[Walt Fricke]

Well, what I noticed as my '77 progressed from a stock street car to a full caged race car (though still street licensed) was that I had completely destroyed the fine balance Porsche achieved when it designed its cars.

Turbo tie rods are basically a wear replacement item with no downside. Various OEM style replacement rubber or rubber-like bushings basically bring things back to new.

A factory short shift kit, and firming up the shift coupling (which was designed to be a bit slopppy for some now forgotten reason), do wonders for the shifting. Couple that with one of the kits which spring load the shifter into the 3/4 plane, and it is like a whole different deal - nothing to complain about.

All the rest I see as pretty much wasted money. Polybronze (or needle bearing) busings are an improvement in every way over the hard polyurethane bushings, but those have always been a track modification. I can't see that they will measureably improve overall ride quality (which involves comfort as an important component) over something which largely replicates stock.

Our completely stock '84 was always a joy to drive around. The '77 (now in SC trim) is something I can put up with. And, as my only streetable Porsche nowadays, is by definition fun. But I haven't driven it over 100 miles in one stretch in a long time.