Anyone Had Experience With These Mods?
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Scottsdale, AZ.
Anyone Had Experience With These Mods?
For the 1996 C2 Coupe I just acquired, I'm getting ready to have the existing power seats removed and install Sport Seats in their place. Has anyone done this changeout and is it a fairly simple unbolt/bolt-up affair?
Also, I'm upgrading to the Turbo's "Big Reds" brake system. (Yes, I know it won't increase braking efficiency!) Is this also a fairly straightforward bolt-up affair?
Thanks for your help!
Also, I'm upgrading to the Turbo's "Big Reds" brake system. (Yes, I know it won't increase braking efficiency!) Is this also a fairly straightforward bolt-up affair?
Thanks for your help!
Track Day
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Florida
I'd also be interested in how easy / difficult this change would be....I'm thinking about changing the seats in my '97 C2S from partial leather/manual fore and aft to sport seats. Also..where are the best places to buy sport seats? I saw a link recently to L.A. Porsche Dismantler and they had used ones and was wondering if anyone had experience with them. Finally, there have been some incredible pictures posted recently showing cars with aluminum or white gauges...gotta get those! Any recommendation on the best place to get them?
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Scottsdale, AZ.
Kim: Don't have the car in hand yet. It is still in Columbus where the upgrades will be done. (I don't want to see the car until it arrives with all the goodies on it! Like a kid at Christmastime!) As soon as the car is done and has arrived, I'll post some photos here.
dcpmark: I would be willing to sell the power seats. I am guessing that they are in excellent condition. the 993 that I just bought has only 7000 miles on it and was cared for by a real Porschephile. Don't know how soon you are looking to buy, but possibly I can have the firm doing the changeout for me shoot some digital photos.
tmpc2s: Gert in Beligium BY FAR has the very best prices. PCNA is wanting $8500 to $9500 a set and Gert is going to get a set for me for $4862. The link is http://www.carnewal.com. As far as gauges are concerned, try Germantech.com.
Everyone: I forgot to also ask about changing out the standard 993 steering wheel with a 996-style 3-spoke. Are there any problems involved with this?
dcpmark: I would be willing to sell the power seats. I am guessing that they are in excellent condition. the 993 that I just bought has only 7000 miles on it and was cared for by a real Porschephile. Don't know how soon you are looking to buy, but possibly I can have the firm doing the changeout for me shoot some digital photos.
tmpc2s: Gert in Beligium BY FAR has the very best prices. PCNA is wanting $8500 to $9500 a set and Gert is going to get a set for me for $4862. The link is http://www.carnewal.com. As far as gauges are concerned, try Germantech.com.
Everyone: I forgot to also ask about changing out the standard 993 steering wheel with a 996-style 3-spoke. Are there any problems involved with this?
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From: Bay Area CA
Hi Michael:
These were the first 2 mods I made to my car. The seats are easy (6 bolts), provided your power ones are not stuck full rearward. There are a couple of things to be careful of when swapping out the brakes, specifically use a flare wrench on the brake lines (If you search the archives from 4 -6 weeks ago, you'll uncover my follies at these mods).
Plenty of archive material on the wheel change out, too.
I just love when our mechanically gifted breathren say--"easiest DIY," but when asked admits the used their arc welder and tricks they learned as an aerospace engineer to free that one key bolt...
Sport seats can be found for sale periodically for $3200-$3500. LAPD has a set for $3500.
Email me if the archives don't answer all your questions.
Regards,
These were the first 2 mods I made to my car. The seats are easy (6 bolts), provided your power ones are not stuck full rearward. There are a couple of things to be careful of when swapping out the brakes, specifically use a flare wrench on the brake lines (If you search the archives from 4 -6 weeks ago, you'll uncover my follies at these mods).
Plenty of archive material on the wheel change out, too.
I just love when our mechanically gifted breathren say--"easiest DIY," but when asked admits the used their arc welder and tricks they learned as an aerospace engineer to free that one key bolt...
Sport seats can be found for sale periodically for $3200-$3500. LAPD has a set for $3500.
Email me if the archives don't answer all your questions.
Regards,
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Hollywood, Los Angeles
Hey Mike...
