Adding Flares to '74 911
 

Hello everyone,
I'm in the process of converting my recently purchased 911S. I want to add flares on to the back end of the car. Currently on the car there are the stock flares that are pretty much as small as they get. I have and want to install SC flares. I want to know if I would have to alter any other body parts to accomodate for the flares. I would also like to know what the best way is to install the flares so it is seemless and a good solid job. Lastly, I am wondering what I should do with the existing flares? Do I simply fold them up into the new flares?
Thanks :)
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1307686136.jpg

Hi Panos,

sure about the "S" option of your car? Your decklid states "911" which means no "S" - or is it simple understatement :-)?
As of my opinion I would never touch the classic small lines of the early impact cars. Adding flares makes them just look like SC's - but you have a narrow bodied car. I never thought a minute about changing to SC flares even when I re-painted my 74 US 911.
Your question about the flares: cut out the old ones and weld in the new ones. There are a lot of pictured articles also in the bodywork section. But remember: Better without flares ...
http://www.cyberscouts.de/911/ausfahrt.jpg

Better without flares. cleaner, purer.

If you decide to go for flares, I'd go for turbo flares front and back.

I had a '74 long time ago (hence the 74 in my nick), and I just loved the narrowbody.

do not do that!

You weld in flares - actually you butt weld in flares.

As others have stated - leave the car -

At some point in my life - I would love to do an early backdate off an original mid year car - There's alot to like with that skinny a$$.

Of course I can't really talk - I have a 1974 with Turbo flares. - So if you are going to flare the car - do Turbo flares and make it count.

Don't spoil the great lines your car has! Narrow bodies are beautiful in their own right! Jazz it up with a great suspension and maybe tune the motor but leave the body alone.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1307713108.jpg

perhaps RS flares.

screw the new flare to the body so it lines up. then cut about 6 inches along the line of the new flare, then push the new flare flush with the body so it "butts" up to it. tac weld the new flare every few inches. continue cutting and welding until old flare is off. remove screws and take old flare off. go back and continue to tac weld until the line is all filled in. it is a long and tedious proccess.

Don't cut the '74. Lease the classic lines as they are. I have a '76 and an '83 and I'm not sure which is better looking!

Why not
 

Put a turbo tail on it too !!!:D

Thanks for the input! This 911 was actually quite the "Barn Find" :) The PO had done several strange things to the car and I'm not quite sure what to believe and what not to. The PO had put a rebuilt 3.2 into it about ten years ago but has never driven it since then. I have not found much history on this 911 but the VIN is 9114103138 if anyone could help me looking it up.
Thanks!

You'll be spending a lot of money to do it correctly. For what reason? Besides the money it will cost to install the flares you'll be lowering the value of the car. An original car always brings the best $.

Richard Newton
Newton's Law

Hi Panos

your FIN states this car as Nr. 3138 Rest of the world 74 Coupé 911
Your engine is originally a 2.7 with 150 HP

hope this helps

:D

its yours, do with it what you want. And besides, the 74-77 911s are the least desireable models, (sorry everyone, thats a fact). We add a lot of SC flares to those years at our shop. Quite common upgrade.

yeah, upgrade maybe wasnt the right word in terms of performance aside being able to run wider wheels/tires. Make that 'update'!

If you track it - it's definitely an upgrade

+1 If you want to mod it, go properly wide. Then you can put as much rubber as you want on it.

I too would keep it narrow though. There is a nice understated 'sleeper' quality to a narrow car with a 3.2 in the back.

Been there done that... Do it!!! Flare it and you'll open the doors to wider wheels and different wheel choices. Buy some SC/Carrera flares ($200-ish a pair) , buy a pair of rear bumper extensions and rocker panels. There are 3 versions of rocker trim/bumper extensions, 74-77 straight rockers, 78-89 SC/Carrera and full flared 911 turbo. Use the bumper extension as a guide to aligning the flares. Sharpie a cut line over the stock flares and cut'em off!!! Butt weld the flares and sit back and tell me about THOSE lines!!!! My 74 was a ROW car, worthless to any collector. Enjoy it for you.

Here's a pic...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1307800757.jpg

Wider tires, more weight, more aerodynamic resistance, I don't buy it...unless you need the rubber to put power down and I doubt that your 2.7 requires anything larger than what it already has.

I would work on the suspension first...but that's just me. If you want to make it wider because of the looks...then by all means, go wider or buy an SC or Carrera, god knows that there aren't any collectors lining up for those either. :p

I think my car looks nice with flares -

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1290543279.jpg

Absolutely, that 2.7 must scream pushing those wheels around.

Ohhhh yes they do!!!!

I did go to a 3.2 months later.

Really my times at sebring were within 8 seconds of my times with a 3.4 287 HP carrera - and I lost about 20 mph on the back straight... Obviously made up a TON in the corners and keeping up the speed.

Having said that, would you recommend someone to just put bigger wheels and flares on their car? I see an expensive slippery slope to follow, otherwise you just end up with a slower car.
By the way, your car looks stunning but perhaps not inexpensive.

When/where did the O/P ask "if" he should install flares (that is the question MANY of you are answering)? Seems like alot of unasked-for advice being thrown around on this thread!

Well Ronnie...none of the other posters asked for your advice either.

Personally, I would not add flares as you really don't need the with only a normally aspirated 3.2. I would, however switch to a slight wider wheel/tire combo. At least in the rear.

Too true! Point taken sir. Opinions, I guess, are like ***holes, everyone's got one. Mind you, there were at least two post I think pointing out the ' how to' bit.

Bear and Ronnie,
You're both absolutely correct. There is also a "Body and Paint" forum area where the question would be more appropriate.
Having said that, best of luck to the OP seeking that "rare" SC look to his 911.

I think there is something to be said for suspension and flares. People always go for Hp first and I think after some experience I think there is probably HDR as many gains with rubber and suspension

doing flares is fairly easy with the right tools and there are good threads on the subject in the paint and bodywork section to help. here's a good one:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/345010-butt-welding-flares-vs-lap-welding.html

go to post 19.

I think you will only need SC/Carrera rear under-bumper quarter panels to meet up with the new flares.

A rust-free 74 is something worth saving without being chopped up... IMO.

It wasn't the problem car that the later mid-year cars were, and they were the first year of the impact bumpers, FWIW.

Yours is not an 'S' as others have also stated.

I would not chop it up, you can't really go back once it's done. There are not many left.

I believe that ultimately, it all boils down to what you like, and what you can afford... Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but yours should be the one that counts as long as your modifications end up making you happier with the end result. Collectively, we're all really particular about our cars and although I've read all these replies to your thread, has this helped you in deciding to: 1) leave it as is; 2) add SC flares; or 3) turbo ones?

I have a 77 that is especially clean, straight and rust-free. I wanted more rubber but hesitated to cut the rear flares. It's expensive and/or time consuming to do it correctly. Then there is the paint work which is a completely different can of worms i.e. expensive to do right.

I ran 205/50 tires on 16x7 fuchs and that was a nice solution. Then I wanted more so I had a custom set of wheels made out of a pair of 16/7 fuchs. They are widened by an inch on the inside to become 16x8's. I am now running 225/50's with two degrees negative camber and the fender lips rolled slightly.

Cut the car if you want but I do believe these narrow impact cars are worth saving if they're in good shape to begin with.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1307902004.jpg

Have not done anything yet, still trying to get ideas. I have a couple options but just wanted to see what the community had to say about it

Ran across this post and is there a difference between the rear flares on a 74 non-carrera and a 74 Carrera and consequently the rear bumpers?

No change in rear bumpers.