Building a 20 year tribute to the '67 911R from an '87 Carrera..need your input

[Jim Richards]

Interesting project, Jim. IMO, the R with rear flares seems off. I think the SC/RC would be more fitting with a Carrera as the "donor," although, it would require chopping front/rear fenders to add the appropriate flares. Otherwise, a 73RS or RSR would be great. And an IROC...oh boy, now your talking!

Of course, whatever you do, I'm sure you'll enjoy the project and its results.

[Macroni]

As a pre-73 longhood owner who has restored one and modified another, I have come to the conclusion that the G Series cars are a much better value as a starting point for a hot rodded Porsche. The Galvanized bodies provide the security of lower rust related maintence costs and slightly better build quality. Most of the systems; electrical, suspension and brakes are also factory upgraded. The G50 set-up in your car brings, IMO, an easier shifting car than the 915 set-up in my 73 3.2L car. These cars have all the cool factor of the early cars. My instinct would be not to backdate it beyond the IROC bumpers, mirrors, S/R delete and a classic whale tail (74/75 era), the prescribed diet ...... then I would jam a 3.6 into it to offset the slightly additional 250 to 300 pounds.

slippery slippery slope.........

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by Dueller

I opted for a 21 lb Miaata battery special ordered thru Sam's for $51.00.

Nice get right there! The difference between 'ultimate' and 'really, really nice' is frikkin huge and not linear in relation to $$.


Have you considered lexan rear qtr windows?

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Have you considered lexan rear qtr windows?

Yeah...unlesss you go really thin the weight savings seems neglible...IIRC 11 lbs for rear and 2 1/2 lbs for the sides if you use the frame. Don't know if its worth the trade offs.

BTW, Bfan....is your rally seat black or grey? (Thx for the pics).

[berettafan]

black.

[techweenie]

Embarking on this myself on an '85. Gradually. RS style rear bumper painted. About to tackle the rear bumper changeover. AFAIK, bumper backdate to fiberglass should save 150 lbs.

Will be watching this thread with interest.

[berettafan]

Watching this thread myself as i'm getting frustrated with longhood pricing these days and early SC's are 1/2 the money. Dropping that kinda weight from an SC is a very tempting thing. Too bad so many are sunroof cars.

[JeremyD]

Kinda why I started looking at 74-76 cars - more likely to find one without a sunroof. The weight difference is substantial and amplified by it's location.

I like what you are thinking Dueller. I relocated a battery into my smugglers box - coming from a 1987 TO a 1974 it's really mind blowing the amount of crap that was added. My Porsche Evolution started with a 1990 C2 - when I went from that to the 1987 I thought - wow - now this is a simple car. Well, I am now rethinking that stance - the early cars are simple - the later cars become more and more complex the later the model.

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by techweenie

Embarking on this myself on an '85. Gradually. RS style rear bumper painted. About to tackle the rear bumper changeover. AFAIK, bumper backdate to fiberglass should save 150 lbs.

Will be watching this thread with interest.

150#'s is optimistic. I just removed mine and I would guess the net savings is gonna be in the 60-70 range for the rear and a slight bit more for the front. Still nothing to sneeze at. I was suprized at how (relatively) heavy the accordian/lower fender panel was....made out of some thick metal. The two of them weigh more than the entire f/g bumper cover.

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by JeremyD

Kinda why I started looking at 74-76 cars - more likely to find one without a sunroof. The weight difference is substantial and amplified by it's location.

I like what you are thinking Dueller. I relocated a battery into my smugglers box - coming from a 1987 TO a 1974 it's really mind blowing the amount of crap that was added. My Porsche Evolution started with a 1990 C2 - when I went from that to the 1987 I thought - wow - now this is a simple car. Well, I am now rethinking that stance - the early cars are simple - the later cars become more and more complex the later the model.

At the rate you're going, before long you'll be in a '69

[Dueller]

Got my fronts mounted up at lunch...





So maybe I'll have to change my plans and build a cosmetic replica of this famous race car that t5ook advantage of a rules loophole to run sans a rear bumper....hmmmm...a few number balls, a pair of long megaphones and I'm almost there...



j/k

So FedEx arrives with some more goodies for me to recycle. Thru Pelicanites William Knight (Knight Racing) and his cousin Joey Smotherman (who just got his first 911 a few weeks ago..a 964) I purchased these needed parts. My car has Boge struts so I needed a set of Bilstein strut housings in order to raise spindles. Lo and behold I was able to snag almost no mileage revalved Bilsteins and new 22/29 Saunders hollow torsion bars. And a set of used control arms so I could still roll my car around while these parts are off to be modified. You may notice the rear shocks are Bilstein HD's rather than Sports. William had them revalved at a setting between stock HD and Sports with some good results...thought I'd try to go outside the box and see if they work for my application.




