Switzer Performance Innovations (SPI) of Ohio, USA, is a renowned tuner of Porsche products, specifically for the Porsche 996 and 997 models. At some point SPI, through owner Tym Switzer wondered what the limits of a tuned 997 would be, how much horsepower a stock engine could take. Soon SPI was working on this ‘experiment' and the results are here for all to see. The car aptly named the SLEDGEHAMMER makes over 850 all-wheel horsepower running on racing fuel. That translates to over 1000hp at the crank. The figures were produced from a 997 twin turbo engine through extensive ECU tuning, the use of SPI-developed headers, a sports exhaust system, an intercooler package and SPI-tuned GT30R turbos. Every part of the system was constantly metered and tested by SPI during development. On tar the SLEDGEHAMMER creates something close to what would be considered magical numbers. The 0 - 60mph time is consistently in the mid-2 seconds, and its massive tractability is shown by a 60 - 130mph time of less than 5 seconds. The quarter mile is trashed in 9.796 seconds and 195mph was almost achieved at the Texas mile, an abandoned air strip in Texas. Any interested party can purchase himself a SLEDGEHAMMER package for US$49,990 through SPI's website. If that is a bit out of reach at least check out the video showing the fourth and final quarter mile attempt as well as a whistling dyno run here. Press Release Oberlin, OH - 07JAN2009 - Switzer Announces SLEDGEHAMMER 1000 hp Porsche Conversion Package Tym Switzer has been quietly running Switzer Performance Innovations (SPI) in Oberlin, Ohio for several years, building show-quality exhausts and bolt-on performance products for twin-turbo Porsche 996 and 997 models. With his latest project, Tym and the crew at SPI wanted to test the limits of what would be possible with stock 997 internals. "When the customer first came to me with his 997, we talked a lot about about pushing the limits the new engine and what might be possible using stock internals. I had already been inside the 997 turbo engines, and felt that 700 wheel horsepower seemed well within reach on pump fuel, and that we might be able to go a bit further." That "bit further" eventually led to what Switzer calls the SLEDGEHAMMER. Named after candid comment from an SPI tech, the SLEDGEHAMMER is a bolt-on performance package for 997 twin-turbo Porsches that delivers over 850 all-wheel horsepower on race fuel. That's over 1000 hp at the crank! Getting Bugatti-baiting performance figures from a bolt-on prepared 997 is no easy task, though. Switzer explains he and his crew "have always prided ourselves on attention to detail and delivering exactly what we promise to our customers. We have a saying around here: performance, not excuses. So during the original SLEDGEHAMMER build we looked at every part of the system, constantly metering and testing every component, on our in-house chassis dyno." A finished Switzer SLEDGEHAMMER is certainly an amazing car. Switzer reports that (despite backing off the throttle early) the first SLEDGEHAMMER (pictured) went almost 195 mph at the Texas mile. Additional performance figures read like the stuff of legend: consistent 0-60 times in the mid 2's, less than 5 seconds to go from 60-130 mph, and 9.8-second quarter mile elapsed times with trap speeds regularly in excess of 145 mph. "With performance like that, these cars really speak for themselves - I have another one on the dyno now, and expect to post the results of those runs shortly." In addition to extensive ECU tuning, the SLEDGEHAMMER package includes SPI's in-house developed headers and sport exhaust, as well as SPI's MONSTER intercooler package (shown) and SPI-massaged GT30R turbos. More details on Switzer's SLEDGEHAMMER conversion can be found on SPI's website. The SLEDGEHAMMER package retails for 49990USD, and is available through SPI. Contact SPI for more information.
SPI Shows Porsche 997 L4 700/750 Pkg for Tiptronic Porsche tuner Switzer Performance Innovation (SPI) has released a new video of their latest creation, a 750 hp upgrade package for the Porsche 997, a toned down version of their "Sledgehammer" 997 which gets 1,000 hp. In the video we see a new 997, fitted with the SPI L4 700/750 Tiptronic upgrade, being put through quarter-mile testing. The L4 700/750 package uses new on board computer software, replaces the turbos with VTG V3s, new intercoolers, and a new exhaust. For this test, they kept the stock Michelin PS2 tires and the stock 19-inch wheels. The video really speaks for itself. 0-60mph times stayed at about 2.5 seconds, with recorded quarter-miles coming in at around 11.25 seconds. At the quarter-mile mark, the car had already topped 130 mph. SPI claims they were able to get to the quarter-mile at about 10.5 seconds in unverified testing. That is still a far cry from the under-9.8 second quarter mile time posted by the Sledgehammer. SPI got the 997 Sledgehammer to those huge horsepower numbers by tuning the computer, using new headers, changing the exhaust, adding an intercooler system, and converting the stock twin-turbos to SPI-upgraded GT30R turbos. Company founder Tym Switzer said, "The Sledgehammer is a great package, but a thousand-horsepower 997 isn't for everyone. The L4 700/750 Tiptronic package appeals to a much broader audience, and with the flexibility of the semi-automatic transmission and mild exhaust note, the L4 Tiptronic cars are as much at home in traffic as they are at the racetrack." SPI's new package is also significantly less expensive than the Sledgehammer package. Bringing your car Porsche 997 to 750 hp will still cost you $18,450, but that is much less than the $50k you'll spend to boost it to 1,000 hp. And you'll still be able to outrun most anybody trying to chase you down. Unless you're running from a 997 Sledgehammer. Press Release A few weeks ago, the one-thousand horsepower bolt-on prepared Switzer SLEDGEHAMMER introduced the world to Tym Switzer and his Ohio-based tuning firm Switzer Performance Innovation (SPI), but Tym wants also the world to know that there is more to SPI than its Bugatti-baiting flagship. "The SLEDGEHAMMER is a great package," explains Tym, "but a thousand-horsepower 997 isn't for everyone. The L4 700/750 Tiptronic package appeals to a much broader audience, and with the flexibility of the semi-automatic transmission and mild exhaust note, the L4 Tiptronic cars are as much at home in traffic as they are at the racetrack." Switzer's "soundbite" sounds pretty good, but it begs the question: how do the L4 cars perform at a racetrack? Pretty well! Simply, SPI's L4 700/750 Tiptronic-equipped Porsches can deliver 2.5 second 0-60 acceleration and quarter-mile runs in the mid-to-high 10's at well over 130 mph. Tym explains that "with the SLEDGEHAMMER, we really wanted to push the envelope, but the 700/750 Tiptronic cars are a lot more than baby SLEDGEHAMMERs. They are really their own unique concept and just awesome cars - let's face it: any car that can run 0-60 times neck-and-neck and fender-to-fender with a Bugatti is an awesome ride!" The L4 700/750 PKG upgrades the 997 turbo with unique DME software, a pair of VTG V3 turbochargers, SPI's MONSTER intercoolers, and a competition-style "full-exhaust" system. "This is a very reliable package that's as easy to drive fast as it is to drive slow. We designed the L4 package to be flexible enough for everyday driving without compromises, and our 700/750 customers are always telling me how easy the car is to drive. They go on the forums and talk up the cars, post Vbox numbers and timeslips - with several cars dipping into the mid 10's! These guys are having lots of fun with their cars. That's what we like to see and that's why we do what we do." Switzer's L4 700/750 Tiptronic package retails for 18450USD, and is available through SPI. http://ru.youtube.com/watch?v=wp6MI...shows-porsche-997-l4-700750-pkg-for-tiptronic
