New Project: the RUNT.
10-12-2003, 10:10 AM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
New Project: the RUNT.
Hey guys - thought I'd share what I'm working on, now that I should be working on our house, and my wife's truck, and my car, and building a studio, etc., etc.
Not long ago we picked up a 924S off of Rennlist for cheep! It was an automatic:
Prior to now, I'd driven to L.A. with an old Jetta I'd picked up to swap for a 1980 931, as a project car. That 931 was a G31 LSD car. It has now undergone an amputation, donating the necessary organs to convert the runt into a 5-speed LSD 924S.
To do this, I've had to mate the G31 torsion bar carrier with the aluminum trailing arms from a donor 951. I also had to weld on the swaybar mounts that I cut off the 951 torsion carrier. (the G31 mounts on the torsion carrier). So now I have a G31 ready rear suspension, with 951 trailing arms and swaybar, installed in the runt.
For now, I am using the 924S brakes, but will eventually be swapping in a 951 booster, master cylinder, and spindle/caliper/rotors from a 951 to upgrade the braking system - but more on that later...
As far as the conversion to manual - It turns out that ALL these chassis come with the same holes in them, more or less, so hanging the pedal assembly and uncovering the existing but hidden hole in the firewall for the clutch master cylinder was no big deal. I am going to use a 951 flywheel, pressure plate, ring gear, starter and bellhousing with a 930S clutch disc. This will all mate to the G31 torque tube. Its really a shame that I don't have the budget for an aluminum flywheel, because it would really enhance this combination of parts! Aside from all that, I have minor welding to do on the transmission tunnel for the shifter bearing mount (different shifter setup in a G31.)
So, where is all this going? First, I plan to assemble the car and sort it out as a naturally aspirated, short-geared, limited slip autocrosser. Then, when I've got the suspension developed to my liking, I'm going to do an in-car rebuild, down to the rings, and bring it back as a 951. ( I have ALL the parts to do this, so why not?) It will be interesting working out the KLR mounting issues and the interface between the old-style dash and the 951 harness, etc. but it will happen.
The G31 should handle the power and torque of the 951 motor far better than the 944 tranny would, and the gearing is even shorter. Plus, I believe there is ample gear interchangeability with the G31 (should be 915 gears, tright?) so I can later play with tailoring the transaxle to the car.
Anyway, at ~400-600# weight reduction and shorter gears, it shouldn't be too hard to get a quick 0-100mph car out of this...
More pics at Runt gallery
Let me know what you think!
Not long ago we picked up a 924S off of Rennlist for cheep! It was an automatic:
Prior to now, I'd driven to L.A. with an old Jetta I'd picked up to swap for a 1980 931, as a project car. That 931 was a G31 LSD car. It has now undergone an amputation, donating the necessary organs to convert the runt into a 5-speed LSD 924S.
To do this, I've had to mate the G31 torsion bar carrier with the aluminum trailing arms from a donor 951. I also had to weld on the swaybar mounts that I cut off the 951 torsion carrier. (the G31 mounts on the torsion carrier). So now I have a G31 ready rear suspension, with 951 trailing arms and swaybar, installed in the runt.
For now, I am using the 924S brakes, but will eventually be swapping in a 951 booster, master cylinder, and spindle/caliper/rotors from a 951 to upgrade the braking system - but more on that later...
As far as the conversion to manual - It turns out that ALL these chassis come with the same holes in them, more or less, so hanging the pedal assembly and uncovering the existing but hidden hole in the firewall for the clutch master cylinder was no big deal. I am going to use a 951 flywheel, pressure plate, ring gear, starter and bellhousing with a 930S clutch disc. This will all mate to the G31 torque tube. Its really a shame that I don't have the budget for an aluminum flywheel, because it would really enhance this combination of parts! Aside from all that, I have minor welding to do on the transmission tunnel for the shifter bearing mount (different shifter setup in a G31.)
So, where is all this going? First, I plan to assemble the car and sort it out as a naturally aspirated, short-geared, limited slip autocrosser. Then, when I've got the suspension developed to my liking, I'm going to do an in-car rebuild, down to the rings, and bring it back as a 951. ( I have ALL the parts to do this, so why not?) It will be interesting working out the KLR mounting issues and the interface between the old-style dash and the 951 harness, etc. but it will happen.
The G31 should handle the power and torque of the 951 motor far better than the 944 tranny would, and the gearing is even shorter. Plus, I believe there is ample gear interchangeability with the G31 (should be 915 gears, tright?) so I can later play with tailoring the transaxle to the car.
Anyway, at ~400-600# weight reduction and shorter gears, it shouldn't be too hard to get a quick 0-100mph car out of this...
More pics at Runt gallery
Let me know what you think!
Last edited by keith; 10-12-2003 at 10:37 AM.
10-12-2003, 11:38 AM
#2
Race Director
Wow Keith, that will be awesome. Nice work so far. Are your plans to leave it totally stock looking on the outside so that it is a true sleeper? That would be very cool. With 951 power in a car that lightweight, it should be incredible. Especially with your plans for the brakes and the suspension work/tranny................
