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Dear Rennlisters
I purchased a 94make 993 C2 Cab from a friend (RHD) and this will be my first attempt to restore / rebuild an old Porsche ( by a specialist I mean ). I previously owned 996 C4cab and 997 Turbo but didn't quite like both with Tiptronic so i want to go this time with a vintage with MT. It will mainly a Sunday drive car , I am not a track guy.
As you see from the photo the car needs a lot of work inside out. And I bought the car in a very good price so I am expecting to pay $ to get it up to its glory.
I spent a lot of time reading many related posts and I learnt a lot but also the more information I obtained there I found there are too many options with regards to restoring / rebuilding it and I decided to share with you guys and any suggestions / comments are truly appreciated.
Originally I wanted to restore it to as much original as possible , but then the experience of upgrading (from suspension , wheels , all the way to close ratio gear box / 3.8 enlargements / ECU remap ) get me really addicted. I am facinated by all the mods you guys shared here , and it comes to a time I need to make up my plan :
It's going to be 100% street use and enjoyed.
Meant to be kept for as long as I live( just turned 50!) Unless I go even deeper addicted after this project, might want to trade for another rarer model to go through the same rebuilding / upgrading fun🙄
1. Body completely dismantled and refurbish some dusted areas then repaint . I want to go with a darker silver than the current polar silver. (Anything to pay attention to color change?)
Brand new top in the same burgundy. Original Sonnenland material.
2. The front seats are in bad shape and needs new foam + leather. I want to keep the interior with original terra cotta color but doubt if any new / old leather will show color variances. The carpets will be completely redone. Any tips / materials / brands I should look for ?
3 Engine : I was suggested to change to an aluminum cover to eliminate the oil leakage issue .
Since the whole engine will be rebuilt (had 120k kms) , I am considering to enlarge to 3.8l
( any major engine parts I should pay attention to while rebuilding ?)
4. Exhaust : a lot of Rennlisters used Fabspeed. Considering changing to their Maxflow , will this be " too loud" or create any discomfort for street use ? What's the difference if I just change the rear muffler and keep the rest original? Is it worth the extra money ?
5. Gearbox : again I learnt from a lot of Rennlisters that regear 3/4/5/6 is the most worthwhile modification even for street use, any suggestions ?
6. Suspension : the debate of PSS10 vs KW V3 , do I get better ride quality and reliability with KW ?
Which leads to the car height and wheels. I like Fuchs and can't decide between a 17 or 18 inches. I was told that for street use I might be better off with 17. Any suggestions ?
8. Change of bushings , walrods is good for street use ?
I also need to rebuild the A/C and upgrade to HID.
Thank you for reading and sharing your experiences. I will keep you guys updated of the whole process if anyone is interested. I was told a minimum of 4 months work .... and quite a lot of money for a big boy toy.
1. If it were me, and it is not, I would stick with a Porsche color.
3. Not sure if aluminum valve covers solve leakage issue.
4. Fister is probably the highest recommended here, and it keeps OE appearance
5. Regear does seem pretty popular - but pricey
here are my thoughts, opinions will vary:
1. Since you are painting the whole car, paint it whatever color you want.
2. another option is to install either aftermarket seats/buckets or 996/997 seats. there are lots of choices. I happen to find my factory 993 seats quite comfortable, others do not.
3. No need to change to billet valve covers, replace the gasket and torque to spec. unless you WANT to spend the money, no advantage, other than someone else's wallet. 3.8 is a big step, make sure you take all the steps, not just the P/Cs. Pricey upgrade for not a ton of return, but again, it is your money.
4. Muffler change is sound only, maybe a few HP, Fisters IIIs are much lighter than OEM, so there is a weight savings. combined with race cats or bypass pipe will give you a small bump. No reason not to do it, especially if you do not have smog restrictions in HK. lots of options for muffler and exhaust upgrades.
5. the holy grail would be to source a ROW G50 tranny. does your car have the US gears? popular believe is that the regear is the best bang for the buck, ~$10K investment. non-OEM gears have been reported to make noises
6. ride quality is entirely subjective, and highly depends on what you want, what you are used to and the condition of the roads you will drive on. 17s will be more comfortable than 18s, suspension all plays into it, and there are lots of variables. many have adjustable suspensions (PSS9s and PPSS10, I do not know anyone that routinely adjusts theirs. typically it gets set, and they leave it. I have the Bilstein HD/M030 set up, with 18 MY02s. Car is a harsher than stock, but more compliant than my last 911, which went over the top (to the point my wife refused to ride in it any more) My personal feeling on street cars, is they should be reasonably comfortable, which is highly subjective. Take it one step at a time, not all at once, and you can adjust along the way.
