WRX/Porsche Karmann cabrio 1303

[kai4130]

Thank you very much for that.

I thought that you ment the seller of the ford valve had modified the valve not the pwm controller. My mistake, all purchased now.

[ricola]

Not a huge update, but I did get a chance to run the bug on the test track at work this week. Only a couple of laps so didn't get up to full speed/acceleration as it's a whole new set of noises to get paranoid about at high speed and with memories of blowing the last engine up doing the same thing last year I was taking it easy and limiting boost with my right foot! Still, I did get a GPS'd 150mph before traffic got in my way. How does that compare to speeds others have run? I'm really intrigued what my top speed would be now, although I would prefer to have some more engine info to make sure it's running right under the conditions, maybe IAT and AFR..
Rich

[volkdent]

That's a good clip Rich!!! Was that top up or top down? It's time you got a little video action on here. Any tire rub issues ever?

Jason

[SportyBug]

150 mph! That is crazy, I thought our cars had a huge problem with the front lifting above 100mph

[SuperRSi]

It looks like the problem was his right foot not lifting... Never thought of that as a problem.

[ricola]

Top was up as I was a bit nervous how the roof would be at that sort of speed, probably more like a parachute! It actually felt fine, I'm sure my cut down Kamei has a lot to do with it. No tyre rubbing at all.. Like I said, my foot wasn't to the floor to keep boost down a bit, the last thing I wanted was to cause any problems that might risk my trip over to Le Bug Show at Spa-Francorchamps in a few weeks.

I do really want to get some video footage, hopefully the Spa roadtrip will be a good opportunity!

[al_kaholik]

Good speed Rich! I'm sure the aero mods at the front have a significant effect on lift

[4SPEED]

Very beautiful performance with a cabriolet!!
I would not at Spa this year
I hope that we can ride together a next time on German autobahn

[graham]

Well done Rich 150 mph is more than impressive and a testament to your build

[ricola]

As the car is more or less done now I thought I'd post a bit of a summary of the final spec and some finished pictures (still waiting to get a proper photoshoot sorted!). Just need to give it a clean ready for a trip over to Spa next weekend..

Body
oMain body restored with new heater channels, strengtheners, bulkhead, etc etc
oSpare wheel well modified to take main radiator and charge-cooler radiator
oFuel tank extended, baffled and fitted with internal up-rated fuel pump (HRC 310lpm)
oRear end removable on frame, VW bus inspection hatch above engine
oFront wings: 2” wider in fibreglass
oRear wings: 40mm wider in steel with forced cold air intake incorporated into left hand wing
oK&N panel air filter built in to inner wing, with water drain
oLengthened bumper irons with stock bumpers
oRepaint in original colour (Schwartz Metallic)
oGerman Sonnenland roof

•Chassis
oCustom framehorns, torsion housing central section removed
oCustom perimeter frame rails with one-off bead-rolled floors, finished in epoxy mastic 121.
oOBP reverse mounted pedal box with twin brake master cylinders for adjustable bias and hydraulic clutch under false floor
oFront: Kerscher coil-over struts, heavy duty anti-roll bar
oRear: IRS with Protech coil-over dampers and swing axle length torsion bars, 944 anti-roll bar
o19” Porsche Carrera Sport wheels, 10j rear, 8,5j front
oVredestein Ultrac Sessenta tyres, 265/30R19 & 235/35R19
oPorsche 911 (996) brembo brakes front & rear
oBraided hoses, 911 fluid reservoir.
oSpacesaver 996 spare wheel
•Powertrain
oRebuilt subaru EJ257 shortblock (2.5l STI), forged supertech pistons, rebuilt V4 sti heads, ARP 11mm head studs, external oil breather catch tank, shortened/extended sump with RCM baffle plate, Garrett SC46 turbo, ported headers with custom 2” crosspipe, 3” bellmouth from turbo back, magnaflow 3" muffler, Nismo 740cc injectors, ESL daughterboard mapped by Bob Rawle, Aeromotive FPR on reversed parallel fuel rails, new-age subaru coilpack conversion. Estimated 400-450bhp, 450ftlbs.
oCustom charge-cooler system with bosch water pump and Pace pre-rad, inlet manifold spacers/insulaters
oCooling system modified to external thermostat with Pace sierra cosworth radiator, fans controlled by ECU
o1989 Porsche 911 ‘G50 shortnose’ transaxle fitted with rebuilt 964 RS LSD (80/20). 930 CVs, aftermarket axles and drive flanges, KEP uprated Porsche stage 1 clutch (550ftlbs)
•Interior
•Square weave carpets
•Heated Porsche 996 sports seats and seatbelts
•Rear seat modified to clear transmission tunnel
•Dashboard widened to fit early Porsche 924 gauges with additional Stack Oil pressure and turbo pressure gauges. Mini switches.
•Seats and dash re-trimmed in saddle tan leather by Auto-trim, Leicester
•Alpine CDA-X001 head unit, Rainbow component speakers up front in one-off fibreglass foot well enclosures, pioneer rear speakers in kick panels
•One-off heater system built into stock duct system, stock dash controls with t25 fan switch & electronic Ford heater valve

[SuperRSi]

Beautiful Rich! Incredible build.

[volkdent]

Top to tail still the best one out there Rich!

Jason

[NO_H2O]

Stunning car. Very nice work.

[dub_crazee]

Flawless mate - what a great build - i've really enjoyed this build thread. You must be chuffed

[wrenchnride247]

Very nice!!!!