944 spare-tire well removal
02-10-2009, 01:13 PM
#1
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
944 spare-tire well removal
I'm planning on cutting mine out, anything I need to know? For those of you that have done it, did you add back any supports or just cover the hole with sheet metal?
02-10-2009, 01:30 PM
#2
Tim-
What's your thought process for removing it? Are you going to smooth out the underside of the car? There probably isn't that much weight to be saved by doing it.
Be careful of the gas tank!
What's your thought process for removing it? Are you going to smooth out the underside of the car? There probably isn't that much weight to be saved by doing it.
Be careful of the gas tank!
02-10-2009, 01:31 PM
#3
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
1. For ease of tranny removal
2. Future diffuser
My car is apart at the moment waiting on paint. Thought this would be a good time to deal with it.
2. Future diffuser
My car is apart at the moment waiting on paint. Thought this would be a good time to deal with it.
02-10-2009, 01:56 PM
#6
Burning Brakes
Be careful of the frame rails. They run along side the wheel well and can get easily mistaken and cut out.
I looked at doing it, but don't see the gains. There is a little weight, but not enough to remove it. Also, if you have the Por tricks on removing the tranny you will see it's not really necessary.
My $.02
I looked at doing it, but don't see the gains. There is a little weight, but not enough to remove it. Also, if you have the Por tricks on removing the tranny you will see it's not really necessary.
My $.02
02-10-2009, 02:42 PM
#7
Rennlist Member
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02-10-2009, 03:27 PM
#8
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
I notice that Sterling Doc left much of the rear of the well intact
Whereas John did not
Because I want to be able to angle a diffuser upward, I think removing it like John did would be best. Hence one of my questions about adding some supports for all the missing metal.
Also, I'm not doing this for weight, every ounce I remove I have to replace as I'm at my class limits.
Whereas John did not
Because I want to be able to angle a diffuser upward, I think removing it like John did would be best. Hence one of my questions about adding some supports for all the missing metal.
Also, I'm not doing this for weight, every ounce I remove I have to replace as I'm at my class limits.
02-10-2009, 05:25 PM
#10
Three Wheelin'
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From discussions I've had regarding the rear spare tire removal...IIRC
With the 944 Spec class there are differences in what is allowed to be removed from the spare tire well. Paraphrasing from the 944 Spec rules - cars with the 17.4 gallon steel fuel tanks cannot remove the spare tire well. They can cut it out but must reattach it in order to make it an access panel - but must be reattached / affixed in stock form; whereas, cars with the 21.1 gallon plastic tank can remove the entire spare tire well and install a cover mounted to the rear cargo deck (block if off from the top). If you are installing a fuel cell then you must consult with director. The point of this modification is to ease of access to transmission on early cars but keep stock aero, and for the 21.1 gallon cars (heavier in the back) to make up for weight differential by giving slight aero improvement.
With the 944 Spec class there are differences in what is allowed to be removed from the spare tire well. Paraphrasing from the 944 Spec rules - cars with the 17.4 gallon steel fuel tanks cannot remove the spare tire well. They can cut it out but must reattach it in order to make it an access panel - but must be reattached / affixed in stock form; whereas, cars with the 21.1 gallon plastic tank can remove the entire spare tire well and install a cover mounted to the rear cargo deck (block if off from the top). If you are installing a fuel cell then you must consult with director. The point of this modification is to ease of access to transmission on early cars but keep stock aero, and for the 21.1 gallon cars (heavier in the back) to make up for weight differential by giving slight aero improvement.
02-10-2009, 05:32 PM
#11
Herr Unmöglich
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Interesting. I wouldn't think that a slightly larger plastic tank would be heavier than a steel one.
I have seen this done too recently with a local 944 that is built for enduro racing. It has a fuel cell and the entire rear deck and wheel well were removed. After everything was installed an aluminum panel with an access door was screwed into place.
Looks really nice, but probably a PITA to do. So far I have only chopped the spare well on cars I did not want to rebuild.
I have seen this done too recently with a local 944 that is built for enduro racing. It has a fuel cell and the entire rear deck and wheel well were removed. After everything was installed an aluminum panel with an access door was screwed into place.
Looks really nice, but probably a PITA to do. So far I have only chopped the spare well on cars I did not want to rebuild.
02-10-2009, 06:03 PM
#13
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
02-10-2009, 10:10 PM
#14
Rennlist Member
You will need to do something for the strap to hold the gas tank. It does stay in place by itself although Porsche felt the need for some tank straps soooo you decide.
Be careful of frame rails, don't want to cut into those, and also the gas tank,it's very close.
Other than that have fun ! It's not a huge weight saver but the room for trans R&I is well worth it.
Be careful of frame rails, don't want to cut into those, and also the gas tank,it's very close.
Other than that have fun ! It's not a huge weight saver but the room for trans R&I is well worth it.
02-11-2009, 01:13 AM
#15
Rennlist Member
I see you guys found a pic of my "surgery."
I would not do this w/o removing the tank, which is a bit of a project...
The tank presses against parts of the rear spare tire well.
I left much, but not all of the rear of the well becasue it's integral to the rear structure of the car- you make it pretty weak if you cut it all out back there. Since reinforcing that area is not in the rules, I left the structural part. Here's what I removed:
It weighed 18 lbs.
Here you can see where the tank straps hooked in:
I did fabricate extensions to the tank straps that are now bolted to the trunk floor. I've been a bit behind on pictures - spending more time working on getting more of the car done, but will post an update to the build thread later this week.
I would not do this w/o removing the tank, which is a bit of a project...
The tank presses against parts of the rear spare tire well.
I left much, but not all of the rear of the well becasue it's integral to the rear structure of the car- you make it pretty weak if you cut it all out back there. Since reinforcing that area is not in the rules, I left the structural part. Here's what I removed:
It weighed 18 lbs.
Here you can see where the tank straps hooked in:
I did fabricate extensions to the tank straps that are now bolted to the trunk floor. I've been a bit behind on pictures - spending more time working on getting more of the car done, but will post an update to the build thread later this week.