SC front suspension/brakes & steering upgrade on early SWB- worth the trouble?

[LS1951]

I'm building a 1967 912 hotrod/911R style car and am wondering if the SC stuff is that much of an upgrade. This will be a streetcar but I do plan to do some track days with it.

Here's the deal. I picked up a 1965 912 project a few months ago and it was completely torn down to the bare tub. The previous owner glued on some fiberglass SC quarters (very badly) and also welded in the center section of an SC torsion bar tube to convert the car to a LWB RS clone. He also shaved the door handles and gutters (WTF?). The car came with all of the SC suspension, brakes and steering rack etc. I decided I didn't want to mess with this frankenstein tub and I also prefer the look of the narrow body SWB cars. I sold off the tub and picked up a 1967 912 roller.

I realize the rear suspension will not work but I'm wondering if I should even bother with the front. Is the later stuff really that much better? Can I still lower the car with the torsion bars and not totally mess up the handling? I have a lot of body and drivetrain work ahead of me so I guess I'm trying to lighten the load.

Also one of the struts has a bent steering knuckle and needs to be replaced. I found this out after dropping my struts off at Elephant racing to have the spindles raised and braced. Including the bump steer kit the bill comes out to about $750 add another $250 for a used strut. So if I stick with the stock stuff this will leave me with a grand that I can put back into the budget. I have never driven an early 911/912 and have only driven an SC on a short trip. The plan is to have a sub 2000lb car with around 210hp. Will the car be that much better with the SC equipment?

[RWebb]

Al Xbar is a bit lighter

it's mainly about the brake options

[Grady Clay]

"SC front suspension/brakes & steering upgrade on early SWB- worth the trouble?"

ABSOLUTELY ... and not all that much 'trouble'.

I converted my then-new '68 911 in '69 and eventually to '73RS/RSR in '73.
I still have the alu S brakes in front and original SWB L/S in the rear. More than enough, even with a 2.8S.

Best,
Grady

[mpetry]

I did one like this in my 68 912 and it was awesome. The whole front suspension - aluminum crossbar, steering rack, turbo tie rods, low mount sway bar, better A arms, replaceable ball joints and bigger brakes - will bolt right in as a unit.

Make sure you replace all the wear parts - bushings, ball joints, rubber brake lines, etc.

The early 912 front suspension is certainly worn out by now. I found an entire SC front suspension from a wreck, cost me 900 bucks including shocks. Well worth it.

[LS1951]

Thanks guys. Time to search for a used strut now.

[mpetry]

try to find a complete front suspension all from the same car. there are some minor incompatibilities (like brake calipers, hubs and disks) that can bite you if you piece it together.

And of course, if you're doing this, check to make sure your 912's front pan is solid, and replace all the bushings, shocks, etc. since you have everything apart.