For all of the KWv3 converts out there!

[appletonn]

Having popped into Unit 11 early this morning to get my car's suspension raised fractionally (RS + 6mm in the end) as at the RS ride height, I just felt it was proving too low for bumpy B roads and had also been advised that the dampers needed slightly higher ride heights to work effectively, I have learnt something new once more!

For all of you KW v3 converts, it turns out that the pitch of the threads on the damper bodies (that the spring platforms sit on) is 2mm, so for each 360 turn of the lower spring platform, you are raising (or lowering) the car by 2mm - makes it relatively easy to calculate how low or high you are going, should you be adjusting them!

 

[Tam Lin]

I always find the tricky bit is to remember which way to turn the spring platform, especuially when there's an interruption between one side & the other..

And why do they have to make the lower spring platform from such soft plastic, that the "fixing" hex screw rips out the threads & is loose after about a dozen adjustments..

 

[appletonn]

ORIGINAL: Tam Lin

I always find the tricky bit is to remember which way to turn the spring platform, especuially when there's an interruption between one side & the other..

And why do they have to make the lower spring platform from such soft plastic, that the "fixing" hex screw rips out the threads & is loose after about a dozen adjustments..

Well that did cross my mind too as I stood at the rear wheel and had a play with the lower platform - I was slightly surprised to discover that it was a plastic platform tbh!! No danger of it corroding onto the damper body though!

 

[barks944]

What does RS stand for in this context?

 

[Diver944]

ORIGINAL: barks944

What does RS stand for in this context?

964 RS

 

[appletonn]

ORIGINAL: barks944

What does RS stand for in this context?

Refers to 964 RS ride heights and geometry settings - my 'Beetle' has been set up to those RS specs

 

[appletonn]

Stands for Renn-Sport in german[]

 

[bennyboy]

Bit off-topic, but come on Nick, let's here it, how is life with an n/a beetle ([]) after a turbocharged, 50/50 weight distribution, all-singing-all-dancing '44?

 

[appletonn]

ORIGINAL: bennyboy

Bit off-topic, but come on Nick, let's here it, how is life with an n/a beetle ([]) after a turbocharged, 50/50 weight distribution, all-singing-all-dancing '44?

Hmm, good question[]

As a driving 'sense of occasion', the 964 has the 944 licked - the noise, the noise and the noise, the steering feel, the classic dash and dials, the view through the screen over those iconic curved front wings, there is no comparison for me. My car has a partial decat and a rear cup pipe (replacing one of the heavy silencer boxes across the back of the car) so the sound is great at idle but really fabulous once properly on cam over 4000rpm!

However, as a driving tool, a vehicle to cover long distances in, the 944T wins hands down in terms of refinement, comfort and ease of driving. When I first drove mine after its engine rebuild (just around the block near Unit 11) I had just jumped out of the 944T and my immediate thought was "Oh my God, what have i done"! The pedals are offset to the centre of the car on RHD ones, so you have to sit skewed to the centre line, and the driving experience felt totally alien.

Having now covered 1500 miles in it since the rebuild and begun to learn (relearn?![]) how to drive a car that has somewhat less balanced weight distribution than the 944 (ie more like a hammer than a dumbell!), I love it to bits and can't wait to get it on track to explore the limits in safety. It is far more raw to drive than the 944T and the age of the basic design (60's) is reflected in the reduced refinement and upright screen etc, but equally that is also part of the charm.

I loved that 944T of mine and still miss it, for the Thor hammer punch of the turbo and the oh so balanced handling, especially on track, where you could drift it with ease, just at the limit of adhesion, knowing that it wouldn't bite your head off, should you run out of talent!![8|][]

Both fantastic cars, but the 944 feels (and is!) a far more modern car to drive, though this can diminish some of the 'fizz' and excitement and I have to say that driving the 964 gives me a buzz even when i am only pottering around at 40mph, whereas I eventually only felt that same buzz in the 944 when on track or exploring country lanes at fun (yet legal, officer) speeds.

Love the looks of the 944 and 964 equally, especially my modded 944T (look away now Scotty! []) on those 18" rims and lowered.

Still miss my 944 though...[8|]

 

[944 man]

ORIGINAL: appletonn

Stands for Renn-Sport in german[]

I know that this is pedantic, but it stands for Renn Sport. Renn sport is German. It also stands for motor sport in German (or maybe: it stands for motor sport in English)... []

 

[333pg333]

Another issue we found was the 'U' shaped surround for the eccentric bolts on the fronts were only tack welded on and they got prised apart at some stage on the track. Suddenly I had no neg camber on the front rhs while retaining -3.5 on the lhs. I can actually see it in some film and wondered why I couldn't get near some left hand apexes that day. Strange for such a good product to have some basic issues like this. Not to mention the flat piece of metal where the 4 flathead bolts go to hold the top of the strut tower where you adjust the neg camber. These pull down and deform. KW knows about this too and didn't seem too concerned. A bit disconcerting I feel.

 

[bennyboy]

Hmm, good question[]

As a driving 'sense of occasion', the 964 has the 944 licked - the noise, the noise and the noise, the steering feel, the classic dash and dials, the view through the screen over those iconic curved front wings, there is no comparison for me. My car has a partial decat and a rear cup pipe (replacing one of the heavy silencer boxes across the back of the car) so the sound is great at idle but really fabulous once properly on cam over 4000rpm!

