whale tail
12-20-2002, 03:23 PM
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whale tail
I have a 90 C2 that I want to put a whale tail on. As long as I buy a whale tail that is already mounted on the trunk or as everyone is calling it, deck lid, am I safe? Will a trunk/deck lid off an 87,84,86, etc fit on a 90 C2?
12-20-2002, 08:42 PM
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Mark,
The Carrera style (as oppposed to Turbo or others styles) is what Porsche used on the 964 RS America's. If you want another style already mounted on a deck lid, you may find the hinges are offset from the 964 and may have to do some minor adaptation to make them work. Others have done it, not a big deal.
I chose to buy an MA Shaw fiberglass tail that looks like the Carrera style that Porsche used on the RS America's. It fits nicely in the hole vacated by the stock tail, so you don't have to change the existing lid. Just prepare the fiberglass, paint, and install it.
The Carrera style (as oppposed to Turbo or others styles) is what Porsche used on the 964 RS America's. If you want another style already mounted on a deck lid, you may find the hinges are offset from the 964 and may have to do some minor adaptation to make them work. Others have done it, not a big deal.
I chose to buy an MA Shaw fiberglass tail that looks like the Carrera style that Porsche used on the RS America's. It fits nicely in the hole vacated by the stock tail, so you don't have to change the existing lid. Just prepare the fiberglass, paint, and install it.
12-23-2002, 12:55 PM
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[quote]<strong>I was advised not to mount the the new tail on the existing lid, rather get a new lid altogether.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Guess it depends on what you're mounting. If you do like I am, using a fiberglass tail that fits right into the stock lid opening, why go to the expense of buying/painting/mounting another lid? OTOH, if you're going with a Porsche factory Turbo tail, for example, the Turbo lid is different than the non-Turbo lid, so in that case you'd want the right lid to match up to the tail.
Guess it depends on what you're mounting. If you do like I am, using a fiberglass tail that fits right into the stock lid opening, why go to the expense of buying/painting/mounting another lid? OTOH, if you're going with a Porsche factory Turbo tail, for example, the Turbo lid is different than the non-Turbo lid, so in that case you'd want the right lid to match up to the tail.
12-23-2002, 08:40 PM
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I mounted an MA Shaw RS America replica wing to my '91 C2 cab, using the original decklid (see the pictures in the link below). Two points on mounting the tail: (i) make sure you do the wire bypass to avoid having the wing idiot light come on (search the 964 board for the details); and (ii) if you get an aftermarket wing, use some 1/2" foam weatherstripping between the screen and the wing itself to avoid rattles.
12-24-2002, 07:37 PM
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I added a whale tail to my 84 carrera, had it painted to match and professionally installed onto my stock decklid. I also have air-conditioning on my car and they didn't have to remount that thank God which would have been another $300. The only problem I have is the car came with only one factory strut to hold up the decklid and with the tail on, it's not strong enough so I have to custom install a second one.
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12-27-2002, 11:56 AM
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Thanks all,
J-McDonald,
Your car looks incredible. My question to you is why you opted to mount the new tail on the original deck lid vs getting a separate decklid and tail altogether? Every Porsche guru I have spoken with has told me to keep everything original. Not that I ever plan on selling the car, but if unforseen circumstances should arise, having the original decklid and tail is always best for resale.
Mark
J-McDonald,
Your car looks incredible. My question to you is why you opted to mount the new tail on the original deck lid vs getting a separate decklid and tail altogether? Every Porsche guru I have spoken with has told me to keep everything original. Not that I ever plan on selling the car, but if unforseen circumstances should arise, having the original decklid and tail is always best for resale.
