924 Carrea GT clone?

SlowToady · 09-28-2003, 06:04 PM

I was surfing the net today in search of real sports cars that the young bloods could afford (the ironic part is, they're Porsche's!) and I came across the 924 Carrera GT's again. I know the original Carrera GT's were built on modified 931s, but after a search of the forums I came to the conclusion the 924S model is more reliable, and an overall better car. Would it be acceptable to build a 924 Carrera GT replica on a 924S model? Granted, since it doesn't have the turbo engine and the horse power that comes with it, it isn't REALLY (strictly speaking) a Carrera GT clone but 931 parts (engine wise) are rather costly. Is it still acceptable to do though? Opinions, would it rice-ish or poser-ish since it's not an exact replica? I really do like the way the Carrera GT looks and I rather do prefer NA motors over Turbo motors. Any thoughts?

To the guys who have done, or are doing, the conversion, what kit did you use, and how is it working out? I dug up Body Kits vs. Stock and I really, really, really like the white Carrera GTS with the fixed head lights and the bumper/nose with the splitter. Cost estimations anyone? I was thinking about $1500 for body panels (Infinite Bodywerks kit).

Just to recap, and summarize incase you don't feel like reading the whole post (I wouldn't, either) is it acceptable to build a Carrera GT on a 924S?

Ahh...such dreams and ideas

Britwrench · 09-28-2003, 07:48 PM

I think it's an excellent idea. You will have the much better alu rear trailing arms and it's not beyond the realms of realism to convert the brakes to 951 spec. You will have to use the right Fuchs wheels, or you could go to 17" cup wheels. Do it!!

ronin · 09-28-2003, 07:56 PM

and remember, conversions like this are never in bad taste if they are done right. I think it would be really cool to have a reliable '24 S with (correctly done) Carrera GT skin, as I'm rather fond of the Carrera GT myself

SlowToady · 09-28-2003, 08:23 PM

w00t! I love enthusiam. I was going to use the following parts from GT-Racing:

201

241

280

280B

298

It's about $1500 total. If you go to their webpage and view the 924/944 stuff, it's the white one only without the hood scoop. I was thinking either Guards Red, Imola Blue (like on the Audi's) or Speed Yellow.

I found an 87 924S about an hour from me that LOOKS like it has some bodywork on it, it's got rear flares, different rocker panels, what looks like a turbo front, and a different spoiler. Looks pretty good, IMO.

http://autotrader.com/findacar/vdetail.jtmpl?car_id=142982683&dealer_id=&car_year=1987&make=POR&distance=200&max_price=&model=924&advcd_on=n&end_year=2004&min_price=&certified=n&address=60031&search_type=used&advanced=n&start_year=1983&color=&cardist=48

Not sure about that 6K, opinions? I'm gonna go see it this week (I'm hoping it's still available, I'm calling tomorrow). I hope it's still available(!).

Any hey, if it needs more power all I gotta do is find a wrecked S/S2..:-P

Anyway, I'm thinking a Carrera GT clone with some 17" cups (hats off to Britwrench) would make a nice little ride. I'm crossing my fingers!

Oh yea, speaking of brakes, any chance of getting some bigger ones on there? I heard Brembo has these 6 piston calipers..:-D

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

someone on the site has done the 924-CGT conversion... don't remember who tho.

scheistermeiste · 09-29-2003, 07:09 AM

since my drivers side is all f****** up i was thinking of doing the conversion on the body of mine. anyone know how much itd cost to have the body panels put on by a good shop? not inckuding the price of the panels? thats been my biggest question. id do all of this after i got everything in good mecanical working order though.

Verruckt · 09-29-2003, 09:45 AM

6000 dollars for a 924S?!? Wow. I will deliver my 924S for that much money, and I live 4000 miles away! 6000 is way to much IMO. Unless the PO has done a LOT of work, that you like and want to keep. For 6000 the 924S of your dreams should already have all of the GT-Racing fenders, flares spoilers and belts. Keep looking!

Some1else · 02:24 PM

I cannot tell a lie, I have been lusting over the headlight kit for some time now. Perhaps it is sacrilegious to say, but I must. I think the 944 looks wrong with the pop-ups. It has an almost surprised look to it. Kind of like someone gave it a pinch in the rear, and it almost liked it.

The inset headlights (IMO) look like they belong on the car!

Now I just need the $500.00 for the kit. (And a way to sneak it past the wife)

Here’s a quick cut/paste from http://www.gt-racing.com/catalog/default.htm

ronin · 09-29-2003, 01:55 PM

the car in the ad says 924 but the picture looks like a 951-944S2. whether that's a conversion or the wrong picture remains to be determined. and if it turns out to be a turbo with that few miles, then it looks like it might be a good deal. just not the car you were looking for

SlowToady · 09-29-2003, 04:30 PM

Quote:

6000 dollars for a 924S?!? Wow. I will deliver my 924S for that much money, and I live 4000 miles away! 6000 is way to much IMO. Unless the PO has done a LOT of work, that you like and want to keep. For 6000 the 924S of your dreams should already have all of the GT-Racing fenders, flares spoilers and belts. Keep looking!

Yea, I didn't think $6,000 sounded right. Kinda laughed, I'd never seen one that high before. I was going to call him today, but I decided to sleep instead; it was a l-o-n-g day at school, everyones givin' me the hucklebuck.

Som1Else, I agree with you, I think the fixed lights look _much_ better and they look downright mean on the Carrera GT. Only $500, come on man you can make it up to her somehow

Ronin, that's kinda what I was thinking, it's different from any 924 I've seen so far. My friends and I are playing "Guess that Porsche". Winner gets the first ride. If it turns out to be a 951/S2 for that cheap it's going to be hard to pass up.