7. NA
8. yes, other options are elephant racing bushings.
when monsoon season hits you, you will need AC, if you drive at night at all, HIDs are a must.
Lots of information in the archives with respect to mods. And spending other peoples money is one of the strengths of Rennlisters.
do your homework, and decide, but remember, just because a mod was great for someone else, doesn't necessarily mean it is the best decision for you.
The color of the soft top is very nice. From your pictures --- are you in the New Territories with access to slightly less congested roads?
2) Both Robert Budd http://www.classic9leathershop.com and Paul Champagne http://www.designpaulchampagne.com/928.html are excellent craftsman at redoing Porsche interiors. Classic 9 is more focused on exact OE styles. Paul Champagne takes a little more liberty in changing OE designs. I've availed myself of the services of both gentlemen.
4) I suggest FDM for the exhaust system. I have a Fister II exhaust on my own car and I enjoy it. http://fdmotorsports.net
5) You can click on the link in my signature and find out more information about re-gearing. https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...mainsheet.html I drive 100% on the street as well, like you. My own opinion is that with street driving, optimizing gears 1-4 yields the most benefit.
6) I have Bilstein PSS9s and enjoy them. HK roads are well maintained. You will be fine with 18s if you like them.
8) I replaced my perished front lower control arm bushings with Walrod ones. No complaints.
Dear Rennlisters
I purchased a 94make 993 C2 Cab from a friend (RHD) and this will be my first attempt to restore / rebuild an old Porsche ( by a specialist I mean ). I previously owned 996 C4cab and 997 Turbo but didn't quite like both with Tiptronic so i want to go this time with a vintage with MT. It will mainly a Sunday drive car , I am not a track guy.
As you see from the photo the car needs a lot of work inside out. And I bought the car in a very good price so I am expecting to pay $ to get it up to its glory.
I spent a lot of time reading many related posts and I learnt a lot but also the more information I obtained there I found there are too many options with regards to restoring / rebuilding it and I decided to share with you guys and any suggestions / comments are truly appreciated.
Originally I wanted to restore it to as much original as possible , but then the experience of upgrading (from suspension , wheels , all the way to close ratio gear box / 3.8 enlargements / ECU remap ) get me really addicted. I am facinated by all the mods you guys shared here , and it comes to a time I need to make up my plan :
It's going to be 100% street use and enjoyed.
Meant to be kept for as long as I live( just turned 50!) Unless I go even deeper addicted after this project, might want to trade for another rarer model to go through the same rebuilding / upgrading fun🙄
1. Body completely dismantled and refurbish some dusted areas then repaint . I want to go with a darker silver than the current polar silver. (Anything to pay attention to color change?)
Brand new top in the same burgundy. Original Sonnenland material.
2. The front seats are in bad shape and needs new foam + leather. I want to keep the interior with original terra cotta color but doubt if any new / old leather will show color variances. The carpets will be completely redone. Any tips / materials / brands I should look for ?
3 Engine : I was suggested to change to an aluminum cover to eliminate the oil leakage issue .
Since the whole engine will be rebuilt (had 120k kms) , I am considering to enlarge to 3.8l
( any major engine parts I should pay attention to while rebuilding ?)
4. Exhaust : a lot of Rennlisters used Fabspeed. Considering changing to their Maxflow , will this be " too loud" or create any discomfort for street use ? What's the difference if I just change the rear muffler and keep the rest original? Is it worth the extra money ?
5. Gearbox : again I learnt from a lot of Rennlisters that regear 3/4/5/6 is the most worthwhile modification even for street use, any suggestions ?
6. Suspension : the debate of PSS10 vs KW V3 , do I get better ride quality and reliability with KW ?
Which leads to the car height and wheels. I like Fuchs and can't decide between a 17 or 18 inches. I was told that for street use I might be better off with 17. Any suggestions ?
8. Change of bushings , walrods is good for street use ?
I also need to rebuild the A/C and upgrade to HID.
Thank you for reading and sharing your experiences. I will keep you guys updated of the whole process if anyone is interested. I was told a minimum of 4 months work .... and quite a lot of money for a big boy toy.
Greetings from Hong Kong
That is quite the project you have going on, and I very much look forward to seeing the progress as time goes on! In regards to the exhaust i would recommend our X-Pipe being the best starting point for you. It works wonders in regards to throttle response, performance, and overall exhaust note/sound level with a variety of different mufflers. The following is a link to the popular Sport Cat X-Pipe thread, where there are a lot of great reviews and sound clips of the upgrade in action in different combinations of exhaust setup.
