Upgrading my car

[SimonExtreme]

So, having got my "April Fool" out of my system, I am back to the serious business of RS ownership. There is a list of jobs to do, none urgent but a basic program of maintenance and improvements. For instance, there is a progam of work to the underneath of the car. While by UK standards it is pretty good, Aussie cars have zero rusted, corrosion etc due to no salt. So, I am slowly replacing all the stuff under the car. The body, rubber seals, window seals and like are like new, so little to do there. However, the engine bay is on the list of jobs while the under bonnet area isn't too bad.

All this leads to my next project, the interior. At the moment, it is pretty standard RS but some of the carpet is decidedly tatty. I brought out a new carpet set from Southbound, which will cure that. I have a bolt in half cage of unknown origin which doesn't have a harness bar. The harnesses are bolted to the rear shelf. I am trying to make some decisions as to what direction to go with the interior.

The vast majority of my driving is on the road. I don't have time for trackdays or sprints, although maybe this will change in a year or two. However, my wife freaks out when I drive the car on the track - what happens if you crash with no insurance or hurt yourself - so who knows what will happen! However, the thing we all love about the car is the race car feel. Even on the road it brings a smile to my face. I no longer use the car as a daily drive and it is used "just for the hell of it", once or twice a week.

I therefore have 3 options.

1. Restore the car to it's original interior, with no half cage.

2. Restore the interior with the cage. In doing this, I have the option of adding a harness bar to the cage or leaving the harnesses bolted to the rear shelf.

3. As I need to strip the old carpet before fitting the new stuff, I could go the whole hog and clean up the panels and leave it "clubsport" style. Then I can fit the half cage (with or without harness bar) or I could go the whole hog and fabricate a full clubsport styel weld in cage.

I am tempted by No.3 but have concerns. While I can fit carpet at any time in the future, is it a reasonable thing to do? I am doing it to increase the attacks on my senses but should I just accept it's a standard RS. What should I do regarding the cage? Should I go for a full weld in cage like a clubsport, but is that safe for road use? What does it do to the value of a "basic" to add the clubsport cage?

Does anybody know if a cage was an extra for the basic car? Could you order one when new?

So, guys, over to you!

 

[Gary C]

How far forward does the half cage come ?, cages can kill when used without helmets, even with harnesses.

 

[mike2]

ORIGINAL: SimonExtreme
What should I do regarding the cage? Should I go for a full weld in cage like a clubsport, but is that safe for road use? What does it do to the value of a "basic" to add the clubsport cage?

Does anybody know if a cage was an extra for the basic car? Could you order one when new?

So, guys, over to you!

I would restore the car without cage. To increase the attacks on your senses I would buy another exhaust.
If you add the clubsport cage (weld in), it's not that easy to put the car in original condition.

You could order a Matter roll cage (not welded) as an extra:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/417066.htm

 

[Hacki]

Don´t think about restoring. Find an open race track, petrol in, helmet on, hammer down![]

To be serious: I would keep that car as original as possible. At least I wouldn´t do anything irreversible. From the future´s value point of view a not original welded cage could burn money. I would also keep every original part, so that nothing of its history is lost.

Rgds

Hacki

 

[964rsdatabase]

Me too. Keep as original as possible. Especially a RHD car.

 

[ian cox]

Hi
I agree with the above originality will be key in the future. As parts become harder to find or NLA they will rise in price and people will be buying them up to fit not only to 964RS models but also standard cars. Just look at the pre 1974 scene. Porsche are starting to remanufcature early 911 parts off their own bat but it will take many years if ever they get around to the 964RS series.
If you do change anything I would keep the orginal parts so that you can return it to standard at a later date.
Kid regards Ian

 

[sawood12]

You could replace your RS suspension with KW. This will maintain the track car feel you want but the valved shock absorbers will give you a more comfortable ride on the road without compromising handling and feel. They certainly work on my 944 - the suspension is alot stiffer than stock, but compliant enough to use the car on the road.

 

[PhilRS]

Keep it original if you do not track it much.

 

[SimonExtreme]

So, it seems that the new carpet set will be put in. This leaves the question about the cage and the harnesses. The cage is a half cage, bolt in and doesn't cause any issues when on the road as it is far enough back. I think I will leave it in as it does give some protection and it's good for posing!! The real question is over the harness points. Should I get the cage modified to have a harness bar on it and remove the eye bolt in the rear parcel shelf?

As for some of the other ideas, the only thing I could do to the exhaust is to run it straight through as I have a cup pipe and decat! The suspension idea goes exactly the opposite way from where I want to go. Who has heard of making a race/track car more comfortable! Part of the attraction is the crash, bang nature of the drive. If I had wanted a softer version, I would have got a 993RS[]

 

[Hacki]

Simon,

I would leave the harness points where they are at. (If professionally done) I´ve only seen harnesses mounted on the cage at weld in cages.
Cup pipe is highly recommended, also an open air filter box. That means leaving the filter element inside, but cutting off all this tube and box s**t. Your senses will be attacked by a beautiful noise and the cup pipe will give it a go you can feel. No experience with decat here.

Enjoy and send some sunshine,

Hacki

 

[DSCBoy]

Simon,
Worth thinking about belt stretch in a big shunt. Harnesses are designed with about 18% stretch in them, so if you run them all the way back to the parcel shelf, for ease of calc, lets assume that is 1metre from your shoulders, then your face runs a risk of an interface with the steering wheel. As 18cm of stretch will come from the belts, then a good amount from your neck....
I would be fitting the cross bar. IMHO.

Cheers
Rick

 

[Laurence Gibbs]

Given that your use is mainly road car, i'd go for putting the carpet in and the half cage. If you'd said you were doing lot's of track days and sprints I would have said the full cage and carpet. And yes a cage was an option. Strong chance there were several designs and nothing to stop the original owner taking a car to werk 1 to have it fitted either, then it won't be on the original paperwork ! As for what price in the future for a car with a roll cage in otherwise spotless condition, who knows? would you turn down the right car solely because it had a cage fitted?

 

[Tony]

Simon,
pretty much with Laurence on this one but if it's not going to be tracked a lot - what do you want the weight of a full cage for[]

Tony

 

[clubsport]

I m not sure about the weight of a full cage being such a disadvantage, of course it is heavier, but the increased rigidity usually helps the cars handling assuming it is set up correctly...
Simon, keep it standard, you are far too much of a tart with the car to weld a full cage into it anyhow []

 

[SimonExtreme]

ORIGINAL: clubsport

I m not sure about the weight of a full cage being such a disadvantage, of course it is heavier, but the increased rigidity usually helps the cars handling assuming it is set up correctly...
Simon, keep it standard, you are far too much of a tart with the car to weld a full cage into it anyhow []

I am coming to the conclusion that I won't bother with a full cage, mainly dur to the speeds I go. If I have an off, no cage will save me. It's the price you pay when you are as fast as I am.............[][]

So, I will keep it original, with a half cage.