Structural Reinforcement

[boba]

The part I like best:

"Universal Installation fits any cars."

Got to love that one size fits all engineering.

[avendlerdp]

I have been lurking on this thread for a while now and I thing there may be a way to get the added stiffness from the additions to the Cab/Targa shell without having to gut the car the weld it all in.

Who thinks it would be easier to convert a Targa to a Coupe? It seems to me that welding a steel coupe roof onto a Targa could get one close to the best of both worlds. Besides, it seems like Targas are cheaper....

[Scotte]

You mean like this: http://rennline.com/interior.php/sid/2/aid/5

[avendlerdp]

Yes but without the cage and such for street and D/E use.

[randywebb]

Seam vs. Spot Welding:

- A friend's 1971 E has spot welds every 1.5" in the body. He thinks that seam welding would add very little stiffness to the body structure. Contrary thoughts?

I also came across some interesting info on the Carrera Cup series cars (these were 964 cars built by the factory as racers bu the race series lost sponsors so the cars were sold 'as is' to customers).
The US Carrera Cup car _were_ seam welded unit bodies - this in a series (the 964) that was already stiffer torsionally than the earlier models. However, the Euro-RS Basic and Euro-RS Touring cars were not seam welded.

- Excellence Feb. 1993, table p. 55 and mentioned in the text
the article is by David Coleman.

[randywebb]

There is an article in Excellence, April 1993, p. 88 on an SC-RS that found a nice home in Bahrain, then CT -- car #19 of 20.

It notes that the cars were made to provide a cheapo racer for Rothman's, and that the engineers did three things to stiffen them:
1. double the number of spot welds on the chassis.
2. Welding in rear shock member braces from the Carrera RSR.
3. Welding in strengthing pieces around the rear torsion bar tubes.

[boba]

Randy,
Here is one of the areas.

[randywebb]

Thx much!

[rdane]

1. double the number of spot welds on the chassis.
2. Welding in rear shock member braces from the Carrera RSR.
3. Welding in strengthing pieces around the rear torsion bar tubes

Thanks Randy that is good info. We also duplicated much of what Boba has pictured above in my car because of the age of the chassis and some obvious wear and tear there. I didn't realise the advantages until now.

[randywebb]

Comments & pics re rear shock tower stabilization on RSRs:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/342844-rsr-rear-shock-reinforcements-post3236476.html#post3236476

[blue72s]

Hello,

Are GT3 Porsches seam welded?

[blue72s]

Bump. Come on! Somebody here must know.

[RWebb]

Racing teams using the modern cars might know - this is a 911 forum so maybe somebody on the 996 or 997 forums would know.

[RWebb]

ONe thing that can be done to the 911 - especially the earlier cars, is to add the braces the factory developed for cabs. Midway down on Thom's page are copies of the factory manual on this...


http://www.vintagebus.com/howto/cab/index.html

[johndglynn]

Originally posted by blue72s
Are GT3 Porsches seam welded?

If you go back to page three of this thread, Sherwood has posted some pics of Geoffrey Ring's car being seam welded, and quotes Geoffrey mentioning the factory manual and wanting to seam weld 'like the 996 GT3 RS'. I have some old press releases somewhere from the GT3 launch, will check them for seam welding info. I was also under the impression that all 964RSs were seam welded, will check that out.

Seam welding and spot welding are miles apart in strength. A friend of mine preps shells for rally cars, and spent years building WRC Focus shells and Mitsi Evo shells for Ralliart. Teams won't even let recce cars go out without full seam welding, as the cars will not survice a big hit with production welds.

I tripped over some pics of the SC RS torsion tube reinforcing the other day, will find them again and add them in.

[blue72s]

Thanks John. So, it's just the GT3 "RS" and "Cup" cars that were/are seam welded as standard by the factory?

[johndglynn]

Originally posted by blue72s
Thanks John. So, it's just the GT3 "RS" and "Cup" cars that were/are seam welded as standard by the factory?

I think the RS cars are all seam welded - 964, 993 and 996 & 997 GT3 RS. I dunno whether the stock GT3s - 996 or 997 - are seamed. I will find out - I know a few owners and dealers.

On the 964RS, two RS pages here and here, both guys are well up on their 964s, and both say the 964RS is seamed. I know 10 or more 964RS owners in the UK, and have a 964RS specialist nearby, so will have a closer look at a car next time I see one just to double check my recollection. A friend has an early 964RS lightweight and that is definitely factory seam welded.

edit: Just looking through the 997 GT3 and GT3 RS press material and no mention of seam welding in there. I am at the track with some GT3 boys on Wednesday, so will have a look at the cars.

[blue72s]

Originally posted by johndglynn
I dunno whether the stock GT3s - 996 or 997 - are seamed. I will find out - I know a few owners and dealers.

I am at the track with some GT3 boys on Wednesday, so will have a look at the cars.

Thanks.

[blue72s]

John Glynn,

Well? Did you have a look at the cars yesterday?

[safe]

This is a little of topic, but how much stiffness will a bolt in cage add to a targa body?
Will it compare to a coupé or be better?