Seeking Advice: 1986 Carrera...mild Hotrodding...

[Macroni]

Purchased an 1986 Carrera this thread will document my mild upgrading. Being a checkbook mechanic I will be using local shops for the upgrades......

The 86 is a 3.2 Sunroof Delete w/ spoilers and sport seats. Very well kept car with 78,000 miles, tired A/C system and minor long term maintenance items in need of repair.

Current request of Pelican brain trust is minor upgrades for fulfilling the potential of the 3.2L. My thoughts are along the lines of Wong chip, SSIs and upgraded K&N Filter; am I missing anything?

[s5uewf]

I would focus on suspension, corner balance, and a great alignment and maybe a chip and an exhaust system (993 with flipped flanges). Other than that, look for areas to reduce weight and enjoy the car. Handling is what these cars are about, so maximize it and use the available power. These are more or less momentum cars, so you will never get high G force acceleration without going to a turbo - so don't worry about that.

[pgeorgeson]

S5uewf is right. Alignment, corner balance, possible slight lowering, and a chip will get you immediate and noticeable gains (I know this because I have the exact same car and that is what I did). I would spend my money there before an exhaust system. If you get a Wong chip, Steve can reprogram if you make other changes down the road.
Weight is the next big issue, but I wouldn't be inclined to molest that pristine car too much.

[darrin]

agree -- ssi exhaust has been shown to be too small/restrictive to realize significant performance gains. You might be better off going with a cat delete/euro premuffler on your existing exhaust. Also, no real gains to be had with a k&n filter either.

[Macroni]

Originally Posted by darrin

agree -- ssi exhaust has been shown to be too small/restrictive to realize significant performance gains. You might be better off going with a cat delete/euro premuffler on your existing exhaust. Also, no real gains to be had with a k&n filter either.

Wow interesting..... what do you recommend for Intake? Sounds like all I need for my first step is the wong chip and Cat delete.... I like.

[darrin]

most folks stay stock on the intake, porsche already spec'ed a very large air filter -- wong chip (or check out what sal carceller has done with his injector/chip/maf combo) and a cat delete (along with a once-over by a familiar wrench) should really wake up your engine

[75 911s]

Agree with all of the above except I'd kill the rockers and lower it a hair and put a rear wheel spacer or bigger rubber on the back.

[Macroni]

Originally Posted by 75 911s

Agree with all of the above except I'd kill the rockers and lower it a hair and put a rear wheel spacer or bigger rubber on the back.

Plan on doing a suspension tightening and wheels also..... first is engine (wong chip and cat bypass) and minor maintenance....

[HorstP]

Exhaust: if it has a stock catalytic converter, that thing has to go first. Either a pre-muffler or (in my opinion better) a 100cpi catalytic converter. Next step would be full headers, SSIs on a 3.2l still work

Intake: Either stay stock or go to a round, open airfilter with an optimized adapter flange, significant noise with an open filter

For both options to work correctly, the DME should be adapted, so a new chip. Better would be a dyno session with somebody how knows these cars

[darrin]

on wheels, get a pair of 16x8 fuchs for the rear and move your 16x7 fuchs to the front. Same tire sizes, but this combo will fill in the wheel wells quite nicely and flattens out the sidewalls a bit.

[blucille]

Agree with all of the above, sticky tires on 8’s or 9’s in the rear, and then some minor lightening, I love the rocker delete and euro rear bumper, or fiberglass. And don’t forget a better breathing muffler, too.

[stlrj]

So smog is not an issue in Philly? Hmmm...

[MARISOL78sc]

I never drive more than 5000 miles in a given year so exempt. Antique/Classic plates also exempt as per DMV:

Inspection Exclusions & Exemptions
The following vehicles are excluded from emissions testing:
Motorcycles.
Vehicles registered as:
Classic.
Antique.
Collectible.
Street rod.
Specially constructed.
Excluded vehicles do NOT have to visit an inspection station for any sort of exclusion/exemption sticker.
Your vehicle is exempted from the emissions program if:
You've owned your vehicle for 1 year AND it was driven for fewer than 5,000 miles.
You'll need to have your mileage verified and apply for an exemption sticker at an emissions inspection facility.
Exemption sticker fees vary by station.
Your vehicle is brand new (i.e. without previous title and registration) AND has been driven fewer than 5,000 miles prior to registration.
You should be given an exemption sticker from your dealer that is good for 1 year.
Again, as stated above, you DO need to obtain an exemption sticker for your exempted vehicle, either from your dealership or from your local inspection station.

[msmall215]

I have SSIs and an M&K on my stock 3.0 and I’m very happy with the combo. Did a heat backdate as well...cleans up the engine bay and works like a charm.

[Dave Colangelo]

I see your in the Philly area, I am as well, if you ever need a hand with anything don't hesitate to reach out.

As for the upgrades, the first thing I would do is drive the car a whole bunch, get to know it, the see what it needs. First off you may find it needs some other tending to before jumping in on the mods. Depending on how the PO used it you may want to flush the fluids (trans mostly), check your shifter bushings, and all that other good stuff.

[Trackrash]

I would go with fiberglass IROC style front and rear bumpers, rocker delete, chrome headlight rims, RSR finish wheels and a DUCK TAIL.

[HorstP]

nice and at the same time dangerous about our cars is that they are so easy to modify. So many parts from other years fit or can be fitted without major hassle. Bigger motor, bigger brakes, suspension is all part of the fun...

[Flojo]

Horst, ist aber kein 912 (Kennzeichen) gell
Grüße aus FFM

@Macroni

there is clever modding and modding the looks
prior sure is braining on the setup, e.g. suspension and brakes as well as tire/rims
you can go from a fresh-up with OEM parts using Bilstein up to going coil-overs and "bigred" brakes.
oulcooling- and transmission upgrades too (elephant-/rebelracing, Wevo).

for the looks, you can go from black rims, rs-doorpanels, cage and decals, maybe (duc-)tailwing as well.

study picture and round up what is your taste, then choose.

[mike monde]

Here’s my advice...do nothing! The car is too nice to do a Safari/Rally theme(which is what I would do) and its a great “stocker” as is..all it needs is some road patina from being driven hard like it was built to do..
But being a RG/OG type with a severe case of OCD, I know you can’t help yourself so here you go:
• Set of 8’s on the back, move the 7’s up. More rubber in the back and filling out those rear flairs is a must.
• Drop the side skirts.
• SW Chip
• Cat Bypass
• Euro Lenses
• Stiffer T Bars
• Check your bushings, replace if needed.
• Turbo tie rods
Then...sell it and buy ”Stitch” back...
Only kidding Luke
Just drive the piss out of it and enjoy the journey...

[Macroni]

Thanks for the suggestions....


I had a 3.2L in my 73 Hotrod..... SSis, chip and Mass Air system..... w/ a stock 7.31 set up it was a hoot. Extremely dependable.... very quick.....







I want to keep the car a stock in look, more of a club sport motif...