Whats is the best front end for NA

nathan944 · 03-08-2005, 01:21 PM

I want to the turbo look front without getting the original because of all the other things you have to replace. I know a few companies make a "turbo look" front end which is what I will most likely get. I have heard the fiberwerks bumper does not fit well and I have seen pictures. Anyone?

Macfreak007 · 03-08-2005, 06:37 PM

Here are your options....
Fiberwerks front end, abotu $500 plus fitament, and paint....

Performance Products NA nose LOOKS PRETTY BAD

[IMG]http://content.************************/main/106398/106398_200_1.jpg[/IMG]

Real Turbo Nose/Headlight covers/bumper support/ bumper/ self modified fenders... LOOKS PERFECT

GT Racing Catalog stuff...

http://www.gt-racing.com/catalog/GTR944.pdf
Part #276 is interesting

Euro Front Bumper... about $200 in good shape, plus lights possibly

Mine, got it for a really good deal....

One mounted on a car...

Very Rare Gembala front end... if you can track it down

The choice, my friend, is up to you!

ronin · 03-08-2005, 08:41 PM

which splitter is that?

tifosiman · tifosiman's Garage

Hey Macfreak! Nice of ya to post a pic of my car in this thread for reference!

That is an old pic, before I installed the 968CS mirrors and some other bits....

Here is what it looks like at the moment:

Ronin---if you are asking about my splitter.........it is from AIR (www.americaninternationalracing.com).

I can confirm that the performance products reproduction 951 nose (an almost all the other copies) fit like buttox and look even worse. Don't waste your money. Honestly, you still need the bumper support and lights for that, just like the real thing. It would only cost a little bit more to get the real thing and do it right. Otherwise, I think the stock n/a front end with the euro bumper looks great.

T.

tifosiman · tifosiman's Garage

There is another option I forgot to mention as well.

This is what my car looked like about 2 years back, with a 931 header panel and white turnsignals, but otherwise the rest of the front was stock n/a:

my924gtc · 03-09-2005, 06:01 AM

First off let me say this...ALL fiberglass parts, AIR, GT, or otherwise are going to require fitment to be perfect. They are designed to be professionaly installed and that means tweeking.

I have a Carrera GT kit in my shop right now from AIR and it is not nearly bolt on, not even close. I have GT racing fenders as well and they are no different. Hell I even have original Holbert Racing parts and they fit better than any of the other and they are 20 years old.

As far as which nose, I am prone to say Carrera GT, even on a 944. Same fenders are used and the Euro look beats the turbo look everytime.

Der Rennwagen · 03-09-2005, 07:48 AM

I was on a budget and at the time, Performance Products had the 951 fiberglass cover on sale at $378 or close to this. Living in Vermont, it was almost like free truck freight shipping costs off the original price. I couldn't resist. Ship away!

I agree Tifo's conversion is the cats meow, full 951 conversion with 951 aluminum bumper support. Budget dictated my choice. The photo of the grey 944 cover shown in the PP catalog photo is nasty and NOT the same as the one I received from them, which is an AIR. When I received this I was shocked at how nice the mold was (as close a shave as you can get I guess!), how better looking it was than the photo and that the batwing (side profile) was not moulded into the darn thing.

The factory 951 aluminum bumper support and bumper shocks fit behind my AIR fiberglass 951 cover and I installed it myself. Not a huge task but it did require mounting on and taking off several times, and using a rat tail file to get the fit just right. Here's photos>>
http://www.thompsonsmithdesign.com/images/cars/my_favorites/1985_porsche_944/944.html

Tifo, "team tow hook" now!

ps Tifo and Macfreak, both email me, I've got some goodies for ya.

Der Rennwagen · 03-09-2005, 08:00 AM

Here is another photo, sans Fuchs and with my ATS rims and snows.

ronin · 03-09-2005, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tifosiman

Ronin---if you are asking about my splitter.........it is from AIR

yep. that's the one. just bought one for myself. looks good. it's going out for paint soon. I'll have to see how much work is involved in the mounting

ronin · 03-09-2005, 08:19 AM

oh, and btw: ditch that tow ring. you wouldn't want to hint at your car being unreliable

tifosiman · tifosiman's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by ronin
oh, and btw: ditch that tow ring. you wouldn't want to hint at your car being unreliable

AHAHA. LOL.

The story behind the tow eye, beside the "cool factor" and usefullness on track days:

My car only gets about 3K miles per year on it, so it is not driven often other than to events and get-togethers. However, every once in awhile I drive it to work. Well, last year, it got hit TWICE at work in the front by someone that apparently had no concept of how long the front of their vehicle was. No one ever owned up to it, and the sad thing was I know they were co-workers (office building, no outside traffic).

I decided to put the tow eye on there all the time. That way, the next time some moron hit's it, it's gonna leave a mark or a hole in their poly-covered bumper, and I will know who the culprit was. The real funny thing is that I have had a few people stop by my office and tell me that they banged their knees on the tow eye. My reponse has been: "Well, you shouldn't walk that close to the car then.". Shees. It sticks out about 1.5 inches!

