PROJECT RS REPLICA

Fun street and track toy

The project started with a clean 1969 911E shell, fitted with RS rear steel flares, and RS front bumper and rear ducktail. The shell was completely straight and rust free, and resplendant in polo red paintwork. The other half of the project start was a clean 1980 LHD 911SC, which I had actually owned for some 10 years! The plan? Pull all the mechanicals from the SC and transplant into the RS shell.

Pictured here are the SC's alloy rear trailing arms fitted up - complete with poly graphite bushings, and the SC rear brakes. Note how clean the shell is - underneath is almost as good as the top.
Here's a shot of the SC rear brakes, and you can also see the SC's adjustable rear spring plates. Note the Bilstein sport shock boxes - yet to be fitted at this stage. Every part that came off the SC was reconditioned like new before going into the RS shell.
Moving to the front, and again note how clean the underside and wheel wells are. In this shot is a rebuilt SC wheel hub and brakes, complete with a new cross drilled brake rotor.
This is the SC's Bilstein sport suspension strut now on the RS. The internals now feature Bilstein sport inserts. The front arms ride on Poly bushes, and a 22mm through body sway bar is in place. Turbo tie-rods are hanging off the SC steering rack, and bump steer spacers reposition the rack for less bump steer. Yet to go in here is the SC fender mount oil cooler and lines.
This is a shot of the completed front trunk area. This is the SC tank that has been cleaned internally and externally and painted in a durable OEM type finish. A Weltmeister strut brace is now doing duty too. Again, every part has been cleaned and reconditioned like new - even the hood latch!
The interior reflects the street and track dual purpose nature of the car. A pair of MOMO race seats are mounted on factory sliders, and a MOMO 3" harness is in place for the driver. A Prototipo wheel and the full complement of gauges from the SC are in place. The SC's 915 shift housing lives on the tunnel, replete with all new shift bushings and a Weltmeister short shift kit. No stereo! The mechanical symphony is all we need :-)
Another shot of the MOMO seats. Not quite visible here are the 935 style mirrors mounted on the quarter glass. One of our 911 Parts RS carpet sets is in place, in lightweight black perlon material. All sound deadening has been removed. A pair of our RS door trims are also in place, complete with new window winders. A new gear boot and handbrake surround complete the interior.
Big engines in lightweight cars = big fun. This is the 90K mile SC powerplant, with a number of changes. Firstly a pair of rebuilt 40IDA webers have replaced the CIS injection, giving a power hike and amazing throttle response. These are fed by an SC fuel pump and Mallory regulator. A pair of early heat ducts and the shroud repainted in matching two pack polo red complete the most visible changes. On the right the panel work has been modified to fit the SC's baffled oil tank ensuring no oil starvation issues on the track.
On the side here you can spot the MSD ignition system. The distributor has had the advance mechanism removed. Advance is now controlled by an MSD timing computer, teamed with a 6AL ignition box for powerful and reliable spark. All external hardware is now polished stainless. PMO tall manifolds support the webers. The Entire case was wire brushed clean. Underneath a set of early ( pre 74 ) heat exchangers team with a stainless rally muffler. More power and it sounds awesome. The SC's 915 5 speed gearbox also lives underneath, and it's driveshafts and hubs.
The completed car. Genuine 16x7 and 16x8" fuchs wheels are clad in Bridgestone RE55 semi-slicks. An adjustable rear sway bar is also in place. The car was aligned and corner balanced by Wardsport at brookvale. With the poly bushes all round, Bilstein Sports, and the big sways it's an amazingly responsive machine. On the scales it weighed in at 980kgs with a quarter tank of fuel.
POn this front view you can just spot the SC's external oil lines running to the fender mounted cooler. I'm still in love with the RS shape, and combined with the modern mechanicals and power the car is a joy to drive.
On the rear shot the famous ducktail is the prominent feature. You might also spot the dual exits of the rally muffler. While a fibreglass rear bumper would save some weight, the RS touring style chrome over riders work well with the window trim and wheel finish.
On the track! Our first event in the car was the 2007 Dutton Rally QLD, mere days after getting it complete - Talk about a trial by fire. That said the car handled great - a bit loose on cold tyres but then settles in and is very driveable. Since Duttons the car has seen some track time at Eastern creek, and will be spending more time on circuits in 08. It's also a bit of a test bed for some of our parts. Look for some upcoming engine mods - cams, heads, and new pistons, soon...
The plate says it all !