Edd

I've got an '83 944, would 7x17 front ET50' 996-362-124-00 wheels and 8.5x17 rear ET55, 996-362-126-05 wheels turbo style fit? Do I need spacers? What size/ Thanks

KC993

EDD,

I think 83' 944's wheels have ET 23 both front and rear. As for what size of spacer to use... you would have to calculate it out yourself.

icat

Yes, they will fit with the proper spacers. I just finished installing 993 rims on my 86 951 which has the same offset as your 83.

<a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=15&t=005750" target="_blank">Wheel Upgrade</a>

Have fun,
<img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

PS: One error in the part pricing description - the stud pricing is per size and there are two sizes required. The total set of studs set me back $80.

Adrian

Dear Keith,
The 1983 944 does not have the same offset as your Turbo. The 83 model has an effective offset of 2mm and uses spacers fitted by the factory to accomodate the various wheel options. The 86 Turbo has a wheel offset of 23.3mm the same as the 1985.5 thru 1986 944s. In 1987 model year the offset was changed again to 52.3mm.
The size of spacers needed will be determined by the offset of the replacement wheels as you know. For 944/951 owners who do not know, the 993 had 2 different rear offsets depending upon model year. 94 and 95 used 70mm rear offset 16 and 17 inch wheels. The 17 inch wheels were known as winter wheels. 1996 and up used 55mm offset rears. All years used 50mm fronts.
I would be interested in the 993 wheels and the size of spacers you used. Just to add to the database that is all,
Ciao,
Adrian
911C4

icat

Adrian,

The info I have shows the 83 944 as having the same 23.3mm offset, both front and rear, as the 86 951. It is entirely possible that my information is incorrect. At any rate, the offset is generally stamped on the wheel and preceeded by the letters ET. I encourage everyone to check the wheel itself for the correct offset.

I do know that the front of the 86 951 has a spacer from the factory and I'm told that the rear of the early 944's also had a spacer. I feel, and this is my opinion only, that you should replace the original factory spacers with a single new spacer. I don't tink it is advisable to run double spacers.

The offset on my 993 rear wheels is 55mm. I'll have to look to verify, but I beleive the fronts were also 55mm. I'll check when I get home tonight to make sure. As far as spacer sizes go, I used a 21mm spacer on the front and a 28mm spacer on the rear. The wheels are 17x7 fronts and 17x9 rears.

Later,
<img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

icat

From the home front...

The offsets on my 993 wheels are all 55mm - both the 17x7's and the 17x9's. However, I do have both the original factory front spacer and the new 21mm spacer on the front. Rears are 28mm as posted earlier.

Hope this helps,
<img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />

icat

Adrian,

I took a look at the Porsche PET CD to see what offsets it had listed for the 83 944. It shows all three available wheels as being 23.3mm offsets - the Cookie Cutter (Black Star), the Phone Dial, and the Fuchs.

I also looked at what I had refered to as the factory spacer on the 951. It is actually the hub, which looks very similar to a spacer when viewed with the wheel on.

Later,
<img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

PS: I promise this is my last reply...
unless someone asks me another question.

Edd

Thanks for the info guys. But I'm not all that swift,does this mean I can use Those wheels or not? And what do I need to make them fit? Will this have any effect on wheel bearings, etc. ? Thanks,again, Edd

Edd

Thanks for the info guys. But I'm not all that swift,does this mean I can use Those wheels or not? And what do I need to make them fit? Will this have any effect on wheel bearings, etc. ? Thanks,again, Edd <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Adrian

Dear Edd,
NO! you cannot use 55mm offset wheels on your 1983 944 without replacing the spacers that are currently installed with bigger ones. I wish I had taken the photos of my old 944 (now owned by my daughter) when we tried the old set of 964 wheels I have lying around. Believe me they rubbed big time and the track width is significantly reduced.
The 1985.5 and up 944s achieved an offset of 23.3mm without the use of spacers. Your 83 model needs spacers to use 23.3mm wheels. Now you have to add on another 30mm and you will see what I mean. You must at a minimum retain the same track width as you had before. It is better with a 944 to increase it a little bit.
Ciao,
Adrian
911C4

icat

Edd,
In a nut shell...
You can use the rims you have listed IF AND ONLY IF you add spacers. Recommended spacer width varies depending on who you talk to and what your trying to accomplish.

In my case, I used 28mm spacers on the rear of my 86 951. This gave me an effective offset of 27mm (55mm rim offset minus 28mm spacer = 27mm offset) - a bit more than stock. But keep in mind, I also increased the width of the rear rims from 8" stock to 9". The new offset allows me to run the wider rim without rubbing.

On the front, I went with 21mm spacers for an effective offset of 34mm. Why smaller in the front? Because the front rims on a 951 are "closer" to the fender in the stock configuration than the rears. Had I used 28mm spacers in the front, then I would have had tire rub. The change in what I refer to as "effective offset" allows the wider rim to be used in front as well.

Now, having said all this. Your listed front rims have an offset of 50mm. To acheive the same "effective offset" as mine, you'd need 16mm spacers (50mm rim offset minus 16mm spacer = 34mm offset). You may want to do some measuring to determine exactly where you want your wheels to "be".

Have fun,
<img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />

PS: Try Danno's site for info on spacers and offsets.
<a href="http://members.rennlist.com/951_racerx/" target="_blank">951 Racer-X</a>