Suspension Options

[Britain Smith]

I have a 1969 and I want to convert all the supension over to the 3.5" bolt spacing. I have a set of Carrera fronts, but I am still trying to decide what I want to do in the rears. I know that the turbo trailing arms are out of the question with the amount of fabrication necessary, but I wanted to confirm with everyone that a set of aluminum SC trailing arms will bolt right in. On a follow-up to that question...is there a range of years that I should keep my search within?

-Britain

[jess p]

Since your car is a lwb you could bolt in 74 911 trailing arms. These are aluminum trailing arms with the 3.5 spacing. I don't
know what tranny you plan to use but if you use early 915
trans, ie ( 4 bolt output flange tranny side) then use the corresponding stub axles. Or if later 915 trans, 76 or later,then
use the 6 bolt stub axles. Now if you use these trailing arms,
get later swingplates ie 74. These are adjustable and will bolt
right up. You will need to remove the inner bushing from the swingplate and replace it with one for a 912. I've done this
conversion so let me know and I'll give you detailed pics.




76 911S
66 912 V8
68 912 2.2 with nitrous
70 914 V8 in progress

[Britain Smith]

I would love to see pics of the conversion. Does the it have to be from a '74 911?

I have a set of adjustable springs plates from an '80's carrera. Why do I need to trade out the inner bushings?

-Britain

[jess p]

The trailing arms from a 74 911 have 3.5 spacing, but 74
trailing arms are aluminum and therefore are stronger. The
swingplates from an 80's carrera will work. Since your car
is a 912 I may be incorrect but look at the inner pocket in
the chassis where the inner swingplate bushing fits. Try
to bolt the swingplate on the car. Does the inner bushing
of the swingplate fit. On 65-68 912 swb cars the pocket for
the inner swingplate bushing is not as deep as 911 cars. If
your car does in fact have an inner bushing pocket like the older
912's then you will need to burn the inner swingplate bushing
off and install the 912 bushing. You can use any trailing arm
from a 911 from 69 to I believe 86 or 89 but since you want
3.5 spacing for the calipers the 74 trailing arms had such spacing
for certain since I run S calipers on them.