Popeye’s Turbo

[turboswede]

I just acquired a 77’ Turbo Carrera and, while the power is excellent, it lacks the steering feel and general “tossability” I love in the 911SC. In fact, when turns arise the car is “un-fun” to drive. Currently the car has 16x8 Fuchs alloy wheels with 225/ZR-16 up front and 235/ZR-16 in the rear, it also has a 12.8” Momo steering wheel.

I am planning on changing to a stock steering wheel and I am wondering if I should convert to smaller tires like 205/55 ZR-16 front and 225/50ZR-16 rear, or even scale down to 15” wheels and go with 185/70 VR-15 and 215/60 VR-15. I am also concerned with rainy day driving (can’t be avoided in Seattle) on those steamrollers.

Does anyone know of any problems associated with running the 15” wheels on a Turbo, other than limiting maximum sunny grip of course. Will the 15” wheels from the 944 fit my turbo? What smaller tires will work on my 16x8 rims?

Thanks.

[Les Paul]

15's if you want it to look very dated. I started with 205's and 225 16's many many years ago. Then went to 225's and 255's. I never noticed that big of problem with the steering. Am currently with 225 and 275 17's and will upgrade to 18's in the near future. Bigger is better.

[Carl83911]

tURBOsWEDE,

I'll trade you my fuchs if you're going smaller. I have 205 and 225 front and rear respectively.

what do you think? pm me.

[Craig 930 RS]

Take a pic and tell us about what make & model tires you have -

[Superman]

No. Putting those small tires on a 930 is just silly. It would look silly, and handle silly.

[mmastro]

Can you elaborate on your definition of "tossability"?

I have a 77 930 with 255 and 315 on 17" wheels and I it feel wonderful (sticks, rides on rails, and rotates with the flick off of the gas pedal).

I wonder if you need to get it aligned and corner balanced? It shouldn't feel bad in a corner (unless you're lifting off the gas).

I agree, mounting smaller tires and rims (than the factory would putting on it) would be a move in the wrong direction.

[Craig 930 RS]

Yeah......... 275/315 on 17" here.......Kumho V710s

Lowering in addition to the CB helps a TON

[Les Paul]

Come to think of it. I had my car corner balanced by a great shop. Up until that time the car was darty on the road at speed. If the road had any kind of crest on it and all do, it would weave like a drunk whore. They found myriad problems done by the previous alignment shops. It took them almost a day but when I got it back it tracked straight and true where before it was just plain effing goofy. You might try having the front and rear aligned first before making any judgements on wheel and tire size. It could save you some money down the road.

[Elombard]

I wonder if something is binding, open the smuglers box and look at the steering linkage. Can you jack up the car and have some one turn the wheel and watch the rack, maybe its wearing, I see rebuilts advertised so they must go bad. Also the strut spins in its housing, maybe a really worn strut is not letting it turn easily? again jack and turn the wheel and maybe you could tell.

First time in a non Powersteering car? They do take a bit more umph. I had a guy swear my brakes were really screwed up, I thought he was nuts finally realized he had never driven a car that did not have power assist brakes. Big difference.

[dean]

I would get rid of the Momo first. I had one on for a while. I hated it. I looked nice, but I had a bad shoulder and couldn't steer without pain. So I modifyed my stock wheel to be wider at 3:00 and 9:00. It felt like I had power steering after the mod.

[bkreigsr]

a fresh set of bilsteins, (sport/hd),
changing to larger oem style anti sway bars (22/21),
mounting tires with a stiffer sidewall, (Mich PSC)
will work wonders for the 'tossability'.

then you can start to play with aftermarket sway bars and bushings in various diameters and hardness, and larger torsion bars if you must.

I think the very first run of 930's originally came with 15's, 16's being optional

Bill K

[ZLP]

throw some 9's in back and it will look great. Fuchs IMO are the best looking wheels on these cars.

[Craig 930 RS]

Swede....we need pics.

[turboswede]

Thanks for all the advice so far. I think the main culprit is the small Momo wheel, I measured it and it’s just 12”. I have had manual steering cars before, a 78 Scirocco (I realize not the best comparison), BMW 320i, and I have driven quite a few manual 911SCs. Last night I checked and the wheels are the stock 77’ Turbo wheels 16x7J front and 16x8J rear (16” wheels were standard from 77 on, 75 and 76 had 15” as standard).

My turbo has 1 year old Bilsteins and does not show any evidence of uneven tire ware. I am going to reserve judgment on the tires until I change the steering wheel to a stock one this weekend. Used steering wheels are cheep compared to new wheel & tire combinations.

I will try and post some pix this weekend.

[jorian]

Also make sure your running correct tire pressure. I can really feel the difference if I'm low a few pounds.

[Chuck Moreland]

12" steering wheel is tiny and will make the steering feel heavier, you've got no leverage.

Fix that first, then see what you think.

[Les Paul]

I have a stock 76 steering wheel if you want to trade yours for it. Or I'll sell it to you. It is in very good shape.