Well, the big plan I am excited about is the LS engine swap into my '86 NA, which is on track for this summer.

I wanted to go with a new crate engine, and have discovered that a new LS3 is only 20% pricier than a new LS1. I can stretch the budget to fit this.

But...

That's 430 crank horsepower. I mean, it's insanely cool, but at those kind of numbers, breaking loose all the time is a major concern. Power is useless without traction; unless you make enough friction with the road, the engine is nothing but a noisemaker.

So I'm throwing this question open for more knowledgeable heads than mine.

I'm thinking in terms of going to 17" wheels, with a rear width of 9", since anything more would be difficult to fit. (Considering these, although the curb rash on one of them is making me hesitate.)

With the right tires, would that be enough? And what would those "right" tires be?

The rest of the plan is pretty much sorted. I've got turbo brakes, sway bars, some suspension upgrades with budget space for more, just picked up a turbo trans with an LSD, etc.

But the only thing that touches the ground is those tires.

What does does rennlist think?

 

why not go with a wider wheel? Ive run up to 18x11" wheels on my car. 17x10" would be optimal and easy to fit with the correct offset- then you could run a 275 or 285 out back easily.

 

Will 10"s really fit? I was under the impression that 9"s were pushing it.

And what the heck comes in 10"s, anyway, besides turbo twists? Would I have to go custom?

 

your car is a 1986, but do you happen to know if the PO swapped the suspension to a late version? i know it has the turbo brakes but those would work if the brakes were also off an 86. you still have 'early' offset on your car which gives some wiggle room in terms of wide wheels. like dan said an 11 will fit the early, and a 10 is about the limit for a late car because the early offset is about an inch smaller than the late.

something else to consider is yes, the LS3 will have alot of power and more importantly alot of torque, but with the turbo gearbox you will be running there will be much less gear multiplication going to the wheels which makes breaking loose less likely unless you drop the clutch/over rev to start it.

10"s with 285's will probably be more than enough in the rear.

OT, but has that grinding noise gone away? im packing my stuff to head back to school tomorrow and i could bring some more tools if needed.

 

I don't know precisely about the brake job and suspension. I think Andy just put in the heavier springs and sway bars.

I was way off about the grinding noise.

I thought it was a shudder at first, but it's engine chug, and it only happens when it gets good and warm. I think it's something from the last job... the idle valve, because it smells rich when this starts happening.

Bad valve? AFM?

Oh, and I picked up the new trans. It's in good condition; got to drive it before he pulled it off the car. LSD, oil cooler, with a little carb cleaner it'll even be shiny.

 

ill have to check it out to see whats up...the valve shouldnt be bad...where do you smell it running rich? in the cabin, or at the tailpipe?

 

OT taken to PM.

What's the widest tire I could run with 9"s?

 

widest tire ive run on 8's is 245- widest on 9's should be about 267/275 is pushing it. You can find alot of newer porsche factory wheels in late offset in 10's and maybe some in a 45mm offset rear so you can just run smaller spacers and be right on track. I know the turbo twist wheels like i used to have were 8/11" but the narrow body versions came in 8/10" but you would need some bigger spacers in the rear because of the 63mm offsets. As far as factory 17" early offset- you could find some Millemiglia wheels- alittle heavier and softer but they work well and they are cheap for now- should be able to find them early offset w/ wider widths.

 

There's a set of Antera wheels on ebay right now that would probably fit the bill nicely...believe they were 8/10....

 

i have 8.5 in front and 10 rear orginaly made for the 911 996 ect...the have been mounted on my 944, but are new and the tires are new..caps and nuts.$1200

 

Whisper,
I am running 18x10 Porsche OEM 5spoke (the thin spokes not the twists) with Nitto iNVO 275's....very sticky.

Go with the HP!!

 

Patrick, are those the MY02 5-spokes? I LOVE those and want those someday.

 

Yep...18x10 & 18x8 with the new Nitto iNVO tires.

Attachment 347823

Attachment 347824

 

those are fantastic...soooo lucky.

whenever i get those ill have to get some big brakes to fill them out though

 

Pretty. But I really like the mesh/web spoke look. Like Sport Classics, or this, or this.

Haven't been able to find anything stock that has that look in a 17x10, though. Might have to get custom.