Add flares or not ?

hoosierdaddy · 10-03-2003, 02:30 AM

I need some opinions , I have a 77s narrow body car and I recently purchased a set of 16x6 and 16x7 fuchs that look good on the car but the 7's are a little wide on the rear without sc flares, so I purchased a pair of sc flares and now I don't know if I want to give up the narrow body look and my reason being you see fewer narrow body cars on the roads which gives the car more of a vintage car feel.
So I guess my question is should I install the sc flares or sell/trade the 16x7's for a pair of 16x6's ?
Oh, by the way I'm planning on painting the car this winter so I need to decide soon. Thanks
Jim

Jim Richards · 10-03-2003, 03:32 AM

Jim, FYI we have 6's and 7's (x15) on our narrow-bodied 73E. The rear tires are 215/60's. This just fits with some additional negative camber, maybe around -2°. How does this compare to your set-up?

I understand your concern...if you mod it, a middle year car would easily be confused with an SC, which are in abundance.

I'm torn about making our 73E into an RS clone...it's in very nice shape and it would be a pity to mod an early car that wasn't plentiful to begin with (Porsche made fewer 73E's than 73S's). But I really love the RS look. Oh well, narrow bodies are cool, too.

thrown_hammer · 03:34 AM

I would hold off on the flares. I think there are some guys on the board running 7's on narrow bodied cars. Maybe you could roll the fender lips?

Don't cut up your E Jim Richards! Thats why God made T's.

RickKlem · 10-03-2003, 03:33 AM

Jim,

It's a matter of taste. Are you planning on keeping this car? I also have a narrow body 77s which I just installed a 3.0L from an 80 model SC. I also bought front and rear CTR (Yellow bird) bumpers and a set of SC flares that I'm going to be installing in the next month or so.

Good luck and have fun with it.
Rick

IROC · IROC's Garage

Ultimately it's your car and you should feel free to do whatever you want. I was in a similar situation with my '76 a few years ago. It now has SC flares and 275/40-17 tires in the rear... :>)

Mike

Rouxzy · 10-03-2003, 04:01 AM

Jim,
Like Mike says its your car, but I also have a '77 and I added SC flares a couple of years ago with absolutely no regrets. The two reasons were for looks and wheels-tires. Presently I'm running 15x6 Fuchs on the front and 15x8 fuchs on the back, but this winter I'm changing over to new 17" wheels. The choices for rubber is alot greater.
Tom

TerryBPP · 10-03-2003, 05:00 AM

There is a guy on here running 17x17's cups on a narrow butt. I think he rolled the fender. I have 16x6's on the front and 7's on the back of my 76.

hoosierdaddy · 10-04-2003, 03:09 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I think I'm going to have the sc flares installed so I'll have a better tire / wheel selection down the road. I need to lower the car and I don't think rolling the fenders will help enough.
Jim

twin plugged targa · twin plugged targa's Garage

Jim, I am going thtough the same dilemna at the moment- although I have more time to think about it.
I think the SC flares look better and the tire choice improved + of course the added cornerring performance.
I also feel that the narrow bodied cars will soon be rare unless people start 'narrow body conversions'

I may add the flares one day but only if I intend to cannibalise the car and strip out the expensive interior the PO installed! and all of the heavy extras (A/C,Stereo,seats etc)
I know this doesnt help your chosing much - but you are not the only one facing this choice.
My car had a recent respray, so that means I will wait.
If you are about to respray then I would so go for it!
Ben

Drago · Drago's Garage

If you install the SC flares you may end up wanting even wider rims than 6's and 7's, particularly in the rear. I've got 7's on the back of mine and I don't like the look at all. Nothing a 22-26mm spacer won't solve though.

hoosierdaddy · 10-04-2003, 03:29 PM

Marc
Could you post a picture of your car for me ? You've got me debating again . Thanks
Jim

twin plugged targa · twin plugged targa's Garage

You WILL want the wider rims- I tried the 1" spacers but in the end purchased 8" Fuchs for the rear and moved the 7's up front!
Ben

Drago · Drago's Garage

From the front:

From the rear:

I much prefer the look of 7's and 9's with the flares....fills out the fenders much better.

Edit: Like my discolored paint caused by the to-short GHL exhaust tip (no split welds though

)? SSI's and a Dansk two-in, two out are soon to come.

Drago · Drago's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by twin plugged targa
You WILL want the wider rims- I tried the 1" spacers but in the end purchased 8" Fuchs for the rear and moved the 7's up front!
Ben

I'm in the same boat. Spacers are certainly cheaper than 8's or 9's though. What made you decide to ditch the spacers?

hoosierdaddy · 10-04-2003, 03:53 PM

Marc
Are your wheels 15's or 16's ?
Jim

hoosierdaddy · 10-04-2003, 04:29 PM

Ben
Do you have a rear picture of your 911T ? I saw the pic's you posted in another topic and your car looks great . My wheels are fully polished also so your pic's are a big help. Thanks
Jim

Drago · Drago's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by hoosierdaddy
Marc
Are your wheels 15's or 16's ?
Jim

16's.

david c. · 11-07-2003, 11:43 PM

what do you guys think it should reasonably cost to add SC flares to a mid-year car?

11-08-2003, 12:11 AM

I think someone here has 6x16 on an early Targa. Also Bo had 17 cups on his mid year Targa. I know he had some tire rubbing, but 7x16 should be possible then. What if you add negative camber?

K9 has a narrow car too. Anyone who remember what wheels he has on the car? Maybe he can help?

k9handler · 11-08-2003, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mikkel
I think someone here has 6x16 on an early Targa. Also Bo had 17 cups on his mid year Targa. I know he had some tire rubbing, but 7x16 should be possible then. What if you add negative camber?

K9 has a narrow car too. Anyone who remember what wheels he has on the car? Maybe he can help?

At the moment I have the basic 15x6 fuchs with 205/65/15 Yoko's.
I have attempted 17x7 and 17x8 Cups (from a 968) but spacers and nagative camber would be needed to clear them...with the tight part being the oil lines.

I have a set of 15x7 phone dials that have winter tires on them but the offset is not correct so 1/2 inch spacers are needed all around to clear the oil line in the rear and the struts in the front.

So getting a 17x8 in the rear is possible with rolled lips, spacers, and negative camber...but I would just rather go with 16x7 all around with 205/55 in the front and 225/50 in the rear.