Quick "can I remove this" question

Porsche virgin · 10-18-2006, 12:59 PM

Ya' know the lower valence between the wheels on '74-'89 911s with the rubber strip? Such as in this car?

Is there any reason I can't/shouldn't remove it? I guess it protects the oil lines, but I prefer this look:

TIA

Superman · 10-18-2006, 01:05 PM

I prefer that look also, and my rocker panels are leaning against the wall of my garage. I don't believe they do much of anything to protect the oil lines. From a side-impact maybe. Pretty questionable. I say they are purely cosmetic. And ugly. I would also say that there are a few screw holes that should be plugged and sealed against the weather once you remove the rocker panels. I think those screw holes penetrate the side-tunnels.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

If you remove them your aero #s will be worse

masraum · 10-18-2006, 01:41 PM

You can remove them, but there will be some filling and smoothing that needs to be done to get the car to look as smooth as the second photo. If you aren't concerned about that, then no problem.

lov2fly · 10-18-2006, 01:51 PM

Car looks great as is! Get of the computer, drive and have fun.

randywebb · 10-18-2006, 05:09 PM

To get a visual of why Bill makes that comment, take them off and go for a high speed drive in the rain. You'll see that air (and dirty water) flow _up_ the sides of the car.

But hey - it's a Porsche - why let form follow function?

midlife · 10-18-2006, 05:17 PM

I took mine off, and welded up the holes as part of my re-back-date project.
I like the look.

ianc · 10-18-2006, 05:57 PM

Oil lines on the passenger side look pretty unsightly with them removed.

ianc

oneblueyedog · oneblueyedog's Garage

What about Carrera 2/4 side skirts?

klaucke · 10-18-2006, 07:10 PM

Originally posted by Bill Verburg
If you remove them your aero #s will be worse

Agreed, but perhaps more important for the street, his oil temps will likely be better.

Scooter · 10-18-2006, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oneblueyedog
What about Carrera 2/4 side skirts?

Please, no.

Porsche virgin · 10-19-2006, 05:19 AM

Wow. I didn't think I'd get this many opinions! BTW, neither car is mine.

My car is mainly used for autox, occasional street use, and I hope to get more into DE next year (had my first taste last month).

The aero aspect isn't too much of a concern. It wouldn't matter at autox speeds, and I'm not going for time during DE events.

The reason I'd take it off is because I like the old, cleaner look.

That said, I'm lazy and not comfortable with the "patching" and "filing" work that would need to be done to make it look clean and smooth.

If I take them off, I suppose the black rubber strip would be hard to put back on, so there would be no going back.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by klaucke
Originally posted by Bill Verburg
If you remove them your aero #s will be worse

Agreed, but perhaps more important for the street, his oil temps will likely be better.

If oil temp is the problem the solution is usually oil cooler upgrade.

Porsche virgin · 10-19-2006, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Verburg
If oil temp is the problem the solution is usually oil cooler upgrade.

Funny you mention this because I'm in the process of researching this very topic. I have the 28-row brass cooler. My thought is, if I upgrade to the late model cooler, I should get a fan at the same time. My big worry about overheating is sitting in traffic on a hot day, with no air passing over the cooler. I'm considering the entire Elephant big mouth cooler and fan upgrade.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Porsche virgin
I'm considering the entire Elephant big mouth cooler and fan upgrade.

That would be a nice upgrade.

Superman · 10-19-2006, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by randywebb
To get a visual of why Bill makes that comment, take them off and go for a high speed drive in the rain. You'll see that air (and dirty water) flow _up_ the sides of the car.

But hey - it's a Porsche - why let form follow function?

Glad you brought this up. In the olden days, when they made beautiful race cars, the sides of the cars had an airplane fuselage look. With the rockers removed, my car now has this look. Yes, they now know that the ideal shape for aerodynamic purposes is that of a friggin' BRICK. If the speed limit in my area were 160 mph, then I might consider driving a BRICK.

No the rubber part is not impossible or even difficult to reinstall. I like the look of the oil lines. Next step is to do something about the ugly bumpers.

My rear valence is also removed. I had it off, and could not think of a good reason why I would put it back on. Now, if it were a girl's car, that would be different.

Porsche virgin · 10-19-2006, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by randywebb
To get a visual of why Bill makes that comment, take them off and go for a high speed drive in the rain. You'll see that air (and dirty water) flow _up_ the sides of the car.

No, thanks! Not on an open highway with my RA-1s!

Besides, my car is dirty as hell already. A little more wouldn't be noticed!

afterburn 549 · 10-19-2006, 06:22 AM

remove the rear seats and rockers you will loose 20 lbs !!!! ( according to my scale) and thats a good reason for a delete -if your are staying under 150 mph

randywebb · 10-19-2006, 11:53 AM

re lazy -- too bad you can't just paint it white or put some FG in there and paint that white

- you're really after the look, right? and at the lowest possible effort?

Porsche virgin · 10-19-2006, 12:04 PM

What's FG?

And yes, lowest possible effort is good, when it comes to cosmetic things. Mechanical stuff is different.