However, as a driving tool, a vehicle to cover long distances in, the 944T wins hands down in terms of refinement, comfort and ease of driving. When I first drove mine after its engine rebuild (just around the block near Unit 11) I had just jumped out of the 944T and my immediate thought was "Oh my God, what have i done"! The pedals are offset to the centre of the car on RHD ones, so you have to sit skewed to the centre line, and the driving experience felt totally alien.

Having now covered 1500 miles in it since the rebuild and begun to learn (relearn?![]) how to drive a car that has somewhat less balanced weight distribution than the 944 (ie more like a hammer than a dumbell!), I love it to bits and can't wait to get it on track to explore the limits in safety. It is far more raw to drive than the 944T and the age of the basic design (60's) is reflected in the reduced refinement and upright screen etc, but equally that is also part of the charm.

I loved that 944T of mine and still miss it, for the Thor hammer punch of the turbo and the oh so balanced handling, especially on track, where you could drift it with ease, just at the limit of adhesion, knowing that it wouldn't bite your head off, should you run out of talent!![8|][]

Both fantastic cars, but the 944 feels (and is!) a far more modern car to drive, though this can diminish some of the 'fizz' and excitement and I have to say that driving the 964 gives me a buzz even when i am only pottering around at 40mph, whereas I eventually only felt that same buzz in the 944 when on track or exploring country lanes at fun (yet legal, officer) speeds.

Love the looks of the 944 and 964 equally, especially my modded 944T (look away now Scotty! []) on those 18" rims and lowered.

Still miss my 944 though...[8|]

Makes for interesting reading Nick. So perhaps, ideally, you'd have a 964 Turbo!?

 

[appletonn]

ORIGINAL: 944 man

ORIGINAL: appletonn

Stands for Renn-Sport in german[]

I know that this is pedantic, but it stands for Renn Sport. Renn sport is German. It also stands for motor sport in German (or maybe: it stands for motor sport in English)... []

You're right, it is pedantic[] Bad english on my part!

 

[appletonn]

ORIGINAL: bennyboy

Hmm, good question[]

As a driving 'sense of occasion', the 964 has the 944 licked - the noise, the noise and the noise, the steering feel, the classic dash and dials, the view through the screen over those iconic curved front wings, there is no comparison for me. My car has a partial decat and a rear cup pipe (replacing one of the heavy silencer boxes across the back of the car) so the sound is great at idle but really fabulous once properly on cam over 4000rpm!

However, as a driving tool, a vehicle to cover long distances in, the 944T wins hands down in terms of refinement, comfort and ease of driving. When I first drove mine after its engine rebuild (just around the block near Unit 11) I had just jumped out of the 944T and my immediate thought was "Oh my God, what have i done"! The pedals are offset to the centre of the car on RHD ones, so you have to sit skewed to the centre line, and the driving experience felt totally alien.

Having now covered 1500 miles in it since the rebuild and begun to learn (relearn?![]) how to drive a car that has somewhat less balanced weight distribution than the 944 (ie more like a hammer than a dumbell!), I love it to bits and can't wait to get it on track to explore the limits in safety. It is far more raw to drive than the 944T and the age of the basic design (60's) is reflected in the reduced refinement and upright screen etc, but equally that is also part of the charm.

I loved that 944T of mine and still miss it, for the Thor hammer punch of the turbo and the oh so balanced handling, especially on track, where you could drift it with ease, just at the limit of adhesion, knowing that it wouldn't bite your head off, should you run out of talent!![8|][]

Both fantastic cars, but the 944 feels (and is!) a far more modern car to drive, though this can diminish some of the 'fizz' and excitement and I have to say that driving the 964 gives me a buzz even when i am only pottering around at 40mph, whereas I eventually only felt that same buzz in the 944 when on track or exploring country lanes at fun (yet legal, officer) speeds.

Love the looks of the 944 and 964 equally, especially my modded 944T (look away now Scotty! []) on those 18" rims and lowered.

Still miss my 944 though...[8|]

Makes for interesting reading Nick. So perhaps, ideally, you'd have a 964 Turbo!?

Ideally a 964 and my old 944t![]

 

[Tam Lin]

ORIGINAL: 333pg333

KW knows about this too and didn't seem too concerned. A bit disconcerting I feel.

Indeed.

Patrick, do you still use the KW3s, or have you moved on to a better damper/coil-over solution? I want to get a lower brace connecting the rear of the front a-arms, then an LSD, but I reckon the dampers will be next in the not too-distant future as an upgrade for the track car.

 

[333pg333]

Tam, I had the KW 2 way race version but they have the same components generally. The top mount plate pictured should be made of a stronger metal and the design of how it's mounted could be better. I also have some Moton Clubsports waiting in the wings if I get another car together. Having remote reservoir adjustment available is a big plus.

 

[944 man]

ORIGINAL: appletonn

ORIGINAL: 944 man

ORIGINAL: appletonn

Stands for Renn-Sport in german[]

I know that this is pedantic, but it stands for Renn Sport. Renn sport is German. It also stands for motor sport in German (or maybe: it stands for motor sport in English)... []

You're right, it is pedantic[] Bad english on my part! 

Sorry, I was trying to fill my time... []