Summertime mods

[kyngfish]

Hi all,

So this summer I want to make some mods, I've done some general maintenance items recently and the Steve Wong chip. I'm going to put a fan on the oil cooler, but since the temps have really been fine, despite 90+ degree weather, I feel OK and there's no rush, especially considering Elephant Racing asks 20 dollars for shipping, which seems like a dumb thing to get hung up on, but I think is kind of a ripoff. If you need extra margin, just raise the price?

Anyway, rant over. I am considering a few different changes:

- Cosmetic - Euro headlight lenses and front spoiler
- Cat Delete
- I also want the wider wheels in the back, but since I don't want to compromise and get the Euromeister wheels, that may need to be next year. 2k for the Fuch wheels is fairly steep.

I'm pretty happy with the changes the Steve Wong chip gave, and the feeling is pretty stark. I'm wondering if the gains with a Cat Delete will feel as stark? Or go ahead and knock out the cosmetic stuff first and do the Cat Delete later this year?

I know some people prefer the sugar scoops, but to me, the more modern headlights change the entire look for the better, so it is really bothering me.

Please let me know your wise thoughts, or any other mods/recommendations Summertime is for wrenching!

[Discseven]

Nice ideas but... and with respect, am not liking wider rear wheels only. That creates an old-time "dragster" look. Now if that's the goal... I'm with ya---looking forward to see it! IN the alternative, I suggest there's a "given" proportion to maintain. Don't know exact math but front width and O.D. is typically just slightly smaller than rear.

[darrin]

Believe that the front spolier is only supposed to be installed in conjunction with a rear spolier and will throw the car off balance aerodynamically if installed alone.

Also, if you're going with 16x8 rears, would you move the 16x7 up front (that should result in the proportions Discseven references above)? That's what I did and am very happy with the change (needed to roll inner front fender lips to prevent rubbing tho).

Euro headlights will do more than cosmetically improve your car, their light is MUCH better than the sealed beams. Be sure to install headlight relays regardless, as delivered all of the headlight current runs through the turn signal stalk -- this is a point of failure and results in your high beams randomly flashing the car in front of you. The relays bypass this problem.

[kyngfish]

Hey man!

Honestly I just want the fenders to fill up slightly more, the PCA guys recommended I move the 7s to the front, and pick up a set of 9s for the rear. I like the look and it's pretty much just personal taste there. Maybe I can achieve the same look with 8s? No idea.

What I don't want to do, is achieve that look by adding a whole lot of weight with extras to make the track appear wider, so I guess I need to still do a lot of reading to do it the "right way". Either way, the dollars for that seems like a 2017 project, rather than a 2016 one, so really right now it's between the Cat, or the Lights/Spoiler.

BTW, I went over to Vertex to pick up a DME relay and saw Wayne and asked him about his sweet turbo, I love his car. Also I was looking at the June meetup and it looks like Coral Gables is back? What gives?

[OffCamber00]

Pop out rear quarter windows are a great summer mod.

[kyngfish]

From what I understand :

- rear spoiler with no front = bad
- front spoiler just adds weight to front and since the car is rear biased anyway = OK

[darrin]

look into the (lack of) availability of tires for the 16x9 rims -- they require 245/45-16 tires, which are rapidly becoming unicorns. I'd strongly recommend 16x8 fuchs instead. Almost all of the 16x9's extra inch sits inside of the hub, so you'll get pretty much the same look as the 16x9s but be able to run 225/50-16 rear tires (which are MUCH easier to get). I don't think you'll ever be able to quantify the weight difference between the euromeister replica 16x8 and the real thing and, if you do, should have no problem selling the euromeisters for close to what you paid.

Also don't think you'll see much of a noticeable change if you replace a functional/non-clogged cat with a bypass pipe (other than getting a smelly exhaust)

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by darrin

... Also, if you're going with 16x8 rears, would you move the 16x7 up front (that should result in the proportions Discseven references above)? That's what I did and am very happy with the change (needed to roll inner front fender lips to prevent rubbing tho)...

Martin... I think Darrin is referring to wheels that were on early 930s. They fit an SC nicely... include a lower and it's a good fender fill. And tires are easily available. Salvage yards probably still have these wheels available. Ref on spoilers:

[impactbumper]

I would drive my euromeisters over any 30 years old wheel. You can always save the originals for the next buyer

[kyngfish]

Thanks Karl, just wondering since you're local, do you recommend any specific yards? I know next to nothing about getting stuff from salvage yards.

[Discseven]

There was/is a guy in Miami that specializes in old Porsche wheels... I bought a set of 930 wheels from him several years ago. Will dig back in records to see if I can find him.

[Bob Gruen]

Cat delete is a mistake. It provides little in the way of a performance boost and has a big impact on how much the car pollutes.

[douglas bray]

While you are in there add the relay that takes the load of the headlights off of the switch

JWest Engineering JWSTERLYHLPR - JWest Engineering - JWST-ERLY-HLPR | Pelican Parts

^^^^ Wrong one, but you get my point.

[RSBob]

My thought is that your signature, or you, dont tell us the year of your car. That would be helpful now and in the future.

If you have an SC or Carrera, because of the scarcity of high performance 15 and 16 inch rubber, you might want to consider 17s. On my SC I put 17s with 7.5s and 9s in the back. Very happy with Conti Extreme Contact DWs. After 16s it took a bit to get used to the taller 17s, but most people never even see the difference. After 17s, a corner balance and alignment, cornering has been transformed.

[Bill Douglas]

Wheel spacers on the back will give you the same look without all that rotating mass weight.

[kyngfish]

There you go.

Wouldn't spacers also add weight? From what I understand, the additional weight from larger wheels and I'd prefer to do it the standard way...

[Bill Douglas]

Spacers don't weigh much, less than a larger wheel, plus the spacer's weight is near the center of the rotation. Also you can have lighter tires such as the stock 225s.

I have cheap Carrera Cup 17" wheels with bigger tires and it really slows the car down - looks good though.