911 3.2 Upgrading
Discussion
I must admit once I buy a car, in this case my '86 3.2 SE 911; i am always looking for the next one. My wife has just pointed out, "just enjoy the one you have"..so ok: I think I'll start upgarding the car to get a better performance, improved exhaust noise, a better look. A brief profile - I hardly do any track days, so all about great road driving, having the car noticed, I use mainly at weekends (less than 6k per year); car's done 107k miles, and is in vgc. I want to keep the car for at least another year, and though wouldnt worry about getting all my money abck, wouldnt want to destroy the value of the car.
I wonder what your considered views are:
- exhaust (seeking a better noise,as well as a bit of a power upgrade.)
- induction
- chip
- suspension & ride height (would like it to be a bit lower and handle a bit better)
- impact bumbers (can these be replaced without destroying the worth / value of the car)
- ninemeister (do i need to do the full £4.5k worth of tuning mods)
- should i be looking at a topend rebuild at some point
- gearbox (915): recondition or do as ninemeiste suggests and alter the ratios.
- wheels / tyres (change the fuchs for something tasty and split rimmish, with what sort of tyre)
- aluminum look & feel to the interior?
Who will do all this for me....
woolfie
I wonder what your considered views are:
- exhaust (seeking a better noise,as well as a bit of a power upgrade.)
- induction
- chip
- suspension & ride height (would like it to be a bit lower and handle a bit better)
- impact bumbers (can these be replaced without destroying the worth / value of the car)
- ninemeister (do i need to do the full £4.5k worth of tuning mods)
- should i be looking at a topend rebuild at some point
- gearbox (915): recondition or do as ninemeiste suggests and alter the ratios.
- wheels / tyres (change the fuchs for something tasty and split rimmish, with what sort of tyre)
- aluminum look & feel to the interior?
Who will do all this for me....
woolfie
My priorities would be:
1. New Bilsteins all round and lower/set up to fast road spec.
2. Refurbish calipers if required and fit Porterfield carbon kevlar pads, replace brake hoses, fill with SRF brake fluid.
3. Replace syncros in gearbox if required. Check clutch, if it is heavy fit a new kit.
4. Dyno engine to ascertain its condition. If it is less than 220bhp you may need a rebuild. If it is over 220 a decent service will see it close to standard power, then live remap it after fitting new K&N and sports silencer if you want a louder exhaust note. At best expect 245-250 bhp depending on condition of engine.
This then gives you a car that handles predictably, stops well and safely, changes gear precisely and goes as well as it looks. It also cleans you out of around £3000, but this is money well spent in smiles per mile and will add to the value of the car when selling.
Now, if you are unlucky and have a tired engine you will want to invest in a top end rebuild before wasting time remapping, but do all the chassis mods first in any case as it will still be fun to drive even when down by 20 or 30 bhp. A typical top end freshen up will cost around £2500.
Finally, regarding wheels etc, I would say that the best road wheels to have on a 3.2 are 7" & 9" Fuchs front & rear with 205/55 and 245/45 tyres. The Fuchs wheel is the strongest/lightest wheel you can buy, which is why Porsche charge over £700 each for them, so anything else you fit will be of a poorer quality. However I can understand the need for change, so consider going to 7.5 & 9 x 17s with 215/45 and 245/40 or 255/40 tyres. I would avoid 18's as they will upset the chassis on the average British road.
Body updates are a matter of taste, the only valid reason is weight reduction but lightweight panels do not look as good as the impact bumpers. However if you want to update the bodywork to look like a 964, why not just buy a 964 instead as it will be cheaper in the long run?
Finally, to get the job done properly, go to the man that you trust above all others to do a good job. Just give me a couple of weeks notice, ok?
1. New Bilsteins all round and lower/set up to fast road spec.
2. Refurbish calipers if required and fit Porterfield carbon kevlar pads, replace brake hoses, fill with SRF brake fluid.
3. Replace syncros in gearbox if required. Check clutch, if it is heavy fit a new kit.
4. Dyno engine to ascertain its condition. If it is less than 220bhp you may need a rebuild. If it is over 220 a decent service will see it close to standard power, then live remap it after fitting new K&N and sports silencer if you want a louder exhaust note. At best expect 245-250 bhp depending on condition of engine.
This then gives you a car that handles predictably, stops well and safely, changes gear precisely and goes as well as it looks. It also cleans you out of around £3000, but this is money well spent in smiles per mile and will add to the value of the car when selling.
Now, if you are unlucky and have a tired engine you will want to invest in a top end rebuild before wasting time remapping, but do all the chassis mods first in any case as it will still be fun to drive even when down by 20 or 30 bhp. A typical top end freshen up will cost around £2500.
Finally, regarding wheels etc, I would say that the best road wheels to have on a 3.2 are 7" & 9" Fuchs front & rear with 205/55 and 245/45 tyres. The Fuchs wheel is the strongest/lightest wheel you can buy, which is why Porsche charge over £700 each for them, so anything else you fit will be of a poorer quality. However I can understand the need for change, so consider going to 7.5 & 9 x 17s with 215/45 and 245/40 or 255/40 tyres. I would avoid 18's as they will upset the chassis on the average British road.
Body updates are a matter of taste, the only valid reason is weight reduction but lightweight panels do not look as good as the impact bumpers. However if you want to update the bodywork to look like a 964, why not just buy a 964 instead as it will be cheaper in the long run?
Finally, to get the job done properly, go to the man that you trust above all others to do a good job. Just give me a couple of weeks notice, ok?
that will be me booking my car in with you then, for 1 thru 4. Sounds like money well spent and is far better than losing it on a part-ex & then another car. As you say depends on what comes out from the initial diagnostics. I'll call and work out dates with you.
I am now very excited. I have been thinking of all sorts of things, was meant to be looking at a 964 but was getting scared off by all the odds & sods that can happen to it; so far better to get the best out of the car I have. Other cars can come later.
I am now very excited. I have been thinking of all sorts of things, was meant to be looking at a 964 but was getting scared off by all the odds & sods that can happen to it; so far better to get the best out of the car I have. Other cars can come later.
Ignore Tony, his experience is limited to his 964 which has different requirements to a 3.2 Carrera on stock brakes......
The Porterfields actually work brilliantly well with the standard Porsche discs, biting well from cold and giving excellent feel. I had a set in my modified 270bhp 3.2 for around 8000 miles, so depending on use they also last pretty well, as a result I did not try alternatives in my 3.2 because the Porterfields work so well.
The Porterfields actually work brilliantly well with the standard Porsche discs, biting well from cold and giving excellent feel. I had a set in my modified 270bhp 3.2 for around 8000 miles, so depending on use they also last pretty well, as a result I did not try alternatives in my 3.2 because the Porterfields work so well.
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