Why don't you keep the car stock first, drive it a little while, then decide what mods to do.
As far as the big reds are concerned, I am tracking my 993 for the first time this weekend at Sebring.
I was thinking about going to big reds before I tracked but decided to wait because of all the people on this board who said it wasn't neccessary.
The brakes on Pcars even the non big reds are supposed to be great. I would try it first before you spend the $2400 on big reds, then the installation charges, then the new pads you will need to buy to fit the new brakes..
(if the pads don't fit, I'm not sure.)
I'll give you a good report on monday on the stock brakes, I have 3 hard days of driving coming up and I am an aggressive solo driver.
As far as the seats go, I have sport seats and they are mostly auto except for the back and forth which is easy. and the sport seats have great support and look real nice.. Why change them??
just my opinion...
Have fun...
and congrats again on your car.
Why don't you keep the car stock first, drive it a little while, then decide what mods to do.
As far as the big reds are concerned, I am tracking my 993 for the first time this weekend at Sebring.
I was thinking about going to big reds before I tracked but decided to wait because of all the people on this board who said it wasn't neccessary.
The brakes on Pcars even the non big reds are supposed to be great. I would try it first before you spend the $2400 on big reds, then the installation charges, then the new pads you will need to buy to fit the new brakes..
(if the pads don't fit, I'm not sure.)
I'll give you a good report on monday on the stock brakes, I have 3 hard days of driving coming up and I am an aggressive solo driver.
As far as the seats go, I have sport seats and they are mostly auto except for the back and forth which is easy. and the sport seats have great support and look real nice.. Why change them??
just my opinion...
Have fun...
and congrats again on your car.
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Originally posted by B-Line:
<STRONG>Why don't you keep the car stock first, ... then decide what mods to do. ...The brakes on Pcars even the non big reds are supposed to be great. I would try it first before you spend the $2400 on big reds.
... I have sport seats and they ... have great support and look real nice.. Why change them??</STRONG>
<STRONG>Why don't you keep the car stock first, ... then decide what mods to do. ...The brakes on Pcars even the non big reds are supposed to be great. I would try it first before you spend the $2400 on big reds.
... I have sport seats and they ... have great support and look real nice.. Why change them??</STRONG>
I think you may have misread Mike's post (or else I did).
First, he says he is not upgrading to Big Reds for better performance, but for (I assume) appearance. His question was is it an easy swap?
Second, he is "getting ready to have the existing [non sport] power seats removed and install Sport Seats ... ."
I look fwd to your Sebring report. I think your expectations, whatever they are, will be surpassed. Just don't get too bold & bend anything
BTW, thought you might be interested in this link, that I surfed upon, to a company that installs Porsche Big Reds on just about anything, including the S4.
Movit - Big Reds for Audis
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From: Hollywood, Los Angeles
Dan..
Good call on my mistake..
For some reason when I read that post this morning (pre-coffee) I remembered that post about a week ago when DCPMARK asked if he could replace non power with power seats..
For some reason I mixed up those two posts and thought Mike wanted full power seats. thanks for editing...
In terms of the big reds.. This is a quesion.
wouldn't it make more sense to paint the OEM calipers? wouldn't that be cheaper than installing big reds if it's not for performance?
Thanks
B-Line
Good call on my mistake..
For some reason when I read that post this morning (pre-coffee) I remembered that post about a week ago when DCPMARK asked if he could replace non power with power seats..
For some reason I mixed up those two posts and thought Mike wanted full power seats. thanks for editing...
In terms of the big reds.. This is a quesion.
wouldn't it make more sense to paint the OEM calipers? wouldn't that be cheaper than installing big reds if it's not for performance?
Thanks
B-Line
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From: Bay Area CA
All:
There is definitely a performance increase from upgrading to the turbo brakes...in my semi-scientific experience (non expert here). You get far more swept area with the bigger pads and rotors, even if I don't have the bigger master cylinder. Whether I (or the average Rennlist dude) can get to that extra performance on the track is up for debate.
I feel I did so last week at Road Atlanta. No, I never overcooked my stock brakes in 10+ DEs in the past...but I also never dove deep enough in Turn 10 to hit 140 mph before braking (to 40) before.
