RS flare install issue

[lvporschepilot]

Hey all, I recently welded up and ground these NOS RS flares to this early 74 I am working on, and while the passenger side (driver side, for you people who drive on the wrong side ) went perfectly well I am seeing the other side (pictured below) has a bit of an issue at the rocker cover area where it covers the lower area of the flare.

The rocker cover (from an SC) bolts up fine but the curve of the rocker cover at the flare does not match the flare itself. I checked the cover to another to make sure the curve of the rocker cover was not the culprit, and it's not the rocker cover. The flare at this area sticks out about maybe 1/2" too much making the rocker cover not completely flush. Just before the inner edge of the flare nearest the wheel there is about a 1/4" gap but then meets at the inner edge of the flare just fine. It's not really noticeable but of course it bothers me that it's not perfect like the other side is.

I'm thinking it's just an inconsistently stamped/crafted flare? Would you guys just leave it? I can't think of how to fix it as it can't be bent without ruining the curvature of that entire side of the flare itself.

[Trakrat]

I would bet that once you smooth out the gap between the fender and flare with some filler, the offset of the curve should disappear.
Once you get some paint on it, it will most likely not even be noticeable.

[joefrantz]

This is pure spculation, but, the PET does not show a weld on RS flare for a 74. It does show what looks like a Carrera 3.0 weld on, but the only RS flare I could find is for a '73. Given that the 73 would not have had a rocker cover, I wonder if there is a slight difference in either the flare or the body shape in that area. I don't know how the 74 carrera 2.7 would have gotten it's flares, but it is possible that they were manufactured as complete quarter panels by then.

If you still have your part numbers, you can check them against these for the 73 flares:

Left - 911 503 607 00
Right - 911 503 608 00

Like I said just speculation.

If I were you I would take a few more detailed pics, and post your question on the Paint and Body Work forum. Lots of experience over there.

Good Luck

Joe

[lvporschepilot]

The very early 74 Carreras has RS flares. Very well documented. These had OEM stickers and correct PNs etc. Real deal

More pics! The rocker is attached with just one screw near the jack point.

So far, most are telling me not to sweat it. Probably just being overly concerned.

[javadog]

Can you show a picture of the other side, like the last one in your last post?

JR

[lvporschepilot]

Will get on it this evening

[rattlsnak]

Have you fitted the rear bumper yet? How does the rear bottom of the flair line up to the bumper?

[Walt Fricke]

When I turned my '77 2.7 into an SC, I had a shop weld on flares. I thought they would cut them off an SC (this shop was part of a Porsche junk yard), but I think it turned out they had some RS flares and used those. People have told me that the RS and the SC flares are subtly different. But they adjusted the curve of the separate rocker piece - the one which holds the rubber rub strip - so things all fit pretty well. Of course they had to, because it was for an unflared tub to start with.

Whatever the case may be, you might consider tweaking that piece so it is a closer fit.

[lvporschepilot]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

Have you fitted the rear bumper yet? How does the rear bottom of the flair line up to the bumper?

Lines up perfect. That was one of many areas I used to line up the flare prior to welding.

[lvporschepilot]

Originally Posted by Walt Fricke

When I turned my '77 2.7 into an SC, I had a shop weld on flares. I thought they would cut them off an SC (this shop was part of a Porsche junk yard), but I think it turned out they had some RS flares and used those. People have told me that the RS and the SC flares are subtly different. But they adjusted the curve of the separate rocker piece - the one which holds the rubber rub strip - so things all fit pretty well. Of course they had to, because it was for an unflared tub to start with.

Whatever the case may be, you might consider tweaking that piece so it is a closer fit.

The RS and SC flares are only different in that the profile as looking at the wheel well is slightly less round going rearwards to the car, and the outward lip itself is not the same width the entire way around rather the RS flare lip grows and is thickest at the top of the wheel. Otherwise they are the same.

As I stated before, the other side came out perfect, just haven't had time to go out and snap pics and post them. No noodling of the rocker cover required nor should it be required for either side with these.

