Looking for first hand experience on converting an SC to wide body

[F1addict]

So I've finished my California legal 3.6 swap and now have another itch.
I drive it mostly on the weekends and for AutoX. Would drive it more, but I had to ditch my Ac to fit the Verioram . Looking at a 993 condenser to fix that problem.

A few things I'm wondering ..
I'm curios about peoples opinions of how a wide body car (930 flares) handles compared to a narrow body. Right now it's a blast on the Autox track with the power from the 3.6, but could use more tire. running 16x 7's and 8's now. I know You can get a 255 under there, but I love flared fenders on cars, so its not all just about function for me.

Will I loose the nimble feeling in the front even if I extend my Arms to reduce the scrub radius like Jack's Black Beauty?

What is the preferred way to get the tires out to the lip? adapters, spacers, or have custom wheels made? I assumed custom wheels, but have also read people being concerned about so little backspacing.
Also my understanding is some events don't allow adapters? DE is the only track duty I think it would see.

On the fenders...
My thought was to bolt on steel fenders and use some welting on the edges. I would probably weld them on when I decide to repaint the entire car, but only so much money at a time to put into each hole I keep digging .
On fiberglass I believe you have to flare the trimmed lip up to mate to the fiberglass? Do you think this would be necessary bolting steel ones on? It would kind make welding them on later a pain if I have to trash the trimmed edge. I found one car on here that I believe has steel flares bolted on. If they see this maybe they can chime in.

It seems the best approach is to do the flares first and then get wheels that fit just right? but then again having the wheels already would help in other ways, especially since it could take a while to have something made.

If anyone is selling any Fiske FM10's that work on a wide body conversion I would be interested. Not looking for show quality.
Sorry for the ramblings, trying to think about all the different things needed.

Oh ya, brakes. I would probably go to 17 inch wheels for tire choices and brake options later. This will probably be another issue with wheel placement.

Thanks for any insight you can share.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by F1addict

So I've finished my California legal 3.6 swap and now have another itch.
I drive it mostly on the weekends and for AutoX. Would drive it more, but I had to ditch my Ac to fit the Verioram . Looking at a 993 condenser to fix that problem.

A few things I'm wondering ..
I'm curios about peoples opinions of how a wide body car (930 flares) handles compared to a narrow body. Right now it's a blast on the Autox track with the power from the 3.6, but could use more tire. running 16x 7's and 8's now. I know You can get a 255 under there, but I love flared fenders on cars, so its not all just about function for me.

Will I loose the nimble feeling in the front even if I extend my Arms to reduce the scrub radius like Jack's Black Beauty?

What is the preferred way to get the tires out to the lip? adapters, spacers, or have custom wheels made? I assumed custom wheels, but have also read people being concerned about so little backspacing.
Also my understanding is some events don't allow adapters? DE is the only track duty I think it would see.

On the fenders...
My thought was to bolt on steel fenders and use some welting on the edges. I would probably weld them on when I decide to repaint the entire car, but only so much money at a time to put into each hole I keep digging .
On fiberglass I believe you have to flare the trimmed lip up to mate to the fiberglass? Do you think this would be necessary bolting steel ones on? It would kind make welding them on later a pain if I have to trash the trimmed edge. I found one car on here that I believe has steel flares bolted on. If they see this maybe they can chime in.

It seems the best approach is to do the flares first and then get wheels that fit just right? but then again having the wheels already would help in other ways, especially since it could take a while to have something made.

If anyone is selling any Fiske FM10's that work on a wide body conversion I would be interested. Not looking for show quality.
Sorry for the ramblings, trying to think about all the different things needed.

Oh ya, brakes. I would probably go to 17 inch wheels for tire choices and brake options later. This will probably be another issue with wheel placement.

Thanks for any insight you can share.

For a big track 930 fenders w/ appropriately wide wheels/rubber will be able to develop much more grip but will sacrifice some nimbleness(rotatability) to get it. For A/X shorter tires that lower gearing, light weight particularly in the ends of the car that enhance rotatability and reasonably wide sticky tires(that keep s/r as small as possible) are the way to go. You don't need more brake for A/X.

I'd have some custom 15s made, 8ET29 & 9ET13 or 9.5ET19 run 225/45 & 245/40 x15, add some bigger t-bars (22/31 will enhance turnability) some adjustable sways to tweek the package, W/ those wheels you could even run A7 245/40 & 275/35 for ultimate grip(at the expense of streetability)

[F1addict]

Thanks Bill, always look for your post on this stuff. Thanks for the ET numbers for 15's too. If going wide body would you extend the A arms?

I have 21 and 28 bars in it at the moment and all new rubber bushing, bearings, brakes Bilstein hd fronts and sport rears.

When I did the suspension I didn't want it to be to hard for the streets. Living in LA with crap roads everywhere half the time I feel like I'm skipping across the road. I probably should raise the car a bit to help that .

The big breaks is me thinking more for the future for track days. I read a lot of your post on brakes, and was looking at a 930 set up. Found some locally but didn't realize how how much that swap was going to cost just beyond getting the calipers.
Any thoughts on the 996TT brake option? Seems a more affordable option except you have to run 17's?

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by F1addict

Thanks Bill, always look for your post on this stuff. Thanks for the ET numbers for 15's too. If going wide body would you extend the A arms?

I have 21 and 28 bars in it at the moment and all new rubber bushing, bearings, brakes Bilstein hd fronts and sport rears.

When I did the suspension I didn't want it to be to hard for the streets. Living in LA with crap roads everywhere half the time I feel like I'm skipping across the road. I probably should raise the car a bit to help that .

The big breaks is me thinking more for the future for track days. I read a lot of your post on brakes, and was looking at a 930 set up. Found some locally but didn't realize how how much that swap was going to cost just beyond getting the calipers.
Any thoughts on the 996TT brake option? Seems a more affordable option except you have to run 17's?

I'd advise against a 996 brake swap of any sort, If you must do it either 930 or a well engineered after market setup

21/28 is usual for a track setup, for A/X where the cars more immediate rotation is desirable 21/29 or even 21 /30 would be used. I understand that big t-bars are a bummer for street use, I find 21/27 too much for that for street I much prefer 20/26

If you set up for optimum A/x use then it will be miserable for a big track, again you'll need to compromise.

W/o a design analysis using Mitchell or some other suspension analysis software it's hard to say what effect lengthening the A-arms will have, You will have to go by what the guys that have done it have to say.