Remove slant nose body from SC

[sdjaytee]

Hey all

I have a chance at an unreal deal on a 79 SC targa with the slant nose treatment. Kit is all steel and I hope to remove it all (car is totally sorted otherwise). The front fenders and bumpers are easy enough. Im worried about how hard the rear flares and rockers will be. Anyone have experience with this? Or would know what I might expect? Will I have to cut off the rear fenders?

-J

[darrin]

why not keep the rear fenders, add corresponding front flares (when you remove the slantnose stuff) and stick with the wide body/turbo look(m491)? e.g. https://images2.bonhams.com/image?src=Images/live/2018-02/10/24736473-2-64.jpg&width=640&height=480&autosizefit=1

[Rodsrsr]

I believe he will need to remove the rear quarter vents the slants usually had to achieve the traditional wide body look.

[sdjaytee]

Originally Posted by darrin

why not keep the rear fenders, add corresponding front flares (when you remove the slantnose stuff) and stick with the wide body/turbo look(m491)? e.g. https://images2.bonhams.com/image?src=Images/live/2018-02/10/24736473-2-64.jpg&width=640&height=480&autosizefit=1

Ya I just can’t with the slatted rear flares. I don’t totally hate them but I would stare at them all the time and just want to rip them off the car so ya I guess I hate them

[MBAtarga]

If you can't keep the rear flares, then cutting rear fenders, welding replacements and then paint are in your future.

[Kraftwerk]

Start with the front, that is easy enough. Wait on the rear to see if you can live with the rear "vents", certainly the less offensive part of the design and also useful. Sorry, not a fan of s/nose but I am sure the wind tunnel results loved it. Congrats on getting a deal!

[Matt Monson]

It's a lot of work to do it right...

[darrin]

Originally Posted by sdjaytee

Ya I just can’t with the slatted rear flares. I don’t totally hate them but I would stare at them all the time and just want to rip them off the car so ya I guess I hate them

hadn't thought of the slats -- yeah, wouldn't be able to tolerate those either -- only other thing to add is that quarter panel replacement on a targa should be a lot easier than the tack welding photo matt posted -- just had my targa's left quarter panel replaced and it joins onto the body right above the trunklid ==

[john walker's workshop]

Fab up a patch panel and weld it in after cutting out the brake vent area. Easier than replacing the quarter by a long shot. Some stock 930 rockers, weld flares on the new fronts and voila!

[charlesbahn]

On the other hand, have you driven it as a slant? I have one - probably like yours, steel aftermaket- there is nothing quite like it. I know the slants are not everyone's cup of tea and they are a bit out of fashion, but holy moly, if you like it, there is nothing comparable. I would not ever take mine back.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

Fab up a patch panel and weld it in after cutting out the brake vent area. Easier than replacing the quarter by a long shot. Some stock 930 rockers, weld flares on the new fronts and voila!

We didn’t do that because mine were all steel. We sold the whole thing as a package ready to install.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by charlesbahn

On the other hand, have you driven it as a slant? I have one - probably like yours, steel aftermaket- there is nothing quite like it. I know the slants are not everyone's cup of tea and they are a bit out of fashion, but holy moly, if you like it, there is nothing comparable. I would not ever take mine back.

Yes, I drove mine for 9 years and love it. But last year I switch the front end back and love it as well so are other people that were in love with the slant look, 1 of 2 in a million people town (now down to 1 real M505).

So for the OP, start with the front and see if you like it.

[Rodsrsr]

I think they look much better in person. I would keep it for a while too and I wouldn't necessarily consider them out of style since were going on 40 plus years since they were popular any more than I would consider a turbo look out of style. Its almost retro by now.

[Bigtoe32067]

Unless you’re getting it for free it’d be way cheaper to find an SC the way you want it.
Even tif it is free I’d sell it and buy what I want before I started cutting, welding, and painting to make a car normal.
Tony

[Matt Monson]

I think they are making a comeback. If I had to do it over I might have left it slant and just repainted it.

[sdjaytee]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

Fab up a patch panel and weld it in after cutting out the brake vent area. Easier than replacing the quarter by a long shot. Some stock 930 rockers, weld flares on the new fronts and voila!

I like this idea ALOT. And ya the car is nearly free. I drove it as a slant and it's good but I just can't look at the slats and the nose. Since its so cheap it might be my style experiment car. When would I have another chance at that?

[charlesbahn]

Many years ago, my wife and I decided to get back into sports cars (we'd gotten the kids through college) and we could splurge on pretty much anything we wanted (well within some $$$$ restraints). We drove a Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mercedes 160SL, and others that were forgettable. The dealer said why not try a Porsche. I really wasn't interested, thought the Marque was overrated and snooty- sorry guys and gals). He said why not? I just happen to have one right here. It was a guards red aftermarket steel slant. It wouldn't start, the battery was dead. I rolled my eyes. He quick charged her and off we went. I had to stop at a light on an up hill grade. You guessed it. I didn't give her enough gas and she stalled. Then I had trouble finding first gear. I rolled my eyes again. But then we got going and the magic happened. The engine droned and we flew along with the road about two inches in front of me over the slant. Of all the cars I have driven this was the only true sports car in terms of the simple joy of the ride. My wife said had never seen such a wide smile on my face (other times must have been darker), and we bought the car on the spot. I have since driven many main stream Porsches ad other high performance cars, but nothing compares to the slant, for me.

Charles

[sdjaytee]

Originally Posted by charlesbahn

Many years ago, my wife and I decided to get back into sports cars (we'd gotten the kids through college) and we could splurge on pretty much anything we wanted (well within some $$$$ restraints). We drove a Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mercedes 160SL, and others that were forgettable. The dealer said why not try a Porsche. I really wasn't interested, thought the Marque was overrated and snooty- sorry guys and gals). He said why not? I just happen to have one right here. It was a guards red aftermarket steel slant. It wouldn't start, the battery was dead. I rolled my eyes. He quick charged her and off we went. I had to stop at a light on an up hill grade. You guessed it. I didn't give her enough gas and she stalled. Then I had trouble finding first gear. I rolled my eyes again. But then we got going and the magic happened. The engine droned and we flew along with the road about two inches in front of me over the slant. Of all the cars I have driven this was the only true sports car in terms of the simple joy of the ride. My wife said had never seen such a wide smile on my face (other times must have been darker), and we bought the car on the spot. I have since driven many main stream Porsches ad other high performance cars, but nothing compares to the slant, for me.

Charles

I hear ya charles. That's awesome you had such a great experience but I just can't get past the looks. That's on me but it's the way it is.