cockyapple

Has anyone ever been quoted the full cost of this conversion...ie buying kit ...fitting....bodyshop


cheers steve

JW in Texas

Yep, this has been discussed here a few times. The PO of my car spent $ 14k+ in the mid 90s doing mine properly using all factory parts. Figure $ 20k+ now, bare minimum.

Christer

Pretty irrelevant price for the UK I would have thought - no matter what the exchange rate is we seem to pay more. Remember also to factor in new wheels and tyres in addition to the all the body panels and suspension work......(I would probably buy a turbo if I wanted the 'unaerodynamic look')

tjr

If it costs $20k in the US, then the minimum cost will be £10k in the UK using Porsche parts. You can always ring up a Porsche dealer or a specialist and ask them but I think they'd say if you want a wide body, buy an original...

KirkF

Assuming you want to use spacers to bring the wheels out and not try and source turbo rear trailing arms and change all your axle shafts, I dont think the price will be that bad.

You can do it with used parts for a fraction of what was paid in the 90s. These cars are old now and parts are cheap and plentiful.

The most difficult part will be having a body shop weld the new rear quarters in.

If you watch the pelican classifieds there is often parts on there.

The other option would be to use an fvd conversion kit. It has weld in steel flares. I think the whole kit is about $3500 usd.

From what I have read in the past, its not as recommended to use fiberglass flares on a street car. However those kits are about $2000 usd.

Kirk

NineMeister

If I tell you that we are currently re-shelling a damaged LHD 964RS and have decided to build the car back up as a LHD M003 3.8 widebody, and in spite of finding a lot of LHD 964's around for £10-12k, we decided to buy a perfect LHD 964 3.3 turbo and sell off all the spare parts instead. This will work out a lot cheaper than starting with a narrow shell and buying all the parts (excluding the additional labour to fit them).

Anyone need a perfect 965 3.3 turbo engine and box??

JW in Texas

Exactly my point. I would imagine those factory urethane bumpers/side skirts, front fenders, etc. wouldn't be cheap these days. You could do it w/glass bumpers, etc. but I wouldn't on a street car. I had glass bumpers on my RSA race car & they were fine but the fitment is not what I would consider street quality.

Chris M.

You'd be better off buying a widebody 94 C4. All the money you'll spend to convert a car to wide body will be lost come selling time. The 94 should hold it's value pretty well.

KirkF

Well on this point we are going to have to agree to disagree.

I think its alot easier to just pick up the used parts and have the body shop do the work, rather than fly to california and buy a widebody, sell your current car, and then deal with all the unknowns of starting with a car you dont know.

Not to mention its alot more difficult to 'sell the wife' on changing cars vs just doing a 'little more work' to the one you have.

I have to admit that I am assuming you are planning on having your car repainted anyways. (the cars are getting close to 20 years old. I know mine needs it) In which case the additional cost of welding in the rear quarters and bolting on the front fenders shouldnt be all that much.

I also base my thoughts on the fact that there is no way you are going to use new parts on a 20 year old car. I suspect you would pay about $3500-$4000 for genuine porsche front fenders, rear quarters, front and rear bumpers and side skirts.

Admittedly since I am in Canada its a little different than if I was in a major center full of porsches such as london or los angeles. Its a pile of effort for me to find a nice widebody car, and get it shipped here.

Kirk

Geoffrey

There is also a 94 turbo roller for sale for 8k. I'd probably try to swap parts onto that chassis if it had a clean title.

pcarcraig

Geoffrey,
Where did you see the roller for sale?

cockyapple

Thanks for the opinions guys.......firstly a turbo is out of the question as it must be tiptronic......it looks as if the cost maybe too high but needs deeper investigation

the turbo body kit from FVD in Germany comes in at around 2800 GBP.........have no idea at the moment what the cost of fitting,bodywork and respray would come too......but in my opinion the end result is i would have, although not original the best looking 911 variant that Porsche ever made....so it maybe worth the outlay....as i know i have a sound car at the moment and would have a sound car once the mods were completed


steve

Geoffrey

I think it was posted on the 964 turbo forum with a link.

ronone10

Steve, I too have a wide body conversion on my short list of things to do. I also have a turbo on the list as well but it should be moved over to 'when my daughter graduates from college list', which is about 7 years from now.

I have a body shop who will respray my car for $6,000, which has been a plan of mine but I have been holding back because of my desire to get that turbo. I think I am ready to let go of the turbo and can move ahead with either the respray or investigate the cost of adding a kit conversion or welding on steel flares, etc. I am still trying to decide if I go with fiberglass or steel? Which kit looks more like the original?

I need to go back and read what others have posted about the neccesary parts you will need in addition to the flares, front and rear bumpers. I am thinking that the wheels require spacers or/and you need to move the suspension points(?) out or something like that.

Thanks alot for getting me to think about this again... Perhaps you and I need to compare notes as we move further down this path.

America

Not worth the trouble and money. Sell your car and buy a 94 C4.