Can stock cabs withstand AX or hard DE?

[becky'sdroptop]

I have acquired a very well-maintained 89 911 cabriolet that appears to have been babied most of its life. I have several 60s vintage Oldsmobile convertibles so I am aware of what has to be done to make a convertible body stiff enough to survive the everyday punishment of the road. My question is if the 911 cabriolets have enough factory body reinforcement to withstand the body-twisting that autocrossing and track use generate?

I know the correct answer is "get a coupe to play with and just enjoy the cabriolet" but I find that twisty roads still bring out the frustrated Formula One driver in me (even in my Dodge CTD sometimes). The car is really too nice and too original to start adding obvious stiffening aids like a roll cage. Besides, this is supposedly "the wife's car" and I am only supposed to shoehorn my big behind into the left seat for the chore of driving on the road trips.

Would a strut brace or triangulated brace help or just cause more body flex as the forces are redirected into the tub? Just wondering out loud (and looking for a non-traditional Christmas present idea ).

[widebody911]

It depends on your definition of "hard".

I've been DE-ing and AutoX-ing a cab for a couple of years now, but only recently did I reach the point where I felt body flex was holding me back.

strut brace will definitely help the feel of the car, and won't do any harm. If you feel that's not enough, you can always set up something like this:

[becky'sdroptop]

Is that lower brace tied to the backside of the door jamb or all the way back to the loop? I like the low height of the door brace but convincing the better half to crawl over one would get interesting.

Maybe I'll just hotrod the Jaguar - except that it is an automatic, four door, power everything that weighs in at about 4200 pounds

[Joe Bob]

At the very least the sanctioning body that puts on the event will require a roll bar and most likely arm restraints.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by becky'sdroptop
Is that lower brace tied to the backside of the door jamb or all the way back to the loop? I like the low height of the door brace but convincing the better half to crawl over one would get interesting.

It only ties in the door jambs.

I've had several dates in the car with the new door braces - even some in skirts - and none have mentioned it yet.

[SC-targa]

Thom,

Your dates don't think it's unusual for you to be wearing a skirt? Oh, I get it. Your dates were wearing the skirts!

Jerry Kroeger

[HarryD]

My 1973 911 Targa seems ok.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by HarryD
My 1973 911 Targa seems ok.

1 million dead mosquitoes would like to argue otherwise...

[osidak]

Thom - I am interested in your door bars. Please send me some details. I have a 78 Targa by the way

[widebody911]

Originally posted by osidak
Thom - I am interested in your door bars. Please send me some details. I have a 78 Targa by the way

http://66.34.72.138/howto/cab-brace/index.html

I'll be filling in more details later...

[HarryD]

Originally posted by widebody911
1 million dead mosquitoes would like to argue otherwise...

If they can't take a a joke........

[jester911]

Well there you go. You just gave Thom another excuse to post pics again of his new handy work.
p.s
just kiddin ya man

[vesnyder]

I have a mint '83 Cab that I have been AX for the past two years. This past Winter I beefed up the suspension with bigger t-bars, turbo tie rods, new HD Bilsteins and new bushings all the way around and have no problem competing. It is just the right combo for street and track - just wish I had more time to play with it!

[JeremyD]

I just Auto=x'd mine. Great fun!

[HarryD]

Originally posted by widebody911
1 million dead mosquitoes would like to argue otherwise...

Kills bugs dead!!!!

[911SCfanatic]

Hey Vance, since you have the clone of my car, what are the specifics of the set-up you went to (t-bars, bushings, etc.)? Is there anything you would change?