What are your favorite Carrera 3.2 upgrades/accessories?

[auchenberg]

Hi everyone! 👋

Just joined the aircooled family with this Targa from 1987 in Guards Red 😍

What are your favorite Carrera 3.2 upgrades/accessories?

On my radar:
- Momo steering wheel
- Porsche Classic Radio
- Steve Wong chip
- Fabspeed exhaust
- H4 Headlight Conversion
- Black Stone guards

[al lkosmal]

3.2 to 3.5



regards,
al

[sky1jord]

Beautiful!!

[clutch-monkey]

Lighter flywheel, exhaust, +/- ITB’s

[Peter M]

Funny you ask as I've been thinking about this recently!

Sorry, I'm going to be really boring and sensible. If I was to buy a third one for street use I would:

Immediately
Install a fuse in the harness to the front condenser blower.
Install one or two fuses in the harness to the ventilation control dash light and the ashtray light
If the tyres are older than 6 years or hard compound, throw them away and install a set of Potenza RE003's
Restore the suspension so the shocks, bushes and ball joints are all good. Install Turbo tie rods
21mm spacers on rear wheels
VDO head unit
Carefully set up the gearshift if equipped with a 915.

Stage 1
Griffith style AC upgrade
Install a switch in console so you can use the AC ventilation fan without the AC compressor operating.
M&K 1 in/1 out exhaust
Cat delete pipe with o2 bung
Wong chip
Modern 4 hole Bosch injectors
Install J West relays on the headlight circuits

Stage 2
VEMS Plug & Play ECU that plugs into standard body harness.
AFM delete pipe from Benchmark Solutions to run a MAP sensor but standard airbox
Distributor delete by using direct fire Nippon Denso CoPs through an auxiliary harness
TPS to replace the standard switch
Modern 02 sensor
Find a good tuner

I've gone Stage 3 on my second 3.2 - 3.4/twin plug/Motec/twin knock sensors/full sequential/direct fire Cop's/BBE headers/993SS cams - but in hindsight, Stage 2 would have been a more sensible place to stop....or to have bought a 996GT3 instead!

[FrankM_]

Did everything on Immediately and stage 1, except I will get round to installing the extra fuses this weekend and one key question : which drop-in replacement injector that is available are you using (SW Chip, std Motronic) ?

[Peter M]

Originally Posted by FrankM_

….. one key question : which drop-in replacement injector that is available are you using (SW Chip, std Motronic) ?

Frank,

I have found a set of Bosch 0280 155 931's to work well in practice and to be quite affordable. I have also verified the AFR's to be very safe on a dyno at all throttle openings and loadings with my Wong chipped '88 so have no qualms in recommending to others.

Sal (forum name: scarceller), who I respect highly, noted in a recent post that they aren't an ideal substitute due to different characteristics of low and high impedance injectors but the proof of the pudding demonstrates they work in practice. There is certainly no harm possible to the Motronic.

This actually opens up another possibility for my Stage 1 suggestion that should be seriously considered. Instead of a set of 0280 155 931's and a Wong chip, you could send your Motronic off to Sal to be checked over and remapping specially for modern high impedance injectors. But I guess this then begs the question that you may as well spend a bit more and get his MAP sensor upgrade and get rid of the AFM while you're at it.


Or spend a bit more again and get a modern easily tuneable ECU that just about any dyno tuner anywhere in the world can handle.

It's a slippery slope!

[Jonny042]

SW chip.

[GH85Carrera]

For me, without a doubt, upgrading the AC.

I live in Oklahoma and drive my 911 through lots of hot weather. I plan to drive to Key West this July. That is gonna be hot.

I added two condensers to the rear fender, so I have a 4 condenser AC system. I get to have lots of 40 degree air blowing on my face in 100+ degree days. Even when I park in full sun and stop for lunch. Hop in, and a short time later, we are cool.

My ultimate was when we were in Savannah, GA in August at lunch time and my wife asked me to turn the AC temperature UP because she was cold. The heat index was 130+ later that day so it was not a cold day. Driving through Needles, CA in July the temp was 118 and I had been driving for hours in full sun through the California deserts. I remained sweat free.

To be able to drive my 911 all summer and be comfortable, is wonderful.