FWIW I also purchase the Fabspeed X-Pipe, but haven't installed it yet, though look forward to it.
John was a pleasure to deal with in the purchase, although there wasn't much to it, just call him up, order, and you get emails with invoice, tracking and shipping info, and then it appears on your doorstep!
Only downside is that I am forced to clean my mufflers to look almost as nice as the Fabspeed X-Pipe.
Thank you for all your valuable informations!
Pardon me for my ignorance: can someone give me an explanation on the exhaust ? I have read owners using Fabspeed + FD stage 1 or 2 or 3. Some mentioned Maxflow and some use X pipe ... I am not clear what's the proper combination and which part is recommended to upgrade and if any modification is needed for installation if I combine the two brands ?
Thank you for all your valuable informations!
Pardon me for my ignorance: can someone give me an explanation on the exhaust ? I have read owners using Fabspeed + FD stage 1 or 2 or 3. Some mentioned Maxflow and some use X pipe ... I am not clear what's the proper combination and which part is recommended to upgrade and if any modification is needed for installation if I combine the two brands ?
starting from the back:
Heat exchanger/header: for street application, recommend leaving as is, although you can do heater delete to save some weight if you like, probably most applicable for track cars
Catalytic converter/X pipe: options are to leave stock, find a Dach x-pipe (no longer made, but if one comes up for sale, buy it!) Fabspeed X pipe with pass through or race cats. Fister also produced some X-pipes for a short time, there are a few units out there.
Mufflers: different options include Fister Stage 1, 2 and 3, each is progressively more aggressive i.e. louder. there are also RSRs (made by Robin Sun, SuperCups, Maxflows, B&Bs, LPMMs, OEM stock and OEM motor Sound. probably a few others, but those are the main ones.
There is no "proper" choice, only what you want, and what you like, there is no wrong answer, although a set that has drone will probably drive you batty. volume is controlled by the combination of cat cell density and muffler. thus, test pipes with Super Cups are probably too loud for most practical applications. you can also do a LPMM bypass for quite a reasonable cost, this basically mimics the factory motor sound which has a larger than standard internal bypass. a larger bypass will result in a louder note.
Tips: stock, motor sound, big ovals, the list goes on, mostly a visual, pick what looks good to you.
Many Rennlisters opt for the Fister Stage III, great build quality, aggressive sound, light weight. many of us recently purchased 200Cell X-pipes from Fabspeed, so recently there have been a number of Fister IIIs being traded for Fister IIs or OEM, as the combination of Fister IIIs with 200cell cats, is too loud for some people, others love it.
Exhaust is a matter of choice, there are many combinations, that will result in different sounds/loudness.
for cats, make sure you match either Gillet or Bischoff flanges. Search the archives there are pictures that will show you what each looks like.
starting from the back:
Heat exchanger/header: for street application, recommend leaving as is, although you can do heater delete to save some weight if you like, probably most applicable for track cars
Catalytic converter/X pipe: options are to leave stock, find a Dach x-pipe (no longer made, but if one comes up for sale, buy it!) Fabspeed X pipe with pass through or race cats. Fister also produced some X-pipes for a short time, there are a few units out there.
Mufflers: different options include Fister Stage 1, 2 and 3, each is progressively more aggressive i.e. louder. there are also RSRs (made by Robin Sun, SuperCups, Maxflows, B&Bs, LPMMs, OEM stock and OEM motor Sound. probably a few others, but those are the main ones.
There is no "proper" choice, only what you want, and what you like, there is no wrong answer, although a set that has drone will probably drive you batty. volume is controlled by the combination of cat cell density and muffler. thus, test pipes with Super Cups are probably too loud for most practical applications. you can also do a LPMM bypass for quite a reasonable cost, this basically mimics the factory motor sound which has a larger than standard internal bypass. a larger bypass will result in a louder note.
Tips: stock, motor sound, big ovals, the list goes on, mostly a visual, pick what looks good to you.
Many Rennlisters opt for the Fister Stage III, great build quality, aggressive sound, light weight. many of us recently purchased 200Cell X-pipes from Fabspeed, so recently there have been a number of Fister IIIs being traded for Fister IIs or OEM, as the combination of Fister IIIs with 200cell cats, is too loud for some people, others love it.
