924Board.org

[Andrew NZ]

Hi, has anyone here had experience running a 924 in tarmac rallys?

I'll be doing so from June next year, so I'm in the prep stage at the moment and need some help.

I'll replace everything I can before hand, but need an idea of what spares to carry. I don't have a huge budget, so I need to find out what's likely to fail, so I can have the parts ready to go. The car will be reasonably standard mechanically for reliability, so please base your sugestions around a standard car.

If you want more info on the events I'll be running in, check out www.targa.co.nz as the main 2004 event is on at the moment.

Thanks,
Andrew.
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Andrew
1977 RX924 race car
12a bridgeport supercharged
www.race4-dcup.co.nz

[john h]

Andrew,

I haven't rallied a 924 but inteh apst I raced a standard 924 before i brought my GT replica.
When racing 9and the same will apply in a rally) teh rear brakes wear very quickly so you will need to be really familar with the adjustment I used a lining material called VG95 in the back which didn't wear as fast as the standard linings.

If the car has been reasonable well prepard then the only spares you will need is stuff likely to break if you leave the road, eg front suspension arms, tie rod ends etc. back end is relatively robust so you shouldn't break anything here.

Also for high speed high rev use it might pay to check the supply of cold air to the alternator and starter as these are mocated below exhaust and can get nice and hot. Also take a spare fuel pump and relay just in case you lose either. Finally it would be beneficial to install a oil cooler and check the cooling system especially the heater core as a 1977 car the heater core could be getting tired and will let go in the middle of a stage and blocking off the hoses is a real pig.
I'd recommend replacing all the cooling hoses prior to the event and keeping the old hoses a emergency spares in the car or with your back up team.


I looked at entering the Targa and even went so far as buying a "spare" 924 to run but decided that unless I could find someone to sponsor me I couldn't justfy the cost
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Remember a Porsche is not just for Christmas,

if you take it to pieces slowly it can provide anguish all year long!

[Andrew NZ]

Thanks John, I'm going to send it in shortly to 0800 Race Bakes to get the brakes set up, so I'll mention that pad compound to them.

I'd wondered about running a different fuel pump system, and maybe even a dual system so we could switch from one to the other if one fails in the middle of a stage, but I need to read through some other posts here to find out what other pumps are suitable. It would be nice if there was a Jap pump that would do the job, as they'd be easy to find replacements out here.

I'll make sure I add spare alternator and starter to my list, and sort out the ventilation to them. I'm going to remove the heater and run a demister element on the front window.

I was thinking along the same lines as you with the hoses and belts etc.

We're lucky enough to have some good sponsors backing us up, including MoreFM, and a panelbeater (hopefully not needed too much through the event)!
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Andrew
1977 RX924 race car
12a bridgeport supercharged
www.race4-dcup.co.nz

[emoore924]

Do not lower the car. You'll need the clearance.

Be sure to run the stock one or fabricate a stronger belly pan.

Be sure to weld up the seams on the front a-arms!!

Screen off the lower opening for the radiator with rat wire (1cm square holes) to keep the rocks out.

Have someone go over your exhaust carefully. It will fall off and give you headaches if not properly fastened and assembled.

[Andrew NZ]

Thanks, good advice!

I've got adjustable struts in the front, so we'll be able to change it at the service stops if necessary, but generally we'll be starting at about standard hieght

I'll be running a 3mm alloy plate under the whole car. Apparently most drivers drop the inside wheel over the edge of the ashpalt through the apex and use the lip for added grip around the corners! I know of V8's that run 5mm steel plates under the floorpan, and wear through it by the end of the event!! I'll have to avoid the curbs as much as possible, as I can't afford the added wieght of steel.

Hadn't thought about the A arms, thanks, and I'll be adding a fine mesh to the grill.

The exhaust is this weekends job, and I'll be getting it as high into the body work as I can so I can run the skid plate under it.

