I found my hot rod project car

[chucksmith]

I found this 1980 wide body conversion with no drivetrain for my hotrod project. Plans are for a 3.6 conversion and 915 with LSD, new interior and RSR finish Fuchs. The paint is in excellent condition and I can find no rust anywhere. Even the battery tray is pristine. 996 turbo brakes are already there as well as new suspension bushings and adjustable spring plates. Looking for a transmission and Varioram engine. Should be fun.

[chucksmith]

[nospiners]

Great looking car , cool project , please keep sharing !!

[Porkshop]

keep progress coming. I always need motivation....

[chucksmith]

first order of business is getting the wheels off. It has antitheft lug nuts and no key, so looking for key now. I think I found a 915 transmission and possibly a varioram engine. Steve Timmons has been helpful.

[tk32]

Nice project, looks in great shape to start from

If you cant find the key, FWIW I had success by pounding on a 16 point socket (for my application 3/4" worked great) essentially grooving the "antitheft" lugs then applied shock torque with a standard breaker bar, they came right off

[chucksmith]

I will give it a try, thanks

[drb930]

1996 993 3.6L VarioRam Engine Complete Drop-Out OBD-II

[chucksmith]

Slowly getting parts together for the build. Lots of little pieces (throttle rod and bushings, clutch cable, ,oil tank, fuel tank, various gaskets ect,,). I think I will go ahead and replace the fuel lines even though the ones in the car look pretty good, it seems silly not to while the tank and drivetrain are out. I did find a 915 with LSD and it is being rebuilt now. I also ordered a Rennshift. I do need a set of instruments. A 993 VRAM is hopefully found soon. As I tear apart the interior ,I continue to encounter no rust at all. Brakes and rotors look excellent.

[chucksmith]

am I correct in thinking that since this is a widebody conversion with narrow body rear control arms, as opposed to m491 or 930 arms, I can fit deeper dish rear wheels than a turbo and still keep the tires under the fenders?

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by chucksmith

am I correct in thinking that since this is a widebody conversion with narrow body rear control arms, as opposed to m491 or 930 arms, I can fit deeper dish rear wheels than a turbo and still keep the tires under the fenders?

yes

the envelope w/ regular SC/Carrera suspension is limited on the inside to 6" backspace(if you want to relocate the oil lines and shave the trailing arm bolts) and 6.5" front space(w/ lip massage) for a 12.5" wide wheel

You still need to be mindful of the tires though as that further limits fitment

just for an example 315/35x17 fits on a 10.5 tp 12.5" wheel, if racing you go for the 12.5 and don't worry about all the fitment issues that would come w/ it, but for street use n 11 is almost as good and has far fewer fitment issues(w/ the right ET). A 3.6 can certainly pull that tire, but @25.6 to 26" tall there are choices that would work almost as well grip wise but give the car a far livelier feel.

If you can live w/ the limited choices a 275/35 @~24.6" will impart much more brio into the drive and fit much more easily on a 10.5" wheel.

similar consideration is needed for other size wheels,

lastly if going w/ Fuchs tire and wheel choices are vastly more limited than going w/ custom o/s and widths

[Jim Dorociak]

When I build Speedline Daytona or Alessio sets (18") I have used the largest size outer rims 4.75" and you probably will still need a spacer since you do not have the turbo trailing arms. If a 930 wheel is built and the owner says he will remove his rear spacer and cut his long studs I can use 4.75 ir not it goes down to pad height of the wheel center and the outer rim is smaller say 3.75 or 3.25". Remember you have backspacing normally 4 7/8" or 5.25" for 9" fuchs so if you are running a 6" - and up inner rim you hit the trailing arms unless you space the wheel out. Jim. jdorociak@gmail.com

[chucksmith]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by Jim Dorociak

When I build Speedline Daytona or Alessio sets (18") I have used the largest size outer rims 4.75" and you probably will still need a spacer since you do not have the turbo trailing arms. If a 930 wheel is built and the owner says he will remove his rear spacer and cut his long studs I can use 4.75 ir not it goes down to pad height of the wheel center and the outer rim is smaller say 3.75 or 3.25". Remember you have backspacing normally 4 7/8" or 5.25" for 9" fuchs so if you are running a 6" - and up inner rim you hit the trailing arms unless you space the wheel out. Jim. jdorociak@gmail.com

on a 911 you can run 6" backspace w/o a spacer
I'm not running this now but did for many years
wheel: 9.5x17 ET19.05, wheel b/s 5.85" f/s 4.35" the tire specs are more important
tire: Dunlop 275/40x177 tire b/s 6.2" f/s 4.7", oil line relocated, trailing arm bolts shaved, lipss massaged and ride height restricted

I didn't like the ride height restriction so now run the same wheels w/ 255/40 x17 tires: b/s 6" f/s 4.5": none to the 275 installation mods are necessary

It's really easy to overtire a streetcar, the 3.6 is so torquey that most won't mind but the additialol liveliness if the 255/ over 274/40 is exhilerating and a hoot.

lastly when designing my mods, everything was set up around 235/40 x17 frt and 275/35 rear. and that is what i'll hopefully be able to for the next round now that 275/35 x17 are starting to become available again.

[chucksmith]

Bill, what brand wheels are you using?

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by chucksmith

Bill, what brand wheels are you using?

Kinesis K5, but they are nla

Current best options for custom width and offset 17 or 18 is Fikse or Forgeline
Mine


a friends


mine are 19 his are Forgeline

both are 9.5ET19 in back

I forget his tire specs but if running 18 on 8 & 9.5 i'd use 225/45 and 265/35

I have 8 ET25, ET27 would be a tad better

his are E8 ET27

[chucksmith]

nice looking

[chucksmith]

I am making some headway lately on the hotrod. New throttle rod, clutch cable, fuel tank, fuel filler neck and gaskets, oil tank refurbished and ready to put in. I have the instruments ready to put in if I can figure out how to match up the wiring. The 915 transmission has been rebuilt and ready to drop in. I have decided to go with dark red interior and the VRAM engine is being rebuilt.

[chucksmith]

the car has what appears to be new H4 headlights but the wires to the lights have been cut for some reason. I may go ahead and put in the J west relay system.

[pampadori]

Nice find! Solid plan so far too. Just to make sure you've considered it, a 3.6 is nice and got some grunt but have you considered something that pulls hard to 8,000? I'm a sucker for high rpm powah! A fun done up 3.0 that revs to me would feel must sportier, even if the overall numbers are a little lower.