[pgeorgeson]

Get a chip, lower it, and have it corner balanced. In my opinion, that is the lowest hanging fruit that will immediately transform the car.

[tdw28210]

Skip the Porsche classic radio with its micro screen. Get something more period correct (I think '87 had a Blaupunkt Reno) or a newer radio with classic look for a LOT less.

Several threads around here on that topic.

Congrats on the car.

[darrin]

Originally Posted by tdw28210

Skip the Porsche classic radio with its micro screen. Get something more period correct (I think '87 had a Blaupunkt Reno) or a newer radio with classic look for a LOT less.

Several threads around here on that topic.

Congrats on the car.

couldn't agree more -- ideally (if you're looking for navigation, etc.), get a bluetooth-compatible radio and the rennline 911-specific smartphone mount --

[wildthing]

For me, the AC was critical. So was the stereo. I don't care about period-looking stereos. I wanted something for my iPod/iPhone (Bluetooth-enabled if you really want one) and a bit better speakers that fit the same holes (no increase in size).

Steering wheel and shift knob for looks. But that's optional.

I'm trying to upgrade the nut behind the wheel with as much autocross seat time as my wife allows.

[Ctopher]

A few of the items I've done to my 87 Guards red coupe included below. I agree with skipping the classic radio bit, I went with a Continental radio and ordered the harness adapter and sticker from Bergvill FX. Great guy, answered questions quickly. This adds the classic late 80s look to the car with a modern radio!
https://www.bergvillfx.com/index.php/

I also believe most of the 87 and newer cars are already fused in the critical areas so unless you want special switches to kill something that part is already done.

I would suggest installing all of the SpokeWorks LED lights for the rear. I've done all of them and am very pleased with the quality of the boards and how they make the rear of our cars seen. And in front I've also added Xeon 55W projectors which makes driving at night a pleasure. Some don't like the modern look of clear lenses but you can also add fluted lenses to this setup.

Lastly I would suggest getting a solid state DME relay. The relay is something everyone says to have a spare but going solid sate is the next level, plus having the fuel pump prime is a really nice modern feature.

Good luck on your next updates, I'm sure you'll enjoy the car even more as I did with a few of the items I've mentioned.


CTopher

[Pedro '84 Coupe]

Nice car! +1 on the solid state DME relay. You also might want to look into the Rennline aluminum interior door handles. Much better than the plastic factory ones.

[Jgordon]

Cams. Exhaust. AC. Thicker steering wheel.

Then there's the sensible stuff - fuel lines, DME, etc.

[DNickel]

Just spent the winter with a new to me MY88 Cab. Modded my supercharged 968 to tasteful Hell and needed a new project. Some of the mods were transferable.

New thicker Momo and hub
H4 headlights with CREE V2 LED bulbs
Already lowered
Fabspeed exhaust
Cat bypass
SW chip
New Pilot Sport shoes
All LED dash/gauge/festoon/brake lights
Cap/rotor/leads
Fuel/oil filter
Wiper reversal
8 new speakers and deck (had old HiFi option)
Sub under passenger seat
Wanted SS relay but they don't ship to Canada. Have to send to a friend in LA first
New Lloyds - originals are almost perfect so want to keep them covered
Recharged A/C
Maybe a light flywheel when I get clutch/seal done, depends on cost
Came with BBS RS rims so not sure about going back to FUCHS for the $$$

A million fiddly fixes from PO neglect and she'll be 99%

[911 Rod]

Taking it to the track

[Peter M]

Originally Posted by Ctopher

…..I also believe most of the 87 and newer cars are already fused in the critical areas so unless you want special switches to kill something that part is already done.

CTopher

Completely incorrect CTopher

Porsche installed some additional fuses in the later G's such as the heater blowers but still omitted to fuse the two dash lights (ventilation control panel and the ashtray) and the harness to the front condenser blower.

There are too many examples of burnt harnesses from shorts from those lights and the blower to ignore doing such a simple fix without delay.

[Peter M]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

…..I added two condensers to the rear fender, so I have a 4 condenser AC system.....

Glen,
Did use a Griffith/Kuehl supplied wheel well condenser setup of have you come across a secret stash of suitably sized condensers from Ebay???


If you have, do tell!