Mark
12-27-2002, 12:19 PM
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[quote]<strong>Every Porsche guru I have spoken with has told me to keep everything original. </strong><hr></blockquote>
Mark,
If I may comment - an "original" Porsche tends to hold it's value better than ones that are customized, so the advice you've gotten is good. That said, IMHO, adding something that was a model option, with factory parts, in my mind is still original - some might disagree, though. However, there is a point in time where the "keep all the parts to take it back to original" becomes less applicable. For example, if your 911 is heavily modified to allow safe track usage as well as daily driving, or has gone over the edge to dedicated track usage, a potential buyer is very unlikely to want to covert it back to "original" condition, unless there is something very unique about that particular 911 (chassis #1, etc). For the most part, we only live with our cars for a comparatively short period of time - my two cents - do what you want to do to maximize your enjoyment from it. If one wants an investment, put the money elsewhere.
Mark,
If I may comment - an "original" Porsche tends to hold it's value better than ones that are customized, so the advice you've gotten is good. That said, IMHO, adding something that was a model option, with factory parts, in my mind is still original - some might disagree, though. However, there is a point in time where the "keep all the parts to take it back to original" becomes less applicable. For example, if your 911 is heavily modified to allow safe track usage as well as daily driving, or has gone over the edge to dedicated track usage, a potential buyer is very unlikely to want to covert it back to "original" condition, unless there is something very unique about that particular 911 (chassis #1, etc). For the most part, we only live with our cars for a comparatively short period of time - my two cents - do what you want to do to maximize your enjoyment from it. If one wants an investment, put the money elsewhere.
12-29-2002, 07:34 AM
#10
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You should probably think about a front spoiler as well. I think (from re-reading my back issues of Excellence) that you will need to do this to keep things balance as far as lift and down force. Of couse with our speed limits here in the Midwest it's questionable as to going fast enough for that sort of stuff to matter much.
12-29-2002, 08:25 AM
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[quote]<strong>You should probably think about a front spoiler as well. </strong><hr></blockquote>
Craig,
On a pre-89 911, that's an excellent point - you don't want to add a rear spoiler or wing without also adding a front valence or spoiler, and ditto on the reverse combination. Anyone interested in the lift reduction impacts of the various combinations should look in Paul Frere's "Porsche 911 Story".
However, on the 964's, lots of attention was paid to aerodynamics. Porsche sold a 964 model, the RS America, with a rear Carrera tail and no special trimmings on the front, so Mark should be OK with that approach. Porsche did, however, add splitters to the Carrera RS 3.8 and RSR 3.8.
Craig,
On a pre-89 911, that's an excellent point - you don't want to add a rear spoiler or wing without also adding a front valence or spoiler, and ditto on the reverse combination. Anyone interested in the lift reduction impacts of the various combinations should look in Paul Frere's "Porsche 911 Story".
However, on the 964's, lots of attention was paid to aerodynamics. Porsche sold a 964 model, the RS America, with a rear Carrera tail and no special trimmings on the front, so Mark should be OK with that approach. Porsche did, however, add splitters to the Carrera RS 3.8 and RSR 3.8.
12-31-2002, 01:08 PM
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Mark - Thanks for the compliments concerning my car. I think that you might be getting two messages mixed re: the decklid. Any wing other than the MA Shaw RS America replica wing will require you to either drill holes in your existing decklid, or replace your 964 decklid with a 3.2 Carrera or 930 Turbo decklid. This is the case because MA Shaw designed the base of its replica RS America wing to fit into the recess in the 964 decklid that the retractable spoiler would ordinarily fit into, and use the factory holes in the decklid. All other wings are designed to work with the 3.2 Carrera or 930 Turbo decklid and have a different "footprint". To mount those wings on your 964 decklid, you'll have to drill holes.
I think that the people recommending that you "keep it original" by replacing the decklid have this in mind (i.e., avoiding drilling holes). However, the MA Shaw RS America replica wing really has the best of both worlds - you can retain your 964 decklid and not drill any holes. This is why I chose it.
[no affiliation with MA Shaw]
Good luck!
I think that the people recommending that you "keep it original" by replacing the decklid have this in mind (i.e., avoiding drilling holes). However, the MA Shaw RS America replica wing really has the best of both worlds - you can retain your 964 decklid and not drill any holes. This is why I chose it.
[no affiliation with MA Shaw]
Good luck!
