The body Panels from New are Galvanised and hence why most 924’s, 944 and 968’s

are still about and not like most rust buckets from the 1980’s !

This car is no exception and all the sills, arches and panels are in very good condition

so no bodywork repairs or paintwork was required.

 

I did however want to replace some panels to make the car lighter for improved

performance……

First was the sunroof Steel panel which was 10kg, and I replaced it with a Fibreglass

version at 1.75kg

This also meant the electric sunroof and cables could be removed to save more weight

approx. 2.5kg

 

Then the Steel Bonnet from 20kg to a fibre one from Club Autosport @ 9kg

Paintwork by AutoKraft, and a Decal added, There goes keeping it looking original !

 

The originals Mirrors are electrical and heated, and very heavy at 3kg each!

 

So…… 500gram Racing mirrors were sourced, and modified to fit the Porsche stems

 

Then Painted & Lacquered by TWR in Porsche Alpine White……….

 

 

The steel Front badge panel was changed for a fibre version with the 924 Turbo slot style…………half the weight of the steel version

Genuine lightweight Porsche crest !…………it’s a Sticker Porsche use on the 911 Gt3….

 

Mesh grill and a bonnet decal, GTS lights also mocked up….

 

Fibreglass and poly lenses, Hella Lamps…approx. 3kg the pair compared to the standard pop up light units, steel bar and electric motor which weight about 15kg !

Fibreglass rear bumper replacing the plastic original, again half the weight !

Custom side decals “S” in a grey with 924 logo inside….

And rear hatch…..

 

Club AutoSport (Halesowen)

Supplied (2) Fibreglass Wings

 

Fibreglass (Zender Style) Slatted Front Lower Valance……..

Also a 924 Carrera GTS Deep Rear Spoiler

 

Although when I offered up , I thought it looked too big, long, and just not quite what I wanted ! It’s better suited to the wider arch 924 Carerra GT’s & 944’s

 

 

A Change of plan found another solution, which not only looks quite bespoke and different, but this product is 4 separate pieces which all fix individually to the original frame, and are easier to fit than the original interlocking 944 S2 / 968 Bridge Spoiler.

Delta Styling

Made in the Uk, Stuart from Carlton Motorsport (Barnsley) made me a lighter fibre version, Primed ready for a quick prep and Satin Black.

 

Here’s a mock up on the Lexan hatch to check the fit….

 

All 4 pieces Primed and flatted, ready for a 2 pack Matt Black……

 

Spoiler Painted & Fitted

 

All Fibreglass Front fitted…..

 

Then the Bumper Colour went Grey……….

Fitted with a lightweight panel painted with Logo…

instead of using the original driving lights (1.5kg a pair) and LED Sidelights either side of the number plate……..

 

 

Rear Lexan Hatch fitted………by (1 4 U Windscreens – llay)

 

 

The Door windows, quarter side and rear hatch are all a lightweight Lexan, Hard coated for Road use, and with a light grey tint.

Body Upgrades

More lightening in progress………

A pair of Steel doors were sourced, which had been used on a Race car & lightened..

The glass removed, Lexan instead and the steel doorcard Inside cut out…

 

The plan is to Lighten them as far as possible as opposed to buying and fitting fiberglass

doors because they do not fit very well..

The Bottom was multi drilled, and a section cut out the front Steel skin, the plan

is to replace this with an Aluminium panel riveted on.

 

Back from the Fabrication shop (JEMX) after having X Door bars and the front panel

welded / riveted in.

 

Rare Scripted Porsche Doorcards were found and cut to only use the top section

 

 

 

Trial Fitting, original door off…..

 

They are as original apart from lighter mirrors, Wind up Window mechanisms

(Power motor removed) also stereo Speakers and Lexan window instead of Glass

This reduced the weight from 4.5kg from 31 to 27kg

 

The new doors need preparing and painting, External handles, Mirrors,

an internal door pull + Lexan window and rubber seals etc..

This should add about 4kg, which will bring a final weight to 17kg !

So 20kg saving in total for the pair is a fairly good difference.

 

The door fits well and here’s an idea what they will look different when they are painted

 

 

Doors Painted exterior (alpine white) inside satin Black

 

Exhaust

The original Manifold was a heavy cast item approx. 9kg,

I sourced a 2nd hand tubular steel manifold (A lot lighter @ 4.5kg) from the 944 turbo which has a flexible convoluted section on clyinder No. 1 to avoid it cracking.

Painted in very High Temp satin black….aerosol

But the Painted surfaces were so thin that just handling it was “marking it” easily….so I wanted a better long term solution……………..

Then I found one…….

 

Their coatings utilise Zircotec’s own  proprietary Thermohold^® technology and are applied using their own in-house highly optimised plasma-spraying process.

This coating Provides an extremely hard, lightweight yet durable ceramic coating that is highly resistant to vibration, mechanical damage and thermal shock whilst also protecting the underlying component from corrosion.

And here it is…………..With a Black Metalic Plasma Coating

It feels and looks tough, and has the performance added benefits……..Perfect!

 

Exhaust part 2

The original downpipe and centre silencer piece was heavy at 9.5kg

I got another made at 7.5kg by cutting off the heavy box and using a flex and a red cherry bomb straight through design, I also had a Lambda sensor boss welded on for a co2 sensor..

 

The standard back box and pipe is 10kg, I found a lighter (aftermarket) one at 9kg

 

So I reduced the Manifold from 9 to 4.5kg

The front pipe & Silencer from 9.5 to 7.5kg

And the rear silencer & Pipe from 10 to 9kg

A total reduction from 28.5 to 21kg which was very good…

 

But then I’ve found a company in Finland that make lightweight systems from thin gauge stainless steel.

 

Markus Martelius reccomended a thin wall (1.2mm) Stainless Steel tube and hence made me a (1) box system with an Aluminium core and lightweight connections.

I sent him a standard back box & pipe, which he measured and make a new pre bent and shaped pipe section and supplied the lightweight silencer for my Fabricator JEMX to weld together on the car. The front downpipe will not have a silencer but a straight pipe. 2″

 

VHT Painted Matt black, ready for welding and fitting together

The previous lighter 2 box exhaust system was 16.5kg and the calculations for this 1 box lighweight tubing & (1) Silencer system are 8kg !

So if we take an original complete system (Inc manifold) which was on this car from new in 1987……..

The summary is I’ve gone from 28.5Kg to 12.5kg !

 

The original Downpipe has been cut, ready for a straight piece to be welded on,

the new system will only have one rear silencer

 

JEMX Fabrication has made Stainless Hangers for the new system…….

 

 

Exhaust welded up