One problem..You eagle eyes will note the rear torsionss are for a 915 car and mine is a G50. Joey didn't want to separate the suspension package which was understanable so I went ahead and bought the whole package and will sell the 29's and purchase/trade for some to fit my car. Besides in dealing with Joey I got to pick williams brain on some interesting work he's doing with suspensions and brakes...keep your eyes and ears open because I think there's gonna be some fun new stuff coming out of Knight Racing.

[kiwiokie]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Watching this thread myself as i'm getting frustrated with longhood pricing these days and early SC's are 1/2 the money. Dropping that kinda weight from an SC is a very tempting thing. Too bad so many are sunroof cars.

I looked long and hard for a long hood to make into my perfect R Gruppe car but the $'s would just not work out for what I wanted to do. A solid SC turned out to be the perfect platform for my hotrod 911. Non-sunroof coupes are not impossible to find. I think there is for sale on Pelican right now.

[D911SC]

Originally Posted by tazzieman

Think I speak for all Aussies in that we are hugely envious of you stateside guys and your cheap P cars! I mean several of you have 2 or more and can seemingly chop and change at will. Here , a 1/2 reasonable classic 911 costs upwards of $US26-27k. There's a no big deal '78 ex US car on sale for ~50k , nuts!

Much as I'd love to do a rat porsche totally stripped of XS fat , it's unlikely to happen. Though I have no qualms about LHD and I spose I could import one .

In the meantime I'll have to admire your fine collective efforts!

I hear ya!

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by kiwiokie

I looked long and hard for a long hood to make into my perfect R Gruppe car but the $'s would just not work out for what I wanted to do. A solid SC turned out to be the perfect platform for my hotrod 911. Non-sunroof coupes are not impossible to find. I think there is for sale on Pelican right now.

Kiwi...your build was what got me to start this project...love your "tucked" bumpers and was the direction I originally was headed in albeit I wanted to do fiberglass bumper blades and go for more weight reduction/less creature comforts.

BTW...were the track pics in your build thread at Hallett?

[kiwiokie]

Originally Posted by Dueller

Kiwi...your build was what got me to start this project...love your "tucked" bumpers and was the direction I originally was headed in albeit I wanted to do fiberglass bumper blades and go for more weight reduction/less creature comforts.

BTW...were the track pics in your build thread at Hallett?

Hi Dueller, yes the track pics are from Hallett. It's a fun track to drive. Not for those looking for high speed but some very challenging corner sequences. BTW my bumper blades are fiberglass repros of the stock bumper blades made by Getty Design. Good luck with your project. Looks like you have a good starting point.

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Interesting project, Jim. IMO, the R with rear flares seems off. I think the SC/RC would be more fitting with a Carrera as the "donor," although, it would require chopping front/rear fenders to add the appropriate flares. Otherwise, a 73RS or RSR would be great. And an IROC...oh boy, now your talking!

Of course, whatever you do, I'm sure you'll enjoy the project and its results.

I agree, Jim. Perhaps I was a bit sacriligious to make even a remote reference to the 911r and a later model Carrera Meant no disrespect to the purists. I guess I'm building a basterd hot rod, but not going so far as to not be able to reverse my feeble customizing attempts when high mileage '87 Carreras become uber-collectible. To that end my attic is filling with a buncha take off stock parts which realistically will be up there for the executor of my estate to dispose of.

[Jim Richards]

No sacrilege IMO, Jim. It just seemed a bit off, visually. Once again, IMO.

I'm a big proponent of the ba$tard hot rod. I'll keep watching this thread to see the progress/fun you're having.

[Flieger]

Nice project.

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by Flieger

Nice project.

Always liked your car, Flie...used article from Exceelence to get some ideas.

Seats came in today. As you guys have surmised I'm doing this on a budget which is kinda fun shopping for bargains. While Pole Positions would be nice, I went low end with Ultrashield rally. $600 for the pair. Nice product for the price. I ordered 17" 20 degree layback and they fit perfectly on the rails. Probably gonna bolt in passenger on the seat base. Plenty of head room even with the SR.

[ShakinJoe]

Here are bumper saving numbers.