924Board.org

[jesse wall]

what is the best way to widen track on 924s ? cup allows towiden to same as 944 and to put on flares I have read that wide spacers are not great what wheels can do the job? my have 2 inch backspace also have some with one inch ,23mm backspace I know that early 944 came with spacers on back what about front? any advice appreciated
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jesse wall 'new driver' , 87 924s

[924RACR]

Personally I find the best, most durable way to widen the track is with a bulldozer...

Sorry couldn't resist! LOL!

Besides, I prefer to leave that style of driving to the competition!


Yes, a very simple and inexpensive way to widen the track would be to use early-offset (23mm backspacing) 944 rims. The early 944's did come with only spacers on the back. From what I recall when I looked into this, you could use the rear spacers on the front with some additional machining in the hub area to clear the front hubs. I would recommend increasing to double-width spacers in rear, though it'd be best to use a single double-width spacer, not doubled spacers... just move the stock ones to the front!

I really ought to look more seriously into this, and have been meaning to - it's practically free speed!

I almost wonder if an effective, cheap combo would be the early-offset rims in back and late-offset rims up front, with spacers all around - for the stock 924 fenders that I'm still working with. Obviously you don't have that concern - it's only for IT cars.

But I'm too busy blowing motors and putting the car in the wall to get that far...
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Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

[jesse wall]

Thanks for the help, according to charts from the water cooler site the early cars have 125mm backspace or 4.82 inch with 23mm offset or .92 inch the later cars have 153 mm, 6.06 inch backspace and 52 mm or 2.09 offset I am having a hard time visualizing the outcome so lucky to have some of each rims here with comparable tires mounted ,( just bought burned out 944 for parts ), as far as I can understand the offset is just the position of the bolt face in relation to the center of the rim , old are apx inch out from center and new are apx 2 inch out from center this is called either + or - offset i forget which , backspace is distance from inside of rim to the same point the bolt face or rather the metal on inside of bolt holes where rim meets the hub when bolts or tightened , Is this right? If I just put 23mm offset rims on newer car what happens ? what if reverse? putting old 23mm offset on newer car ? seems like the 23mm rim on 53mm orginal equipeped car would move center line out i inch and then spacer would move out distance of spacer . is this right? so for ecxample you put old rims on newer car and add i inch spacer would widen track 4 inches ? or am I wrong thanks again Jesse
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jesse wall 'new driver' , 87 924s

[mrgtturbo]

Why not just put the rims on backwards, (brake dust out)?
OK that was just a joke, but it works on my old Crosley.
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81' 931

[-nick]

Using the 23mm offset (early 944) wheels will make them stick out of the stock 924 fenders and give you the same track as the early 944's. I think that is exactly what you're looking for right? All you do is take off the wheels you've got on now (which should 52mm offset- the 924 offset is the same as late 944) and bolt on the 23mm wheels. Leave the stock rear spacer in place.

Vaughan- how come you mention using the 52mm wheels up front with a spacer and 23mm wheel in the rear? Is there a reason not to use the 23mm in the front for this kind of track widening?

-nick

[924RACR]

Sorry to muddy the waters here. Jesse's talking about adding fender flares. I cannot, in IT, and so must work within the limitations of the stock 924 fenders.

The configuration I'm referring to, for me, would minimize the mount of spacer I run, limiting chances for wheels not mounted true, not to mention simplicity in servicing the car.

With the 23mm offsets up front, as you note they'd stick out beyond the front fenders - not allowed in our classes. Using the 53mm offset, I'd be able to add up to the thickness of the stock spacers (particularly if I add aftermarket spacers) to pad them out to the fenders.

My recollection tells me that offset is the distance between the centerline of the rim and the hub mounting face; backspacing is the distance between the hub mounting face and the inner lip of the rim. Therefore backspacing is much easier to measure, though it can be converted to offset (by subtracting 1/2 measured rim width).
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Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

[jesse wall]

thinking about this more and looking at lawerances 23mm offset wheels and slicks think I can just put 23mm wheels on and widen track 2 inches add one inch spacers and get 4 inch width all together which will be same as 944 I think , will I need to change studs on 924s ?will try it with Lawerance's wheels and spacers anotheer thought is to get Diamond steel wheels made about 67 bucks a pop , do not know the weight but are supposed to be light not for street use , they will make any offset and any backspace this way would not need tochange studs or use spacers . do yoou think spacers weaken the car? I have heard yes and I have heard no , the yes camp thinks more likely to crack spindle , the no camp says that it makes no difference as the studs are supported so it is not a true cantilever effect, need engineering experience Jesse ps I don't strain the wheels too much at my lap times anyway
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jesse wall 'new driver' , 87 924s

[jesse wall]

Guess what all I have to do on 924s is to bolt on the 23mm wheels and the track is same as 944 forgot .Lawerances e prod car is wider than stock , no spacers needed as 924s has rear aluminium arms ,thanks for the help something so simple is not evident unless you have either a lot of experience with different cars or help from those who have Jesse ps turning the wheels around would widen the track but probably not going to look good
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jesse wall 'new driver' , 87 924s