Anyway, I digress. Ronin, fit on that splitter takes some work. It is easier to remove the entire bumper cover and fit the splitter that way, mark the holes, then drill to fit. Trying to do it on the car is tough.

Hey Rennwagon, yours looks nicer than the Performance Products nose that I bought 2 years back and then sold before I installed it. That one was bad, fit was bad, and it was very "flat" by comparison to the 951 part.

Jeremy

Der Rennwagen · 03-09-2005, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tifosiman

Hey Rennwagon, yours looks nicer than the Performance Products nose that I bought 2 years back and then sold before I installed it. That one was bad, fit was bad, and it was very "flat" by comparison to the 951 part.

Jeremy

Jeremy! Kewl, glad your up and rolling on some forum! My real hope is to change your mind on the fiberglass conversions (at least the AIR one...) - but that'll never happen - right!!?!!

Yah, the AIR front cover is awesome. I'm even going to fit a real 951 batwing under that sucker. I too had a version of the *other* brand moulded front cover on my past '87 944 8v'er and it was flat looking on the bottom and middle, and even had the shape of the bat wing (on the side part) moulded into it. I was not impressed and really took a chance on ordering this new one from PP. Lucked out.

My 944 Sport Gruppe GT project is coming along... I've got the 951 side skirts for it, they just didn't make it on for the car show last weekend.

I've designed some really kewl "Sport Gruppe GT" art that I posted over on the "other" forum, take a peek or just email me.

AaronM · 03-09-2005, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by my924gtc
First off let me say this...ALL fiberglass parts, AIR, GT, or otherwise are going to require fitment to be perfect. They are designed to be professionaly installed and that means tweeking.

I have a Carrera GT kit in my shop right now from AIR and it is not nearly bolt on, not even close. I have GT racing fenders as well and they are no different. Hell I even have original Holbert Racing parts and they fit better than any of the other and they are 20 years old.

As far as which nose, I am prone to say Carrera GT, even on a 944. Same fenders are used and the Euro look beats the turbo look everytime.

Love that look. That's how mine looks actually, without the hood intake.

EDIT: The black areas where the Euro driving lights would go are ducts for cooling the front brakes.

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

Man, im still trying to find one of those 931 vented nose panels, love those. Tough to come by now days!

Tifo, love the old look of your car. Love the new look even more!

nathan944 · 03-09-2005, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by my924gtc
First off let me say this...ALL fiberglass parts, AIR, GT, or otherwise are going to require fitment to be perfect. They are designed to be professionaly installed and that means tweeking.

I have a Carrera GT kit in my shop right now from AIR and it is not nearly bolt on, not even close. I have GT racing fenders as well and they are no different. Hell I even have original Holbert Racing parts and they fit better than any of the other and they are 20 years old.

As far as which nose, I am prone to say Carrera GT, even on a 944. Same fenders are used and the Euro look beats the turbo look everytime.

That is what I want. I have never seen it before now but that is awesome looking. What will I need and where can I get it to do the conversion?
Also, can I keep the same header panel?

tifosiman · tifosiman's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by AaronM
Love that look. That's how mine looks actually, without the hood intake.

EDIT: The black areas where the Euro driving lights would go are ducts for cooling the front brakes.

Aaron,

That's Dan's old car that you traded the 924 and 914 for, correct? That vented header panel is the one from my car (from 2 years ago in one of my pictures above). I sold it and the front euro bumper to Dan for his car. Small world.

AaronM · 03-09-2005, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tifosiman
Aaron,

That's Dan's old car that you traded the 924 and 914 for, correct? That vented header panel is the one from my car (from 2 years ago in one of my pictures above). I sold it and the front euro bumper to Dan for his car. Small world.

Yup. I still haven't figured out what possessed Dan to part with that car. I'm still in love with it. Wonderful machine, and well cared for.

MoonBoy · 03-09-2005, 01:16 PM

Quote:

I have a Carrera GT kit in my shop right now from AIR and it is not nearly bolt on, not even close. I have GT racing fenders as well and they are no different. Hell I even have original Holbert Racing parts and they fit better than any of the other and they are 20 years old.

As far as which nose, I am prone to say Carrera GT, even on a 944. Same fenders are used and the Euro look beats the turbo look everytime.

Someday, I will be putting a 924GT nose on my car, any idea what it'll take to do this the right way? What kind of support will it need, will the 944 turbo alum. bumper support work? Is there any place to get the black bumperettes? I would be getting my nose piece from GT racing, I just need to know what other parts I'll need.

Dan in Pasadena · Dan in Pasadena's Garage

No one has mentioned the snub nose mod with shaved bumperettes. Personally, if I ever did change my front end it would be for that and the vented nose panel. By the way, have most with the vented nose panel modified their stock one, or is there some source for one, despite a high price?

Dan in Pasadena · Dan in Pasadena's Garage

Not to hijack this thread, but could anyone Photoshop those changes onto my car... or just the vented nose panel, I would really appreciate it.