If nothing else, I have increased my margin for resistance to fade and brake fluid boil...and that is a real benefit.
Not debating, mind you, that I did it for the aesthetics, too.
BTW, I needed brakes all around...the upgrade not as costly as you think. Email me privately for details.
There is definitely a performance increase from upgrading to the turbo brakes...in my semi-scientific experience (non expert here). You get far more swept area with the bigger pads and rotors, even if I don't have the bigger master cylinder. Whether I (or the average Rennlist dude) can get to that extra performance on the track is up for debate.
I feel I did so last week at Road Atlanta. No, I never overcooked my stock brakes in 10+ DEs in the past...but I also never dove deep enough in Turn 10 to hit 140 mph before braking (to 40) before.
If nothing else, I have increased my margin for resistance to fade and brake fluid boil...and that is a real benefit.
Not debating, mind you, that I did it for the aesthetics, too.
BTW, I needed brakes all around...the upgrade not as costly as you think. Email me privately for details.
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From: Spartanburg, SC
I haven't upgraded to Big Reds yet, as I haven't yet hit the limits of the stock brakes. I was also at Road Atlanta and did not have one problem. When I start running out of brakes I'll consider the upgrade.
If you missed me I was the Arena Red '96. Maybe I'm just concerned about the clashing colors of Big Red and Arena Red...what a fashion faux pas
If you missed me I was the Arena Red '96. Maybe I'm just concerned about the clashing colors of Big Red and Arena Red...what a fashion faux pas
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Scottsdale, AZ.
Hi Guys!
Yes, you have me pegged right on. The Big Reds are for appearance only. Certainly "Chris C" has a point in that logic would tell you that with larger rotors and thus greater swept area, braking efficiency would go up. And I'm not discounting that. On the flip side, Viken has admonished all us from time to time that there is no increase in braking from the Big Reds. Put it down to just my loving the looks of the 18" turbo-twist wheels and those red calipers showing through. It is the best combination yet, in my opinion.
Regarding the seats, yes, the car now has full power seats, but I really want the extra lateral support and looks (there's that word again!) of the Sport Seats.
I know these two mods are pricey, but this is my first Porsche, one that I have long dreamed for...and while I have the money available to make it into my version of the ultimate 993 and I'm getting some great bargain prices...I just want to do it. I hope you guys can understand...and don't think I'm nuts.
Yes, you have me pegged right on. The Big Reds are for appearance only. Certainly "Chris C" has a point in that logic would tell you that with larger rotors and thus greater swept area, braking efficiency would go up. And I'm not discounting that. On the flip side, Viken has admonished all us from time to time that there is no increase in braking from the Big Reds. Put it down to just my loving the looks of the 18" turbo-twist wheels and those red calipers showing through. It is the best combination yet, in my opinion.
Regarding the seats, yes, the car now has full power seats, but I really want the extra lateral support and looks (there's that word again!) of the Sport Seats.
I know these two mods are pricey, but this is my first Porsche, one that I have long dreamed for...and while I have the money available to make it into my version of the ultimate 993 and I'm getting some great bargain prices...I just want to do it. I hope you guys can understand...and don't think I'm nuts.
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From: Bay Area CA
Hi Jeff:
I did see you...very well driven car (coupe, not the targa, right?). You have obviously spent some time at Road A.
The point was not whether the 993 needs bigger brakes--I freely admit I never cooked my brakes--but whether there is some performance advantage when a person chooses to upgrade them.
I have a friend who has out driven the stock brakes on a 993 in our heavy street trim--it can be done--but he was running 1:45 laps or so at the time. A huge factor here is also driving style and braking habits.
It is still a great upgrade, if only for posing around...provided it doesn't clash with your paint scheme
I did see you...very well driven car (coupe, not the targa, right?). You have obviously spent some time at Road A.
The point was not whether the 993 needs bigger brakes--I freely admit I never cooked my brakes--but whether there is some performance advantage when a person chooses to upgrade them.
I have a friend who has out driven the stock brakes on a 993 in our heavy street trim--it can be done--but he was running 1:45 laps or so at the time. A huge factor here is also driving style and braking habits.
It is still a great upgrade, if only for posing around...provided it doesn't clash with your paint scheme