Also, I was just thinking about the weight distribution earlier today. The GT-Racing body panels really take a decent amount of weight off, how does that affect the handling of the car? Make it a bit more nimble, faster turn in? I was also tossing around replace the rear hatch glass with a nice, light Lexan piece. Any ideas on how much that trims?

Finally, how hard is this stuff (body kit) to install? I'm already cringing at how much it might cost (not from a cost standpoint, but from a cost/time standpoint) and I'm not sure about paying a shop to do it. It's only installing body panels, can't be rocket science, ey? Maybe a weekend in the garage (Friday afternoon-Sunday afternoon)?

Thanks

SlowToady · 09-30-2003, 04:12 PM

Sorry guys, had to BUMP this.

Verruckt · 09-30-2003, 07:07 PM

The front fenders and bumpers are easy to replace. They simply unbolt. You may have to bond the rear gt fenders on the rear though. That sounds more like body shop kinda work. Perhaps the same body shop that is going to paint all you cool panels? Any time your car looses weight, you going to be able to go faster. Less weight over the front will make the car understeer less. One last concern. What kind of wheels and spacers are you going to use. Those fenders can hold some HUGE wheels and tires. My slightly lowered 924S holds 16X7, 205/50 in front and 16X8, 225/45 in the rear with .25" spacers. You may be able to get 16X10 in under those flairs!!!

SlowToady · 09-30-2003, 09:01 PM

Whoowee lets add up the costs here...

924S: $3,000 (more? less?)
GT-Racing body panels: $1,700
Paint: Might be going Maaco on this one..

Whats decent paint run these days? MIGHT need to get the whole car painted.

My friend's dad happens to own a body shop, so getting the rear panels on shouldn't be much of a problem. Brother's friend is the manager of the VW dealership so I can probably get the panels painted cheaply, but it probably won't match the car. Heh, Maaco can hook me up with Ambadassor for like 3 bills:-P

Then I need some wheels, I suppose. Or I might leave the stock Phone Dials on there, I like how they look.

Theres about $5,000 on stock wheels, tires, engine, and suspension. I'm thinking of putting $2,000 down on the car, so monthly payments will be cheap (under $30/mo over 48mo). I'd have $500 towards the fun stuff, and I guess then I'd just be throwing pay checks at it over the winter until it's "complete". As long as it's ready for Spring, I'm cool. Did I miss anything?

Pff, not gonna get a cooler car for $5,000.

Oh yea and I thought you guys might like some humor. I was talking to my buddy Brian about this and one of my muscle car friends over heard and he goes "Man my 73 Nova will smoke you man". I looked at him and I go, "Sure, maybe in a straight line. We should go to Road America next summer, see who laps faster". His responce? "Ok, why not? I'll still beat you, that little 4 banger has no go it'll never get out of the corner but my V8 will shoot me outta there fast." Ahh..kids these days.

J1NX3D · J1NX3D's Garage

i bought my turbo with the kit. I luv how wide and staunch it sits. i have fuchs in 16 x 7 front and 16 x 8 rear. i dont use spacers as theyre illegal here. I priced up the panels i have using gt-racing as a guide and it would have cost roughly $NZ4000.00 + frieght to ship from US -> NZ.
I have grp guards front and rear, grp bonnet, grp one piece front spoiler and bumper.

i have an i/c and a scoop lined up next. The guy making the i/c uses an authentic carrera gt jig. he races a replica (since the mid '80's) also:

he did a conversion to fixed headlights to save weight but found them next to useless for use at night, he found the bumper limited the beam.

J1NX3D · J1NX3D's Garage

also, the 924 carrera gt is the earl of goodmarch's(? - the one that opens his grounds to classic car racing) favourite car, giving him 130,000 trouble free miles over 10yrs with no major work incl rebuilds and he regretted the day he decided to sell

rammstein · 10-01-2003, 05:33 AM

$6K is way too much. Even with low mileage and excellent condition, unless you love it to death and can't sleep I'd walk.

When I first began looking for a fun car, I was looking at the 924S as well. The 2nd one I looked at, the guy wanted $7500! He didn't list that price though. The car had 75000 miles and it was truly immaculate. I thought I had found my car, and offered what I thought was a reasonable $3800. He told me he 'already had offers for $6300'. I said great. Its still advertised for sale over a year later.

Moral of the story- keep looking, unless he's willing to go well south of $4k. And even then, it should pass PPI without any failures.

I really dig the 924 body, even stock. Good luck.

SlowToady · 03:04 PM

$7500??? You could get a 951 for that. I think too often people over estimate the resale value of these cars just because they say "Porsche". Or perhaps they think they can dupe someone into paying way too much, just for the name. I dunno..

Figured out since most of the front end is going bye-bye anyway, there isn't much point in buying one that is immaculate. Sure, it'd be nice to drive around in a real nice car until the conversions done, but I'm too stingy. Thinking of selling your 924S? Drop me an email, or PM me.

edit:

Anyone know the possibilties of getting the big 928S4 brake setup on here? They put it on the 951S, so I figure if the standard 951 brakes go on, the 951S ones should, too.

rammstein · 10-02-2003, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SlowToady
$7500??? You could get a 951 for that.

HA HA!!! See my signature- thats the logic I followed!

He also owned some kind of late 90's 911 convertible. He was a smart guy, he basically is hoping to dupe somebody. I'm actually suprised he has been unsuccessful even after all this time.