Thanks, please keep the suggestions coming!
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Andrew
1977 RX924 race car
12a bridgeport supercharged
www.race4-dcup.co.nz

[rally924]

hi ive been tarmac stage rallying a 924 in the uk for the past year .The mods that i have carried out to date are , removal of all interior in the cockpit including carpets and soundproofing which weights alot fitting of a full rollcage,4 point harnesses,ridged bucket seats,plumbed in fire system as well as hand held all of which are mandatory for motorsport in the u.k.The only other noticeable thing is a hydralic handbrake fabricated , fitted to the transmition tunnel with a vertical arm between the gear lever and dashboard. the standard brakes have been discarded and 944 ,5 stud brakes have been fitted ,belive me the hydralic handbrake working on rear disc,s makes tight hairpin bends great fun.The front struts were converted to adjustsble platform with billstine gass inserts and 250lb spring,s with gas filled shocks on the back. the steel petrol tank was replaced with a later 944 plastic tank this was not as strait forward as it sounds as it required some fabrication for the gear box mounting but as the originaltank was gooed it was worth wile and the plastic tank will obsorb more abuse when you have the unexpected excursions in to the landscape. Ill signe off for now imfo from other 924 essentrics would be appreciated and i will continue my saga (if anyone out there is intersted )later trev

[Andrew NZ]

Hi, sounds like you're having a lot of fun!

I'm thinking of installing a hydraulic handbrake myself, as it would have been quite handy last month.

Please tell us more about your car and exploits when you get a chance. Here's a link to some info on the last rally I did: http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=17106
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Andrew
1977 RX924 race car
12a bridgeport supercharged
www.race4-dcup.co.nz

[rally924]

hi only me The saga continues,the ride height was raised(due to some stages having a high camber) and the rear was set to the same height as the front as in standard form the back tens to be higher.Ive experemented with different geometry on the front and found that 2 deg camber angle and 2 deg toe out suites my driving style (or lack of it) i found with parallel toe i had dificulty getting round corners.as for the sump guard i fabricated a 1 inch boxsection frame and anchored it to the chassis mounting holes for the frolt anti roll bar,the back is anchored to the chassis mounting for the rear fitting of the front susspension arms then a 6mm aluminum plate is bolted to the boxsection frame this plate slopes downwards from front to rear from the lower front vallance to past the sump by doing this you protect the bottom of the radiator and stop things wedging between the rad and front pully (and this dose work as i can testfy due to a number of excertions. the car runs on 6j 15 alloys using a 4 speed box.now the engine this is a 1978 year of manufacture 2 litre which in the uk has a comp ratio 9.3-1 this was rebored 6 years ago to +1 00 mm due to the recorded 250000 miles and the smoke screen it left the only other mods to the engine are a piper 285 camshaft the flywheel lightend by 2lb and the fuel injection system discarded for a pair of delauto twin choke carbs(purley for ease of adjustment on rallys I have another engine that i wish to modify ie increse comp ratio and howmuch to take off the standard deck height and what ratios work and what dont .So as they say theres no such thing as a free lunch ,ive given you all my tweeks there must be some other sad individuals out there that can share tuning mods about the best kept secret porsche have madethanks for vewing i hope its been informative and entertaining feedback would be appreciated trev

[Andrew NZ]

Hi, my car was already lowered, but I had to lift it back up after the first rally and all the sump guard repairs!
I run a 10mm alloy skid plate under the sump, and the standard steel guard under the front. I'm probably going to change this to a one piece alloy guard for ease of removal during service stops.
I've tried toe out, but find it's too hard to keep it straight on our rough bumpy roads.
I'm going to have to stiffen it up more though (currently running standard turbo suspension) as the roll over steer really comes into play at the limit when your turning into a slide and suddenly flicks the otherway with no real warning. At this stage I'm thinking of keeping the spring rates similar, but going for much bigger sway bars as I like the balance of the car until the last bit of bodyroll comes into play.
I also have the smoke screen effect now so it's time for a rebuild....and a turbo!
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Andrew
1977 RX924 race car
12a bridgeport supercharged
www.race4-dcup.co.nz