Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Hi all
Just before my 944 goes in for its bare metal repaint I'm considering changing the front end to s2 spec.
Does anyone know whether the wings can be altered to fit or will it need new?
More importantly does anyone have any parts?
Steve

They can be but it its a bit of a bodge. You need PU front, badge panel, headlight overs & plastic trims. Beam behind the bumper, lights (Indicators & fogs/driving) & a few other bits which I've forgotten.

Jim that sounds like a right faff!
Maybe I'll just keep it original, add a lower rear valance and replace the
Carphone!
Steve

There are companies who make a replica S2 front bumper that fits with the standard badge panel and wings, this keeps the price and work down. However, these are not exactly the same profile as the real thing.

Other companies do bumpers that fit with the standard wings but require an S2 badge panel + headlight covers, etc. I have one of those, it looks OK, is the same profile and takes all the Porsche hardware (lights, etc.). But, I will be changing over to the real thing later next year if all goes well.

One thing to watch out for if you do go down this route is the price of the S2 lights... They can be really expensive even SH, and new they are really pricey. Unfortunately, finding a good set SH is tricky as a lot of them now have rusty fittings and broken plastic mouldings. Good ones therefore command a decent price.

I have an 84 model which has been what I would call bodged to look like an S2 front end. I removed one of the wings today which looks like it has just been cut to suit the S2 front end which I think is a fibreglass aftermarket copy. I am converting it back to its original spec before it undergoes a respray. To do it properly with the correct parts would be expensive and I prefer the earlier shape anyway. They had also tack welded the front of the wing to the body under the headlight . I have an 86 car that I can borrow bits off for now. Would you be able to PM me the price of your respray as I am looking for a ballpark figure to go on (Will half the amount when I tell the wife lol).

Ha!
I do that too!
It's costing me a hundred quid a day labour guesstimate now is a grand.
I bare metalled it myself but ive never painted a whole car before and now it's way to cold to do it in the garage.
So tell her it'll be 600 quid and keep your head down...

Methinks I'll keep it original, looks like a load of work for not much gain...
I'm already thinking about buying a later 944 turbo next year, even though I've not finished this one yet, providing I can kid the mrs it was a straight swap!

This is how not to do it. The only rust I can find is on the front of the wings where it looks like it has been sawn and bent under. The front end is GRP so I presume is aftermarket? The tack weld was just at the left of the drivers light (as you look at it).

I did turbo front end conversion, came out well. You can cut the n\a wings but personally if your going for a bear metal respray keep it oringal as that's where it will keep its value. Metal metal respray are normal a lot more money then a blow over. Unless u got loads off rust or base paint issues I wouldn't take it back to bear metal unless your doing it as a keeper. Checking there's no pass filler jobs e.c.t

Yup there was a lot of lacquer peel that's why I opted for bare metal.
New interior, wheel refurb, brake refurb etc really mean I intend to hold on to her,
But a turbo is tempting, plus I tend to do this as a hobby to get me out of having to watch crap tv with the wife
so I may run her for a season and then upgrade.

The car that is, not the wife...

More or less what i am doing, I do have a later (Oval dash) car that I can borrow some parts off, this has a great black leather interior but the early car is beige and brown so I will keep that colour as the trim is ok and source new seats etc. Where are you hoping to get an interior from?

I was lucky and have got one from this forum who's breaking an s2