SWB vs LWB: Differences?

[Flieger]

Wow, A-arm rear suspension sounds cool!

[MarKoBrow]

I was referring to a complete 993 rear suspension. I picked up a parts car to use to repair my '96. I was going to take the plunge but that may have taken all summer to set up. I saw somewhere on this forum where it had been done

[Flieger]

Still sounds like an interesting upgrade.

[stv951]

Bump on this.

[stv951]

May I add that next week i am buying a 912 (69 hence lwb but...) that has a 993 6sp gbox and a 964 engine, but the "interesting" bit is that it also has complete 964 rear suspension without torsion bars, but coilovers and 964 arms instead.

I ll keep you posted

[tb912]

I'm sorry to dig up this old thread. But I'm curious.
So, aside from the flares, are there any differences in the body between SWB and LWB? is it all simply in the suspension?

[Tim K]

There are lots of other differences besides. I don't own a SWB and I'm sure I don't know the half of it but here's what I can think of off the top of my head.

Single battery on driver's side (vs. two battery boxes).
Front bumper weights
Different front bumper mounts on tub?
Early SWB cars didn't have adjustable strut towers
I think the shape of the sheet metal 'shelf' behind the fuel tank is quite different (the fuse panel is up there too).
Vents inside cabin at front inner longitudinals
Rear shelf is ribbed
One-piece knee guard (in lieu of two plus ash tray)
Copper window frames
Four-hole grills (196?)
Engine lid/grill
Rear vented windows
Seat belts?
Tail lights and buckets


I'm thinking I've not scratched the surface here but I've run out of ideas.

Hey! You have one! Lucky guy

Tim K

[landyman96]

Hi guys, quick question. Are the front wings on a LWB car the same as an SWB?

[mepstein]

Originally Posted by landyman96

Hi guys, quick question. Are the front wings on a LWB car the same as an SWB?

No. Different turn signal boxes.

[Rosco_NZ]

And different shaped horn grills.

[benjoys02]

here are some photos of swb, i guess one is a factory modified model (TR), cars that have been flared in the rear perhaps using modified SC flares...? looks like there were no conversions in the rear TBs as the access holes are still in the same place. i'm tempted to go this route on my 912/6 with a 3.2 but will keep my old fenders in case i'd want to go back to stock someday.

[landyman96]

Many thanks. My wings are rusted and i cant seem to find good SWB wings, only LWB and they look so similar.

[mepstein]

I bought my SWB wings from Delaware Porsche Parts. Real Porsche sheet metal. Almost wholesale prices.

[Thomas Otten]

I have seen some went the path of cutting the entire torsion bar tube out. This sounds like a lot of work, but what would be the benefit of going that route, as opposed to welding LWB brackets on your SWB torque tube?

I'm not sure which path he took here as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rmwvs3EKzbQ&t=840s

[Thomas Otten]

Just checking if anyone knows.

[jmz]

SWB is a **** ton of fun. No reason to convert it to a LWB unless you want to build an RSR or something. My 68 with a mild 2.8 twin plug is one of the most fun cars I have ever owned.

If I were going to convert one to a LWB I would put it on a celette bench and install new trailing arm pick up moutns make sure the trailing arm pick up points were in the right place. I wouldn't replace the torsion tube unless it showed any damage which is quite possible. (ask me how I know)

[Evan Fullerton]

If you want a hand full to drive in the limit, SWB is that! A friend has a ‘65 912-6 with a RS spec 2.7L that I’ve auto crossed. The steering wheel is never straight, even on the straightaways, lots of fun.

There are some durability and braking reasons particularly on larger tires that LWB makes more sense but as a fun car on skinny tire, SWB isn’t a bad thing!

[jmz]

Originally Posted by Evan Fullerton

If you want a hand full to drive in the limit, SWB is that! A friend has a ‘65 912-6 with a RS spec 2.7L that I’ve auto crossed. The steering wheel is never straight, even on the straightaways, lots of fun.

There are some durability and braking reasons particularly on larger tires that LWB makes more sense but as a fun car on skinny tire, SWB isn’t a bad thing!

Mine moves around quite a lot when flogging it on the track but on Avon CR6ZZ 185/70 it has enough grip. With a properly set up suspension and KAAZ LSD, it is extremely predictable. Mine has Alfa brakes up front and M calipers on the back. …quite adequate

[super9064]

I once had the opportunity to ask none other than Monte Carlo rally winner “quick Vic” Elford what difference he felt when Porsche extended the wheel base in 69, his response was priceless “they changed the wheel base?” If this guy didn’t even notice the change I doubt it we would🤣
I have both SWB and LWB cars, the difference is marginal, simply not worth the time expense, or loss of a low number SWB.