" - an ultra-desirable Porsche 993. For those unfamiliar, the turbo model car ran all-wheel-drive and a 3.6 litre twin turbocharged flat six, generating 300kW and 500Nm. Given the seriousness of this vehicle, Kim bought his for what was a relative bargain at the time - $290,000.
Following this, it took only four months before Kim decided to install a major sound system (though, note that this has now been removed to help sell the car). Keen to dabble in a bit of race track fun, Kim then rang around Australia, checked out websites and read all that he could on Porsche modification - the factory high 4-second 0-100 performance wasn't enough for him! After much research, the company that Kim entrusted his baby with was Fitzgerald Racing Services. To give you some background, Peter Fitzgerald races a GT3 Porsche in Nations Cup and (somebody else's) 993 twin-turbo in Targa.
Who better to know how to make a Porsche scream?
The first upgrades to the car Kim describes as "bolt-ons". The standard KKK16 turbos were discarded in favour of KKK24s, a Fitzgerald Racing intercooler went on, the exhaust was opened out with FVD cats and Mille Miglia muffler pipes, K&N air filters were fitted and the heads received FVD Sports cams and solid lifters. To make the most from these mods, a FVD-programmed Motronic computer was wired in (FVD, by the way, is a major Porsche tuning company in Germany). Lastly, a Porsche auxiliary oil cooler kit was fitted - purely as a safety measure.
The aforementioned bunch of mods was enough to generate around 525hp at the flywheel (when calculated back from a previous RWD horsepower figure). Not surprisingly, the 993 became an absolute rocketship, but - unfortunately - the engine soon suffered a terminal meltdown on the track.
As the saying goes, "that's racing"...
Arriving back at Fitzy's workshop, the crippled Porsche underwent an extensive engine rebuild. The bottom-end received Carillo rods, the crankcase was "deburred" and the heads ported and polished; the exhaust and intake manifolds were then match-ported. Expecting slightly more power than before, the turbochargers were also upgraded to KKK24/26 hybrids (delivering around 1 Bar boost) and a FVD high-capacity intercooler was plumbed in.
Kim says that the Porsche sometimes struggled with the local high temperatures, so a Fitzgerald upgrade additional oil cooler was plumbed into the dry-sump lubrication system. Replacing the Porsche option, this 34-row cooler is fed air by one of two custom snorkels that sit where the driving lights once were. In addition to cooling the oil, however, each duct also directs cooling air to the front brake discs.
So how much power does this expensive toy now make? Well - given the porting, slightly larger turbos and the new intercooler - the silver beauty now makes a claimed 410kW at the flywheel. To give you a guide, the standard 300kW Porsche 993 makes 209kW at the wheels - Kim's now makes 290kW...
Kim tells us that he's had a few problems with clutches over time. The grippiest clutch tested was a paddle-type - but this was found seriously wanting when driven on the street. At present, though, the car gets by with a Porsche RS CS clutch, which is a whole lot nicer to drive, though it can still slip on the odd occasion.
Speaking of clutch slip, Kim says his 993 is pretty difficult to get off the line cleanly. You either end up spinning the rear tyres or frying the clutch. Either way, though, Kim says the car should be good for flat 11s over the quarter; its ability to pull away from a proven 11.2-second vehicle is indicative of its performance.
Kim's car rides on a suspension system identical to that which Peter Fitzgerald runs in the Targa 993 that he drives. This comprises adjustable Bilstein dampers, adjustable height coil-overs, a carbon fibre front tower brace and rose-jointed front strut top-mounts that allow camber adjustment. On the street, Kim complements the suspension makeover with 225/40 and 285/30(!) Bridgestone S-02s. When he wants to hit the track, though, it's either a set of Dunlop RSV grooved slicks or full slicks - the difference in track times with full slicks is immense.
Following the most recent splurge of mechanical mods, the 993 exhibited top-end go like you wouldn't believe. "It gets to 280 km/h in a blink, and I've had it up to 310 kays. Its top speed should be around 330..." With such speed, Kim found himself working the full set of 4-pot 'Big Red' brakes pretty hard - inevitably losing them for one corner at Willowbank. The flying Porsche ploughed through the kitty litter, damaging a rim, brake caliper and putting chips all over the paint work in the process.
Eeek.
Kim tended to his wounded vehicle with a new set of rims (Simmons LE 18s), replaced the 'Big Red' caliper and got the whole vehicle respayed in standard silver. This was no ordinary respray though, this is one of the most perfect finishes you'll ever see - Kim is a self-confessed perfectionist.
With body works taking form, Kim thought it was the ideal time to make a couple of styling changes. The rear wing that you see is a carbon fibre GT2 unit that was made locally after the necessary $7000 moulds were imported from Germany. We're told that all the panel margins are perfect and there are absolutely no ripples. To dress up the front-end, Kim spotted a 993 front spoiler in the FVD catalogue and had one sent over.
Inside, Kim's 993 has a factory trim option that's not often seen; a combination of purple/blue fabric, silver faced dials and carbon fibre shift knob and handbrake lever. Due to Kim's occasional track visit, the standard seats are replaced with Sparco Rev items. These have been stripped back and reupholstered in matching crushed and perforated leather. You might notice the Porsche emblem embossed into the headrests - they're so nicely done, Kim is often asked if they came manufactured like that.
The integrated interior look also extends to the fitment of an aftermarket boost gauge; it's a silver-faced Autometer product, housed in a custom colour-matched pod. Other interior additions include FVD brushed aluminium instrument surrounds, drilled pedals, a fire extinguisher and an interesting B-pillar brace that forms the mounting point for a Sabelt harness.
So, having spent around $100,000 enhancing his Porsche 993, you'd think Kim would still be quietly in love with the car. Well, he is, but he's fallen head-over-heels for - again - "something better"; one of the fifteen Porsche GT2s that are soon coming to Australia!
Accordingly, the 993 is now offered for sale at a very reasonable $235,000. But - just in case you're wondering - we doubt whether Kim would accept your XE Falcon station wagon as a trade with a slight 'cash adjustment'...
Contact:
Fitzgerald Racing Services
+61 3 9897 1555
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