Tifo
Tifo
10-12-2003, 01:17 PM
#3
Drifting
Thread Starter
It will remain stock looking for the immediate future. Of course, it would be a great platform for a 924 Carrera GTS...
As far as lightweight, I am considering a diet - perhaps A/C delete, etc.
Anyway, initially, I'll be doing research into which 16" phone dials I can get into the wheel wells on this thing - it will need more rubber!
As far as lightweight, I am considering a diet - perhaps A/C delete, etc.
Anyway, initially, I'll be doing research into which 16" phone dials I can get into the wheel wells on this thing - it will need more rubber!
10-12-2003, 01:38 PM
#5
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Absolutely love the idea -- cant wait until you drop in the 951 motor and start passing Boxsters on the the track (did I just get passed by a frigging 924?) Cheers! 
Curious what you said about G31 having shorter gears though. I know very little about all the details, but I thought it had taller gears? Maybe it was all in the differential ratio....
Curious what you said about G31 having shorter gears though. I know very little about all the details, but I thought it had taller gears? Maybe it was all in the differential ratio....
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10-12-2003, 02:13 PM
#8
Originally posted by keith
It will remain stock looking for the immediate future. Of course, it would be a great platform for a 924 Carrera GTS...
As far as lightweight, I am considering a diet - perhaps A/C delete, etc.
Anyway, initially, I'll be doing research into which 16" phone dials I can get into the wheel wells on this thing - it will need more rubber!
It will remain stock looking for the immediate future. Of course, it would be a great platform for a 924 Carrera GTS...
As far as lightweight, I am considering a diet - perhaps A/C delete, etc.
Anyway, initially, I'll be doing research into which 16" phone dials I can get into the wheel wells on this thing - it will need more rubber!
If you ever do the diet, and want to get rid of interior parts, send me a PM.
Kevin
10-12-2003, 03:01 PM
#9
Drifting
Thread Starter
Manning - I actually prepped the rear suspension to go in the car before I even LOOKED under the 924S, LOL!
Actually, the 924S run 951 arms (same 951 part numbers) stock, as you pointed out.
Actually, the 924S run 951 arms (same 951 part numbers) stock, as you pointed out.
10-12-2003, 03:16 PM
#10
Probably good you did it that way if you think about it. That way you can just drop the whole shebang from under the car as a unit and slide the already prepared transplant into place. Sounds like a neat project.
10-12-2003, 05:14 PM
#12
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hey keith,
thank you for doing this project. i've been planning to build a viscious 924S of my own for some time now. i'm currently paring out my 924 turbo to pursche an 88 sport edition (with m030 suspension, and maybe even the factory LSD) from a guy 1000 miles away.
however, i won't be going the 951 route. after autocrossing the stock engine for a while, i plan on using an anderson built 2.8 L and then the huntley racing supercharger to make this 924S a true 'one-of-a-kind.'
i'm a north florida resident, so neither of us are way too far from road atlanta or virginia international. maybe we'll be surprising the 911's and boxsters together some time down the road.
long live the 924S.
thank you for doing this project. i've been planning to build a viscious 924S of my own for some time now. i'm currently paring out my 924 turbo to pursche an 88 sport edition (with m030 suspension, and maybe even the factory LSD) from a guy 1000 miles away.
however, i won't be going the 951 route. after autocrossing the stock engine for a while, i plan on using an anderson built 2.8 L and then the huntley racing supercharger to make this 924S a true 'one-of-a-kind.'
i'm a north florida resident, so neither of us are way too far from road atlanta or virginia international. maybe we'll be surprising the 911's and boxsters together some time down the road.
long live the 924S.
10-12-2003, 08:55 PM
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Hey ljd, sounds like another fun project. 
I can appreciate not going the Turbo route, but any reason why you're using a 2.8L engine? Wouldn't an 3.0L from a S2 or 968 also fit into a 924S?
I can appreciate not going the Turbo route, but any reason why you're using a 2.8L engine? Wouldn't an 3.0L from a S2 or 968 also fit into a 924S?
10-12-2003, 09:26 PM
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joe: i believe the 3.0 can be done. still have a bit of research to do. the concern is that i would like upgraded internals. i have to look into the costs involved with sourcing a 3.0 and the price and hp differences with built 2.8 vs built 3.0 as well as the changes necessary when forced induction is involved. probably going to get to know the guys over at anderson, lindsey, huntley, and speed force pretty well. with their help, she's going to be quite the little sleeper.
keith: i've found that late turbo 16's fit under the 924's fenders quite well. the earlier offsets will require spacers. getting harder to source those late offset phonedials, terribly happy i found mine.
keith: i've found that late turbo 16's fit under the 924's fenders quite well. the earlier offsets will require spacers. getting harder to source those late offset phonedials, terribly happy i found mine.