Suggestions for a few body mods...84 Carrera - Input needed

[NoLift911]

After a deer did a dance on my hood and while on the way to drop the car off to get it repaired at the body shop I get rear ended...I figured some changes are in order and this is a great opportunity without spending a small fortune on a total redo. All of the damage was cosmetic.

I have been continually lightening the car but most of those changes have been by just removing stuff. A/C - stereo - cruise - rear seats - delete - lightweight battery relo.

I was thinking of having the holes filled in for the mirrors on the doors and going with some RUF aero mirrors. Removing all of the rubber from the rear bumper (but keeping the rear bumper) kinda like 89911 setup on his Carrera. Filling the holes on the front headlight washer jets, filling the holes for the hood emblem (go with sticker). The thought here is to make the car a little more aero friendly (Maybe some a-pillar RUF aero aids)

Overall I want to keep the bumpers - While not wild about the accordions, I have euro bumper shocks and I like the protection - as the car is still used on the street (FG bumpers make me nervous). If I was to go FG I would want the nerf protection underneath and then I feel the weight advantages are lost. The antenna hole in the fender has already been filled.

I am looking for lightweight without removing insulation etc that will make the car annoying to drive.

Or just leave it alone

Any thoughts or pics of your projects appreciated...

-Jeff

[widebody911]

Shave the gutters.
Fiberglass hood.
Fiberglass engine lid
Remove batter platform
Invest in a hole saw

[NoLift911]

Nice Tom...maybe you missed the :

"without spending a small fortune on a total redo"

But thanks for the suggestions...

-Jeff

[Superman]

Sure Jeff, but Thom is just trying to save you time and money. It's a slippery slope you're thinking of treading. I like the RS look, like most everyone does, and you can get decent FG pieces for that. Your existing fenders and hood won't work for that. So now you're looking at FG fenders, bumpers, hood, and you might as well go FG deck lid also.

Then again, there probably are some kits that mate up with your existing steel hood and fenders. Cheaper, probably. But then you'll have only FG bumpers instead of the safer steel/Al ones, but you'll like the way the car handles.

[89911]

Thanks for the compliment on the bumper. Removing the rubber is relatively cheap, especially if you already need to paint it. (And your bumper pads are in good shape, you can sell them on eBay for $300), It was more cosmetic then anything. I saw what needed to be done with my brothers FG rear bumpers and didn't want to go with the custom fitting needed that drives the price up. Removing weight is a good idea, but there is only a certain amount of "dead" weight before you get into choices that play on what type of driving you do. It is hard to make a comfortable daily driver that is a stripped out track car and weighs 2300lbs. My car is about as light as I can make it before it goes down that line. These are not necessarily cost effective ideas, but you can save some weight with these in decreasing order: Lighter seats, remove entire rear seating area and padding, ac removal. After this, your getting into fiberglass parts and the money jumps up.

[NoLift911]

Originally posted by 89911
Thanks for the compliment on the bumper. Removing the rubber is relatively cheap, especially if you already need to paint it. (And your bumper pads are in good shape, you can sell them on eBay for $300), It was more cosmetic then anything. I saw what needed to be done with my brothers FG rear bumpers and didn't want to go with the custom fitting needed that drives the price up. Removing weight is a good idea, but there is only a certain amount of "dead" weight before you get into choices that play on what type of driving you do. It is hard to make a comfortable daily driver that is a stripped out track car and weighs 2300lbs. My car is about as light as I can make it before it goes down that line. These are not necessarily cost effective ideas, but you can save some weight with these in decreasing order: Lighter seats, remove entire rear seating area and padding, ac removal. After this, your getting into fiberglass parts and the money jumps up.

Exactly - Although my body shop quoted me $800 on the rear bumper...I was like wtf? I think your setup makes the rear lighter - and looks alot better without the rubber.

The car is a street car and for those of you that have never been rear ended (me twice) you may want to think about what would happen in an accident (even with a nerf) underneath. The bumper shocks wether US or euro take much of the abuse and safe expensive body panels from repair, in many cases. (those with FG bumpers feel free to jump on me here)

Too many idiots reading the paper, doing make-up and talking on the cell phone where I live to take that chance. My life/health is rather important to me. Even a minor 5-10 bump in our cars can do major damage to me and the car so I am opting for retaining the bumpers - I just want them to look better.

I was also looking for a good machinist to work on the rear for vents in the bumper - like the yellowbird and the lower rear valence vents - or vertical slots, while maintaining the stock pieces. Have not found one yet.

At some point it will become a dedicated track car but for now it will be both street/track and as safe as possible.

Anyway thanks for the suggestions...

-Jeff

[widebody911]

I'm saving you money - if you shave the gutters now, you save yourself a repaint later

[randywebb]

"I am looking for lightweight without removing insulation etc"

Thom is like a pusher trying to get you hooked on the hard stuff...

I'm a moderate and my drugs are fun, cheap and low-cost (ha haha)

- work on the rear of the car and don't expect miracles

- use the Euro crush tubes instead of the US bumper shocks

- if you are hit in the rear some body else pays the bill - does that help with the FG bumper?

- also note the FG deck lid that Thom posted.

-- Now think about all the luxo crap that P AG hung on your car - what are you willing to do w/o?

- A/C?
- extra heater blowers all over the place?
- electric mirrors, window lifts, and the famed electric-cooled pony harness

- the exhaust & DME & induction stuff is heavy -- do you want/are you allowed to remove it for SSIs and carbs?

- ther rear seat backs are hefty - do you need them?

- willing to remove the heavy sound insulation and repace it with lighter, newr technology stuff? Lots of labor...

Check out my database on Rennlight Thom's web site - it is not aimed at the bumper car series but does have much useful info.

Don't fall for stuff like "RS door panels" - they save little. You need to start with doing the bigger stuff first, the door panels are useful once you get the car down to 2,100 lbs....

[NoLift911]

Thom - I am just saying "NO" to your bad drugs.

Shaving the gutters? While cool the added cost benefit analysis leaves little to be desired. You could add the RUF aero strips and achieve the same effect for about 1/10 of the cost.

There are only a few parts being painted so this is not a total redo. The mirrors are gone - holes are being filled.

Rear bumper is getting the extreme make-over...

Not sure about the FG hood yet....

Randy - I have done much of that stuff already. I still need to install my GTP brake kit once back from the body shop.

-Jeff

[Zeke]

I'm still trying to figure out exactly what bumper this is. Supposedly a RUF and, if it is, it would be a real bumper. I'm hoping the back of this car looks as good.



Anyway, there are some options.

[NoLift911]

Zeke - Looks like a C2 bumper cap??

Am I missing something - does look tight though...

-Jeff

[randywebb]

Ok, you are in a middle zone... you could do the rest in my list; or think about the least intensive next thing to do...