Exhaust is a matter of choice, there are many combinations, that will result in different sounds/loudness.
for cats, make sure you match either Gillet or Bischoff flanges. Search the archives there are pictures that will show you what each looks like.
The color of the soft top is very nice. From your pictures --- are you in the New Territories with access to slightly less congested roads?
2) Both Robert Budd http://www.classic9leathershop.com and Paul Champagne http://www.designpaulchampagne.com/928.html are excellent craftsman at redoing Porsche interiors. Classic 9 is more focused on exact OE styles. Paul Champagne takes a little more liberty in changing OE designs. I've availed myself of the services of both gentlemen.
4) I suggest FDM for the exhaust system. I have a Fister II exhaust on my own car and I enjoy it. http://fdmotorsports.net
5) You can click on the link in my signature and find out more information about re-gearing. https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...mainsheet.html I drive 100% on the street as well, like you. My own opinion is that with street driving, optimizing gears 1-4 yields the most benefit.
6) I have Bilstein PSS9s and enjoy them. HK roads are well maintained. You will be fine with 18s if you like them.
8) I replaced my perished front lower control arm bushings with Walrod ones. No complaints.
Thank you for your detailed information on gear ratios. Not sure the standard gear ratios in my 94 C2 coz it's a RHD , if there's any difference than the US spec cars ?
I was told the 1st/ 2nd gears in 993 are sealed and not possible to change these 2 gears, I can change the other 4. Any Rennlister can verify or explain this ?
If this is the case, would it still be worthwhile to change gears 3-5 for street use and feel the difference ?
And what's that " box of marbles " sound caused by .... Is this something I should expect if I change the gears? This will be a major concern to me.
What I was thinking. Keep the color or maybe change to Artic Silver.
Had a discussion with the paint shop today and decide to go for the attached polar silver. It gives a very slightly darker greyish reflection when under the sunshine , than the original Polar Silver. Both are Porsche original spec but this one I suppose was developed for later years models.
The top will retain the same burgundy red , using Sonnerland A5 and matching linings.
Interior will keep the original burgundy color , all the carpets , seats and leather parts will be reupholstered.
Front turn signal lights will be changed to orange color.
Wheels : I want to go for 18" Fuchs with black center "windmill " OR have the windmill painted the same red like the top . Not sure if this will be too much .
Anyone has expereince about custom painted Fuchs ?
More to share and thanks for all your advises. And thank you for sending me the original Porsche advertisement .
here are my thoughts, opinions will vary:
1. Since you are painting the whole car, paint it whatever color you want.
2. another option is to install either aftermarket seats/buckets or 996/997 seats. there are lots of choices. I happen to find my factory 993 seats quite comfortable, others do not.
3. No need to change to billet valve covers, replace the gasket and torque to spec. unless you WANT to spend the money, no advantage, other than someone else's wallet. 3.8 is a big step, make sure you take all the steps, not just the P/Cs. Pricey upgrade for not a ton of return, but again, it is your money.
4. Muffler change is sound only, maybe a few HP, Fisters IIIs are much lighter than OEM, so there is a weight savings. combined with race cats or bypass pipe will give you a small bump. No reason not to do it, especially if you do not have smog restrictions in HK. lots of options for muffler and exhaust upgrades.
5. the holy grail would be to source a ROW G50 tranny. does your car have the US gears? popular believe is that the regear is the best bang for the buck, ~$10K investment. non-OEM gears have been reported to make noises
6. ride quality is entirely subjective, and highly depends on what you want, what you are used to and the condition of the roads you will drive on. 17s will be more comfortable than 18s, suspension all plays into it, and there are lots of variables. many have adjustable suspensions (PSS9s and PPSS10, I do not know anyone that routinely adjusts theirs. typically it gets set, and they leave it. I have the Bilstein HD/M030 set up, with 18 MY02s. Car is a harsher than stock, but more compliant than my last 911, which went over the top (to the point my wife refused to ride in it any more) My personal feeling on street cars, is they should be reasonably comfortable, which is highly subjective. Take it one step at a time, not all at once, and you can adjust along the way.
7. NA
8. yes, other options are elephant racing bushings.
when monsoon season hits you, you will need AC, if you drive at night at all, HIDs are a must.
Lots of information in the archives with respect to mods. And spending other peoples money is one of the strengths of Rennlisters.
do your homework, and decide, but remember, just because a mod was great for someone else, doesn't necessarily mean it is the best decision for you.
Just learnt that this car is fitted standard with G50 transmission, and I am planning to upgrade to motorsport spec. gears .
04-29-2016, 01:40 PM
My 993 restoration project
