1976 Porsche 912 build with 993 motor swap by freedomperiod

11 minute(s) of a 253 minute read

PROJECT STALLED

Major issue with the fender flares. Not many people can tell the difference between the '73 RS flare and the Carrera (SC) flare. There IS a difference, though. The 73 RS flare has a slightly different contour.

It seems that even at Porsche no one cares enough about this subtle difference. People doing these type of backdating projects have noticed that when ordering the flares from Porsche, sometimes they send you RS flares and sometimes they send you SC flares!! Hard to believe but true. It seems they have them all mixed up.

Body shops have ordered the flares in batches and have reported that sure enough, they get a few RS's and a few SC's. 

Not that resale value ever mattered to me, but making a 73 RS replica with the wrong flares may significantly lower the value of the car.

Unfortunately, it seems that no one makes these flares at this time. 

Looks like my car is going to look like a 911 S or T with Carrera flares welded on. Had I known this beforehand, I wouldn't have taken the car in this direction. 

I am beyond disappoint. I am extremely pissed

^^the correct ones

Had I known about this, I would have started off 2 years ago with the thread title: "Where can I get these parts? '73 RS Edition"

Just goes to show you, failing to prepare is preparing to fail.

These are the correct part #'s: 

Part #: 911 503 608 02

Part #: 911 503 608 03 

2#'s since they're L and R handed parts. When you enter the #'s into the PET, you get a "superceeded part #" 

Can the flares currently on the car be hammered into the correct shape? It seems a couple of pie slices to add/subtract metal here and there may do it. It's subtle enough I don't know the differences off the top of my head, though. Either way, here's an e-beer.

This is also no excuse to stop building, dammit! If reshaping the standard flares doesn't work, finish it with everything but the flares and when some come up (Auto Atlanta, perhaps?) then graft them on. You have to break the paint anyway, right? Have another e-beer.

Thanks.

The other option is to just put the damn SC flares on and try to forget about it. They look so similar that even a real P-car fanatic might not pick up on it.

They can't be hammered out that far I'm sure. The ones on there now are just thin little slivers. I'm surprised they mate up with the RS bumper so well, but that's beccause the difference in contour is at the top of the flare.

They had a few for sale on Pellican parts, but they've all been snatched up and only the SC flares are left.

RS flares next to an '88 Carrera. Slightly different shape 

You're welcome. Perhaps the SC flares could be welded on and then the shape changed. It looks as if the flares are a little flatter across the top of the wheel opening, correct?

Looks that way. Also, they taper off a little differently. To tell you the truth, I'm not entirely sure because I've never seen a real RS in person. The green one is real.

This blue one is a '76 Carrera flare. The edge is a little different than the RS, which seems taller at this spot.

Well, I suppose if my car winds up not looking EXACTLY like a '73 RS, then I can live with that. It'd be nice to be able to track down a set of "real" RS flares, though.

I press on... 

12/28/2011

PROBLEM SOLVED!!! Back on track!

ProtoSport will handle it. They're going to source the fenders for me. Worst case scenario is that they can't find them and they have to hammer out the Carrera fender flares so they're a bit taller at the brim and look identical to the real ones. Better yet, they'll be galvanized and won't rust off the car in time. 

Thanks again! 

Dash done! 

Not so sure I like the stainless steel grill. I think it looks cool because it matches the chrome trim, but it's too much of a departure from the '73 RS look. 

It's starting to look a little too different from the '73 RS. I'm already pushing it with the chrome horn grills and the clear side markers. 

Things that will look different on this car than a real '73 RS:

1. The chrome horn grills. I'm too fond of them ..especially on a black car.

2. Clear side markers. I have some amber ones for backup, in case I either cahnge my mind or get a ticket.

3. The wheel offset. It is nearly impossible to find a set of Fuchs in the exact offset that the RS had. ...more on that later.

4. "Carrera" script will not be on the car.

5. Suede dash and some interior details will be a little off from the RS, but they're aesthetically (and sonically) worthwhile trades IMO.

6. The exhaust will look different, as well as the oil lines running under the car. Both the exhaust and oil lines are features you can see on a real RS without looking under the car. 

I feel like the shiny steel grill (as opposed to the correct black) might be pushing it too far. 

I'm definately sticking with the 15" Fuchs, now that I'm going through such trouble to do the RS flares. 

...There is perhaps one little mod that I was considering. I was thinking about a decal Porsche crest like they have on modern RS's. It looks lie it's painted on the hood, instead of the traditional gold metal crest. 

I guess they do it for aerodynamics (since it's flush). lol or weight saving! lol.. lol, whut??

Anyway, I think I'm ditching the grill for a black one. 

An interesting little factoid...

It is not uncommon to find an odd color dashboard underneath the factory vinyl wrap. If you ordered your dashboard wrapped in black from the factory in 1973, they didn't necessarily use a black dashboard at the Porsche factory. They would sometimes just grab what was available or in the parts bin... that may or may not have been a black dashboard they wrapped for you. It may have been a red one they wrapped in black. You'd only know the difference if you peeled it all off.

Case in point, the dash on my car seems to have been wrapped in factory black vinyl, but underneath, was actually a red dashboard. It's just how they did it back in those days.

A little trim on the door to complete the look. ..again, not going for a true '73 RS look for the interior, but in the end, it won't be far off. No early 911 interior is, really.

^^^ sorry for the crappy ones. My phone cam was in the wrong picture mode

A little tour around ProtoSport. Some nice projects there. One of my fav's is that white RSR long hood conversion. This car has a reputation for being very fast. The guys at the shop say that in terms of performance (if I can keep the car on the pavement), my car will destroy this car. It's way heavier, much less aerodynamic, and "only" has a 3.2L Carrera motor. It's a real beauty, though!

I don't like the orriginal hood tie downs. My car will have a trunk latch instead.

Hold your hand out the window when going 60mph. Can you imagine how much drag those RSR flares create!! My car will be slippery in the air. Ruf appreciated this too when the made the first CTR Yellowbird.

15's just look so right. Now if we could just do something about that offset and those tires..

This guy is not playin! Nice 3.2!!!

Hey! Look who's there in the parking lot!! It's Suzie!!!  She's just gotten her winter lift !

^^Beautiful as always. (Esp in black lol!)