Backdating 78SC - what's needed

[AUS911SC3]

Hi All,

Debating if I should hot rod my sc or backdate it, circa 72-73RS look. I'm leaning towards backdating, can anybody please let me know what's involved regarding external upgrades, ie bonnet, guards etc
thanks heaps.

[mickey356]

Fenders, hood, bumpers.
There are companies that offer all you need for it in one "kit".
This is one of those subjects that really has been documented a lot.
Do a search on backdating and you'll find all you could ever want to know.
That said I think you should hot rod it. the backdating thing has been done and done and done, when all it boils down to is a look really. If you're gonna spend that kind of money you'd probably get more bang for your bucj with suspension upgrades, engine upgrades, etc.... unless of course you have a budget to do both, in which case go at it and have fun, it's your car so make it what you want.

[GaryR]

It will add up quickly, especially if you will pay a body shop to get the fiberglass parts to fit right. Along with the major parts plan on steel headlight buckets, horn grilles, custom fabricating or fitting of front signal light housings, etc. etc. If you can find good long hood steel front fenders to add flares to I think you would be better off but easier said than done. Welding the forward marker section on to a good SC/Carerra fender is an option also.

[James Brown]

You can get front and rear fiberglass bumpers that look close but need proper fitting. At the engine, you need the heater backdate mod and the old 70-73 heat exchangers (or go with SSI's), some oil lines need to be changed also, muffler, induction system (carbs, itb, ect.), older style bits and trim and seats, polish the fuchs, and removing all the "modern" electronic engine stuff and wires, door panels. It's kind of an endless game but keeps you busy! Pick a car you like from the many pictures on here and just start to duplicate it. A byproduct to backdating is you will remove a ton of crap/weight you don't need. A good journey.

[Deschodt]

Cost depends on what you are going for, really... You mention RS clone, but there is the "slap a fender extension, bumpers and a duck" approach, and the 100% reproduction approach, down to a NOS period dash and thin glass...

You have tons of options along the way, look at fenders for instance... You can use or repair original long hood fenders (have fun stuffing your SC crap under those), you can keep your SC fenders and weld an extension from an oldie... You can use plastic bits that simulate that extra fender bit but leave a "gap line" where the join is. You can get FG or CF fenders, which some argue will be removing weight from the wrong end... And on and on.. that's just fenders !

It may have been "done" a lot, but I gotta tell you, I really enjoyed my backdate. I made a friend (who helped me out) in the process, learned a lot about my car and how it went together, I'm not afraid of unbolting stuff on it now, I like the semi-unique look (I went with an S bumper and no duck), I like the mix of old look with the slightly more modern platform underneath, and the weight loss is substantial...

Now, as I've said after all this was done to my car, a backdate will not make an SC into a 997 beater - in fact I think a base 987 boxster will trounce me, still (not a dig, I like boxsters). Far from it... If it's performance you are after, you are better off doing suspension and engine work instead... If you can do both, well, why not ! ;-)

Here's my mongrel (with aero mirrors, ohh the horror)

[James Brown]

Yes well said Greg. Backdating (or forward dating) is more of an interpretation of a style that you like. Look at a bunch of cars and "cut and paste" what you like and what you don't.

[equality72521]

I would love to turn my 1979 turbo in a clone of Jack's BB2