first modifications done to your car?
 

Just curious, what were some of the first modifications you have done to your 911? I have a stock 86 911 and have been tossing around a ton of different ideas. So, what was the FIRST or SECOND mod that you did you do to your car?

Suspension, shift bushings, sway and t-bars, tires and wheels.....last is engine.

Exhaust first, then a Steve Wong chip. Then H4s. Then momentum picked up after that and everything is modified at this point.

If everything is working fine, without necessary fixes:

First: steering wheel
Second: seats

I have to be comfortable and feel connected to the car before I know what needs to be improved.

I can barely remember that far back. I know I did a bunch of restorative stuff like carpets, door pockets, etc.

Probably user friendly first (stereo stuff), then ergonomics like shifter, steering wheel, adjustable throttle pedal. You have to be comfortable and mesh well with the car first IMO. Forget about making the car faster until you're comfortable.

Ride height / corner balance / alignment.

Lowered, trimed rubber bump stops.

Two weeks after new, spring 1968.
Should have been two days.

Best,
Grady

Drove car home, had no idea what or how MFI worked (this was 20 years ago), drove it down to shop, picked it up the two days later running like a top. First thing "I" did was replace steering wheel.

I can't call four new Bridgestons a mod but that was the first thing I bought.

Bilsteins Sport Shocks, Turbo Tie Rods and a Weltmeister Strut Brace one afternoon. Huge difference!

Safety FIRST - Always!

That means "mods" should first concentrate on brakes & fuel hoses

* replace the brake fluid (unless there is a service receipt proving it was done within the last 2 years)
- at the same time, remove any blingy stainless steel covered brake hoses & replace with new factory rubber

- replace rubber brake hoses every 10 to 20 years and palpate them yearly (squeeze test)

* unless service records prove the fuel hoses were replaced within the last 10 years or so, then replace them; otherwise paplate and visually examine them - especially at the clamps
use the new EtOH safe hose - Goodyear makes one version; use clamps that will not eat up (damage) the fuel hose
- replace rubber fuel hoses every 10 to 20 years and palpate them yearly (squeeze test)

examine the tires, wheels, and every nut/bolt that holds the suspension onto the car
- check the date codes on the tires - no matter how much tread is left, or how they were stored - they are only good for 5, 6, or 7 years (depending on who you listen to)

How about performing the require general maintenance and leaving it alone.

The very first thing I did was modify the driver. I went to a DE 6 weeks after buying my car. It was bone stock. Scary stock. I didn't start any modifications until probably my 3rd DE and by then I knew much better what it actually needed...

First "modification"?

None!

My G50 Carrera is bone stock. All routine maintenance is of course done, and wear items (tires, etc) are replaced when needed, but those aren't modifications.

For a street car, it's perfect to me the way it is.

To me, when someone replaces a factory part on a 911 with a non factory or aftermarket part, 99% of the time they are performing a downgrade in quality and style.

With a 20+ year old ride, my mods were maintenance on the suspension with a While I'm in There attitude. New bushings? Adjustable spring plates were added, with heavier T-bars, and sways....New shocks? Koni adjustable.....

New tires? Wider and swapped in a pair of 8s, sold the sixes....

Doing engine mods before suspension, corner balance and alignment is a Straight line car outlook. My 3.0 was more power than I needed....so of course I opted for a 3.6....:eek:

First Mod carried out full Top End Rebuild, Second Mod De-catted both exhaust and waste gate best mod carried out. You don't realize how much this frees up your engines potential.

Actually bought a steering wheel and hub on eBay before I paid for the car. I flew to San Diego from Idaho and a week later I was home with the car. Had to spend 3-4 days working on it and running around getting the title squared away. I have the original wheel, now relaced and in very good condition. The wheel I bought is a satin spoked wood rim Nardi. Later I added a Fitti leather wheel to the mix. The slope went downhill from there fairly steeply.

I couldn't help it. I did the Steve Wong chip and M&K premuffler within the first month. Going forward I'm looking at some suspension updates.

My car had the original lights, so I switched them to H4 and had the trim rings painted. Also put in Sucro relays because of the 55/100 bulbs. Then put put in my Momo Montecarlo that I had in my Corrado. First performance mod was the suspension (alignment, corner balance, ride height) and new tires on 7/8s. Haven't done anything to the engine yet.

Switched to 5-1/2" steel wheels.

(OK, this was in 1968...)

Frank

my first real mod will be installing a coupe roof onto my targa 911. any of the bolt on parts i have installed so far were just to repair an existing issue so not really much of a mod more maintenance related. the roof swap...... not so much an maintenance thing more a real permanent modification.