[mobius911]

Could it be that the original curve of the flare along the rocker was different (flatter) on the driver's side? The curve in the rocker molding in post 4 looks a little flat to me. It may just be the photo, but I remember the curve there for the RS/SC flares being more aggressive.

If you lay the two rocker moldings back to back, are the curves symmetrical? It could be you've now corrected an earlier problem and the molding needs to be bent back to its original, curvier profile.

[lvporschepilot]

Originally Posted by mobius911

If you lay the two rocker moldings back to back, are the curves symmetrical?.

This was actually the first thing I checked. They are indeed symmetrical

[javadog]

Something wrong with the left side then. Try a profile gauge and compare the two quarters.

JR

[lvporschepilot]

As promised, pics of driver side rocker attached with the same screw hole as was on the right side for consistency in evaluating. Additionally, I took some more time to evaluate the two curves in the rockers with gauges to make certain they were consistent. The problem side rocker is a tiny bit off, but less than 1/8" and not visible by eye.

The front 3/4 views, I think, show the driver side flare sticks out just a tiny bit more where it joins the rocker than the other side. Is this worth getting into a tussle about remains the question.

[javadog]

I think you are going to have a problem if you don't fix this. One way to be sure would be to go ahead and fit the rubber in the two rockers and see what the fit looks like. For sure, both sides need to be symmetrical, but I don't think either side is correct. I think you've got too much curve in the area of the torsion bar holes on both quarters.

JR

[lvporschepilot]

Originally Posted by javadog

I think you are going to have a problem if you don't fix this. One way to be sure would be to go ahead and fit the rubber in the two rockers and see what the fit looks like. For sure, both sides need to be symmetrical, but I don't think either side is correct. I think you've got too much curve in the area of the torsion bar holes on both quarters.

JR

Odd issue indeed. The flares are NOS OEM and fit up perfect requiring zero manhandling or bending to get them on. I simply fit the rear bumper extensions and lined up the torsion bar holes, made cuts, ground a bit to get them on, used a few butt clamps then stitch welded.

[javadog]

Porsche used one rocker panel for all of the Carreras up through 1977. They then changed the part number when the 911SC came out. I have no idea why they made the change, or what might be different.

That implies that the '74-'75 US Carreras, the '74-'76 ROW 2.7 Carreras and the '76-'77 Carrera 3.0 all had a similar shape in that portion of the lower quarter panel, even though there were two different flare profiles in use through those years.

I looked at my Carrera 3.0 and the torsion bar holes have much less curvature, with the majority of the curve being aft of the hole. I used to have an NOS set of early Carrera flares laying around but I sold them to a guy in Italy and I can't find any pictures of them.

[lvporschepilot]

Originally Posted by javadog

Porsche used one rocker panel for all of the Carreras up through 1977. They then changed the part number when the 911SC came out. I have no idea why they made the change, or what might be different.

That implies that the '74-'75 US Carreras, the '74-'76 ROW 2.7 Carreras and the '76-'77 Carrera 3.0 all had a similar shape in that portion of the lower quarter panel, even though there were two different flare profiles in use through those years.

I looked at my Carrera 3.0 and the torsion bar holes have much less curvature, with the majority of the curve being aft of the hole. I used to have an NOS set of early Carrera flares laying around but I sold them to a guy in Italy and I can't find any pictures of them.

That's great information. I didn't think to check the part numbers as I simply thought they swapped to SC flares early to mid '74 and that was that. The flares I have undoubtedly begin to flare right at about the torsion bar hole. Could be they were just made on a Tuesday vs a Thursday? Regardless, I'm going to put the rubber strip on and bolt them up properly to get an idea what I'm really working with here. Report back shortly.

[javadog]

I think the change in flare design was during 1974, so I am not implying that all of those cars used the earlier flare design. But, there may be more to the story than any of us have noticed yet.

You might want to install the torsion bar hole covers, too. I'm betting they won't fit, either.

JR

[javadog]